Christmas Gift List - Updated

Last year I posted Xander's Christmas list and some suggestions of our favorite toys (check it out here).  It is a new year, so it is time to update!  You can also check out our favorite learning tools and toys list here.  Affiliate links are used - thanks for supporting our site!

Here are some of the things on Xander's list this year.

Magna-Tiles Deluxe Set
Castle Logix Game
Color Code Game
Magnetic Match Rings
Balance Board
Linkazoo
Zoobs

Toys We Own and Recommend
 

Magna-Tiles (you can read my blog post about these here)
Playstix

Educational Insights Design and Drill Activity Center

Wedgits

Candy Construction
Saxoflute
Magnetix

 

Thanksgiving Week

Things have been a little crazy lately, but we still managed to sneak in some educational fun over Thanksgiving week.  Here is what we have been up to!

We started off the month with a Tree of Gratitude.  Every day we each added a leaf with something for which we are thankful.  I loved this activity and wish we could leave it up all year!

Magna-Tile Turkey

I got out our Thanksgiving 3 Part Cards from last year, and Xander remembered most of the words!

I also found some great school packs from Our Little Monkeys and 3 Dinosaurs!  We did some word family sorting...

some numbered puzzles...

and some measuring.

I also found this cute scarecrow craft from Oriental Trading.

As a special break from my own schoolwork, we spent one night with a friend in Chicago and went to the Museum of Science and Industry.  We both had a great time and could have easily spent a few days exploring the exhibits!

Of course we read tons of books, I just didn't snap any pictures.  Xander's absolute favorite was I Know An Old Woman Who Swallowed a Pie

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to take a moment to say Happy Thanksgiving and express how grateful I am.  I appreciate everyone who takes the time to stop by the blog.  I am also incredibly grateful for the opportunities I've had to spend tot school time with my son.  It isn't always easy, but I would not trade that time with him for anything!  Thank you again for being great readers!  I hope to come back to posting regularly in another week or two when things calm down!

Fall Theme

This was another light week for us (I'm worried they may all be light until the end of this semester.  It is kicking my butt!).  Since it is November and Thanksgiving is approaching, I decided to do a fall theme.  I found some great printables from 3 Dinosaurs, which made the week a lot easier!

Fall Themed Activities

First of all, we read a ton of books!  I'm not sure why we have so many more fall books than any other season, but we do.

Word families with leaves.  With as well as he reads, I thought he would breeze through this activity.  However, I was surprised that it was a little tough for him.  He kept wanting to sort by beginning sound rather than ending sound.  It is something we will have to work on!

Fall Sensory Bin
I just used split peas for a base and added a bunch of acrylic leaves and pumpkins.  He also loves his little tin watering can.

Tree Stamping
I printed the silhouette of a tree and had Xander use stampers to add leaves and acorns.

Robin Puzzle

Preschool Backpack

Here is what was in this week's Preschool Backpack:

Fall worksheets from 3Dinosaurs and Homeschool Creations

3 Part Fall Vocabulary Cards

Fall Patterning Set

Fall Books

Block Buddies

Digraph Puzzles

Other School Acitivies

For his birthday Xander received some cool life cycle toy sets.  We read Grub to Ladybug and Ladybugs.  Then we played with the ladybug life cycle set.

Magna-Tiles on the light table.  I LOVE his face in this picture.  He was so hesitant to have me get out the light box, but loved the effect!

He really enjoys his Brain Games: Kindergarten book.  I usually have to limit him to a few pages, or we would blow through the whole thing!

Wedgits with Grandpa