Aa is for Apple

There are different ways to teach the letter A. My favorite activity is apple stamping. I use an apple template or letter A and have students stamp inside the apple or letter.  I use a real apple, cut in half and dip it in red or green paint.  Picture Coming Soon:)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is one of my all time favorite children's story.  Not only does it introduce the life cycle of a caterpillar, but it also helps with sequencing, which is a very important skill for preschoolers to learn.
 To make the book come alive I used an empty Parmesan container, and made it into a caterpillar. The students love the hands-on addition to the story. I also found a template online for the different fruits that the caterpillar consumes. As I read the story the caterpillar comes alive and eats the food. I give each student a chance to feed the caterpillar. I also used a paper bag for the chrysalis and made a butterfly that stays in the bag until the end of the story. At the end of the story I put the caterpillar in the bag( chrysalis), and pull out the butterfly. Below are the directions on how to make the caterpillar. 

 

 

 

• 1 empty parmesan  container
• 2 wiggle eyes ( can be purchased at most craft stores)
• 1 piece of green construction paper
• Template of the caterpillar food-http://www.dltk-teach.com/books/hungrycaterpillar/
• 1 brown paper sack  
• 1 paper butterfly

Colors, Colors, Oh My!!!

Sorting colors is great activity to do with your little preschooler.  Not only does it reinforce their color knowledge and memory, but they also learn how to group according to what is "alike." I purchased a couple of muffin pans from the Dollar Store, and cut out circles from colored construction paper and placed it where the muffins would go.  I also bought colored craft buttons from a craft store, you can purchase them from most stores that carry craft supplies.  I ended up buying ones that are shapes, and we were also able to sort the buttons by squares, circles,triangles, etc.

To enhance their fine motor skills you can also use plastic tweezers to grab onto the buttons and place them in the muffin pan. 

Setting up a space for your little learner!!

If you decide to take on the absolutely best challenge in the world and teach your child concepts at home or reinforce what they are learning on at school, it is very important that you set up a designated learning area.  This area does not need to take up a lot of space in your home for example, a corner in the kitchen or office is a great place to start. This helps your little learner identify an area where they can do crafts, puzzles, and work on their fine motor skills. It becomes their "center" which is a common term used in most schools. You can also put a shelf next to the table where your child can have access to materials, such as paper, crayons, stamps, scissors, puzzles, and counting items. Of course you can add so much more and change it out often to keep it excited and new to your child. I always put a letter or number on or next to the table, usually something that has to do with what they are currently focusing on.  For example, I have a small flip chart of the alphabet and numbers that I set next to the table where we work on sounds, writing, and counting.  I also include a container of drawn out shapes on paper for cutting purposes, such as squares, triangles, or rectangles. Once your "little learner" has their own area for learning, exploring, and to express their creativeness, they can begin to open the doors of learning and you can watch them grow.

Fine Motor Skills-  Is the coordination of small muscles, such as the fingers. It is a very important skill that enables writing to occur and to be able to manipulate small objects. For example, connecting Legos, cubes, or even being able to do the simplest task of tying a shoelace.