Educational creativity

You are suppose to have like 14 books per child available to children each day in order to promote good reading.  And, the books need to be rotated often.  I don't nearly have that  many available, but I like to try to get as many books out as possible.  That doesn't mean you need to have 14 of the same book or that they need to be good quality books.  So how do you collect enough books?  I have found books at garage sales, scholastic $1 books and freebies, Dollar Tree, and thrift stores.  Books in your library don't have to be the same as read alouds.  Board books, old books, black and white books, or any kind of book will work.  Don't forget to provide inexpensive paperback copies of your favorite read alouds and provide multiple copies of the children's favorites.  Make sure you put out books that are from the different genres and different reading levels.  You can also have class or child ma...

I have just one more for Halloween to share.  Do you have a favorite Halloween or pumpkin fingerplay or poem you would like to share? Trick or Treating (are you sleeping) Trick or treating, trick or treating bring a light make it bright check out all your candy make sure it's fine and dandy let's be safe let's be safe

There is a lot of debate about celebrating a holiday with such a scary background.  Or celebrating holidays, using candy, or using scary things in the classroom.  With my experience, I have learned or have acquired the following feelings about the topic.       Halloween can be scary.  Children need to learn how to deal with scary things.  My own child asked to do activities about scary things, I think to help her cope with the new fear of monsters in her room.  If we present scary things as not so scary and how to deal with the fear, Halloween can be a helpful learning experience.      You must respect the traditions and beliefs of the families in your class.  If you are limited for whatever the reason, you can still find lots of fall related activities.  Pumpkins, bats, spiders, skeletons, and scare crows are not related to Halloween alone.  There are a great number of things you can d...

Cute pumpkin and easy for little fingers I really like these mini cardboard tube apples that can be turned into pumpkins If you do the 5 Little Pumpkins poem, here is a freebie  you could make into a book or flannel board. number order printable This is a book to reinforce shapes. Pumpkin lifecycle Here is a cute way to recycle while making pumpkins visit confessions of a homeschooler  for some pumpkin printables. Here is Fran's patterns for fall .  I love her stuff and when it's free it's even better. and I like her pumpkin seed counting book . Here are some cute pumpkin activities involving words, letters, and numbers.

Halloween 5 Little Pumpkins 5 Litlle pumkins growing on a vine. 1st one said, "Don't I look fine?" 2nd one said, "I'll be in a pie." 3rd one said, "I'll be a lantern by & by." 4th one said, "I will too." But the 5th little pumpkin just said, "Boo!" 5 Little Ghosts 5 little ghosts on Halloween night 1st one said, "I think it's almost 8." 2nd one said, " I'm going out to howl." 3rd one said, "I'm going out to prowl." 4th one said, "The moon is far too bright." 5th one said, " Let's fly, It's Halloween night." 5 Little Witches 5 little witches on a Halloween night. Made a very, very spooky sight. The first witch danced on her tippy tiptoes. The second witch tumbled and bumped her nose. The tird witch flew high up in the air. The fourth witch combed her fuzzy hair. The fifth witch  sang a Halloween song. Five witches played the whole night long! 

For those of you who love Teach Preschool as much as I do, you will love Deborah's music.  My daughter will sit with me on the computer for a very long time just listening to her songs.  So here is a chance to win her CD. Go to The Amazing Mess

I wish I had the funds and resources to give neat things away.  So, since I can't here is where you can go to win this bookshelf from Guidecraft. Mommy PR  has the entry form.