Sight Words Play Mats

Recently I taught a lesson on subatomic particles to some 9th graders.  As part of the lesson I made a bunch of mats to represent places in the orbitals. They took me a while to put together, so I needed to come up with something else to do with them.  Hence, the Sight Words Play Mats.

To make the mats I cut some $2 shower curtain liners into squares.   Then I used a few colors of duct tape to make borders around each square.  Then I used a big roll of masking tape to put a word on each side of the mat.    I figured the masking tape would be easy to switch out for harder words later.  For now I mostly used sight words and prepositions.

Xander wanted to help out.

Showing off his mats.

We played a few ways.  I put out a bunch of the mats and had him jump, hop, and skip to different words.  In this picture he is attempting to stand on one foot on "because."

Then I put them all out in a big "snake."  He would call out a word then jump on it, working his way around the snake.  Since there were words on both sides, I could just flip over each mat when he made it through them all.  Of course, he had me play too.

I could see tossing balls or shooting darts on them.  What ideas can you think of?

Spring Theme

With my finals approaching, we took a couple of weeks off from the Mommy and Me ABCs.  Instead, we did some spring activities.

Rainbow Math Game

I posted this rainbow math game a while back.  I had him draw a number tile to determine how many clouds (cotton balls) to put in the sky.  He really liked it and wanted to do it multiple times.

Honeycomb Matching

This matching game and corresponding tiles (which can also be used for memory) are from the Bee Tot Pack.  We also did some tracing pages from there, but I never got a picture.

Books

He LOVES this book about Spring!  He wanted to read it every night before bed, and read it to himself multiple times.  We actually have Fall and Winter, so we will definitely need to buy the Summer book as well!

Such a little man sometimes!  He grabbed a box of wheat thins from my desk, grabbed his Bees book, and started reading to himself. 

Coloring

Butterfly and Flower Shape Match

This board was from his Big Button Fun Set.  It seemed to fit perfectly with the spring theme.

Turtle Number Match Game
I found this turtle matching game at a garage sale a while back and had completely forgotten about it.  I set out all the lily pads and had Xander put each turtle on its "home."

Pattern Blocks
We used our magnetic pattern blocks and a template to make a flower for spring.

Butterflies!
Also as part of our spring theme, I bought Xander a butterfly garden.  We ordered our caterpillars, watched them grow and change, and now they are all beautiful butterflies!  He even took them to daycare one day to show them off!  It was such a great experience.

Check out other spring ideas on my Spring Pinterest Board

Spring and Gardening Vocabulary Cards

Spring 3 Part Cards

Spring Little Reader Lesson

 Gardening 3 Part Cards

Gardening Little Reader Lesson

Time for Mommy: Summer Reading List

Recently life dealt a few blows, as it tends to do.  Anyway, it got me thinking that I really do not do enough for myself.  Life is pretty much school and Xander.  I'm sure there are many other moms out there that forget about themselves, so I decided I would try to incorporate a few blog posts about things I'm doing for myself, under the lable of Time for Mommy.  If there is interest, I would even be willing to start a linky for other Mommy Bloggers.  Don't feel obligated to read if you're only interested in the Tot School stuff.  I won't blame you. :)

As as first step towards remembering myself, I decided to make a summer reading list.  My semester is almost done, so I want to make sure I make some time to read something other than text books!  I may even update about my progress and thoughts a few times throughout the summer, just to keep myself accountable!  Let me know if there is anything I should add!

Positive Thinking

Since I often feel tired and overworked, I have found that I often gravitate towards books on positive thinking.  They remind me to be grateful for what I have and give me hope that it will get easier.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Science

I'm working on a masters to teach science, so I figure it will be good for me to throw some science non fiction in the mix.  I've never really read many of this type of book, so we will see how it goes.

The Universe in a Nutshell by Stephen Hawking

Death By Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! by Richard P. Feynman

Education

As a Tot School mom and a future teacher, I couldn't entirely leave out education books.

The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller

Just for Fun

It's summer!  I need some fun books too!

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

(This is the sequel to Divergent)

Requiem by Laruen Oliver

(This is the sequel to Delirium and Pandemonium)

Casual Vacancy by J.K.Rowling

Honestly, I'm pretty nervous about this book.  I am only really reading it because I LOVED Harry Potter.  I'm trying to have low expectations.

 

Infernal Devices Trilogy by Cassandra Clare

This series is a prequel to her Mortal Instruments series, of which I have read a few and really enjoyed.  (I actually want to finish that series, but am waiting until a little closer to the release date of the last book.)