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.