Highlights from Letter B Lesson Preschool (age 3)

Here we have embarked on our second preschool lesson.  We started this in July and then things got really busy so we are finishing it now in August.  I am having so much fun finding great crafts, books and activities for each letter of the alphabet.  It's exhausting, but worth it.  So join us as we explore letter B.

Bible verse for the month: "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God."  Matthew 5:9
from Raising Rock Stars Preschool

Corduroy Story Bag

I used this idea for creating a story bag for the Corduroy book.  I chose several objects from the story and put them in a bag.  Before reading the story we took each thing out and identified it.  Then during the story we again talked about the objects that we had that were in the story and last of all we re-told the story using the objects.  I also had some flashcards from Homeschool Creations that went along with the book.

Sorting buttons

We did many of the activities from The Activity Mom using these buttons:

B is for bear

Throwing beanbags

B is for beaver

Sorting and graphing gummy bears

B is for bug.  Daddy and Shrade even found a whole bunch of bugs!

Playdough balls for B

"Reading" books

b is for boat

Oh, my goodness, I wish I could write all that we did, but I'll have to let the pictures tell you the story.  It's been fun doing preschool at home although it takes a lot of planning work for me!  I'm trying to figure out an easy way to do it.  Hopefully by December I will have it down.  All of my printables and ideas come from my Pinterest board, so check it out.



Here is my Pinterest Board for Letter B.

Books we enjoyed:






Be sure to look at my lesson plans to see how I incorporate 10 areas of learning!


Letter B Lesson Plans

 

Parenting is Heart Work: How to Start Connecting With the Heart

Here we are at the last session #8- How to Start Connecting with the Heart.  I am so excited to share just a few things from Parenting Is Heart Work by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller and our home group session.

The most important thing to know is that relationship opens windows and doors!

Some roadblocks to connecting are being tired, busy, not knowing how and afraid of rejection.  Do you relate?

Connecting emotionally takes work.  You need to be intentional. 

How does my child like to be loved?  See this HEART acrostic.

Have fun!

Eating together in a fun environment

Arrange activity

Remember the good times

Talking and listening

How are you connecting with your kids?

There are so many other things that I wish I could have shared about this book and video session, but these are some basic principles that I think will help you as you start connecting with the heart.

If you missed any of these posts click HERE for all the posts for Parenting is Heart Work.   

Taken from  Parenting Is Heart Work.

 My next series this fall will be from What Every Child Should Know Along the Way (Teaching practical life skills in every stage of life.) by Gail Martin. Tune in here on Thursdays starting at the end of September! Thanks!

Summer Reading Challenge Week #12

This is the LAST DAY!!

 Check out all the details at No Time for Flashcards and enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

Week #1-77

Week #2-69

Week #3-58

Week #4- 60

Week #5- 51

Week #6- 46

Week #7- 50

Week #8- 38

Week #9- 45

Week #10- 43

Week #11- 49

Week #12- 43


Final tally- 629

Wow! Our goal this year was 500!  Can't believe we did it!

We read an average of 52 books per week!

Next summer I will have to make a higher goal!

Did you do the Summer Reading Challenge this year?  How many books did you read?

Parenting is Heart Work: Attitude- A Window into a Child's Heart

Here we are at session #7- Attitude- A Window into a Child's Heart.  I am so excited to share just a few things from Parenting Is Heart Work by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller and our home group session.

Attitude is the prepackaged response to a trigger that is developed over time.

Attitudes have 3 parts:
*Behavior- things you see (rolling eyes, slouch, facial expression)
*Emotion- emotions feed attitude (anger, inferiority, victim)
*Thinking errors- lapse in information (what they believe)

Proactive Solutions:
*Evaluate the influences- Are they feeding my children the right information?  (friends, electronics, entertainment)
Example- "After you spend time with this friend you have a bad attitude.  Be watching for that."
Limit these things if there is no change.
*Teach children about emotions- what they are and how to express them (sad, mad, glad)
*Address thinking errors

Corrective Solutions:
*Confront directly- It's time to take a break.
*Make observations- Call attention to it.  "That was unkind.  That sounded disrespectful.  Try again."
*Consider the timing- responsiveness vs. resistance
*Teach children a better response.

As parents we need to watch OUR attitude!   Realize that bad attitudes are counterproductive.  Have a vision for something better. 

Recently I had a conversation with my 3 year old who displays a bad attitude quite frequently when he is being corrected.  I asked him about what makes him sad, glad and mad.  I was enlightened  This was during a few moments we had alone on the back porch enjoying some cheese and crackers.  Trying to understand my little guy is tough.  I hope to have more conversations with him in non-conflict times.  You should try it too.

Taken from  Parenting Is Heart Work.

Next time: How to Start Connecting with the Heart

Summer Reading Challenge Week #11

 Check out all the details at No Time for Flashcards and enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

Week #1-77

Week #2-69

Week #3-58

Week #4- 60

Week #5- 51

Week #6- 46

Week #7- 50

Week #8- 38

Week #9- 45

Week #10- 43

Week #11- 49

Next week is the last week!



Total so far-586

WE PASSED OUR GOAL!!

Goal- 500

Free and Fun Friday: Concerts in the Park

Every summer the community puts on many concerts in the park for kids (at noon) and families (in the evenings).  We have enjoyed many of these concerts, although this summer, we have only been to ONE.   I packed up the kids and brought a lunch and we rocked out with The Not-Its.  It was a lot of fun!

Do you have community concerts in your area during the summer?

Sign Language with Little Girl

My baby Jessna is now 15 months old!  She is becoming a very sweet little girl.  She loves playing with her big brother and she's starting to show us what she is learning!  The other day I asked her where her pacifier was and she walked over and picked it up off the floor.


Today we'd like to share a few sign language words that Jessna has learned.  These are great for beginners.

More

Please

Milk

All Done

You can find more signs at: ASLPro.com