Me & Marie

Love is in the air…

2012-02-06T21:19:00.001-06:00

February is here! I love February- mostly because my two little blessings were born in February!!

Well, up went the Valentine's Day Song Chart and I filled up the Valentine’s Sensory Tub!

Enjoy :)

Filled with: Rose Petals, heart erasers, heart table scatter (Target $ bin), heart scoops (Target $ bin) & heart boxes ($ store)

Pretend Play Post Office

2012-02-05T18:35:00.001-06:00

Around Valentine’s Day, many are sending their love! This holiday makes the perfect time to turn your pretend play center into a Post Office!

Here is our Pose Office set up:

I got these cute little mailboxes at Target in the Dollar Bin

Can’t send a letter without stamps! The blank ones are for the children to draw their own design. I also used square shaped stickers as stamps as well.

Want to make a Post Office for the little ones in your life? I have created a printable set, check it out…

You will find both Valentine’s Day Themed printables and printables for everyday use.

You can find this Pretend Play Props- Post Office at…

Teacher’s Notebook

-or-

Teachers Pay Teachers

Baby Games: Sticky Mat & Feet Paintings

2012-02-02T21:01:00.000-06:00

Sensory Fun!

STICKY MAT

I've seen lots of fun ideas using contact paper lately and thought that maybe the babies in my care would enjoy this sticky sensory experience! I put the contact paper, sticky side up on the ground. I taped it down with masking tape.

Why I actually thought the masking tape would keep it down, I don't know!!! My little R (in the photo above) really got a kick out of the sticky texture {please excuse his drool covered shirt- teething!} The contact paper did get a little wadded up several times, but I just pulled it apart and they were at it again!

FEET Paintings

I saw this idea somewhere in blog world, but I don't remember where!? If it was your blog, please let me know!

Using the exersauser, I taped a piece of construction paper under the babies bare feet and added washable paint the paper. I put a blob of yellow and a blob of blue on the paper and away he went! The 'big' kids in my care were SO excited to watch him paint with his feet! What was even better was watching him mix the yellow and blue to make green!

{LOVE DAY} Freebies!

2012-01-26T21:57:00.001-06:00

Click on the pics above to get some Valentine’s day freebies!

What I'm Pinning Wednesday!

2012-01-18T17:45:00.000-06:00

Well, I like many other have a Pinterest addiction... I am still striving to actually create/complete the many things I have found, but hey pinning is fun!! So, I decided to join Laura at Kinder Kraziness and share what I have been pinning!
Secret Message Hearts:

Source: bhg.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Valentine's Day BINGO! I love that this BINGO has a educational twist to it!

Source: preparednotscared.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Mess free painting for the little ones!

Source: no1hasmorefun.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Hello Genius! Why didn't I think of this!

Source: the-acts-of-grace.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Such cool yarn hearts!

Source: thechocolatemuffintree.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Hope you were able to find some new ideas!

Preschool Workstations

2012-01-16T22:24:00.001-06:00

Happy Monday to all! Today has been quite the busy day! Did anyone watch the Bachelor?? I keep telling myself, no more Bachelor…but, I can’t stay away from the drama! Plus, I gotta know what Kristin from A Teeny Tiny Teacher is referring to when she writes about the Bachelor! Boy, tonight was full of drama! Anyhow… the real reason for this post: Preschool Workstations!!!

I recently rearranged my preschool room (check that post out here) and found the perfect place for our new workstations. I have an almost 4 and an almost 5 year old working with these. I was finding the need to organize learning activities for them to do {semi} independently. So…here is what I came up with!

Each girl has 6 pull out drawers. All are labeled with their names. Each drawer is also color coded (see the different colored squares with snowmen?).

The girls can take out the drawer and take it to the table to work. After they have completed the drawer they turn in their “Hard Work Money” to the elephant jar. When all 6 colors of hard work money is turned in they get to pick out of the treasure box! I found that having a motivational piece (the hard work money) helped the girls try activities they normally might have given the cold shoulder to!

So…What is in the workboxes???

I try to place a good variety activities in the workboxes. Puzzles, art, workpages, learning games, file folder games, easy readers, math manipulatives, fine motor activities and ANYTHING else I can find to make learning fun!

Thanks for stopping by!

Love to Joplin!!!

2012-01-15T16:31:00.001-06:00

As a fellow Missourian, I was SO excited to see Deedee's post about helping out teachers in Joplin.

When the tornado first hit, many from my area were heading to Joplin to help out and to bring donated supplies.

Here is what little C and I were up to...

We packed lots of bags for our local community center's collection! Now, months later I am so happy to be able to help again!

If you haven't read Mrs. Wills post, please do! Thank you to Deedee for sharing this opportunity to help out a fellow teacher...and most importantly, lots of children!

Pics of our preschool room

2012-01-05T20:01:00.001-06:00

Last fall we took the leap and moved to a new home! We love all the space we now have, including a preschool room for my kiddos and the kids I watch during the day. When we first moved in, the preschool room was kinda put together quickly. But, over break I got a chance to make it more of what I had envisioned.

Here is half of the room. The little wood table and chair set was made by my late grandpa. I love having it as a part of everyday routines! That door you see walks out to the backyard with a swingset :)

Our circle time area is over in the corner. I tried my best to break up this large space into several different smaller areas.

A view from the circle time area. The area with the foam mats is the baby area. We also have a storage closet and a bathroom.

Pretend Play Center

This center changes often- right now it has dress up clothes and tea table along side the kitchen.

Blocks Center

Lots of different blocks & balls found in the colored tubs.

Library & Sensory Centers

I love this book holder (found at Target several years back). Our sensory tub is just a regular tub. My hubby built it up off the ground with PVC pipe (more on that later) so the little ones couldn't access it.

Art Center (at the easel)

I will exchange different mediums and material at the easel throughout the year. The other side of the easel is a chalkboard. I bought special pencil pouches to put crayons, markers, scissors and chalk in. This keeps it from getting in the hands of the babies (who are now crawling)!!

Tub Toys & Music Centers

Our tub toys are just tubs with lots of different toys to choose from. All tubs have labels with pictures of what goes in the tub. Makes clean up time a dream!!

Workstations (pull out drawers on top)

My three year old and the four year old in my care will be participating in workstations (more on that to come).

Baby Area

Here is an area just for the sweet little ones. We hung a mirror that they can pull up to and see themselves. They have three baskets of various toys and books as well. The babies are crawling their way out of this area, but it is great to have a place to have baby story and song time (since our circle time area is just a haven for pulling and yanking learning materials off the wall)

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look! I am very excited about our new space!

Most Popular Posts in 2011

2011-12-27T15:55:00.002-06:00

2011 is coming to an end… I honestly can’t believe how fast this year has flown by!! As an end to the year, here are my most popular posts in 2011:

Childcare Form: Infant Daily Report

Shapes for All! Grab these FREEBIES

60 Sensory Table Ideas

Preschool Assessments

Preschool Assessment Forms

Preschool Lesson Plan Template

Thank you all for following my little blog! If you haven’t seen some of these posts before, I hope you find them helpful!!!

My gift to you!

2011-12-18T05:00:00.011-06:00

{Teaching Blog Addict is hosting 25 Days of gifts!}

On the 18th Day of Christmas, Ms. Ashley gave to me…

{click HERE get these downloads}

*Included are 3 games that fit in a baggie! Great for on the go & easy to store!*

Colorful lights match

Holiday Puzzles

Jolly feet numbers

This & That..

2011-12-12T18:00:00.000-06:00

Check out our Countdown Santas! We put a puff ball on each day- when Santa's beard is full, it's Christmas!

The girls colored the Santas, I laminated them for duribility and we use glue dots & white pom poms to create the beard.

Find these Santa printables from Kaboose here.

We did this fun pocket chart activity to review colors and color words.

{This activity is found in my Ho Ho Ho Learning Pack}

We created the letter I using our Handwriting Without Tears materials. When even drove cars on the letter, representing the strokes we will make with our crayons when we write an I.

We did a Gingerbread Science Experiment from Deanna Jump's Gingerbread Set.

Pattern block snowflakes!

{Found at PreKinders}

We made Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments

CUTTING BOX! ~ a fav!

I used a large tub, added scissors (and crazy scissors too), along with LOTS of scrap paper of different weights. Using junk mail is perfect, I also added scraps of wrapping paper- giving it a seasonal theme. The kids LOVE it!

Sorry for the mish mash of ideas- just wanted to share what we have been up to!

Reindeer Colors

2011-12-11T22:22:00.001-06:00

Freebie comin’ at ya!

Here is a fun and easy file folder game for you!

I have also created the page above with colors words written in the corresponding color- for those not working on ready color words just yet :)

Click HERE for this freebie!

Northpole Breakfast 2011= Success!

2011-12-06T08:21:00.001-06:00

Well, the Northpole Breakfast was a success! The kiddos had a great time meeting their new friend elf, which they affectionately named ‘Max’.

Here is the table set for the BIG day! Each kiddo (mine & my childcare kids) got a pair of fun socks & a book from the elf!

The Elf himself!

The elf brought us "Snowballs" (powdered donuts), hot cocoa & "Santa Kisses" (Candy Cane Hershey Kisses).

The printables seen above can be found {here}. Graphics by KPM Doodles.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

2011-12-04T21:25:00.001-06:00

Wowza…December- seriously?!?! This year just FLEW by!

Well.. I added some new items to my shops & wanted to share it with you :)

Ho Ho Ho Learning Pack

Learn more about this pack at my Teacher’s Notebook store.

Or, if you prefer…Teachers Pay Teachers

Clipboard Surveys- WINTER

Learn more about these surveys at my Teacher’s Notebook Store.

Or, if you prefer… Teachers Pay Teachers.

Thanks for looking!

CYBER MONDAY!!

2011-11-28T07:18:00.000-06:00

It is Cyber Monday! I love shopping from the comfort of my own home! Plus, many of you are having great sales in your TpT and Teacher's Notebook stores!

Well... to join in the fun, I am too!

Teacher's Notebook- Save 35% today and tomorrow

Teachers Pay Teachers- Save 20% today and tomorrow (plus today TpT will give you an extra 10% off)

Happy Shopping & Saving!!

graphic by: KPM Doodles

Northpole Breakfast Freebies

2011-11-25T20:41:00.000-06:00

After seeing this idea on Pinterest, I knew we HAD to do it!

It is a fun Christmas tradition idea to introduce the Elf on the Shelf, or Christopher Pop-in Kins (which we are using). Sorry, but the Elf on the Shelf looks too much like a clown (ahh!).

So, to make this Breakfast a BIG deal, I created some printables.

Here is the plan…

*Decorate the kitchen table with fun cups, plates & placemats

*Hang the printable decorations from the chandelier

*Write kids names inside the napkin rings

*Food: “Snowballs” (powdered donuts), “Santa Kisses” (peppermint Kisses) & hot cocoa

*Presents from the Elf: socks (from Target’s $ bin) & new Christmas books

*Letter from the Elf and Santa Letters

Onto the FREEBIES…

Oh, also--- we just watched the new Elf on the Shelf movie on CBS. It was awesome!!! I wonder if you could watch it on the internet??

Anyone else doing a Northpole Breakfast??

What is your plan?

Gobble Til’ Ya Wobble

2011-11-08T15:27:00.001-06:00

Hey Ya’ll!

Well… I just finished my Thanksgiving Pack called- Gobble Til’ Ya Wobble

I am happy with the way it turned out!

What’s inside??

-Find & Match: matching upper to lowercase letters
-Gobble Gobble Game: Recognizing letters/words
-Label Me: labeling a picture
-Mr. Turkey Hunt: reading for meaning
-Number match: numbers, number words, counting
-Feast of Patterns: Patterning
-Pocket chart Poem: Shared Reading and color words
-Gobble & Graph: Sorting and graphing
-What's next?: Counting on
-Story Problems

Purchase this unit @

Teacher’s Notebook

or if you prefer

Teachers Pay Teachers

Happy November Freebie!

2011-11-01T17:30:00.000-05:00

Please enjoy this freebie as we enter into November! It is a strategic thinking game that even my 3 year old learned how to play!

Please share some comment love if you downloaded

Muffin Tin Monday {Halloween} & October Songs

2011-10-31T15:31:00.001-05:00

Happy Halloween!

{this is the pumpkin we carved last night!}

Boy, October just flew by us! This is my far one of my favorite months and I am little sad to see it go! But, anywhoo--- here are some of the songs we have been singing during the month of October:

Last week we had a preschool Halloween Party. The kids had lots of fun!

* We played with Pumpkin Pie Playdough

*Read: The Little Old Lady who was not Afraid of Anything by: Linda Williams and we acted out the story with our own story props. Here is a pictures of all the props put together to make the scarecrow. This is a fun book if you have not read it before!

* We played Halloween Bingo- found here

*We also played with Monster Eyes! It is just water balls and google eyes.

It was a GREAT TIME!

----MUFFIN TIN MONDAY----

The kids flipped after I made this muffin tin (their first time having lunch out of a muffin tin), it was great!

From left to right, top to bottom:

* Ghost Dogs: Hot dogs with holes for eyes and mouth (hard to see)

* Sprinkly oranges: Mandarin oranges with Halloween sprinkles

* Vanilla pudding and Halloween Marshmallows (dessert)

* Witch fingers: carrots

* Macaroni Pumpkins (see the stems I added to make them look like pumpkins… yeah the kids had a hard time seeing them too! The green stems are small pieces of fruit roll-up.

And… I just couldn’t resist adding a pick of my cuties digging in our pumpkins!

The doctor will see you now…

2011-10-23T21:05:00.000-05:00

I have some kiddlets at my house that LOVE to pretend! So, to aid in this love, I created some printable props to make a doctor’s office. We turned our play kitchen sideways, added a waiting room, a patient room and lots of doctor essentials and VOILA- tons of fun!

Here is the wall in our ‘office’. A skeleton to look at lots of bones, an emergency sign, an eye chart and a certificate for the doctor.

Our waiting room: with a chair for waiting and books for reading. Look there are doctor signs as well!

While you are in the waiting room, please sign in and tell where you are hurt.

We stocked our office cabinets with lots of essentials.

A prescription pad and patient checklist for the doctor.

An appointment book to manage all those patient appointments!

Look at the writing going on!

Want to create a Pretend Doctor’s Office in your home or classroom?

Check out my Pretend Play Doctor’s Office Kit

*It is full of all the printables you see here, plus lots of great ideas to make pretending come to life.

Buy at Teacher’s Notebook

SpOoKy sPoOkY Learning Pack

2011-10-17T13:28:00.001-05:00

Ok, ok…it’s not really spooky, just lots of fun! Check out my newest Halloween inspired learning pack {well, really I created the Spooky Learning Pack several years back, but this one has been totally revamped!}

Want to learn more, or buy your own? Head on over to…

Teacher’s Notebook

or, if you prefer…

Teachers Pay Teachers

Thanks for reading :)

Halloween Baggie Game- Free!!

2011-10-12T09:07:00.000-05:00

What is a Baggie Game anyway? Well, I created these games to fit in a ziptop baggie. This way they are easy to store and easy to take along! The Pumpkin Baggie Games has three games included and a title square to attach to the front of the baggie.

How do you use these Baggie Games? Personally, I have used them with my daughter in waiting rooms and at my great-grandma’s house (where there are not many kids toys). These games would also make an easy preschool or kindergarten center! What’s even better??? They are free!

{click the pic above to download}

Enjoy this freebie?? Please leave a comment

5 Little Pumpkins Freebie!

2011-10-11T14:32:00.001-05:00

Happy October! Can ya’ll believe it is already Oct. 11??? Where did September go?! Anywho… I wanted to share a freebie I created last year. It is the well known Five Little Pumpkins poem with pumpkin props!

Enjoy!

Long time, no blog :(

2011-09-29T14:42:00.001-05:00

Hello, hello!

I have been seriously MIA lately and I apologize. We recently moved into a new home and boy have I been busy! Not only does our new home have more room than the old one, but we have an awesome preschool room (pictures coming soon!).

But, today I thought I would post my Top 10 Pins on Pinterest. I hoping this will help you find a new idea you might be able to use!

#1: Song Rings- FREE Printables!

#2: Fine Motor Games

#3: FREE Shape Packs

#4: Travel I Spy

#5: Greeter Apron

#6: Money Poem

#7: Preschool Assessments

#8: Preschool Center Signs

#9: If you Give a…

#10: Today is brought to you by…

Thanks for reading

Rockin' Blogs!

2011-09-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

The Top Ten Award is making it's way to wonderful blogs around the blogosphere. Now, I would like to share my Top 10!

(click on the blog buttons to take you to these wonderful blogs)

First up, Carisa at 1+1+1=1. Finding her blog actually inspired me to become a blogger myself! She has AMAZING free resources!

I recently found Lauren's blog Just Add Clipart. She does some really fun stuff with her first graders!

Being that I teach preschool with my kiddos at home, Kinder Kraziness is a great resource. I really like her letter and number sort!

Shannon over at Kindergarten Hoppenings rocks! I especially love her poetry journals- with printables!

Kindertastic is fantastic! Judy has some amazing printables, go check her out!

Loving Lory's Page!!! She has a great Halloween Freebie posted right now, I will def. be snaggin it :)

A very fun blog with great ideas. Mrs. Lee's kiddos are sure lucky to have her!

Stephanie at Playing House has some WONDERFUL ideas to enhance play and learning with little ones!

Nicole at The Activity Mom has a plethora of fantastic ideas for little ones on her blog- even for babies!

Not only is this blog adorable... but it has fantastic ideas! Thanks for letting me share my Top 10! I hope you have found a blog or two that you are inspired by as well!