Thanksgiving

    Now is the time for giving, and it just so happens that one of my favorite kids books is "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.  This has brought about a fun tradition that involves both parents and children, and feels much better than telling parents "give us stuff".
    Teachers make a tree out of brown construction paper (the hardest part is making the branches, which just means there is some cutting involved.).  Make a large quantity of leaf cutouts and allow the children to decorate them with paints, glitter, markers, and so on.  Then take a look around your classroom.  What are you missing that would enhance the children's learning experience?
    I tend to ask for mostly cost efficient items and only put a few large items down on a piece of paper.  When the leaves are complete, start writing down the items that you listed.  Display the tree as a bulletin board, and invite your parents to take a look at your giving tree and take a leaf or two. 
    You would be amazed at how giving people are when asked in this creative way!

The Polar Express

    'Tis the season to go out and find holiday experiences that your kids will not soon forget.  While going onto the Polar Express probably wouldn't be realistic for a whole class, a family would fit right in with a mug of hot cocoa and some holiday crafts.
    For those living in Michigan, Owosso is hosting the Polar Express train ride.  For four hours you and your family will view Michigan's wintry landscape(whenever we get snow. Not that this teacher, who has to deal with at least 10 snowsuits right out of "The Christmas Story" in order to go on the playground, is complaining.), drink hot cocoa with a cookie, take part in holiday crafts, and meet Santa while shopping in his mart.  The cost for adults is $85 and children ride for $55 (perhaps the mug you can take home contains some deluxe hot chocolate?). 
    If you can forgo the chocolate goodness, then adults ride for $70 and children go for $40 .  The train departs from the Steam Railroading Institute Visitor's Center in Owosso, goes to "Santa's Village", and ends back up at the Institute's Visitor's Center.
    There are also other options for those not in Michigan.

The First Thanksgiving

    It is a job that I have given myself as a teacher to somehow explain Thanksgiving and that part of history to the children in my classroom.  While 3-year-olds might need a bit longer to follow all the history, there is a great interactive site that teachers and parents should definitely check out.
    Scholastic has a web site devoted to the voyage of the Mayflower, the struggles in Plimoth Plantation, and the first Thanksgiving.  There will even be a live web cast from the plantation on November 16th. at 1pm.,  that people can sign up for online. 
    The videos and tours through the Mayflower and Plantation make this part of history more tangible for young children.  Children under five need other resources rather than textbooks and this site appears to be the journey to take during this holiday season. 

Fresh Halloween Eats

    If you do not have the time to do some extensive baking for you, your family, or your family's school, the Dancing Deer Baking Co. just might be the way to go.
    Their products are made from all natural ingredients, with no preservatives. And with all the processed foods we and our children eat, any natural edibles are good additions to our diets.  Plus they have some scrumptious looking treats for the Halloween season that are under $30!  Like these spooky cookies for $24.95.

    Halloween Cats and Bats Gift Collection owned by Dancing Deer Baking Co.

    

    But don't forget breakfast! 

    My favorite genre of food (besides desserts of course) are breakfast foods and the Pumpkin Spice Pancake and Waffle mix  looks right up my alley.  

    For more baking goodness (chocolate anyone?), check out their web site.

Referenes/Resources:

    Dancing Deer Baking Company Inc.  Boston, MA. 

https://www.dancingdeer.com/index.cfm.  Viewed: October 17, 2010.

   

Easy Halloween Treats

    As I was looking at recipes for this spooky season, I realized that people must think that we have hours and hours to spend in the kitchen and left over money to buy hefty ingredient lists.
     I have neither, so my search turned into the hunt for recipes that you can include the kids on, and that won't cause you to spend over time in the kitchen and at work in order to pay for it all.
    I love Rice Krispy Treats and so do the kids in my classroom.  I found this recipe on Aliciasrecipes.com and had to include it, if not just for the chocolate factor!

Candy Corn Halloween Treats:

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 9 cups miniature marshmallows
• 10 cups chocolate Rice Krispy cereal
• 2 cups candy corn
• 3/4 cup miniature chocolate chips
• assorted candy pumpkins

Instructions:

    Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add marshmallows and stir until smooth. Pour cereal, candy corn, and chocolate chips into large bowl. Pour butter and marshmallows over cereal mixture, stirring quickly to coat. For best results, use a wooden spoon sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Spread mixture on large buttered jelly-roll pan, pressing out evenly with buttered hands. While still warm, press on candy pumpkins spaced about 1-1/2" apart. Cool, then cut into squares.  Makes about 48 squares

Tips:

• The kids will love mixing the ingredients, pouring the mixture onto the pan, and pressing the candies into the mixture.  And don't forget to designate someone to lick the spoon!  

      
    Speaking of what kids will like, my husband loves pigs in a blanket!  My husband is my gauge on what kids want to eat, so I thought this twist on an old snack would be great to try at home. 
    Make the pigs in the blanket how you usually would, but wrap the crescant rolls loosley around the mini sausages so that after they have cooked you can put a face on the sausage.  This way you've made a mummy cute enough to eat!  Check out the Pillbury website  for this recipe and a mustard dipping sauce.
    Cupcakes are wonderful little desserts, especially those from the package that are so quick and easy to make.  There is a recipe from Foodnetwork.com  that turns your favorite cupcake into a Jack-O-Lantern!  Just make the cupcakes following the back of the box, then have the kids roll out a piece of orange fondant big enough to cover the top of the iced cupcake (I would recommend dark chocolate or yellow icing so that the features of the face are more distinct).  Help the children cut out the eyes, nose, and mouth of the jack-o-lantern with a small round cookie cutter.  
Tips:

•  Wilton Ready to use rolled fondant can be found at Joanne fabric and craft stores in the craft section with the cake decorating supplies. The product runs about $7 for 24 oz.
• I have been told that Walmart carries the same product in the same section.

    Halloween treats are fun to make and eat, especially when children get in on the festivities and take a sense of pride out of their creations!




References/Resources:
    Alicia's Recipes.  http://www.aliciasrecipes.com/october.htm  Copyrighted 1996-2009 AliciasRecipes.com
Viewed: October 12 2010.
    Halloweenies with Mustard Dip from Pillsbury.  http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/halloweenies-with-mustard-dip/b0e688d3-a4ef-4fc3-bf55-bc065ca967c0/  Copyrighted 2010 General Mills.  Viewed: October 12 2010.
    Jack-O-Lantern Cupcakes.  Sandra Lee.  Foodnetwork.com. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/jack-o-lantern-cupcakes-recipe/index.html  Copyrighted 2010 Television Food Network G.P. All rights reserved.  Viewed: October 12 2010.

I suppose there is such a thing as too many pancakes

    I digress from my Autumn extravaganza to look into a problem that my friend and preschool parent told me about. She has had mornings where herself, the kids, and husband are full, but there is still quite a bit of pancake batter left in the bowl. Could there be an alternative use for the leftover batter?
    I found the answer on BettyCrocker.com. Most recipes are for savory dishes, although there are a couple desert options. 
    There are some people I ran across online who swear that pancake batter can substitute for flour, eggs, and milk, in cookie dough recipes. I find this hard to believe, but I thought I would share my favorite recipes that I found on the BettyCrocker website.
    Big-Batch Cheese-Garlic Biscuits:(Which got me to thinking of Red Lobster...mmmm...)
    Ingredients:

• 8 Cups Original Bisquick Mix
• 2 2/3 Cups of milk
• 2 Cups shredded cheese
• 1 Cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1 tsp. garlic powder

     1.   Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In a 3 1/2-to-4 quart bowl, stir Bisquick mix, milk, and cheese until soft dough forms; beat 30 seconds.
    2.    On ungreased cookie sheets, drop dough by 40-48 spoonfuls about 2 inches apart.
    3.    Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.  In small bowl, mix butter and garlic powder, brush on warm biscuits before removing from cookie sheets.  Serve warm (www.bettycrocker.com/recipes).  
    Tips:

• Try adding the butter and garlic right into the batter
• Remember that the biscuits may take a few more minutes or a few less minutes to bake, in accordance to the kind of oven you use
• Remember to get the kids involved by showing them how to measure(math) and letting them pour and mix!   

    Pies are another idea that the web site throws around.  The thought of this chocolate pie makes my mouth water.
    Impossibly Easy Chocolate-Coconut Pie
    Ingredients:

• 2 Cups milk

1/4 Cup butter or margarine, softened 3 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate 1 Cup coconut 3/4 Cup sugar 1/2 Cup Original Bisquick Mix 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla 3 eggs, slightly beatened 1 Cup frozen (thawed) whipped cream
Look under recipes, click on the main ingredient icon, and then choose Bisquick from the sidebar to get to these and other great looking recipes.
References/Sources:
Betty Crocker:Expertise from our kitchen to yours.  General Mills and associates. <:// http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/main-ingredient/bisquick-mix-recipes://>  Viewed:October 11, 2010.

"Mumpkin, Pumpkin, make me a bat!"

    If you do not know of "The Great Bear Scare" movie, then you missed out on some of your childhood and have no idea what the title of this post means.  If you remember being scared for Ted E. Bear, then you know what I am talking about and can reminisce.  I would suggest watching either that movie, or "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!", bust out the pumpkin carving kit, and go to town with the kiddies because it's October!
    Hopefully you have kids that will enjoy the feeling of the pumpkin innards.  I had a few in my classroom that when asked if they would put their hand in the pumpkin, gave me a resounding, "No!".  We took out long metal spoons for those who were a bit squeamish when it came to the old adage, "No guts, no glory".
    No matter if your children want to get down and dirty or not, they can still help out with the toasting of the pumpkin seeds!  This was my first year undertaking this tradition.  Which means I got many people saying, "I've never had pumpkin seeds like this!".  Now whether that is truly good or bad, you be the judge.
    Personally I have quite the sweet tooth so I made cinnamon sugar pumpkin seeds, but I have been told that the salty options are the best.  Here is the recipe I used, although I did steer away a bit by adding the cinnamon sugar mix to my oiled seeds.

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon salt(I added the cinnamon sugar mixed)
• Remember to separate the seeds away from the pumpkin innards

Directions:

 Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.  Spread the pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet.  Drizzle with oil.  Sprinkle with salt or desired seasoning.  Bake for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly toasted.

Tips:

• Substitute cooking spray or fake butter spray to have a healthier snack.
• Use melted butter for a more decadent snack.
• Let your children sprinkle the seasonings on the seeds to get them involved.
• Remember, there are infinite possibilities when it comes to seasonings. Just use seasonings you and your children love!  

    References/Resources     1.  Toasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipe-Allrecipes.com.  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Toasted-Pumpkin-Seeds/Detail.aspx.  2010. 

Autumn leaves are falling!

    Autumn is my favorite time of year, especially when dealing with small children.  It's such a blessing to view the changing colors and weather through the eyes of a child.  Autumn has always been a time of wonderment, but with children the whole season becomes more about creativity and discovery.
    Discovery is so important to children, because they learn best through hands on experiences.  Some autumn activities that can involve the whole family include pumpkin and leaf art.
    The Mailbox October/November issue is a great tool for the season.  Even if it is an old issue, it still remains relevant for children. 
    One of my favorite leaf activities is to take a leaf, place the leaf under a piece of paper and allow the children to run crayons over the paper.  The leaf patterns come out magically for them and they can learn about Autumn colors through the crayons that they use.  The children could even take leaf cutouts and place them over different surfaces in order to color out different textures for a whole new sensory experience(see The Mailbox Magazine).
    Remember to talk about the changing of the leaf colors and what that means for the world around them!
    For pumpkin art, let the children pick out small pumpkins or gourds.  Then cut them in half, allowing the children to paint with the pumpkin halves.  Don't forget to get the large pumpkins and carve away! 

Clean up tips:

• Place newspaper down on carving surfaces when using pumpkins
• Use thick construction paper so that pumpkin halves and paint do not go through paper
• Save pumpkin seeds for baking (great recipes to come on this blog!)

References/Resources:



1. The Mailbox  The Idea Magazine for Teachers.Oct./Nov 2010.  Vol. 16--Number 5--Preschool.
    The Education Center.  USA.  P.O. Box 8345, Red Oak, IA 51591-1345. 

Shakira doesn't have to be too much booty shakin'

    For the FIFA World Cup, Shakira did an official song and music video.  One of my assistant teachers turned me towards this video and the kids loved watching the video and trying to do the hand motions of the dancers.
    I always encourage letting children experience other cultures and look at how other countries live.  The children love to see different people and customs, especially in a way that they can somehow relate to.
    The FIFA World Cup was the perfect opportunity to look at Africa, Spanish speaking countries, and so on.  And parents don't have to allow children to watch something meant for adults in order to do so.  YouTube has great resources, along with other web sites.  Parents and daycare providers just need to look through the content  before showing it to children.
    The Olympics was another outlet that allowed children to see people from other countries and watch sports they may have never been exposed to before.  This past Olympic web site also helped by creating cartoon characters that caught the children's attention.
    But you don't have to wait for these world events either.  The children are happy to watch rhinos in Africa, kangaroos in a zoo, or ostriches video taped by another family.  The key is to gauge what the children are interested in, preview any YouTube or other web content, and let the children at the screen.
    While I do not encourage young children under the age of 4 to just zip through the world wide web by themselves, I do see the benefits of using the computer as a visual tool.
    The animal videos on YouTube have sparked such discussions as what do Rhinos eat?  Do penguins fly since they are birds?  And where do Baboons live?  The idea is to use new content to spark conversation that never would have developed inside or outside of classroom.
    What teacher or parent wouldn't want to be a part of their children finding out more about the world they live in.  I believe it is important for children to realize there is more out there besides the school they drive to and the house they live in.

The Outsiders

    My class went to the splash park this week.
    The water was cold and the sun was very sleepy behind those clouds.
    But the kids loved running around and being able to get their teachers wet.  But then comes the dilema of the non-joiners.  You know those children who go to the outside of the fun and won't commit to actually taking part in the activity.
    Today I had to take a step back and enjoy these children for who they are.  These children are the watchers, the small voices, and the kind friends.  I think we as teachers and parents need to enjoy the many different kinds of tempermants that come with more than two kids in one environment.
    I did not need to force the children to go in the water(although I might have tried once or twice).  I did not need to force the children to adhere to my standards.  I needed to get down to the children's level, take part in their play, and encourage others to join in if they so chose. 
    So here is my challenge to you parents and teachers.  Take a break from the pushing and prodding, and just let your children be.  Find out who they are and meet them where they are at.
    For teachers you can ask those children what their interests are and try to include those in your future lesson plans.  Teachers could also pay attention to those activities that the non-joiners will join in on and try to stretch out from there.
    Perhaps the children are enjoying being monsters(I know mine do, you can hear the growls from miles away).  A whole lesson plan could revolve around monsters in order to catch all of the children's attentions.
    For parents, instead of going with the majority, ask the smaller voice what they want to do for dinner, to do for game night, or to do for play time.
    A little attention goes a long way within the classroom and within the home.  Remember even the smallest voice can have the most to say!

No watered down colors here!

    This past week my classroom spray painted their art.
    Many preschool teachers put drops of food coloring in a spray bottle with water.  The spray bottles create great designs and create fine motor activities. 
    The children can then spray paper, shirts, pillow cases, and more. The problem is that food coloring takes a few washes to get out of clothing and sometimes hands.
    My classroom also uses watercolors on a weekly basis.  The dry palettes of watercolors work great, but the colors continually run together and the palettes have to be thrown away when the colors run out or have become muddy.
     The solution for both art areas may be liquid watercolors.  Liquid watercolors come in bottles as little as eight ounces.  The bottles cost around $3 a piece (Kwik Crafts: Liquid Watercolor). 
    The water colors are washable and you only use the amount you need and can save the rest instead of running the risk of mixing colors on a palette.
    Some new ideas from the alphabet soup website for water colors are opening up old markers(if possible, crayola markers don't open) and put in a few drops, color plain pasta or rice, and add a few drops to shaving cream. 
    So instead of stocking up on food coloring and palettes, just try using the liquid watercolors.

    User tips: 
    -I would recommend holding up the material being sprayed with the water bottles and perhaps even doing the art outside for minimal cleanup.
    -If you buy the primary colors in the liquid watercolor bottles, those can be mixed and you won't have to buy ten different $3 bottles.  This makes the product more affordable and usable for the home and the classroom.

A not so new product

    The kids absolutely love play dough as long as the colors keep changing.
    There is no way I or the school could afford to keep up with the play dough demand, except for a do it yourself solution.
    I have found the best recipe for play dough so far, that does not include cream of tartar or any cooking time.  The play dough is now taking the weekend test so I will update everyone on my findings.

Blue/Green tinted play dough

    No-Cooking-Involved-Play-Doh
    Ingredients:
    -2 C. Flour
    -1 C. Salt
    -1 C. Water
    -1 tsp. Oil
    Directions:
    Add oil and water to dry ingredients and mix well.  The play dough will harden as it air dries
    User Tips:
    -Add food coloring to change up the recipe and keep the kids' interest.
    -So far I have found that wrapping the play dough in tin foil keeps it from hardening too much. The kids will have to wash their hands after use, especially if the dough has food coloring.

-#1 Jam Hands Holder


References/Resources:

1. Hub Pages Website: How to Make Play-Doh- 3 Easy Ways 68.  By: AroundtownSue. 2007. 

Available at: http://hubpages.com/hub/How_to_Make_Play-doh.  Accessed on August 6, 2010.

What is that and why is it brown?

   There was brown slime at the bottom of the vegetable drawer that should get way more use than it does.
   If the drawer had gotten more use perhaps my husband and I would have ate, or at least noticed, the lettuce and green peppers before they browned and turned into a putrid liquid.  My husband quickly called the "I have a quick gag reflex" card and left me with the Lysol spray and disinfectant wipes.

Mushrooms on green "leaves".

    A few weeks later and the theme in my classroom was a farmer's market.  While at home I looked at the large bundle of mushrooms I had just purchased for a specific dish.  With the only option being to buy a large package at the store, there was no choice but to get more than necessary.
    I realized that the inevitable would happen and I would be stuck with the cleanup. 
    The answer: let the kids paint!  If you have the same problem with extras around the kitchen and short expiration dates, try letting the children at them with their painting shirts on.
    Halved potatoes can become potato bugs on green leaf cutouts. Halved apples can turn into orchards.  The children can even mix and match and create a whole field of possibilities.
    The main point is to allow the children to be as creative as they want to be.  The fact that they will be occupied for more than five minutes is just an added bonus.   

 -#1 Jam Hands Holder     

The Mailbox is your friend

   No really, The Mailbox magazine is one of the best inventions for preschool teachers.  I would go on to say that parents could use it as well, but it is geared more towards teachers. 
    The Mailbox magazine provides themes, activities, and time saving ideas for teachers and providers in order to shape lesson plans and curriculums.
    I owe many of my classroom ideas to this magazine.  The Mailbox is a great time saver and a great thinker when my mind has lost its pizazz! 
    A subscription runs for $29.95 for one year.  For more details, check out their website .
    - #1 Jam Hands Holder
   

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And now for the even smaller wallet

    Nothing wrong with being a tight wad, as long as that wad can go the distance.
    Buying a new toy every time your child becomes bored can be exasperating, time consuming, and unrealistic.
    If the manufacturers can't keep your child interested, why can't you? 
    In order to create your own puzzle, find the shapes that you want, trace them onto two sheets of paper, one colored and one white.  Cut the shapes out of the colored sheet of paper and laminate them.  Then just laminate the other sheet of paper and let your kids at the puzzle!  Just remember that the more intricate the puzzle, the longer it will take to make.  This is a wonderful way for kids to use fine motor and memory skills, as well as identifying shapes!

    Don't buy an expensive laminator.  These sheets are fabulous and are inexpensive when sold separately.

And now to get creative...

    While new products and deals are great, kids need other creative outlets.
    One of my favorite times during the day is art and center play time.  The kids learn through play and teachers get to run their fingers through green sand and squish some paint onto a paper plate.
    My favorite time of the day can also be the most costly.  The children love to create, but our pockets hate to take the trip to the craft store every week.
    One tip for reusing old markers is to dip those markers into water.  The results are reminiscent of water colors.  The children love that they are allowed to use the water and watch it turn colors!
    To reuse old string try using it as a beading device.  The smaller the beads, the older the kids must be for this activity, but they will love making a necklace or bracelet for mom!

- #1 Jam Hands Holder

Race cars, Converse, and Milk Duds...oh my!

    There is only one way to make a grown woman contemplate how to justify buying herself a pencil case.   
    Make it into a shoe and present a multitude of color options!  CoolPencilCase.com offers unique pencil cases, erasers, pens, and pencils themselves.
    CoolPencilCase.com has a pencil case that is filled with "orange soda" that flows into oranges when you tip the case over.  There are even fast food erasers!
    For those in love with the furry kind of friends, these would be perfect .  And since I am in love with all things Asian, I would like about 100 of these .
   CoolPencilCase.com rates as my find of the week.  The prices aren't all that bad either, ranging from around $7 to $34.

- #1 Jam Hands Holder

I need YOUR help!

    If you have a great new method to teaching, know of a new product that people should try, or just have opinions, please share them with me at chuisjen@gmail.com .  Perhaps you could even be a guest blogger!
    - #1 Jam Hands Holder

The Jam Hands philosophy

    Children should be seen and not heard, every other child has ADD, and television warps minds.  

    

    While this blogger will most likely never trace through these lines, children will always be the main subject.  Jam Hands will be a blog for new ideas to be told, old practices to be reviewed, and fun new products to be tested.  

    Parents want to know how teachers really think, teachers want to know new ways to work through the day, and everyone wants new products to entertain and teach in order to reach that illusive fifteen minute nap.

     So wait a minute to clean those dishes, put off bleaching those toys, give the kids some peanut butter and jelly, and watch out for those jam hands.

     -#1 Jam Hands Holder