Multilingual Pets and Bugs

During our summer we're picking back up our multilingual activity days.  It's a review from last summer but fun and engaging for all our little minds.  We'll be doing these multilingual activity days almost every Thursday through the summer with our homeschooling group.  Hopefully our pictures will inspire you to start an activity day of your own!

 My friend Katrina and I took a course called FLTI - Family Leadership Training Institute that was offered in our area last spring.  The goal was to empower parents and community members to be actively engaged as advocates for children, youth and families within the community.  Each participant learned the ins and outs of how the community and local government works.  Through our growing and learning process we were also to develop a community project.  Katrina and I worked together to create an English, Spanish and American Sign Language class to bridge the communication gap we found in our community.

 It was wonderful watching families come together to practice non-native languages and build friendships across the language divide.  We learned so much and exposed our children to experiences that they otherwise wouldn't have received.

There were so many great things that we learned from this experience and therefore wanted to repeat the experience for our children.  Here are some of the things we discovered:

Why learn a second language?

• improve confidence and self esteem
• support spelling skills
• improve reading ability
• encourage an interest in books

Benefits of creating an activity day:
Attending activity days provides motivation to continue practicing each week, which increases the likelihood that participants will be consistent in their efforts to use Spanish and ASL regularly.
Having other parents to exchange information with and offer support can be helpful and build friendships and community.
Attending activity days also provide a regular occasion for quality, face‐to‐face interaction between caregivers and their children – something special for the family to do.

General benefits of utilizing Sign Language:

Wonderful bonding – this is face‐to‐face communication. You must look at each other to use signs!
Having an alternate way for children to communicate can help a child who may not be comfortable verbalizing something they want to say, such as when they are upset or embarrassed.
Children learn in different ways. Some learn by hearing, some by seeing, and some by doing it with their own hands.  Tactile and kinesthetic learners may thrive when sign language is introduced to their learning environment.
The physical component of signing can make learning feel like play. Children naturally use their body language to communicate.
Sign helps children link symbols (signs) with concepts (the meaning of the word) and with the spoken word. This incorporates many levels of learning.
Helps with temper tantrums during the “terrible two’s” – especially those tantrums that stem from not being understood.
Parents can communicate with their child before the child has developed the skills to speak - some children may have limitations with aspects of the spoken language and some parents do not want to miss what the child is trying to communicate.
Parents may want their children to know a second language and even if they don't master it today, if they want to pick it up when they are older they will have an easier time accomplishing that task.

Why Learn Spanish?
High use language - Spanish is a popular second or third language: with some 400 million speakers, it's the fourth most commonly spoken language in the world (after English, Chinese and Hindustani), and according to some counts it has more native speakers than English does. It is an official language on four continents and is of historical importance elsewhere.
Family and friends may speak - Spanish speaking people live throughout the United States.
Travel could be made easier in Spanish speaking countries.
Bilingual opportunities are available.
Since Spanish is also a Latin language, you will find as you study Spanish that you have a better understanding of your native vocabulary. Similarly, both Spanish and English share Indo-European roots, so their grammars are similar.

 We utilize SigningTime.com and their fantastic videos to introduce the vocabulary that we want to focus on for the day.  This Thursday our focus was on Pets and Bugs so we listened to "I'm a Bug" and "The Pets I Love".

 We had set up a couple of activities around the room so that kids could explore what appealed to them at the moment.  I find this a key strategy to be actively engaging all kids.

 There were art activities, small motor activities and math activities that all went along with the theme.  We'd emphasize the vocabulary words through the activity and encourage signing and use of Spanish.

 We read a few books and learned some new facts.  Do you know what a lady bug looks like before it's a beetle?

 We also explored some dramatic play with puppets and masks.

 A little reading lesson popped up when we pulled out the Pets Tot Pack.  We talked about initial sounds in words and categorized animals into "Animals that are good pets" and "Animals that should live in the zoo".

 We also had a lot of fun when we learned how to play "Go Fish!"  To modify Go Fish for younger preschoolers we set the cards in front of us so they were easy to see and then we asked the whole group if they had a match for one of the cards we had.  It was a fantastic way to encourage the use of language in all forms.

 This is a great picture of the first formal instruction on how to use a magnifying glass.

 We took our magnifying glasses outside and played with all sorts of toy bugs and pets.

I'm really thrilled with how this first activity day went.  We learned so much even though the vocabulary was a review.  The activities were engaging and kids were having fun as they practiced using language.  Next week we'll be talking about relationships and making a Father's Day craft.  If you're in the area (zip 80013) and are interested in joining us you can check us out at LEARN.

Be sure to stop by and click on the heart next to the Little Adventures Preschool logo on Circle of Moms Top 25 Homeschooling Blogs.  There are just a few days left and we're holding spot #7 with over 450 votes!

Also, don't forget about the Amazing Action Alphabet giveaway and discount code.  Enter to win here! 

Be sure to check back again soon because I've just created a set of Summer Beginning Readers for all the little preschoolers out there.  The FREE download should be posted by Monday!

Amazing Action Alphabet Review and Giveaway!

Little Adventures Preschool uses The Amazing Action Alphabet created by See Hear Do Company in Tot School and Preschool A.  I absolutely love what Esther has created and have seen great results.  As a new teacher (all those years ago) I was in charge of 1st and 2nd grade classrooms.  Every year I'd struggle with how to best teach the children that didn't know the alphabet sounds and/or how to use the letters to sound out the most basic words. 

There are MANY beginning readers available on the market, however all of them dive right in with an expectation that students already know the ABC's of reading.  This is not helpful.  Reading is a skill that takes a lot of practice and years to develop.  The Amazing Action Alphabet gives teachers and parents the resources to easily teach a young child the alphabet letter names and sounds and how to blend those sounds together.  All of my preschoolers (age 4 by the end of the school year) know what reading is, know the majority of the letter sounds, and are therefore able to read.

Now, that may sound like a high and mighty task, and it is, but let me clarify.  We're not reading novels.  We don't even have a huge reading vocabulary.  But we can sound out 3 and 4 letter words that have short vowels and single consonant sounds (no digraphs like 'sh' or 'th' or a soft 'g' that sounds like a 'j').  We also have some familiarity with sight words (words like "the" that can't be sounded out).  This is truly the building blocks of reading.  Only after we understand what reading is are we able to learn more in depth phonics and expand our reading abilities.  That's where all the beginning readers on the market come in.

This is a phenomenal program that really is empowering children to take control of their learning.  I've been preparing my preschool curriculum so that other families at home and small classrooms around the world can empower successful children. You'll want all of the resources from the Amazing Action Alphabet to achieve greatness and today is your lucky day because one lucky reader will win the Amazing Action Alphabet flip chart!

There is oodles more I could tell you about why I chose these products, but swing over to their NEW Blog, their Facebook Page, Pinterest and their Store to learn more.

So, now for the GIVEAWAY!  The Flip Book is a spiral bound book with adorable pictures in the shape of letters.  Each page is dedicated to a single letter with capital AND lowercase letters represented.  There is a story that goes along with each letter, a saying, and an action that you do.  When my preschoolers don't remember the letter right away in the book the first thing I see them do is the action that matches the letter, it's a key element!

Scroll down and click on the +1 under "Enter to Win".  You can get 2 entries!  1st, let us know who you'd use the flip book with and why you're excited about it.  2nd, like See Hear Do on Facebook!

UPDATE: Readers who are interested in buying Amazing Action Alphabet materials can get a 20% discount by using the code 11131971 at checkout!  How awesome is that?

While you're out sharing the love, be sure to stop by and click on the heart next to the Little Adventures Preschool logo on Circle of Moms Top 25 Homeschooling Blogs.  There are just a few days left and we're holding spot #7 with over 400 votes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclaimer: I have been given a free copy of this product as well as one to share with a lucky reader.  All opinions are my own.  I truly believe that this product could help so many children enter the reading world in a successful way.

Little Learners - Summer Safari

We had so much fun meeting with our homeschooling group today for our Little Learners activity day.  We used the Summer Safari tot pack to explore different elements of camping and safari animals.  

 The first thing we worked on was our scissor skills and puzzle skills.  I printed a few of the puzzle pages from the tot pack.  Then I used a spray adhesive to glue a piece of construction paper on the back of the pages.  That way the back of each person's puzzle pieces were color coded.  I tried to do everyone's favorite colors.

 After they cut out their puzzles they got to practice putting them together.

 I had a tent set up inside and didn't get any great pictures of it, but we all sat inside the tent to read stories.  We read the pre-reader book from the Summer Safari tot pack as well as a book from ReadingA-Z.com.

 Then we played with the hide-and-seek monkey.  It is a toy I got from ThinkGeek.com a few years ago as a Father's Day gift for my husband from our boys.  There is a receiver that you click and it makes the monkey make monkey sounds.  So one person hides the monkey and another person has to find it based on where they think the sound is coming from.  It was SO MUCH FUN for everyone and I wish I had pictures of it.

 We played a few tot pack games and then sang songs in the tent.  Our next activity was to make a hand print animal of our favorite safari animal.  Though they didn't all quite fit in "Safari" we went with requests.  We had peacocks, lions and zebras.  After they made their hand prints they got to paint for a bit.

 We really enjoy having a group that supports the growing ages and stages of all the children in our group.  I plan to host Little Learners once a month for group.  Today's activity was actually a postponed activity from May, so there will be another one next week.  It's the equivilent of a Tot School class, but all the moms stay.  If you're in the area (Aurora, CO) and need a homeschool group check us out: http://www.meetup.com/learnparents/

We had so much fun with the Summer Safari Tot Pack.  Be sure to stop by our giveaway and enter to win it for your Little Learners!  Low entrants means practically everyone will win!

Thanks to everyone for your support!  Be sure to swing by Circle of Moms today and click on the heart by the Little Adventures Preschool Monkey!

The Importance of Field Trips

One aspect of my Educational Philosophy that I didn't touch on before has to do with field trips.  I don't think I've ever voiced my opinion about them before or stressed to families why I thought they should come.  Better break that silence and let the world know: Field Trips are an ESSENTIAL part of life, particularly in the educational years of children and youth.  Throughout this post you can see some snapshots of great field trips we went on in the 2012-2013 school year.

 In my view, you can only learn so much in a classroom.  There are constrictions and limitations.  Even if you let toddlers play with dirt on your carpeted classroom floor there is still more they could gain from a trip beyond your four walls. Field trips enable a barrage of things: interactive learning, rejuvenating entertainment, supplemental learning, social interaction and community awareness, exposure to new ideas and places, pride and self affirmation, connections from the real world to our lives, application of knowledge and skill development, and overall learning!

 We have had a great time going on field trips with our friends this year.  There have been some field trips that didn't turn out great (little advanced preparation) and some field trips that were exceptional learning opportunities for everyone (mega advanced preparation).  I keep pushing for intentional experiences with our children and I think field trips are a great opportunity to be actively engaged in your child's interests and share tidbits of knowledge along the way.  Don't think of it as a time to go on a lovely walk and gab with your mom friends (though there is a time and a place for that), think of it as a field study where the adult is consciously making an effort to expose children to new ideas and experiences.

 I believe that (in the preschool years especially) kids should have a small amount of focused and purposeful education and then expand their growing understanding of the world by being in the world.  Ever go to a job interview where they didn't ask about your "Real World" experience?  Yea, neither have I.  As we take our kids on excursions, or field studies, we are allowing their intuitive nature to learn outside of the classroom.  This is how they will learn and thrive as they grow older.  How do you learn as an adult?  For me, learning involves a lot of reading, hands on experiences, lots of reading, hands on experiences, and repeat. Shouldn't we do our children the same service?

 When I asked a friend about her view on the importance of field trips it was like I lit a fire under her.  She wrote many paragraphs on her thoughts.  Turns out I'm not the only one passionate about field trips, but not all for the same reasons.  My friend, Katrina, is a mom to two young girls.  For her it the importance of the field trips has been multiple fold.  She has learned and grown as a mother.  In her words, "Field trips with one child take getting used to with preparing the diaper bag, snacks, lunch, stroller or ergo, camera, etc. but once you get the hang of it field trips are a rewarding way to give your child a new experience and exposure to new ideas. With my first child, I was gifted and purchased some local memberships. Going with your child (just the two of you) can be fun and educational; however, in my experience I found field trips through a moms meetup group or through little adventures preschool so much fun, rewarding and educational. Kids get to learn from all the moms and from each other. The kids begin learning socialization in addition to having a new type of stimulus. I found that I learned so much from watching other moms use various discipline techniques such as love and logic vs. others. I got to see what it's like to raise boys vs. girls. I got to watch mom balance two, three and more kids. I began learning all the different ways to parent and how my child best responds to new information. The great thing about field trips is that I got the opportunity to see what interests my child. I would get to see her get excited about the train at the zoo or the space exhibit at the museum. I learned that she loves trains and could care less about other things at this time. I know her interests change and develop over time but going on field trips is a great indicator to me on types of activities I can create and focus on at home. After we went to the fire station for a tour, my daughter wouldn't put down her safety tot pack. She played with it for weeks, so I took her on another tour at a different fire station then took her to the children's museum to play on their fire truck. For about two months, my one year old loved fire trucks. Than we moved on to space after seeing an exhibit at the DNSM."

I would encourage you to think about field trips you could take your children on and what the purpose of those field trips would be.  Ask yourself a few key questions, "What is worthy and requiring of understanding? What is evidence of understanding? What learning experiences and teaching promote understanding, interest, and excellence?"  I'd recommend you get your hands on a book called "Understanding by Design" (I have a first edition copy if anyone wants to borrow it). When children are small these questions have simple answers, the important part of it (to me at least) is that we as the adults are taking on the responsibility of raising our children and sharing knowledge intentionally.  We don't just sit idly and discover that life has passed us by without a thought.  

 Knowledge and the opportunity for learning is everywhere.  I love what my friend Katrina told me today about preparing for a field trip (shall we say "Field Study"?).  "We are planning on going to the Space exhibit at the Nature and Science Museum. I have put together a bag of space activities to throw in my car including space do-a-dot printables and round stickers, books on space, a space tot pack with dry erase crayons, and space stickers. Since these materials are with me, I can pull them out during snack or lunch and supplement the learning. For example, counting all the moon rocks, looking for letters drawn in the wet sand exhibit, or talking about the various colors of the planets. If we are unable to do the activities at the museum then that evening, or the following day, I pull out those activities at home to reinforce the learning experience referring to what we saw the previous day. This allows me to tailor the learning in a way that is age appropriate for my child. Many exhibits try to appeal to various age ranges but might not be perfect for my child to get the most out of it, so I have an opportunity to optimize learning while my child is engaged, interested and having fun."

Don't expect your child to learn more simply by spending more time inside a classroom.  Prioritize field trips.  Get out and learn from the world.  And while you're at it, take the opportunity to "optimize learning while [your] child is engaged, interested and having fun."

Happy Learning!

Summer Plans

What are your summer plans?  I intend to work hard with my play group (LEARN= Life Explored and Responsibility Nurtured) to set up education based intentional meetups.  I love being in a group that I consider my homeschooling group even though many of them aren't officially "homeschoolers".  We all have the same goals and values for our children and that is a powerful thing.  We're working on setting up a School Co-Op Day for the next school year that will engage all children from toddlers through Kindergartners (more on that Monday or Tuesday after we meet as a group).  In the mean time I'm hosting a variety of play dates known as "Little Learners" for the group to demonstrate to other moms how to lesson plan and intentionally spend time with their children.  We will be using the Little Adventures Tot Camp Printables as the lesson plans for these get togethers.  They are great packs you can use at home with your child(ren) or you can get together your playgroup and make it a fun meetup.

Tot packs are about 20 pages in length.  They each have a page of activities ideas and oodles of printables.  You can certainly use all or part of the lesson plans.  The printable pages include songs, matching games, drawing games and other activities.  Tot packs are designed to be a first introduction to math concepts, letters, shapes and colors.  They are not meant to obtain mastery in any subject.  Let them be a guide for educational play between you and your child.

There are 6 packs for the summer time curriculum and as we have each activity day I'll post pictures and share how it went.  If you are interested in getting in on the fun you can buy the packs from Teacher's Notebook or enter the raffle below to win your own downloadable set.

Tot Summer Camp -Download all 6 Summer Tot Packs-

click on the picture to link to the printable.

  

  

Little Adventures Preschool is holding spot #6 over at Circle of Moms Top 25 Homeschooling Moms for 2013.  Please show your support by stopping by and clicking the heart next to our logo.  Thank you! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway