Tuesday Quote of the Day

Silence is gold, but a child's laughter is golden.

~SNTaylor~

Monday Quote of the Day

If kids come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job easier. If they do not come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job more important." Barbara Colorose

The spark of motivation......

I have had a spark of motivation to try and do new things. Insha allah, I look forward to getting into more crafty hobbies that I have not had the time and know how to do. A friend of mine is really good at sewing and making cute things with her sewing machine. We are really considering starting up a sewing/craft club. I still want to work on my coloring book project though, with ramadan coming up, I just may work on a ramadan coloring activity as gifts. hmm, all these ideas, so little time :D I recently made a cute father's day card for my dad that turned out nice and he really liked. It was unique and thoughtful. He was surprised I made it!! so yes, I think I want to work on honing in on my creative potential!

Our world, our children

Why has the world turned its back on its most precious resource.....our children?

~ Quote of the Day~

“The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book.” 
Anonymous 

Bittersweet Goodbyes

This week has been bittersweet for me and my class. We had to say goodbye and good luck to four special girls who have gone on to bigger and better learning. My sweet girls have transitioned to the two year old classroom. *sniff* *sniff* While I will miss them terribly, I know it is for the best. Not only are they in good hands, they have two very competent teachers who will love and care for them as I have for the past year. Lucky for me though, their new class room is just down the hall, I can go a visit them on my breaks and see them on the playground as their playground area is just across from the toddler playground area. *sigh* Why do children have to grow up so fast?? *sigh* Goodbye my sweeties, and good luck!! it is my hope and prayer that I have given you what love and support you will need to become loving, kind, accomplished and well-rounded human-beings.

Love T

Friday Quote of the Day

If you truly love something (or someone), then you have to sometimes let it (them) go.

Thursday Quote of the Day

“The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.”
~Mark van Doren~

When life gives you lemons......

..... make lemon prints as an activity :D (or lemonade if the children are really thristy.)

So what do you do when the curriculum you've prepared is not going over well with the children? Well, it is always good to have a back up plan. With one-year olds, it is not always easy to win them over with cool new and interesting activities, new concepts or themes. Sometimes, instead of sitting down looking at the new pics you made to go with the theme of the week, they'd much rather play in the dramatic area; instead of painting with cool new colors and textures, they much rather watch the kids in the hall having music class. So what do you do when your children just aren't that into your curriculum? I go with their flow. If they are not interested in my book, toy or activity, then I join in on theirs :) With one-year olds, every interaction is a learning opportunity waiting to be experienced by both me and them.

Tuesday Quote of the Day

The more care you give in sowing the seed today,
the more care you will receive when the tree is grown.
~SNTaylor~

Monday Quote of the Day

We are children's present;
They are our future.
What they see and learn from us today,
They will remember and implement tomorrow.

~SNTaylor~

Teacher Appreciation Joke

The child comes home from his first day at school. Mother asks, "What did you learn today?" The kid replies, "Not enough. I have to go back tomorrow." 

Art project / Father's Day Gifts

We combined this sensory/art activity with father's day gifts. We started with art clay that the children pressed down into bowls to shape it. Then, they pushed in colorful shapes into the clay to make colorful mosaics. After the mosaics dried, we turned them over to let the children decorate it with water colors. For wrapping paper (Jen had every angle covered!) we let them paint large sheets of white paper. It was a lot of fun!

Friday quote of the Day

All learning begins with the simple phrase, "I don't know".

What does a bare wall mean?

My classroom walls are so bare now. We finally got them painted and looking nice, but now, our room seems so dull. Now when parents walk in they notice the walls. It is time to fill our walls with priceless pieces of love, creativity, ambition, and sometimes way too much energy that comes with toddler artists!! :) Lets get to creating friendz!!!!

Thursday Quote of the Day

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
William A. Ward

Wednesday Quote of the Day

"My mom didn't just tell me how to live a good life; she lived it, and I followed her example."

~SNTaylor~

Tuesday Quote of the Day

~By learning you will teach, by teaching you are learning~ Latin Proverb

10 ways to de-stress

Teaching can be a very stressful job. We want to impart our knowledge and love for learning and exploring new things to the little ones (and big ones) in our care. Not everyday will be a fun-filled learning day. Some days will be grilling, knock-down, tear-jerking, knee-wobbling, back-breaking, exhausting days where nothing goes according to plan. It's okay, here are some things I do to help me relax and de-stress after a rough day in toddler-land.

1. Stretch and take a deep breath as soon as you leave the center/school.
2. Eat a healthy (or your favorite snack).
3. Pray/ meditate
4. Listen to relaxing music or a little tv.
5. Take a power nap.
6. Take a few minutes to write about the good things that happened that day.
7. Do a little light reading.
8. Do some form of exercise; I like to walk.
9. Get together with some friends (the big kind :D )

And when all else fails, CHOCOLATE always put in my happy place :D

*Thursday Quote*

A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others. ~Author Unknown~

Book Review: The Farmyard Jamboree

I have a new favorite book for my classroom! The Farmyard Jamboree is a very cute counting story about a boy and his growing number of farm pets. Sung to a very nice, soothing melody, the pictures capture my students attention, while the music calms them. It is a very good intro to math concepts as well, they are introduced to the multiples of 2. Such a cute story and song :) I give it 2 thumbs up!!

Week 6/8 - 6/12

This week's theme in my classroom is "My Favorite Things". We will read favorite books the children bring from home and sing favorite songs chosen by the children. This theme will also promote sharing as the children will share their favorite items with their friends.

For sensory fun, we will play with different textures (oatmeal, corn flour and starch). They will watch and discover what happens to each of these different items when we add water to them.  

We made playdough yesterday. They really liked that, especially since they got to help make it! The playdough will be used to make Mosaics for Father's Day gifts.

This is promising to be a really fun week!

Tuesday Quote

You can learn many things from children.  How much patience you have, for instance.  ~Franklin P. Jones