Summer is a great time to read. I do more reading in the summer than any other time of year because my schedule is more flexible than during the school year.
Get your child's books off the shelf into their play! We place books in our block center and dramatic play to encourage children to pick up a book. For example, books about trucks or animals might be included with blocks. In our dramatic play, books about space are placed with our rocket ship and books about sea life are at the beach. We do this with most of our dramatic play. Think outside the book shelf!
*Create a basket of books to take outside during play.
*Place a basket of books in the back seat of the car.
*A bookshelf with a lot of books can be overwhelming for a young child. Take some books and place them on a table in your family room.
*Take books to the beach or the pool!
Book ideas and 'how to create a literate home'---
The Literate Home---http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/reading-language/reading-tips/how-to-create-a-literate-home-young-child-and-kindergartner/
My Top 108 Favorite Children's Books---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2014/05/my-top-108-childrens-books.html
Summer Book Ideas---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/06/books-for-summer.html
Reading Lists for Children---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/06/summer-reading-list.html
Open a book and read with your child this summer.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
The Heart of a Woman
Dr. Maya Angelou
1928-2014
Women should be tough, tender,
laugh as much as possible,
and live long lives.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
It's Officially Summer!
Memorial Day is over and summer has officially started. What are your plans? I found when my boys were little to get the most out of summer we needed to do some planning. Here are a few ideas to get you started---
*Many central Illinois towns have festivals---Old Settlers in Metamora, Washington's Cherry Festival, The Tremont Turkey Festival, The Olde English Faire at Jubilee State Park, Steamboat Days on the Peoria Riverfront are just a few local fairs.
*Love baseball? Dozer Park in Peoria and the Corn Crib in Normal are a great way to see a game with family.
*Love music? Check out local park districts. Many park districts offer free concerts during the summer.
*Pay it forward with this activity called Hidden Fortunes---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/06/hidden-fortunes.html
*Plan some water play in the yard for you children or the entire neighborhood---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/06/water-play.html
That should get you and your child started on some summer fun. More ideas soon!
*Many central Illinois towns have festivals---Old Settlers in Metamora, Washington's Cherry Festival, The Tremont Turkey Festival, The Olde English Faire at Jubilee State Park, Steamboat Days on the Peoria Riverfront are just a few local fairs.
*Love baseball? Dozer Park in Peoria and the Corn Crib in Normal are a great way to see a game with family.
*Love music? Check out local park districts. Many park districts offer free concerts during the summer.
*Pay it forward with this activity called Hidden Fortunes---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/06/hidden-fortunes.html
*Plan some water play in the yard for you children or the entire neighborhood---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/06/water-play.html
That should get you and your child started on some summer fun. More ideas soon!
Monday, May 26, 2014
Because I'm Happy
We started our Happy Feet fundraiser earlier this year and we have met our goal! Thank you! We have started to prep the room for new flooring and a fresh coat of paint. We are looking forward to everyone seeing the 'new MCP room' later this summer. Thank to anyone and everyone who donated and helped with fundraisers. If you would still like to donate, please send your donation to MCP P.O. Box 928 Metamora IL 61548 Our room remodel will continue and be completed next year.
Thank you so much to everyone who donated. We are so very grateful for all your support.
Want a sneak peek of the new room?
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2014/02/happy-feet.html
Thank you so much to everyone who donated. We are so very grateful for all your support.
Want a sneak peek of the new room?
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2014/02/happy-feet.html
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
What I've Learned
"I've learned that people will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget
how you made them feel."
Dr. Maya Angelou
Monday, May 12, 2014
My Top 108 Children's Books
Like most teachers I love everything about children's books. I love to use voices when I read. I am very animated when I read to the children. I stop and explain vocabulary or ask questions about the story or characters. I love to include the children in our story time (Owl Babies, Go, Dog. Go! and That's Good. That's Bad are just a few examples of books that I use where the children can be involved in the story).
Children's Book Week is May 12th-May 18th. My two all time favorite children's books are Where the Wild Things Are and The Very Hungry Caterpillar but there are also so many other books I love. I tried to keep the list to one hundred but was unable to remove any of my choices so here are my top 108 favorite children's books (sorry in most cases I did not include authors).
- Fall-Halloween-Thanksgiving Barn Dance
- Rattlebone Rock
- Halloweiner
- Big Pumpkin
- Go Away Big Green Monster
- The Monster at the End of this Book
- Inside a House That is Haunted
- The Vanishing Pumpkin
- A Turkey for Thanksgiving
- Winter & Christmas The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Jan Brett
- The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Tomie de Paola
- The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Marry Englebriet
- The Snowy Day
- The Mitten retold by Jan Brett
- The Wild Christmas Reindeer
- The Jacket I Wear in the Snow
- Snowmen at Night
- The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza
- The 12 days of Christmas-a pop up book Robert Sabuda
- Santa Calls by William Joyce (I really love the ending of this story)
- Polar Express
- Santa’s Twin by Dean Koontz (It's Dean Koontz. It's illustrated but not for little ones.)
- Thomas’ Snowsuit
- Classics & Everything Else I Love Goggles
- The Snowy Day
- Whistle for Willie
- Frederick
- Have You Seen My Ducklings
- Ping
- Blueberries for Sal
- Make Way for Ducklings
- The Carrot Seed
- Strega Nona
- Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato
- Clever Tom and the Leprechaun
- Bedtime for Frances
- The Story of Ferdinand
- Go Dog. Go!
- Green Eggs and Ham
- The Cat in the Hat
- Inch by Inch
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
- Polar Bear, Polar Bear What do you Hear?
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you See?
- The Grouch Ladybug
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- It Looked like Spilt Milk
- Harry the Dirty Dog
- Tiki Tiki Tembo
- Miss Nelson is Missing
- If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
- Pete the Cat I Love my White Shoes
- Never Tease a Weasel
- Going on a Bear Hunt illustrated by Eve Bunting (an MCP favorite!)
- Where the Wild Things Are
- The Giving Tree
- A House is a House
- Jamberry
- That’s Good That’s Bad
- Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
- Madeline
- Don’t Let Pigeon Drive the Bus
- m & m Counting Book
- No, David!
- Pigsty by M. Teague
- Ten Apples Up on Top
- A Busy Year by Leo Lionni
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
- Jimmy’s Boa and the Big Splash Birthday Bash (There are several stories about Jimmy's boa but this is my favorite.)
- Prehistoric Pinkerton (Likewise with Pinkerton, many books but love this one.)
- Going on a Whale Watch photography by Bruce McMillan
- Bugs by Nancy WinslowParker and Joan R. Wright
- Gone Wild Endangered Animal Alphabet
- Alphabet City
- Over in the Ocean in a Coral Reef
- Berlioz the Bear
- Where’s Waldo
- I SPY photographs by Walter Wick ( the original big hardback books)
- If the Dinosaurs Came Back
- Dinosaurs by Gail Gibbons
- No Jumping on the Bed (I prefer the old school illustrations vs. the updated version)
- Wordless Books Noah's Ark illustrated by Peter Spier
- Rain illustrated by Peter Spier
- The Snowman illustrated by Raymond Briggs
- Good Dog, Carl illustrated by Alexandra Day
- Family Come Over to My House
- Stellaluna
- Owl Babies
- Froggy Gets Dressed (Like most series, the first story is the best)
- 5 People in My Family Sesame Street
- Seven Silly Eaters (I love Mrs. Peters)
- Guess How Much I Love You
- Mama, Do You Love Me?
- The Relatives Came
- I Love You Forever
- The Kissing Hand
- Is Your Mama a Llama
- A Chair for My Mother
- Are You My Mother?
- Five Minutes Peace (This is the first of several stories about Mrs. Large and her family. I love Mrs. Large.)
- Fairy Tales and Fractured Fairy Tales Piggie Pie!
- No Moon, No Milk!
- 3 Little Wolves and The Big Bad Pig
- Mary Had a Little Lamb photographs by Bruce McMillan
- The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
- The Frog Prince, Continued
- The Gingerbread Girl
- The Gingerbread Cowboy
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Monday, May 5, 2014
A Grateful Teacher
Thanks for saving...paper towel & toilet paper tubes, 1/2 gallon milk jugs, grocery bags, cereal, breakfast & pizza boxes, small jars, milk caps, CD's, plastic tubs and plastic lids.
Thanks for donating...scrapbook paper, pony beads, plastic lacing cord, yarn, ribbon, crayons, poster board, labels, stickers, styrofoam peanuts, pasta, prizes for our treasure chest, silk flowers, paper towels, school supplies, snacks & juice/milk, large rolls & pieces of papers, office paper, clip boards, playing cards, greeting cards & envelopes and maps & atlases.
Thanks for reading and supporting our school blog. Thanks for sending us postcards from around the world. Thanks for following us on Facebook and Pinterest. Thanks for donating pajamas to our Pajama Party Project and attending our Pajama Party.
They say, "It takes a village..." so thanks for helping ours.
Thanks for donating...scrapbook paper, pony beads, plastic lacing cord, yarn, ribbon, crayons, poster board, labels, stickers, styrofoam peanuts, pasta, prizes for our treasure chest, silk flowers, paper towels, school supplies, snacks & juice/milk, large rolls & pieces of papers, office paper, clip boards, playing cards, greeting cards & envelopes and maps & atlases.
Thanks for reading and supporting our school blog. Thanks for sending us postcards from around the world. Thanks for following us on Facebook and Pinterest. Thanks for donating pajamas to our Pajama Party Project and attending our Pajama Party.
They say, "It takes a village..." so thanks for helping ours.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Thank you x Infinity = 1 Grateful Teacher
There are people who faithfully save paper towel & toilet paper rolls, cereal boxes, milk caps and pizza boxes just because you've said you need them for "a project" and these same people never laugh at you or ask you why.
There are people who get cardboard sculptures who actually put them on display for everyone to see.
There are people who tally up candle sales, contact local businesses for sponsorships and research fundraising ideas to raise money to keep their school moving toward a bright future.
There are people who take time off work to come to school to see children sing or maybe not sing at a school program.
There are people who deposit tuition, balance the books, help with registration, write checks, place posts on Facebook, pin things to Pinterest, keep the website and blog up to date, coordinate family fun nights and so much more.
There are people called parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and family that allow MCP to be the best. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you...
There are people who get cardboard sculptures who actually put them on display for everyone to see.
There are people who tally up candle sales, contact local businesses for sponsorships and research fundraising ideas to raise money to keep their school moving toward a bright future.
There are people who take time off work to come to school to see children sing or maybe not sing at a school program.
There are people who deposit tuition, balance the books, help with registration, write checks, place posts on Facebook, pin things to Pinterest, keep the website and blog up to date, coordinate family fun nights and so much more.
There are people called parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and family that allow MCP to be the best. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you...
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Musical Theater Summer Camp
Musical Theater Summer Camp
Register NOW for "Frozen In Summer"
Who: Upcoming Kindergarten-Third Graders, Boys & GirlsWhat: Musical Theater Summer Camp based on the Disney Movie: Frozen
When: Thursday, July 17-Saturday, July 19 from 9:00-12:00 pm.
Showcase on Saturday, July 19th at 11:00 am
Where: Metamora Christian Union Church, 925 W. Walnut Street, Metamora
Why: To provide young children the opportunity to experience the fine arts through singing, dancing, and acting. Let’s spread the Frozen Fever!
Cost: $35, includes T-shirt (“family fan” t-shirts also available for $10 with registration) Must register by June 20 to guarantee your T-shirt.
Camp Host: Chicago Opera Playhouse, Founder and General Director, Linden Christ and Choreographer Instructor, Devery McCoy
Sign Up: Please complete and return the Registration Form with your payment. Hurry: Only the first 100 applicants will be accepted.
Questions? Feel free to email Linden Christ.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
National Bike Safety Month
May is National Bike Month and National Bike Safety Month. Your child can learn the rules of the road at the Peoria Park District Safety Town
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