Jelly Beans-sorting, counting and patterns

 

Why use worksheets and printables to teach math when you can use jellybeans? Sort, count and create colorful spring patterns. Practice easy addition and subtraction problems.  

Find out why sorting and patterns are an important part of your child's math curriculum:

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/using-patterns-to-boost-your-childs-math-skills

More info:

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2021/11/sorting-patterns-and-counting.html

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2019/04/easter-sort-count-create-pattern.html

Turkey Dance Freeze

Witch's Stew 2021

 An MCP favorite!  Witch's stew and Halloween gives us an opportunity to talk about what is real and what is pretend.  Some silly fun without being scary for our little ones!  

The recipe and song:

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2018/10/witchs-stew-2018.html

Jack-o-lantern Jars

 

Over the years, we have made hundreds of these jack-o-lantern jars with our little ones. These jack-o-lanterns are inexpensive and easy which is an ideal combination for a preschool project.  Whether it's your first child at MCP or your last, it brings us great joy when we hear that they are displayed in your home for Halloween!  

The Meanest Mom in the World

I thought for sure my mom was the meanest mom in the world.  Boy, was I wrong. She was not, of course.  I was.   It took awhile but I started to see what loving someone really means.  It's not always 'yes'.  

One of my boys (who shall remain nameless) started ranting that I was absolutely, positively the meanest mom in the world.  I'm sure I denied him of something-actually probably many things-during his elementary school years.  I finally had had enough and told my much loved offspring that if he called me the 'meanest mom in the world' one more time that I would make a shirt and wear it the next time I volunteered at his school (which was often).  

The shirt is in the back of my closet.  I keep it as a reminder that motherhood is blessing.  It is a joy but it is also struggle and lots of mamas have had lots of struggles these past fifteen months.  

What I know and what I have learned as a woman of a certain age is that there often is a lot of strength, wisdom and patience that is gained from strife and struggle. The sun is up there even during the stormiest of times.  We just have to wait for the storm to pass to see the sun shine. You learn to get great at the wait. 

My boys are grown and gone.  They both turned out to be  wonderful young men (I'll stop there b/c I could go on and on about how wonderful they are).  I'm no longer the meanest Mom in the world and I know I am loved by those two little boys who are now my grown sons.  

Happy Mother's Day! 

Past posts---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-message-for-mothers-day.html

Mother's Day Books

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/05/are-you-my-mother.html

Mother's Day is next weekend.  I wish you five minutes peace. 

Dog-gone it! We Miss You!

We have missed seeing our preschoolers.  We miss their love, smiles and energy.  We miss their excitement about the holidays.  Valentine's Day carries it's special message of loving others.  The children are always extremely excited to deliver their Valentine's Day cards to their friends.

We also create a card for students to take home.  It just takes a lot of heart.

I love this one because I love elephants!  Our kiddos might not be in the classroom but they are never forgotten!

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2019/01/never-forget-you-are-loved.html

This might have been the first card we created with the kiddos.

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/02/whoooo-loves-you.html

Mamas always love anything made by their little monkeys.

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2014/01/mommys-little-monkey.html

Life is never purr-fect but this week we can create some cards for those we love.

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/01/its-purr-fect-valanetines-card.html

If we can just 'paws' for a minute and say we miss our little friends and we hope to see you soon.  Much love from the MCP staff! 

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2018/01/puppy-love.html

We Love Math

 

Get some conversation hearts for you and your child.  It's a colorful way to have fun with sorting, patterns and counting.  Older children can add and subtract. 

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2020/02/fun-food-friday-conversation-starters.html

Who Loves Chocolate?

 

I love play dough.  Here is our recipe for the chocolate playdough we put out in February when we are in the classroom. I hope you and your child love it. 

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2020/02/we-love-chocolate.html

Peace for Our Children

"Education is the best weapon for peace."

Dr. Maria Montessori

 

Jingle Johns

Up on the Housetop-Dance Moves

Little Drummer Boy

The Christmas Beat and Movin' Feet

Mr. Grinch 2020

 

Need some ideas to keep the kiddos busy?  
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2011/12/youre-mean-one-mr-grinch.html

Grinch Mix-

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-grinch-2017.html

Santa's Socks 2020

 

Four years ago we added Santa's Socks to our Discovery Center.  I remember searching everywhere for colorful socks for this activity.  Now you can easily do this at home because Christmas socks are not only everywhere but cheap (preschool teachers like things that are cheap or free).  Check out your local store where things are a dollar.  Fill a basket and add clothespins.  More info and the 'how to':

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/12/santas-socks.html

Bargain Bows

Colorful gift bows are a great buy for at home math activities.  Here's what we do at MCP-

We sort.

Create patterns.

Make letters, numbers and shapes.

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-mcp-bow-tique.html

Christmas Wreaths

Christmas may seem like a long way away for your child but we know it's just around the corner.  These two wreaths take some prep on your part.  The Kandinsky inspired wreath is lots and lots and lots of circles.  Don't have the time or energy to cut circles?  Get a tub of fun foam shapes and colorful pom poms.

The circle is a twelve inch cake board.  We like using these for projects at MCP.  They provide a sturdy base for projects and are fairly inexpensive. 

Glue 'squiggles' all around the wreath.

Place larger circles on the wreath.

Keep adding circles on top circles for an abstract Christmas wreath.

Brush slightly diluted glue over the entire wreath and let dry.

Poke a hole and add a ribbon. 

A red and green wreath requires lots of red and green felt and material scraps, pom poms, paper, lace and ribbon scraps, small pieces of wrapping paper and anything red and green. 

 

Cut a circle in the cake board for a wreath shape and glue all over.

Cover the wreath with paper and material.  

Pom poms, ribbon, jewels and fun foam finish off this crazy Christmas wreath. Poke a hole and add a ribbon. Enjoy the holiday season by crafting some memories with your child.

Breakfast in Bed

My favorite books about mothers---

https://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/05/are-you-my-mother.html

A Message for Mother's Day

On Sunday, we will celebrate Mother's Day.  My mom has been gone ten years.  Her lessons remain with me but I still miss her.  I posted this originally in 2011 and felt the message was appropriate for 2020.  My sister-in-law sent this to my Mom on May 3, 2007.  It was written by Temple Bailey in 1933.

Parable of Motherhood---
The young Mother set her foot on the path of life.  "Is this the long way?" she asked.  And the guide said, "Yes, and the way is hard and you will be old before you reach the end of it.  But the end will be better than the beginning."

But the young Mother was happy and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the Mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid for you are near and no harm can come."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary and the Mother was weary.  But at all times she said to the children, "A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed and when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."

And the Mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I've given them strength."

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil and the children groped and stumbled, and the Mother said, "Look up.  Lift your eyes to the light."  And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness.  And that night the Mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."

And the days went on and the weeks and the months and the years, and the Mother grew old and she was little and bent.  But her children were tall and strong and walked with courage.  And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.  And Mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey. And I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone and their children after them."

And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said, "We cannot see her but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence..."

Your Mother is always with you...She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks; she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well.  Your Mother lives inside your laughter.  And she's crystallized in every tear drop.  She's the place you came from, your first home; and she's the map you follow with every step you take.  She's your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you.

2019---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2019/05/what-our-mothers-teach-us.html

2018---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2018/05/what-every-child-needs.html

2017---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2017/05/moms-breakfast.html

2016---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/05/in-awe-of-mothers.html

2013---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/05/ten-questions-to-ask-your-mother-now.html

2012---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/05/when-god-created-mothers.html