September Learning Themes

Our learning units will be themed by week.  Each unit will have a different focus which we will learn by incorporating the theme into our daily play and routines.  Our storytime will revolve around each theme and we will have new activities, experiments, and crafts that relate to what we are learning.  You can find these themes by checking the blog each month.

September 5th - 16th - All About Me     This unit focuses on our body and our emotions.  We will talk about personal hygiene, the five senses, different emotions, and why each of us is special.


September 19th - 23 - Home & My Family      This unit focuses on who is in our family, relatives and our homes.

September 26th - 30th  - Friendships        This unit focuses on relationships outside of our family. 

Scholastic is Back!

A new school year means fresh new books for home and our classroom!  We have different catalogs to order from this year.  Honeybee is aimed at 2 - 4 year olds and Firefly is for Preschoolers.  Both catalogs have great books that are wonderful for pre-readers and great for storytime at home and at school.  Online you will find additional seasonal catalogs and value books, so be sure to check out everything on our classroom's website.

Now it's easier than ever to find the perfect books for your child -- shop the NEW online Book Clubs Web site. Choose from a much-wider selection of books than in the printed flyer. Plus, you can send your orders directly to me online and use your credit card to pay.

Best of all, we earn a FREE book for the classroom library every time a parent places an order online.

It's so simple! Here's how it works:

• SIGN UP at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Register" button in the "First Time Here?" section. Register for your own user name and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code GKFRT. This code ensures that your order is sent to our delivery address. 
• SELECT the books you'd like to order -- choose from thousands of titles -- many more than in our monthly flyers.
  
• SEND your order to me online by the due date and your child's books will be delivered directly to my classroom.

Ordering online is fast, easy, and secure.

Thanks so much for supporting reading in our classroom!

Summer Safety Tips

With the warmer days coming, kids spend lots of time outdoors.  Crowded places, sunny days, and sand all sound like fun but can easily become a recipe for disaster if you aren't prepared.  I've put together a few summer safety tips for everyone who has small children.

1. When going outside - even for a quick ride in the car - slather on a broad spectrum sunscreen.  You and your children can get sun damage just from the harmful rays shining through the car windows.  Cloudy days are no exception.
2. Always carry water and sports drink (like Gatorade) when your child will be playing outdoors in the heat.  Make sure your child is well hydrated BEFORE going outside and continue to offer and monitor his/her fluid intake while they are in the heat.  If your child says they are thirsty, it is a sign that dehydration has already begun.
3. Make sure your child has a properly fitting helmet.  Make it a rule just like being buckled in a carseat.  No helmet = no bike/scooter/skates.
4. When headed to a crowded or unfamiliar place like the zoo or a theme park, take a picture of your child with your cell phone on the way out the door. Should your child get lost, you have an up to date picture showing what clothing the child is wearing.  Write your cell phone number on a slip of paper and safety pin the paper to the inside of your child's pocket.  If they are found, the person can call your cell phone and reunite you and your child quickly.
5. Never, ever leave a child near any body of water alone.  Even for a second.  Make sure you or another responsible adult is always within an arms reach of your child when they are in the water.  

 Happy (& safe) travels! 

Excessive Heat Leads to Yummy Treats!

Since it is WAY too hot to play outside today, we decided to make a cool treat for this afternoon.  After snack this morning, we went out into the garden to see what yummy fruit we could find for our afternoon snack.  The kids quickly found these fresh, tart raspberries.

So, we quickly headed inside to decide what to make with the raspberries.  We finally settled on raspberry yogurt pops for our afternoon snack.  After much mixing and mess making, the kids carefully poured the mixture into the ice pop molds and stuck them in the freezer.  After nap, they will have a cool, healthy treat that they made themselves.  I can't wait to see how excited they are once it's time to eat!

Space Available!

We have one space available late June for a new friend to join our group!  If you know someone looking for daycare, feel free to pass on this site, my website, or my phone number 609-265-1778.  Thanks!  :)

Cool Treats and Good Eats!

During these long, hot summer days there are some days we cannot play outside because of the extreme heat and humidity. On these days, we still have active play inside the house. We have marathon dance parties, games of Hide and Seek or Simon Says, or we play in the tubes and tents and build forts out of cushions and sheets. 

You can always find the latest extreme weather warnings at www.weather.com. 

Summer treats can be loaded with sugar. To keep your kiddo healthier but still satisfy their sweet tooth, try these healthier summer snacks.

Frozen Fruit and Yogurt Pops

Dice your child's favorite fruit into tiny pieces and mix with yogurt.  Pour the mixture into popsicle molds and freeze for a cool treat on a hot day.

Smart Smoothies

Put one cup of ice, 1 cup of yogurt, and your child's favorite fruit into the blender and blend until smooth. You can even add veggies! My kids have no idea I add spinach leaves in their smoothies!

Banana Boats

The kids have really loved our Banana Boat snacks.  Simply slice bananas, spread some peanut butter on top, and spear with a toothpick.  Add a 1/4 slice of American Cheese to the toothpick as a sail.

Veggie and Cheese Kabobs

Another lunchtime favorite this summer has been kabobs.  I use cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and cucumbers with a little balsamic vinegar.  The kids love this cool and nutritious side dish.

Just Playing

A lot of parents think that a heavy curriculum is necessary for their toddler or preschooler.  What many people don't understand is that "just playing" is a lot of hard work for kids!  Since this poems explains it better than I ever could, here goes:

Just Playing

When I am building in the block room, please don't say I'm "just playing". For you see, I'm learning as I play, about balance and shapes. Who knows, I may be an architect someday.

When I'm getting all dressed up, setting the table, caring for the babies, don't get the idea I'm "just playing". For, you see, I'm learning as I play; I may be a mother or a father someday.

When you see me up to my elbows in paint or standing at an easel, or molding and shaping clay, please don't let me hear you say, "He is just playing". For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm expressing myself and being creative. I may be an artist or an inventor someday.

When you see me sitting in a chair "reading" to an imaginary audience, please don't laugh and think I'm "just playing". For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I may be a teacher someday.

When you see me combing the bushes for bugs, or packing my pockets with choice things I find, don't pass it off as "just play". For you see, I'm learning as I play. I may be a scientist someday.

When you see me engrossed in a puzzle or some "plaything" at my school, please don't feel the time is wasted in "play". For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm learning to solve problems and concentrate. I may be in business someday.

When you see me cooking or tasting foods, please don't think that because I enjoy it, it is "just play". I'm learning to follow direction and see differences. I may be a cook someday.

When you see me learning to skip, hop, run and move my body, please don't say I'm "just playing". For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm learning how my body works. I may be a doctor, nurse or athlete someday.

When you ask me what I've done at school today, and I say, "I just played", please don't misunderstand me. For you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm learning to enjoy and be successful in my work. I'm preparing for tomorrow. Today, I am a child and my work is play.

~Anita Wadley