Please join me today over at Totally Tots. Discover how simple “man-tools” from the garage can become a learning experience that builds confidence. Once again, I am featuring a great book titled, Montessori at Home!
Naomi and Gabe are joining forces. Together they are a dynamic team, leading the way in a new feature over at Totally Tots, called Montessori at Home.
Here is a sneak peak:
There is a pull to purchase new items when it comes to the school room. But I am going to challenge you to stay home. Don’t even think about walking over to your computer to jump on Amazon or Oriental Trading. Your only task after reading this blog post is to create a simple learning moment that is relevant to your child.
Your child.
Not mine. Or your neighbor’s. Or Sally’s son who goes to pre-school.
To read the rest, head on over to Totally Tots.
I had to laugh when I discovered this . . . this afternoon.
Find out why.
Head on over to Totally Tots.
This is a book that is to be lived, not glued.
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Oh, and if you need something else to read, check out two more articles I wrote over at The Homeschool Village.
Win this great Fall Unit Study from The Simple Homeschool – 66 pages! A great compliment to Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf for your older children.
Recently, Gabe and I had a lot of fun doing some activities with the book, Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf.
You can read about it over at Totally Tots.
I’ve got something to make a lesson out of this book easier for you.
Especially with those older kids of yours.
Check it out . . .here.
We’ve had tons of fun with the copy work poem, learning about Maple trees, and coloring leaves.
66 pages.
To win . . .
Mandantory: What is a fun fall activity you plan on doing with your children or you have already done this year?
Extra:
Contents ends Monday, October 24, 2011.
Football.
My first memories of the Engineer involve that brown piece of rawhide filled with air and laced with white strings.
I seriously need to show you a picture of what the Engineer USED to look like.
For now . . . here are his helmets from high school and college.
Find out why my boys are wearing their daddy’s helmets and what this book has to do with it.
by David Diehl
Visit Totally Tots today to see more of this cute Tot!
We played. We built. We twisted. We curved.
We enjoyed Guidecraft’s building toys. Even Mom.
I built, with the help of my sons, a Twister dude.
His legs were a little shaky, though.
And he fell. Poor guy.
Guidecraft’s Twisters (91 pieces) building toy is pretty simple to figure out.
My 6 year old taught me.
You gotta line up the openings and insert the building toy into the correct circle or square.
The fun happens when you get to use the pliers.
And pull out a “nail.”
The Twister Curves (also 91 pieces) also afforded us some silly time.
But that’s not hard when you have two very goofy boys.
Twisters and Twister Curves . . . find them at Guidecraft or on Amazon.
Or try and win them!
(You’ll be heading on over to Carisa’s Review and Giveaway site, which is part of 1+1+1=1. Carsia has shown some GREAT ways to use Twisters and Twisters Curves as educational toys!)
Thanks Guidecraft! I received this toy for free in exchange for an honest review as part of being a Guidecraft Mom. I do get to keep these fun toys!
We have acquire some farm animals. OK . . . wooden block farm animals. They show up in random places.
They seem to like the fireplace the best. I guess because it is warm.
And wherever the farm animals are, you are sure to find Gabe.
However, he often puts them into a time out, noses pressed to our school room fridge.
Or lines them up.
We have even tried feeding them. Rather unsuccessfully. They don’t like beans. I guess because I didn’t soak and sprout them?
What does Guidecraft has to say about their wooden blocks?
Block Mates are the all-new block play sensation that will revolutionize and revitalize the way that kids play with unit blocks. Slide the Block Mates onto a traditional-sized unit block to create fun play friends! Pieces slide on easily and fit snugly thanks to the patented "Slip-Grip" system! Match the colors to assemble familiar animals, or mix-and-match the pieces to create your very own! Block Mates create a whole new world of block play creativity and ignite the imagination while enhancing fine motor and color matching skills.
This unique version of a wooden block is geared towards ages 3+ (according to the website). However, Gabe has enjoyed the farm animals the most, having received them at age 2 1/2. (FYI)
Sir Honey Ezra (almost 5) randomly enjoys our farm animals . . . but typically only plays with them when Gabe is or in an attempt to stir up some strife with his younger brother. Just sayin’.
What COULD you do with your farm animals?
Block Mate Wooden Farm Animals can be purchased at Guidecraft for $27 . . . but make sure you also order the set of 5 wooden blocks (an additional $15) or buy this fun set at Amazon starting at $20 (and it is an Amazon Mom product.)
And that’s my Guidecraft Mom review . . . but there’s more!
Want to win a set of Block Mates Farm Animals?
(Mandatory) Tell me what your favorite animal is and why.
Remember, only #1 is mandatory. The rest of the entries are optional, but you MUST comment separately for each one.
The Fine Print: I will email you when you have won. You must respond within 48 hours.
Contest ends March 28, 2011 at Midnight (not that I will be awake)
This toy was sent to me by Guidecraft. In exchange, I gave an honest an free opinion of our thoughts regarding the Block Mate Farm Animals.
Awhile ago I was desperate for any type of cookie toy I could get my hands on. Since we are rather granola, or rather a moderately whole foods fanatic family, the thought of having a completely unwholesome toy being played with in the boy’ slightly dilapidated kitchen seemed rather contrary.
Hypocritical.
But then I got pregnant. I had cravings. And I had (well, still do have) a blog post due over at Totally Tots. The book I chose {sigh} is all about cookies. Go figure!
Thankfully CSN Stores came to my rescue in a very timely manner with a gift certificate, of which I have previously mentioned.
You can probably guess what I purchased. Cookies.
They’re pretend.
However, if they had been real, they would have still been hot from the oven due to the fact they were shipped to our house so quickly.
Thankfully, the boys don’t play with them ALL the time. Then, I would know that I have totally deprived my children and taught them obsessive behaviors regarding desserts.
We have happily been preparing for our Totally Tots Once Upon A Book post by playing with this adorable Slice and Bake Cookie Set
and theses great Color Cookies. (There are LOTS of hands-on learning opportunities with this game from Learning Resources!!!!)
But we also had to make some cookies.
Real cookies, I mean!
I love writing for Totally Tots. They make me eat cookies. Just kidding. It happened to be a perk for this particular book . . .
A big thanks goes out to CSN for allowing us to sample and review some of their delicious educational resources and toys! (I was not paid for this post. I also get to keep the “educational” toys.)
By the way, are you impressed . . . I typed this one handed?! The other arm was cradling someone in pink!
Mr. Smiley, 28 months
I’m combining two weeks worth of highlights . . .
Tot Trays
Toys tray activities included:
Another round of Tot Trays contained:
The third round of Tot Trays:
We started learning about Little House on the Prairie. They boys made log cabins from Valerie’s Lapbook Lessons website. By the way, there are GREAT picture books out now of Little House on the Prairie. We got ours through Paperback Swap.
Mommy Favorites
To link up or for more Tot School ideas, head on over to Carisa’s blog!
