When I started teaching Kindergarten, I was given this book called Reading Magic by Mem Fox. I read it before stepping foot in my classroom, thought it was good, and went about teaching Kindergarten with those skills in my teacher’s toolbox. It wasn’t until many years later that I truly and completely saw the value in that…
A Snowflake Printmaking Art Project
For those of you lovely folks who have asked or wondered, we are well. We are settling into our new routine. The kids adore their new little sister and we are taking things slow and easy. It’s a very nice time of year to welcome a new babe into our family as we are naturally…
Sight Word Games on the Pumpkin Patch
I have been wondering for a little while what to do with my older posts. Since I have been doing this for quite some time now, some of my old posts feel a bit awkward to me. I sort of feel like I was in that awkward teenage phase where I was trying to impress…
Chalk Ghosts
I bought these neat Halloween cookie cutters last year when they were on sale after Halloween for maybe a dollar. And the most incredible thing happened … I remembered I bought them! Well, I actually just stumbled upon them when cleaning out the junk drawer (which is actually another incredible thing – me cleaning out…
Super Sight Word Pencils!
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No … it’s a super-sight-word-pencil-to-help-little-ones-gain-confidence-with-their-writing-um, thing! I just love these super pencils and all of the confidence they give little writers. If you have a little one who is beginning to read and write pop on over to Hands on as we Grow to read all about these great…
“Learn to Read” Quiet Bins
Well – did you see the Super Blood Moon last night? We did – and it was awesome. And today we are celebrating little Ben’s third birthday! Good grief with all this excitement I can barely sit still to get this post out to you … but I really want to, so I will. Exciting…
5 Simple Steps to Solve the After School Attitude
Are your little ones having trouble after school? Cranky – even some melt downs? Well you’re not alone. When I was teaching Kindergarten I was asked about this issue all the time. If you want to know why this is most likely happening – and what you can do to help your little ones through…
Our Science and Math Shelf …
Do you know about the power of “loose parts” in play? It’s quite remarkable. Such a simple concept – one of those concepts that just make sense. In a nut shell, loose parts are exactly that. (You are most welcome for clearing that one up!) Loose parts can be anything at all – synthetic or…
12 Field Trips that Could Change the World
With all my uncertainty and wavering on the decision to educate my boys myself, I have been focusing on my “Why”. Why is it, really, that I want to homeschool. Actually there are about 20 reasons – but the great big “why” is so I can shape my children’s education to be perfect for them….
Pretty Pine Cone Garlands
A Photo on Friday, because sometimes all you need is the picture. This pretty pine cone garland was super easy to make. Just dip pine cones into some paint and wrap twine around them to string them altogether! I wrote about this cute craft over on CBC parents. You can read all about it right…
