Tots and Me... Growing Up Together: guest post

Showing posts with label guest post. Show all posts

Sunday, October 2, 2016

I'm Guest Posting Over on Faith and Good Works!

Jenny Morris from Faith and Good Works has a fun guest post series going on over on her blog. It is called, Interview With a Homeschool Mom.

I am one of 25 homeschool moms that Jenny is interviewing this year. She wants to show how homeschooling is different for each family. We are all unique.

I got to answer such questions as:

How many children are you currently homeschooling? How long have you been homeschooling?
Have your children always been homeschooled? Why did you decide to homeschool?
and
How would you describe your style of homeschooling?

So, if you would like to see my answers, I invite you to head on over to her blog and read my interview. Don't forget to check out all the other posts that have been shared this year. I'm sure you believe me that we are all different. But it is fun to read how different families do things.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Littles Learning Link Up: Guest Post: Teaching U.S. Geography Through Picture Books

Each month you will find:

A seasonal round-up (toward the beginning of the month)
A guest post featuring crafts, activities, tips, snack ideas or other early childhood topics. (toward the end of the month)
Posts where I share what I have been up to with my preschoolers and/or early elementary children (including occasional highlight posts where I share how we used ideas that have been linked up here on Littles Learning Link Up).

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme. Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up.

I hope you will continue to share your wonderful posts, and I hope you will find something new to try with your child.

It would be great for everyone to stop by and visit the other linked-up posts as well. Check them out, leave some comments, pin those that interest you. Let's make this a real party and socialize with each other.

I'm going to shake things up a bit this month and switch around the round up and the guest post.

It is time for this month's Guest Post:

Today I would like to introduce you to Jenny from Faith and Good Works.

Jenny Morris is a Christ-following, Military wife-married to her own personal G.I. Joe. Mama of 4 amazing kids, ages ranging from 6 years to 25 years, 3 boys & 1 girl. Happily homeschooling for 11 years. She is the author of Faith and Good Works, where she writes mostly about homeschooling & her family life. When she isn’t chasing after her two youngest sons, she enjoys photography, crocheting, and genealogy. You can find Jenny on Facebook, Twitter, G+ and Pinterest.

Today she is going to share about learning U.S. geography through picture books.

As an introduction to US Geography for Kindergarten we are using several children's picture books that are based in a different part of the United States. Each book will allow us to travel to different states across the United States from the comfort of our own couch.

We read Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

and our comfy couch travels found us in Boston, Massachusetts in the Boston Public Garden.

After reading the book, Everett and I looked at a United States map to find Boston. We talked for a few
minutes about where we live, and counted the states in between Kentucky and Massachusetts.

We watched this video about baby ducklings.

We worked on these worksheets from 123 Homeschool 4 Me.

Since our weather has been so wonderfully warm the past few days, we had to go to the Duck Garden - that's what Everett called it.

Everett wore his police cap so that he could be Policeman Michael and help the ducks cross the road.

We didn't have any peanuts so we fed the ducks potato chips, they liked them just as much. The ducks were pretty friendly and would surround us waiting for more potato chips.

This goose was a little too friendly! He thought for sure that my cell phone was something edible and tried to take it off the bench.

We really enjoyed reading Make Way for Ducklings and our adventure with the ducks. For More Printables & Activities to go with Make Way for Ducklings Follow Jenny Morris's board Homeschool: Make Way for Ducklings on Pinterest.

If you would like to guest post on Littles Learning Link Up, please contact me via email. My email address can be found on my About Me page. I am scheduling posts for the next several months and would love to include yours. I ask that the guest posts focus on subjects relevant for young children (toddler through early elementary). This could be crafts, activities, recipes, or various tips and advice. I am always open to suggestions. Details will be emailed to those who are interested.

Now Onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 13 wonderful posts linked up. I will be picking one randomly selected post to share, plus the top clicked-on posts.

Don't forget to stop by other posts that are linked up. See what catches your eye, stop by, pin the post to a relevant board, and perhaps leave a comment to let the author of the blog know you have been by for a visit. I know I appreciate others commenting and letting me know they have read my posts, so I am sure others do too.

This week's randomly selected post is:

Lisa from Syncopated Mama shared Froggy Goes to School Book Activities.

And here are this week's most clicked on posts:

Michelle from Homeschool-Your-Boys.com shared 10 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me My First Year of Homeschooling.

Briana Marie from Major League Mommy shared 9 "Family Time" Activities You'll Love.

Join the Party!

I would love to have you join in this week! What sort of activities do you do with your young children? Do you have some favorite activities you would like to share? I invite you to link up below. I will be pinning posts on my Toddler Ideas or other relevant board, and I would love to feature some of the activities each week from what is linked up.

Please know I may share a picture from your post and link back to it, along with sharing how we used your idea in our school time. By linking up you are giving me permission to use a picture from your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. Additionally, if you choose to try out any of the ideas with your child, please make sure you give credit where credit is due.

Linky will be open through Sunday night, to give me time to check out all the posts and get the Features organized. Please take the time to visit some of the other wonderful posts linked up.

An InLinkz Link-up

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Littles Learning Link Up: Guest Post: Teaching Toddlers Self-Help Skills (Includes Free Printable)

Each month you will find:

A seasonal round-up (toward the beginning of the month)
A guest post featuring crafts, activities, tips, snack ideas or other early childhood topics. (toward the end of the month)
Posts where I share what I have been up to with my preschoolers and/or early elementary children (including occasional highlight posts where I share how we used ideas that have been linked up here on Littles Learning Link Up).

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme. Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up.

I hope you will continue to share your wonderful posts, and I hope you will find something new to try with your child.

Today I would like to introduce you to Amanda from Sicily's Heart and Home.

Amanda is the founder of Sicily’s Heart and Home where she helps mamas educate their youngest learners and plan a home education environment for toddlers and preschoolers. She has an 18-month old daughter and another little one due in February. Amanda is a former public education teacher with experience working with infants up to 5 th grade. You can follow Amanda in her Facebook group, Instagram, and Pinterest. She also offers a monthly Print and Play calendar with simple play activities every day of the week.

My daughter, Sicily (18 months), is very self-sufficient. I started teaching her how to be independent and using her self-help skills from a very early age. Today I wanted to share with you some of things we did to help Sicily with her self-help skills and tips for you to use as well.

Start Early

The best tip I can give is to start early. The later you start with self-help skills the more difficult it will be to break them out of the habit of relying on you for everything. As soon as Sicily was able to hold a paper towel, I expected her to help clean up her own messes. At first, she didn’t even hit the mess with the towel, but that’s not really the point. When first starting a new self-help skill, the point is to get them to help whether is actually helps or not. I praised her for just grabbing the towel and rubbing the floor.

Another self-help skill that I started early was throwing things in the trash. As soon as Sicily was able to walk steadily, I expected her to throw away her own trash and diapers. She actually really enjoys throwing away her trash and will purposefully find “trash” on the floor to throw away.

Praise

Praise your child for trying, even if they don’t exactly get it right. Praise is through words of encouragement, not rewards. Do not offer stickers, money, or candy for completing a task that is expected of them.

Rewards create a sense of completing a task just for a reward. Through self-help skills, you want to create a sense of accomplishment and a desire to do tasks for themselves. To nurture these feelings, you need to offer praise. We do lots of high fives at our house. Phrases such as “You are such a big girl,” “That was super helpful,” and “Thank you” really do give kids that boost they need to help them complete the task again in the future.

I believe that once you even start with rewards, you will have to continue with rewards because your child will expect it. So don’t even start them.

Be Consistent

Every child needs consistency in everything they do. Whether you are teaching a concept or creating a routine. If you expect your child to throw away his own trash, then you need to expect if every time. When we are consistent with self-help skills, we are teaching our children to be responsible. Eventually, they will do these tasks without having to be reminded, as long as you are consistent.

A fair warning, they will try the “I can’t” card on you multiple times. It’s a trap, and you can’t give in. Let them know that you believe in them and expect them to complete the task. Simple phrases such as “I know you can do this” and “You are capable of cleaning up this mess” are great ways to get over the “I can’t” trap.

Provide Visuals

When just starting out with self-help skills, we want to foster independence and responsibility. Young children perform best when given visuals to follow. I created this little chart for Sicily to follow for her morning and night routines.

First, you want to teach all these self-help skills independently before creating the chart. Your child needs to know how to do the skill before becoming responsible for the skill. Once they are proficient or can complete it will minimal help, then you can add the chart to help with responsibility.

I made two charts, one for her morning routine and one for her night time routine. I placed them on her bedroom door using Velcro. I wanted the charts to be removable for when she stayed at someone else’s house, like her grandmother’s or fathers.

Making the Chart

You can download the picture cues by clicking on this link. Use the ones that pertain to your routines.
Next, I cut file folder in half and used the bottom half for the chart. I cut it into the number of sections (tasks) I needed.
Glue the picture on the inside of the folder and add Velcro to the top of each picture to keep the flap up.
On the outside of each flap, write the word DONE.
Before each routine, I open the folder and we go over each task. Then as Sicily completes each task, she closes the flap to let me know that she is done.

Self-Help Skills

These are the skills toddlers and preschoolers should be working on. Remember to start teaching these skills as soon as they are capable.

-Throwing trash away

-Getting dressed (This is a slow process. Getting dress requires some skill. Right now I expect her to pull the shirt over her head and put her arms through. We are working on getting our legs into the holes.)

-Helping you wash themselves in the bath (I let Sicily start, and I finish by getting the areas she can’t reach)

-Cleaning up messes

-Putting dirty clothes in the hamper

-Drink from a regular cup

-Set their place at the table

-Use silverware

-Brush hair and teeth (Again, Sicily starts and I finish)

-Clean up toys

I would love to hear what self-help skills you are working on with your toddlers. Please share in the comments below.

Now Onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 8 wonderful posts linked up. I will be picking one randomly selected post to share, plus the top clicked-on posts.

This week's randomly selected post is:

Lisa from Syncopated Mama shared 5 After 5, Top Tips to Stay Cool In the Summer Heat.

And here are this week's most clicked on posts:

Strength in Words shared DIY "Special Space" Parachute.

Strength in Words also shared Episode 25: A Community Sings - 25th Episode Celebration.

Join the Party!

An InLinkz Link-up

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Littles Learning Link Up: Guest Post: Early Elementary Lighthouse Unit Study

Each month you will find:

A seasonal round-up (toward the beginning of the month)
A guest post featuring crafts, activities, tips, snack ideas or other early childhood topics. (toward the end of the month)
Posts where I share what I have been up to with my preschoolers and/or early elementary children (including occasional highlight posts where I share how we used ideas that have been linked up here on Littles Learning Link Up).

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme. Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up.

I hope you will continue to share your wonderful posts, and I hope you will find something new to try with your child.

Today I would like to introduce you to Yvie from Gypsy Road.

Yvie is a road-schooling mother of two active boys! While traipsing across the country, she creates Lego-themed school and enjoys meeting up with other families. Find her at Gypsy Road, Educents, or on Instagram or Facebook.

Being from middle America, one of our favorite places to visit is the ocean. It's not just the novelty of being at the coast, but the sensory experience! The kids also love traipsing up and down every lighthouse we come upon....we've learned an awful lot about American coastal history this way!

Here is a short, early elementary unit all about lighthouses for your own coastal vacation. Bon Voyage!

Early Elementary Lighthouses Unit Study
Drawing & Writing Prompt

Design your own lighthouse. Draw your lighthouse, and show off your new design! Where is your lighthouse? Tell about your life as a lighthouse keeper. Who have you saved? What animals have you met?

Read-Aloud List

Real-Time

Live Web Cam - York, ME Lighthouse

Build a Lighthouse

Supplies: (per child)

paper plate,
16 oz or larger Styrofoam cup,
1 inch toilet paper roll piece,
construction paper,
scissors, toothpick,
wooden bead or pony bead,
glue (foam or tacky glue works best),
scotch tape,
regular markers, & permanent markers

Assembly:

You can start by coloring your island with waves breaking over the shore and rocks and trees around the island. If a number of children are making the lighthouse and you want to identify the builders, put their name on the other side and set it aside.
Using the bottom of your “tower”, draw a circle on a piece of construction paper for the Dome [Note: you should use the same color paper you plan to color your lantern room]; cut the circle out and set it aside.
Now you decorate the tower. Using the permanent marker (fine point works best) draw the door and windows. At this time you can color your tower with stripes or other patterns to display your daymark (see examples below).
Glue your tower to the island and set it aside. [Note: If you are making a large number of lighthouses for a group of children, it is recommended that you pour some white glue into a small plastic container that the bottom of the tower fits; dip tower lightly into the glue and place it on the island.]
Next prepare the lantern room. Cut 2” piece of paper roll and cut a 5 ½” x 1” piece of yellow construction paper to make your storm window. Using the permanent marker, make a border along the long edges and, if you choose, down the center of the strip. Tape one end of the strip at the top of the lantern room, wrap it around, and tape the other end. Draw in the astragals (metal frame running vertically or diagonally that divides the lantern room glass into sections) with the permanent marker.
Color your lantern room below the window strip. Using the circle cut earlier for the dome cut a slit to the center and slide one edge over the other to form a peaked cap; tape it together.
Glue the lantern room to the top of the tower and the dome on top. [Note: If making a large number, use the white glue in a plastic container, and dip both ends of the lantern room, place on tower, and attach dome.]
Now take the vent ball and carefully put some glue into the hole [Fast drying glue works best], about ½ full, set it on the peak of the dome, and stick the lightning rod (a 1” piece of toothpick, sharp end up) into the glue in the ball.

Now Onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 22 wonderful posts linked up. I will be picking one randomly selected post to share, plus the top clicked-on posts.

This week's randomly selected post is:

Greatly Blessed shared Our Quiet Week.

And here are this week's most clicked on posts:

1- Like a Bubbling Brook shared How to Get Kids Outside, Plus Our 3 Favorite Backyard Toys for Ultimate Summer Fun.

2- Sicily's Heart and Home shared Father's Day Books and Activities.

3-Syncopated Mama shared Latticed Learning, Week 35.

4- Gypsy Road shared The Twist (Chubby Checker).

Join the Party!

An InLinkz Link-up

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Littles Learning Link Up: Guest Post: Pond Circle Story Time For Preschoolers

Each month you will find:

A seasonal round-up (toward the beginning of the month)
A guest post featuring crafts, activities, tips, snack ideas or other early childhood topics. (toward the end of the month)
Posts where I share what I have been up to with my preschoolers and/or early elementary children (including occasional highlight posts where I share how we used ideas that have been linked up here on Littles Learning Link Up).

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme. Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up.

I hope you will continue to share your wonderful posts, and I hope you will find something new to try with your child.

Today I would like to introduce you to KT from Lit Mama Homeschool

KT Brison offers a brand new Story Time every Monday, as well as novel studies and free downloads, at Lit Mama Homeschool. Most days you can find her either romping about her farm with her wonderful boys or with her nose buried in a book. Any book. As long as it has words.

Today KT is sharing a fun Story Time right here on Littles Learning Link Up. Pull up a chair and join me as we check out these fun activities revolving around a fun picture book.

The Big Lesson I learned when I was a children's librarian is that even the most reluctant reader can enjoy a book given the right activities. We did crafts and food at the library, but when I started homeschooling my boys I realized I could put a lot more into this reading thing, turning a picture book into a short unit study. Relating activities to a book enhances both the book and the activities. I started planning lessons around my boys' favorite books and soon they were hooked. At 11 and 13, they are avid readers. You can instill that same love of books in your littles with just a bit of planning. Lucky you, you have me to do the planning for you!

Spring is a great time of year to get involved in nature study and there are lots of picture books to choose from if you want to form a lesson for your preschooler. One of my favorites is Pond Circle by Betsy Franco. This book is told kind of in the style of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, with each page building on and repeating the last, so it's an excellent book if you want your child to start recognizing words in preparation for reading. Add in beautiful illustrations and an account of many different creatures that make the pond their home, and you have picture book gold.

What kinds of activities can your preschooler do along with this gem of a book? Well, let's get to it.

English

Because there are so many similar words throughout these pages, sight word recognition is a good place to start. If your preschooler is not quite there, letter recognition would also work. Here's a free download that has BOTH! That way you can use one now and one later if you want. I mean, you're welcome.

Science

This is as easy as studying the life cycles of some of the creatures in the book. I've found some incredible sites for you that you can view pictures of life cycles on. Even for a mayfly.

Flymaster -- Mayfly life cycle

Animal Corner -- Beetle life cycle

Quest Garden -- Frog life cycle (even has a video you can watch)

RSO Snakes --Snake life cycle and in-depth article about reproduction

Sparkle Box -- Owl life cycle

Twinkl -- Mammal life cycle

There are also free mini units about turtles, frogs and toads, raccoons, and owls Lit Mama's Subscriber Freebies if you are looking for more in-depth studies.

Craft

What better craft for a pond book than a lily pad? Your preschooler will not only love this cute craft, she won't be overwhelmed by it because it's so. stinkin'. easy.

What you need:

Green construction paper
2 cupcake liners
Yellow foam sheet (or if you have lots of foam shapes laying around like I do, pick a yellow flower)
Glue
Scissors
Saucer or bowl for tracing circle

What you do:

Trace the plate or bowl onto the paper so you have a perfect circle

Cut out the circle

Cut a triangle shape out of one side of the circle
Set aside

Cut triangle shapes from the ridged part of both cupcake liners to make 'petals'

Glue one liner onto lilypad opposite the triangle cutout
Lightly flatten the petals (Sorry for the blurry pic. Unfortunately I am seldom perfect.)

Glue second liner into first, adjusting so the petals do not line up, giving it a staggered effect
Cut a flower shape from the yellow foam (or go the lazy mama's route like I did and pick one out of your bag of foam shapes)
Glue the flower to the center of the lily flower

If you want to use some fancy wavy scissors to go around the outside of the lilypad, have at it! Totally unnecessary, though.

See? I told ya this was going to be easy.

Food

Let's keep the easy peasy going with Nymphs and Algae Celery Sticks

What you need:

2-3 celery sticks (or more, depending on the number of littles)
1/2 cup peanut butter
Green food coloring
Small box of raisins

What you do:

Scoop the peanut butter into a small bowl
Add 3 or more drops of food coloring, combining until your peanut butter is a nice green
Cut each celery stick into thirds
Spread peanut butter over celery sticks
Place 3-5 raisins atop peanut butter

Done and done! These are so easy your preschooler can even help make them!

Doing these activities along with your little while reading this incredible book is going to create good memories and put your little on the path to a lifelong love of reading. Plus, it offers you an hour or two undivided time with your precious baby.

Yeah yeah.

Love wins,

Now Onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 28 wonderful posts linked up. I will be picking one randomly selected post to share, plus the top clicked-on posts.

This week's randomly selected post is: