Hot Chocolate on a Cold Day

 

Let's practice writing our name, our letters and our numbers.  Hot chocolate powder and pointer finger.  What a fun-filled way to encourage your child to write.  

A plate works well but if you want a bigger surface for letters and numbers use a cookie sheet.  Older children can get in the fun by practicing spelling words or math. 

Fine Motor Skills---Lacing Cards

Lacing cards are a very important part of the MCP curriculum.  We have lacing cards available for the children everyday.  After your child laces a card, we do not rip out their work for the next student.  Your child may take the lacing card home! This is an important difference in purchased lacing cards.  We are working on strengthening those very important fine motor skills---building strength to hold a pencil, crayon, paint and scissors.  When a child gets to keep their work, they are more likely to participate in the activity.  

Lacing cards are easy to make at home with your child. Old greeting cards and cereal boxes make colorful cards that will interest your child. 

MCP Centers

The first day of school is approaching fast. Your child will discover that the MCP classroom is divided into 'centers'.  We believe in the power of play.  Find out more about each center:

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2019/09/our-room-mcp-centers.html

Winter Fun for New Year

 

Make a messy tub-http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-polar-plunge.html

It's just white crinkle paper, cotton balls and polar animals from your favorite online store.

Use dry hot chocolate mix to practice writing letters, numbers or spelling words.

Mini marshmallows make math fun.

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2020/01/marshamallow-math-game.html

MCP Homeschool Ideas---Our Centers

Are you homeschooling your preschooler?  Preschool is all about play.  Preschools are arranged in a wide variety of centers.  Our MCP students move freely from art to building to the library and then back to art if they desire.  It's a good size room with lots of kids. Your living space may already have centers or areas for your child's play.  Keep it simple.  If you search ideas for preschool homeschool space you'll get nine million results.  Your child is not interested in a 'pin worthy' space or something that qualifies for an HGTV series.  Your child needs space---not a lot but space to be creative and play. 

The MCP classroom is a calm and relaxed space.  We avoid the 'crayon flu' on the walls where classroom space is saturated with bright colors and lots of charts on the walls. A room that looks likes a box of sick crayons walked in and got sick all over the walls. Too busy.  Too distracting.  Would you want to work or live in such an environment?  

Remember it doesn't have to be fancy.  It has to be fun.  If you have the time, energy and space, you can change it up so your child remains engaged and interested in what you have planned.  It's new for you. It's new for them.

MCP Centers---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2019/09/our-room-mcp-centers.html

Art---is always best in the kitchen or outdoors.  Crayons, markers, paper, glue and scissors.  Create a collage box.  Random stuff for gluing.  Save cracker and cereal boxes for a sturdy glue surface.  

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-collage-box.html

Stop fighting the flow of the glue bottle---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2011/09/glue-bottles-and-glue-battles.html

Writing---an old coffee table, pens, pencils, paper, envelopes (save from your junk mail), recycle greeting cards.  Remember scribbles are writing!  

Home Library--If you have the time, energy and space try not to place ALL of your child's books in their reading corner.  We rotate books seasonally, with the holidays and when we can see the kiddos are tired of the library.  

We put books everywhere.  Kids are hard on books when they are incorporated into their play. This might not work for you and your child because the books do get a little more wear and tear when they are in a center.  More info---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-book-shelf.html

Grab a bed sheet and cover the kitchen table and place a basket of books underneath for a fun space.  Family room?  Is there space for a card table with a sheet?  (cover three sides and leave one open so you can see your child inside)

I love our building center!  

Building---Why are blocks important?

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2019/08/new-kids-in-blocks.html

If you have the time, space and energy switch it up.  Put the blocks away and have LEGOS, a train set or other building materials.  

Messy Tub---it's not for everyone because it's messy!  We use rice, sand and black beans but crinkle paper used in gift bags and baskets is fun and easy clean up!  Look under the 'Sensory' label for more ideas.

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-messy-tub.html

Dramatic Play---does more than you think for your child's development.  

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-dramatic-play.html

Keep it simple. Our castle, fire truck, rocket ship and pizza oven are large cardboard boxes.  Nothing fancy plus they fold flat and are easy to store in our attic space.  For more ideas check under our 'Dramatic Play' label.  

We hope this helps you and your child with your homeschool preschool.  

Writing Weather Words

This center activity will be available on our website.

Have your child copy the words.  Your child could also color and cut the raindrops. I wish you had an 'easy button' to press!

Writing Numbers

Writing Numbers

·      Remember the goal is not perfection but practice and interest.  Praise your child’s efforts.  The goal is to strengthen the small muscles in the fingers.  

§  1-Draw a straight line top to bottom.

§  2-Make a candy cane and a twisty tail (or straight line depending on the school)

§  3-Two BIG bellies for our friend 3

§  4-Make a small letter L and add a straight line top to bottom

§  5-Mr. 5 wakes up, goes down stairs, eats half a bowl of cereal, puts on his hat, goes to work and is home by 5. (It’s long but it works)

§  6-She slides down the hill and makes a snowball.

§  7-Across the field and down the hill.

§  8-Making a race track!

§  9-Make a balloon and add a stick so it doesn’t blow away!

§  10-Draw a straight line top to bottom.  Make an oval.

Now Is the Write Time

In our MWF classes, we help the children write their first name. We do not focus on proportion, use lined paper or obsess about proper letter formation. We do not want them to get burned out on writing before they reach kindergarten. This is one thing most children want to learn to do-write their own name. Here are a couple simple things you can do at home to help your child--

*Cover your child with an old t-shirt or paint smock. On a tray, paper plate, plate or cookie sheet, place chocolate or vanilla pudding on the tray/sheet. Have your child use their pointer finger to write their name in pudding! Start with just writing the first letter. When your child feels successful with first letter, begin to add others. Older siblings? Have them practice their spelling words, math facts and more in pudding. Do it before bedtime and you can call it their bedtime snack!

*Adventurous?  Look for other things in the kitchen pantry that will make letters and math a little more fun. 

*Write your child name with a highlighter and have them trace the letters.

*We used hot cocoa powder in January for Fun Food Friday.  Hot chocolate powder and a pointer finger!  Dee-lish!  
Remember make it fun. If your child is getting frustrated, it's time to stop. 
Enjoy writing letters and numbers with your child

Cereal Box Fort XII

It's 12' long, 8' high and 5' 5" wide.  There is one door, a large window and lots of little windows to let in natural light. 

The library and the writing center are inside the fort.  

And how many boxes?  281

From years past...
2019---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-cereal-box-show-cbf-11.html

2018---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2018/01/cbf-x.html

2017---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2017/01/my-impenetrable-cereal-box-fort-version_30.html

2016---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/01/my-impenetrable-cereal-box-fort-version.html

2010-2014---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2014/02/my-impenetrable-cereal-box-fort-version.html

Fun Food Friday---Hot Chocolate

What a fun way to practice writing our name, our letters and numbers!  Hot chocolate powder and a pointer finger!  Dee-lish!  You and your child can do this at home.  A cookie sheet provides more surface for letters and numbers.  Older children can practice spelling words or math!  

The Storytellers Creed

The Storytellers Creed

I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge.
That myth is more potent than history.
That dreams are more powerful than facts.
That hope always triumphs over experience.
That laughter is the only cure for grief.
And I believe that love is stronger than death.
-Robert Fulghum

We love to have the children create stories at MCP. We will first 'write' a tale about Halloween.  For more info---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/04/once-upon-time.html

Where Are the Worksheets?

We do not use daily worksheets to teach colors, shapes, letters and numbers. Why not?

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=134

https://sicilysheartandhome.com/worksheets-are-not-appropriate/

MCP Centers 2018

We love playdough---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/lots-and-lots-of-playdough.html

Creative art is a huge part of MCP---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-art.html

Students color and cut to create unique bulletin boards at MCP---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-bulletin-boards.html

Pencils, paper and stickers are in our writing center---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-writing.html

Blocks for building and more---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-building.html

We call it our Discovery Center.  It's the place for puzzles, ABC's, 123's and more---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-discovery-center.html

We do more than just play house at MCP---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-dramatic-play.html

We call it a Messy Tub---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-messy-tub.html

We work on letters and numbers every day through play---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-letters-and-numbers.html

Rain or Shine

Weather words for writing! 

The Three Little Pigs 2018

Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?  Not us!  We're too busy with all of the activities in our classroom!

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-three-little-pigs-2017.html

The Gingerbread Man 2018

Our MWF preK classes are having a sweet time with many stories about the Gingerbread Man and his friends.  After we read each story, the children are asked to recall details about the story and we compare and contrast the stories.  How are they the same?  How are they different?  On Friday, each child created their gingerbread person.

It is a joy to watch the children create and talk about their gingerbread person.  We also wrote our own version of the Gingerbread Man.  You and your child can do the same at home.

There is a lot more  happening in our classroom.  Check it out!

The books---


http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/04/once-upon-time-and-more.html

There are many 'fractured fairy tales' at your local library. Many are also on YouTube so check 'em out!



Gingerbread play dough coming soon!



The Gingerbread Man helps us with our ABC's.



Stencils in the art center for future illustrators.



Sweet!  Stamps are in the art center.


Coming soon...The Three Little Pigs

Go Away, Big Yellow Monster!

Our TTh 3 y/o rewrote Ed Emberly's Go Away, Big Green Monster.

Big Yellow Monster has two brown eyes and a small orange oval nose.  Big Yellow Monster has a big green mouth with three sharp white teeth, two small blue ears and short straight purple hair and a big scary yellow face! But… YOU DON’T SCARE ME!

So, GO AWAY, short straight purple hair!  GO AWAY, two small blue ears!  GO AWAY, big green mouth with three sharp white teeth.  GO AWAY, small orange oval nose and two brown eyes.  GO AWAY, BIG YELLOW MONSTER! And DON’T COME BACK! Until I say so!

We painted and glued and made our own Big Yellow Monster...

We read The Monster at the End of the Book (a personal favorite) and made Grover!  We are getting really good at snipping with our scissors!

We have had a lot of fun with Halloween and monsters with our 3 y/o class! More holiday coming!

MCP Centers 2017

We talk a lot about learning through play at MCP.  How will your child learn this year?

We love playdough---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/lots-and-lots-of-playdough.html

Creative art is a huge part of MCP---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-art.html

Students color and cut to create unique bulletin boards at MCP---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-bulletin-boards.html

Pencils, paper and stickers are in our writing center---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-writing.html

Blocks for building and more---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-building.html

We call it our Discovery Center.  It's the place for puzzles, ABC's, 123's and more---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-discovery-center.html

We do more than just play house at MCP---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-dramatic-play.html

We call it a Messy Tub---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-messy-tub.html

We work on letters and numbers every day through play---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-letters-and-numbers.html

A-mazing

We have several mazes we set out in our Discovery Center.  Mazes provided an opportunity for the student who might not pick up a pencil or crayon to develop fine motor skills.  Students have to track the magnetic ball and problem solve.  Mazes often have two magnetic so children are able to work together. 

More benefits of mazes...

http://blog.abcpediatrictherapy.com/?p=250

MCP Centers 2016

We talk a lot about learning through play at MCP.  How will your child learn this year?

We love playdough---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/lots-and-lots-of-playdough.html

Creative art is a huge part of MCP---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-art.html

Students color and cut to create unique bulletin boards at MCP---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-bulletin-boards.html

Pencils, paper and stickers are in our writing center---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-writing.html

Blocks for building and more---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-building.html

We call it our Discovery Center.  It's the place for puzzles, ABC's, 123's and more---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-discovery-center.html

We do more than just play house at MCP---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-dramatic-play.html

We call it a Messy Tub---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-messy-tub.html

We work on letters and numbers every day through play---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/08/mcp-centers-letters-and-numbers.html