new for us friday: book giveaway and relay

Things have been crazier than crazy over here lately, as we're gearing up for our annual Relay for Life, trying to plan our fundraisers, and enjoying our fleeting springtime on top of it all.

Last year, our team rocked it with our Cinco de Mayo Fundraiser which not only was a blast but also proved to bring in a good chunk of change for Team Scott. However, this year, with a new teething, fluffy, sock-stealing, trouble-making baby on our hands, a big par-tay with a packed house is just not going to happen.

Instead, Team Scott is totally excited to have joined forces with a talented writer and illustrator from our ole stompin' ground in the Keystone State. Together, we're getting the word out on their awesome book (and giving one away to a lucky teachmama reader!) and we're working together to raise money for Team Scott.

So this New For Us Friday shares the way we've combined some of our favorite things around here--books and learning--with something we feel passionately about-- raising money for cancer research through the Relay for Life.

Here's the skinny:

• In Mommy's Garden, Book Review (and Giveaway!): Written by Neyal Ammary-Risch and illustrated by Christopher Risch, In Mommy's Garden is an award-winning book designed to help explain cancer to young children. But it's not just any book that explains cancer to young children--this one is hands-down awesome.
  

With bright colors and soft illustrations, In Mommy's Garden uses the analogy of weeds in a garden to explain how cancer acts in a person's body. We've turned to this book several times over the last few years when the topic of cancer came up in our home.

I truly believe that its simplicity, grace, and beauty far surpass any other book I've seen on the same topic. I've recommended it to many, many friends and family members.

Although the book is geared for children ages 3-7, it is really appropriate for any age. It is a great starting point for beginning the dialogue and discussion on a difficult and frightening subject.

The child in the book asks questions that Maddy and Owen--and I'm sure nearly every child--asked when they first heard about the disease: I wondered if you could catch cancer the same way you catch a cold. Could I get it too? The question is answered gently but directly in a conversation between a mother and her child while they are in their garden.

I was impressed with this book from the first day I saw it, but when I turned to it because I really needed to use it as a teaching tool for Maddy and Owen, I found it even more incredible and worthwhile.

The super-cool part of In Mommy's Garden? For every book that is sold between now and the Relay for Life, the authors will donate 20% of the proceeds to Team Scott! Hooray! Thank you, Neyal and Chris--

So go ahead and order yours now, in English, Spanish, or both!

Giveaway! giveaway! Giveaway!
The authors are also donating a signed copy of the book to one teachmama reader. All you need to do is leave a comment below explaining why it is important that your family receives this book, OR if that is too difficult for you to do, please just leave your name. I understand.
(Remember to leave your email address please. The giveaway will end on 5/07/10 at midnight.)

• Team Scott, Relay for Life: On June 12, our team will Relay to honor our friend Scott and all of our family and friends who have--and are--battling cancer. Our team will continuously walk the track for 24 hours to signify that cancer never rests.
  

-If you would like to make a donation to Team Scott, we'd be extremely grateful.

-You could also buy a luminaria to celebrate someone's recovery or honor a loved one's memory.

-And you could also purchase a copy of In Mommy's Garden.

-If you're local, visit us on Relay Day--we'd love to see you!

Unfortunately, everyone I know has been touched by cancer in some way, shape, or form. It stinks. It's frustrating and exhausting and horrible, and the bottom line is that we all need to work together to find a cure. So what can you do? Just a start:

Read my inspiring friend, Susan, at Toddler Planet. Check out Mothers With Cancer. Join the Army of Women like my friends and I have. Find your own local Relay for Life and get a team started. We can do this. We have to do this.

labeling and learning, learning and labeling

For our making our rainy weekend a lot more bright, I'm extending big thanks to my awesome Aunt Pat. She's a former Head Start and Pre-K teacher who entertained us for years with stories of her students and inspiring classroom ideas.

A few weeks ago, she sent us the coolest, most fun teaching materials ever--she sent us packages and packages and packages of removable wall letters.

I've been waiting for the right time to go label-nutty with Maddy, Owen, and Cora, and there was no better time than this past rainy, gray weekend. We had no place to go, no visitors visiting, and the day was spent cleaning and organizing. And labeling. And learning.

• Labeling and Learning: Almost every preschool and early elementary classroom in the country has labels on just about everything in order to help support emerging readers. Simple, laminated cards to identify desks, chairs, centers, and supplies help our little ones become comfortable with letters and sounds and help them to associate an object with its name.

Found on discount, discount, clearance, clearance, my
aunt said she got these for a crazy deal!

I've never actually labeled the items in our house before as a teaching tool, but this weekend, when I came across the huge package of letters, I was ready to have my little ones do the dirty work for me.

Still in their pj's I said, Oh my gosh! Look what I found, my friends! Aunt Pat sent these to us a few weeks ago. Look at this!

I unwrapped a package, peeled off a 'W' and stuck it on the wall. Maddy and Owen looked at each other and then looked back at me like I was crazy. Owen said, I don't think we're supposed to put stickers on the wall, Mommy. They will not come off.

By then I was on the final 'L' of 'wall' and Maddy yelled, Wall! It says 'wall'!

And I said, You got it. And watch this-- (I peeled off the 'L' and then stuck it back on again.) They're removable. They stick on then peel off. Try it. Let's put labels on the things in our house!

So that's what we did: we labeled. And labeled some more. I labeled what I could, and I hung close to Maddy and Owen to help them when they weren't sure of a letter.

When Maddy asked how to spell 'light', I said, What sound do you hear in the beginning, and what letter makes that sound? to help her get started with sounding it out. Because I know she hasn't learned the 'gh' sound, I gave it to her but said, and what is the final sound you hear in 'light'? to have her concentrate on the final 't' sound.

Because these letters were so huge and they were putting them out where everyone could see them, I found that both Maddy and Owen were really attentive to the letters of the words. They'd ask and ask again before they stuck a letter on an object.

You guessed it--it's a pillow.

Owen moved to adding prepositions everywhere he could (under, up, on), I think prompted by his current obsession, the Dinosaurs Love Underpants book, which is a post for another day.

And that's it. The labels are still lazily labeling, and because our house is a house already filled with Legos, puzzles, coloring books, and puppy toys, the letters everywhere don't bother me. In fact, I heard Owen chanting, U-P, U-P, up, up, up. . . as he walked upstairs for rest yesterday, so in my mind, the labels are here to stay. At least for a while.

If you're up for labeling yourself but don't have the letter wall stickers, I have House Labels as a pdf that I plan to print out and use myself after we take the letters down. It includes the basics and a blank sheet for words I forgot to include. Click on House Lables to download and print.

They're just for fun, just to see if they remember, and just to hear my kids chanting D-O-O-R, D-O-O-R, door, door, door. . . in a few weeks.

So thanks again, Aunt Pat, for thinking of us! Thanks again for being a super aunt, for the many fun summer getaways at your house, for connecting me to my very first pen pal, for the incredibly awesome care packages in college, and for being a teaching inspiration to me for as long as I can remember! Hugs!

happy national kids and pet day! (and giftcard giveaway)

Ever since we added curly-furred Brady to our family, my kids have been in dog-heaven. Countless times in the last three weeks, Maddy, Owen, and Cora have said,

Our family is so happy to have a dog!

How did we ever find the best dog in the world?

What did we ever do before we had Brady? (I wonder the same thing. . . )

Pets are a lot of work, but they are also great "teaching tools" for our little ones. Even our tinies can learn about responsibility, empathy, and compassion when caring for pets, so yes, we're definitely celebrating National Kids and Pet Day over here!

In honor of National Kids and Pet Day, the Kroger Company is sharing tons of information on pet safety, selecting the right pet for your family, and making sure your family's animal friends are taken care of. And the very cool part of Kroger's National Kids and Pet Campaign is that Kroger has sent me two $20.00 gift cards to give to teach mama readers so they can spoil their pets a bit!

our 'house rules' for loving Guinea and Golden

Here are some important pieces of information that Kroger wants everyone to know--

To promote pet safety, parents can:

• teach their kids to pet softly, to stay away from food dishes and bones, and not to startle your pet while it's sleeping;
• keep babies and toddlers at a higher level than their dog since dogs perceive height as representative of their hierarchy;
  
• not buy dogs toys that resemble their child's stuffed toys or clothing;
• involve their child in their pet's care--even having a child in the room while the pet is receiving a treat or attention can build a positive association to children.

Consider checking out these family-friendly dog breeds:

• Cocker Spaniels are lap dogs that are sensitive and sweet and enjoy the attention of children. They are obedient with training and friendly around people.
• Pugs are affectionate breeds that love being a part of a family. They're outgoing and mischievious, and make playful companions for children.
• Golden Retrievers are similar to labs in personality and are easy to train and are gentle with children. They are mild-mannered and enjoy being around families and other people.
• Basset Hounds are good with children of all ages, although their long backs need to be supported when they are picked up. They are known for their docile nature and gentleness.

Consider Pet Insurance:

• Kroger also offers pet insurance options through PetFirst. Their pet insurance policies cover routine care and medical procedures for dogs and cats, and it's available at more than 2400 stores in the Kroger family, including City Market, Dillon's, Fred Meyer, Frye's, King Sooper, Owen's, Pay Less, OFC, Ralph's, and Smith's.
• Pet insurance can be purchased online at http://www.krogerpersonalfinance.com/pet-insurance/
• Kroger's pet insurance works at any veterinarian nationwide, with a reimbursement typically occurring within two weeks. Coverage starts as low as $9.95/month and right now, individuals who purchase online can save $10.

Now that you've got the skinny on general pet safety, some family-friendly breeds, and keeping your pet healthy, if you're up for scoring one of two $20.00 gift cards to any of the Kroger family stores, here's what you can do:

• simply leave a comment here telling me how you'd pamper your pet with your $20 gift card. (Just remember to leave your email address so I can reach you if you win.)

And for some extra entries, you can:

• subscribe to teach mama; head over and join we teach; add a teach mama or we teach button to your site; join teach mama's Facebook Fan page; or follow teachmama on Twitter. (Just be sure to tell me what you did!)
  

This giveaway will close at midnight on Monday, May 3, 2010.

disclosure: For helping to spread the word about National Kids and Pet Day, I was provided with two $20 gift cards--one to spoil my pet and one to give to a teach mama reader to spoil his or her pet. I'm choosing to give two $20 gift cards to two super-cool teach mama readers because I love them so very much. Thanks to Kroger Co. and Global Influence for supporting this campaign and for providing the gift cards.

new for us friday: springtime love notes

Now that spring is officially here, it's time for new Springtime Lunchbox Love Notes!

This New For Us Friday is super easy and very simple, but it's something that both Maddy and Owen seem to really, really love. I have also started giving notes to Cora--even though she's rarely far from my side--by leaving her a note on her pillow or nightstand.

Who isn't excited to get a little love note now and again?

• Springtime Lunchbox Love Notes: Just like the ones I've been throwing in lunchboxes all year long, these notes are tiny and easy to print, cut out, and personalize each morning.
  

The Springtime Lunchbox Love Notes can be downloaded as a pdf if you'd like to add them to your kiddos' lunchboxes. Enjoy!

One thing I've tried to do is make these notes easy--easy for me to add a simple 'I love you!' or just put an 'xoxoxo' if it's a busy morning. This batch has some phrases we've been using this season, and they incorporate easy-to-decode words with some slightly longer messages that are supported by related pictures.

I want the notes to be easy enough for Maddy to read on her own and for Owen to recognize some words. After getting a repeat note or two, I want the picture on each card to trigger the simple message for Owen or Cora, and I hope that maybe they'll remember the phrase and will feel proud to recite it on their own. Memorizing is a stepping stone to early reading, and if it boosts their confidence and gets them interested in reading on their own, great!

a sheet of our new Springtime Lunchbox Love Notes

For as busy as we have been this spring, with our new puppy, two tee-ballers and their dad as coach, a gymnast, and a mom who's still tutoring a few nights a week, m love notes are just a little way of sending my kiddos off with a an extra hug.

fyi: Here are our previous sets of lunchbox love notes-- Lunchbox Love Notes, More Lunchbox Love Notes.

After a few Fridays of rockin' NFUF's, this one's pretty tame, I know. But we've got a handful of exciting new foods, games, and activities that we're really looking forward to trying out in the next few weeks. So stay tuned, thanks a ton for reading, and feel free to send any cool New For Us Friday ideas my way! Cheers, and happy note-giving--

quick trick: the power of positive talk

I had a conversation with a neighbor a few weeks ago that took me way back to second-grade class when my teacher continually referred to my class as "the smartest class she ever had" and said we were her room full of "hard workers and smart students."

Hearing her proudly refer to us this way--whether she meant it or not--pushed us to live up to her expectations. I really believe it did; I was proud to be a part of her "smartest group ever" because that meant that I was one of her smarties.

This recent conversation with an acquaintance was completely the opposite of my experience back in second grade. When asked whether or not my Owen would be starting kindergarten in the fall, I said, No, we're going to wait to send him because he has such a late summer birthday. We think it will be best if he begins school the following year.

This person went on to say, But he knows his numbers and letters. She (insert her 4 year-old daughter's name who was standing beside her) doesn't know her letters, and she can't even write her name. You're going to make Owen the head of the class. (Insert name) will be totally behind no matter when she starts. And she walked away.

I'm not going to get into the anxiety that our decision to 'red shirt' Owen has caused us; that's a whole other story. What I want to stress is the fact that kids pick up on these conversations, these messages--direct or indirect--which they hear from the adults in their lives.

And that is today's Quick Trick--speaking positively (or as positively as possible) in front of your kids. It's something that I struggle with some times, but that I'm trying really, really hard to make habitual.

• Powerful Positive Talk: In front of your kids, let them hear you praising them for their accomplishments, their patience, their journeys, their being. The more they hear that they're smart, that they're creative, that they work hard, that they're kind and loving kids, the more they'll believe it themselves, right?

It's not always easy--this I know. Sometimes when I finally see a pal or two at kindergarten or preschool drop-off, my first inclination is to vent, especially if we've had a tough morning. I want to let all it go with an:

Oh my GOSH it was a ridiculous morning. Maddy was an absolute mess, hysterically crying because she said she didn't want to go to school. Cora was a hot head--quick-tempered all morning, screaming and yelling because she was up all night saying that she doesn't like her room and is afraid of shadows. And Owen still cannot tie his shoes. Can you believe it? He started a huge screaming fit as we walked out the door because he couldn't do it. Someone find me a sitter because I totally can't get through today with these kids.

But really?! Do I want to label Maddy as a school-hater? Do I want label Cora as a bratty, hot-tempered 3 year-old who's got a problem sleeping? Do I want Owen to hear me confirming that he can't tie his shoes, something he's sensitive about already? No. No, and no.

Child psychologists all over the place say the same thing: When our children feel like we believe in them, they often grow to believe in themselves (Dr. Michelle Borba, Boosting Kids' Success Quotients by Building Positive Self-Beliefs. 03/23/10).

I love these four steps that Dr. Borba mentions that parents can take in order to "boost self-beliefs and to boost your child's success quotient":

1. Convey to your child, "I believe in you": Among other points she makes here is one I feel is incredibly important--avoid using negative labels for your child; never let anyone else label your child; avoid making comparisons; and refrain from using generic labels. Instead, turn the negative to positives to help your child develop a more positive self-image.
   
2. Set expectations that enhance success: Parental expectations are a huge determinant in children's success. The expectations that parents set should encourage kids to try new possibilities, expand their potential, and nurture their self-confidence.
3. Nurture strong, internal self-beliefs: Model positive self-talk with your children, and nip the negative talk in the bud--theirs and yours.
4. Help your child see success and develop an "I can" attitude: Focus on improvements your child is making, and help him to record progress. Doing so will show him how he's growing and will help his self-beliefs grow.
   

Dr. Becky Bailey's Conscious Discipline follows a similar thread in her Encouragement and noticing ideas. She says that "encouragement is a dose of hope, and people need hope to feel safe. When your child is having a hard time obeying you, he needs to believe that you have faith in him. He needs to sense that you have confidence in him before he can develop self-confidence" (from Conscious Discipline).

Parenting is hard. Really, really hard. And we all need to get the tough stuff off of our chests sometimes so that we stay sane and so we learn that we're not alone in our struggles. Goodness knows I've earned the 'complainer crown' more times than I can count. But I think if we save our 'venting' conversations to times when our kids aren't in earshot, we're all better off in the long run.

I'm not pretending to be an expert on this stuff. A perfect parent I certainly am not. I just read a lot, respect what the professionals are saying, and will take any and all advice I can find from any reliable source.

Just a worthwhile little something to keep in your back pocket. Here's to keepin' it positive!

celebrating earth day, sneaking in some learning

It's Earth Week!

What a perfect platform for celebrating the outdoors and for practicing new ways of being kinder to Mother Nature?

We are trying over here--trying--to be a 'greener' familia, and along the way you better believe I'm sneaking in a little bit of learning.

Here's how we're throwing in some earth day learning every day:

• Flower Watering Time: Planting anything, whether it's food for your family or food for your eyes, is a great way of celebrating Earth Day. Especially for larger gardens outside, the time spent watering plants can amount to quite a chunk of time.
  

Maddy, Owen, and Cora literally fight to hold the hose and water our flowers. Thankfully, they take turns depending on whose day it is, but the time standing still is time I feel can be used for more than just down time. So depending on which kiddo is hose-happy that day, we might. . .

Sneak in some math practice by:

1. counting to determine how long he or she waters each bunch of flowers (ex: count from 1-10 then move the hose; or backwards from 10-1; count by 2's from 2-20 or higher; by 5's from 5-50; by 10's from 10-100);
   
2. counting in Spanish;
3. practicing doubling problems-- 1 + 1 = 2 (move the hose) then 2 + 2 = 4;
   
4. counting each single bunch of flowers as each is watered and move from left to right (working on making that left-right return sweep a natural movement!);
5. counting the different colors or types of flowers and moving the hose as we count. . .
   

Even Brady's getting in on the learning fun while Owen waters our flowers!

Sneak in some spelling and alphabet practice by:

1. spelling his or her name each time a bunch of flowers is watered (this results in lots of practice, and I have to remind them to say the letters slowly: O. W. E. N, then move hose. This is easier for my kids because they have short names--we rarely do 'Madeline' but probably should);
   
2. taking turns spelling each family member's name either as each bunch is watered or by moving the hose for each letter;
   
3. singing the ABC Song and moving the hose from flower to flower as we sing or just saying the letters of the alphabet as he or she waters each flower;
4. saying as many words as possible that begin with each letter of the alphabet ('A'-- apple, alligator, ant, art, Amy. . . then move hose and do 'B' and so on);
   

Sneak in some phonological awareness practice by:

1. saying as many rhyming words as he or she can for each bunch of flowers (someone calls out a word, and we all add a word until we can't think of any more, then move the hose);
2. creating silly sentences--tongue twisters--that contain as many alliterative words as possible (She sells sea shells down by the sea shore, then move hose and pick another sound);
3. saying as many one, two, or three-syllable words as he or she can for each bunch of flowers (cat, bug, hit, say / bud-dy, Sal-ly, Mad-dy, cra-zy / Ma-de-line, co-lor-ful, ha-pi-ness). . .
   

These are just some of the ways that we sneak in a little bit of learning while tending to our pretty flower garden out front (thanks to Maddy, Owen, and Cora's green-thumb grandfather!). But these little tricks can be used for just about a million other outdoor activities, like the long stretches of time spent pushing kiddos on the swings, sitting on the sidelines watching never-ending tee-ball games, or pushing those tiny ones in strollers.

I'll share some other ways we're celebrating Earth Day over here as the week goes on, but do feel free add to this list, link back to your Earth Day posts, or share your Mother Earth-friendly ideas with us! Three cheers for Earth Week!

new for us friday: er-u-di-tion (a sight words game!)

We've had this game for quite some time now, but it's only in the recent few weeks that we've really explored how much fun Er-u-di-tion had to offer our little family.

It's been awhile since we've tried out a new game for our New For Us Friday, so when I brought this game out to play, Maddy, Owen, and Cora were pretty excited.

The game is called Er-u-di-tion, and it is "the game to jump-start the road to reading". So you know that this teach mama was totally interested in trying it out for herself.

And the coolest part? I've got one to give away to one lucky reader!

Want to see why this game is perfect for any family, playgroup, or classroom?

• Er-u-di-tion: The game's name is written phonetically, so you pronounce it the way it's broken up for you. I have to admit, getting my kids to say the name of the game instead of "that word game" or "that letter game where you get to go two times on your turn" has been a bit of a challenge, but after awhile, they go it.

The premise of this game is to "jump start the road to reading" by getting kiddos to play with the letters of the alphabet and sight words while they travel through "literacy land". Since I've got a few game-crazy kids over here, they're usually up for anything, but the added challenge of identifying letters or reading words while playing a game really makes this game a hit for Maddy and Owen.

the letter and word cards

With each player's turn, he first rolls the dice and moves that number of spaces. When he makes it to that spot, he can then earn a "bonus" turn by identifying a letter or reading a word on one of the cards. If he does so correctly, then he rolls again and moves that many spaces. (This is why it's a "game where you go twice on your turn," game according to Owen.)

One of the cool parts of this game is that players with varied abilities can play together. If there's a little guy who is just learning his letters, he'll use the blue letter cards, but if there's an emerging reader playing, he'll use any one of the three sets of sight word cards. One set of cards is easiest, the next is more difficult, and the last is most difficult.

Proud Maddy! She read 'near' and scored a bonus turn!

Sometimes when I play with Owen and Cora, we'll only use the letter cards. But other times, if Maddy, Owen, and Cora are playing, Maddy will try to challenge herself with the most difficult cards, Owen will challenge himself with the easiest cards, and Cora will use the letter cards. It works out perfectly!

Because I always hesitate to put new readers on the spot (and because I'm sooo not competitive when it comes to games), when we play a "challenge" game, meaning that Maddy and Owen were stretching their card choices a bit, we play that they can pick two cards. I'd say, Okay, for your extra turn, can you read this card (pointing to first card) or this card (pointing to the other)? That way, they didn't feel crummy for not being able to read a tough word, but they were still confident enough to take the leap. (I'm big into choices, with parenting and learning.)

Overall, I really, really liked that:

• it's a game designed to help children "read, spell, and understand the most common words in the English language" (loooove this--who wouldn't?!);
• the game's title introduces a new vocabulary word to little learners (okay, and most parents. . . );
  
• the creators thought about making this one game work for kiddos of varied levels--there are alphabet cards and three levels of sight word cards to use (so you're also getting a set of letter cards and three sets of sight word cards!);
• the letters and words are written in a basic, simple font--not fancy or distracting for new readers;
• the letter cards include several words that begin with the letter or contain the letter in the word;
• the word cards include the word's pronunciation and definition;
• the game is made of high-quality materials and bright colors and graphics without going overboard;
• it's a game where players get to go twice--twice!--on their turns. Fun!

I wish that (and these are little wishes):

• the game's name was a little easier to say--for the little guys, at least;
• there were separate uppercase letter cards and lowercase letter cards so that when we played just with letters, we didn't have to stop and re-shuffle the deck. And I just like the idea of having uppercase and lowercase letters separate.

Okay, so if you're up for scoring your own Er-u-di-tion game, it's pretty simple:

1. Leave a comment here, telling me your favorite Teaching Tip or Sight Word Book from the Er-u-di-tion website. Be sure to leave your name and email address so I can contact you if you win!
   
2. Join Er-u-di-tion's Facebook Fan Page for a bonus entry!

This giveaway will end on 04/23/10. Thanks, and good luck!


Disclosure: I was contacted by the kind people at Er-u-di-tion and was asked if I would take a look at their product. Maddy, Owen, Cora, and I loved it so much that I asked the creators for an extra product to giveaway to my awesome reader friends. Simple as that!

family name letter connect

Today before rest time, we took some time to play with Wikki Stix and to play with names--the names of people in our family.

It was a rainy, gray spring day, and we were beat after a morning of soccer practice. So we took it easy, using the Wikki Stix to form letters, make balloons, and twist them into a huge nest.

I brought out the white boards so that we could do some writing, but Cora was too wrapped up in Wikki Stix to even be a little interested in white boards and Expo's.

So Owen and I played one of the games he loves to play in preschool:

• Letter Connect: I watched Owen's super-skilled preschool teacher do this a while back, and I marveled at how easy it was but how neatly it got the students thinking about their names, their classmates' names and the similarities among them.

To play Letter Connect, you simply make connections between the letters in two names at a time, drawing lines to connect the matching letters. When there isn't a match, you make a big 'x' alongside the names.

Owen connects letters in our family members' names.

Because we had our Family List sitting nearby, we started with the names of our immediate family. I said, Owen, let's play the game you play in preschool--let's connect the letters of the names of our family. We'll start with 'Owen' and 'Cora'. You draw the lines and tell me which letters are the same in your name and Cora's name.

So he drew a line from the 'o' in 'Owen' to the 'o' in 'Cora' and said, The o's are the same.

I said, You're right! The 'o' that makes the 'oh' sound in 'Owen' makes the same 'oh' sound in 'Cora'. Cooooora. Oooooowen.

Hmmmm. Use the Family Chart to tell me whose name I wrote next and connect the letters. I wrote 'Mommy'.

He looked back and forth at the Family Chart to make sure, then he said I wrote 'Mommy'. Then he drew a line from the 'o' in 'Cora' to the 'o' in 'Mommy' and said, The 'o' is the same again!

I added 'Daddy' to the list next, followed by 'Maddy', and Owen connected letters and we talked about the sounds as he went.

When we finished with our family, we decided that I needed to make a new, updated Family Chart with Brady's name and Golden and Guinea's names. And he wanted to have another chart with the aunts and uncles' names. I told him it was a great idea, that he was correct--we needed a new chart--but that it might have to wait until tomorrow. Rest time was a few minutes away, but we did have time to do grandparents and aunts and uncles.

So we began with some extended family members until a ladybug found its way to our table--and our dry erase board--and Owen decided he wanted to do the ladybug's name with Brady's and then he wanted a home for the ladybug so it could come upstairs for rest time with him.

So that was it for our Letter Connecting. I really love this game because it continues to reinforce the fact that names are a huge interest for emerging readers. And even though Owen wasn't writing the names himself, he was working with me to investigate the letters and talk about the sounds the letters made. And he was reading as I wrote the names.

Both-de Vries and Bus explain that "identification of the proper name is strongly related to phonological skills and letter-sound knowledge whereas being able to recognize words in the daily environment (e.g., Exit, MacDonalds, Coca-Cola) is unrelated to phonemic sensitivity or letter-sound knowledge" (quoting Blair and Savage, 2006, in The proper name as a starting point for basic reading skills).

It makes sense: kiddos have an interest in knowing their name and the sounds within their name because it's their name! They're proud to 'own' their names, so parents should play it up!

This is an easy activity that can be played just about anywhere, with no prep and minimal clean-up. But the learning dividends are high--so it's worth some time!

quick trick: our art book

My kids have been crazy about drawing and coloring and writing and doodling for as long as I can remember.

Maybe it's because we keep our house stocked with paper and markers whenever the kids want to use them, maybe it's because the kids each have traveling writing centers in their rooms, or maybe it's because are constantly writing notes ourselves. . . and are often doodling on any ole paper we can find.

Whatever the case, I'm happy that my kiddos are inspired. But I am not happy with the mess of papers, marker caps, and finished--and unfinished--artwork here, there, and everywhere.

This was our dining room table on a good day--a good day.

So yesterday, while our family decompressed from Maddy and Owen's first-ever tee-ball practice, I went organizing nutty, and I came up with (hopefully, hopefully, hopefully!) a solution to our artwork chaos.

Let's hope this Quick Trick does the trick:

• Our Art Book: Thanks to my high-school English teaching days, I have dozens and dozens of 3-ring binders filled to the brim with all of my papers, resources, and units for everything I ever taught. From Romeo and Juliet to A Raisin in the Sun, from Lord of the Flies to Frankenstein, from poetry to thesis papers and speeches to grammar, you name it, I have it. Filed neatly in many binders.

But finally yesterday, I tucked a few lessons and units away and found a new home for the basic 3-ring binder--our Art Book.

All the Art Book is is a big (ugly) 3-ring binder with Maddy, Owen, and Cora's artwork clipped inside. It's not artwork from school or projects we do around here. It's just the many loose sheets that have occupied our dining room table for way too long.

I hole-punched all of the sheets and shoved them in. And honestly, as ugly as the book may be from the outside, on the inside, it's really cool.

Just like Maddy's Drawing A Cat book or Drawing a Happy Face book, our Art Book is a snapshot of where my kids are now, at the present, as far as abilities, interests, and challenges are concerned.

Maddy's drawing of Cora, next to Cora's drawing of something.

Owen's 12th picture of race cars racing.

I considered--for a second--adding dividers to the Art Book, one for Maddy's work, Owen's work, and Cora's work. I think it'd be a great way of keeping work separated, and it may be more fun for the kids when they go back to look through their book. But my kiddos are young yet, so I'm taking baby steps.

Maybe after Art Book 1 is filled, Art Book 2 will have dividers for each person's work. But for now, I'll just be really glad if all the dining room table masterpieces find their way into Mr. Art Book. Period.

To help in the process, I added an organizer to our dining room (and it totally fits with our decor, right?) that has a spot for paper, the Art Book, and markers and crayons. The paper in the drawer is already punched, so upon completion, the artwork needs only to be signed, and then it's ready for landing in its permanent Art Book home--unless it's scheduled to be sent to a doting grandparent, aunt, or uncle, of course!

So that's it--just a quick little Quick Trick for organizing our art work. We'll see how it goes!

new for us friday: steaz and me

This New For Us Friday reflects one of those rare opportunities when I had the chance to try something new for myself that didn't involve the kiddos. Rare, I know.

Along with a handful of local DC Bloggers, I had the chance this week to meet at Whole Foods Market in the area and meet with one of the top dogs of the steaz Beverage Company, Eric.

Not only was it a complete pleasure to spend time with my pals, but it was incredibly enjoyable to try a new product, to learn about an awesome company, and to meet first-hand with the product's co-owner and co-creator.

• steaz: Rarely--rarely--have I written about a NFUF that involved a non-education related product, let alone a food. But there's something about this company, something about this product, that I really, really love.

The mission of the steaz company is to "create the best tasting soft drinks on the planet--and to live by a triple bottom-line philosophy of people, planet, and ethical profits." Seriously? What's not to love already?

All three main products--Iced Teas, Sparkling Green Tea, and Energy Drinks--are tea-based, which means that from the start, they're better for you than sugary sodas and other drinks.

The Sparkling Green Tea is only 75 calories (yes!), and Zero Calorie Green Teas are sweetened with a natural sweetener (Delicious. Como se dice 'no strange aftertaste'?). I've tried all three, and I find them refreshing and perfectly perfect.

Every one of these products are USDA organic (and certified vegan, in you're interested), and the steaz company teas are all fair trade teas from around the world. The company participates in numerous alternative energy programs across the country, which makes me love them even more.

If I had more time, I'd go on and on about how Eric and Steve began the business with their good idea, then started selling the drinks out of the backs of their cars, and literally hoofed it around the east coast, selling their product, connecting with an investor, and finally making their way into some of our larger chains, like Whole Foods Market. Eric and Steve are from outside of Philadelphia--my ole stompin' ground--so I love them even more than I would if they were from anywhere else in the world. Just kidding. Kind of.

And that's it. That's why I really dig steaz and why I'll make an effort to keep my house stocked--they taste great, they are affordable, they are good for me, and the company is really deliberate--in everything they do.

Thank you, Eric, for taking the time to spend time with us, for providing us with some samples of steaz beverages and for footin' the bill for our evening. Thank you Whole Foods Market, for catering dinner and for our earth-friendly bags filled with earth-friendly goodies. Thank you, Leticia, for organizing, and thank you to my pals for hangin': Justice Fergie, Jodifur, Stimey, Jill, Janine, Justice Ny, Lynette.

For more information on these products, check out:

• steaz beverages: their website; the blog; on twitter--@Steaz
• Whole Foods: their website; on twitter--@WFM_MoCo

big-time news and ultimate blog party fun

This news is totally exciting for me--today I'm taking part in my first-ever Blog Party for a site that I'm honored to be a new contributor for--5 Minutes For Mom.com

I had the fantastic opportunity to catch up with twins Janice and Susan at Disney's Social Media Moms Celebration back in February, and I was more than excited when Janice asked if I'd be interested in sharing some Reading Specialist secrets over at their incredible site. You better believe that I was ready and wiling to jump on board, so although this is my first time participating in a Blog Par-tay, it's 5 Minutes For Mom's 4th Annual Event.

Essentially, a Blog Party is a chance for bloggers to introduce themselves, connect with new friends, and find some new pals to read. No worries if you're not a blogger, though; if you head to the site, you'll find ways of connecting with others and the chance to win some really cool prizes!

So here is my Blog Party introduction, for those who are interested. . .

I am:

• a mother of three--Maddy, Owen, and Cora (6, 4, and 3 years old);
• a wife of an incredible elementary school administrator whom I met on a blind date, set up by his mom (yes, it's true!);
• a Reading Specialist and former high school English teacher, a tutor, and Literacy Consultant;
• the creator of teachmama.com and we teach (www.weteachgroup.com);
  
• a contributor for 5 Minutes for Mom.com, ABC and 123, DC Metro Moms, and Washington Times Online Community;
  
• a freelance writer with book-writing on the brain.

I have:

• three crazy-cool younger sisters;
• awesome parents who recently got tattoos;
• been raised in Pennsylvania, lived in Delaware, spent time in Scotland, and resided in five different Maryland cities;
• had birds, fish, snakes, cats, dogs, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, hermit crabs, and lady bugs as pets;
• many unfinished knitting projects, blog posts, and craft projects;
• dreamed about getting flames painted on the side of my mini-van for the last four years.

I love:

• pilates, running, and walking with friends;
• cooking, eating, and watching the TV Food Network;
• learning, writing, reading, and teaching;
• backyard picnics, little-kid belly laughs, and Happy Hour.
  

I will:

• get to see a live taping of the Oprah Show before she goes off the air;
  
• participate in the Relay for Life to honor our friend, Scott, this May;
• see the Dixie Chicks for the fourth time with my sisters this June;
• always play chase with my kids, whenever they ask;
• read books to my little ones at bedtime for as long I'm able;
  
• travel, go on a date with my husband, hang out with my pals, or take a walk whenever I'm asked.

If you haven't checked out teach mama before, you should start here:

• Where to begin on teach mama?

If you want a taste of a teach mama post, try these:

• Computer Games for the Little Guys
• Farm-Full of Rich Vocabulary Words
• Sight Word Memory
  
• Help With Letters b and d
• Tic-tac-toe, Owen in a Row
• We're Counting, Hats, Cats, and Pumpkins

So that's it! My Ultimate Blog Party post, in just under the wire. Thanks for reading, and please let me know if you drop by! I'll look for you on we teach. . .

And just in case I'm super lucky? My prize picks are: INTL2 (would LOVE this!), INTL 1, USC 49, USC 43, and any gift card. Thanks!

flowers and colors, coloring flowers

Part of our flower fun over the last few days involved our experiment for the Virtual Science Fair which was a lesson in backyard fragrances. But later that afternoon, I couldn't help playing around with colors and flowers like I did so often when I was younger.

So with some of the cuttings we did of the bigger flowers, and with pieces from a bouquet the kids picked up for me when I was really, really under the weather last week, we set up an opportunity for Maddy, Owen, and Cora to see just how flowers absorb water.

• Coloring Flowers: I poured four glasses of water, and then I added a big blob of red, yellow, green, and blue food coloring to each separate glass.

our flowers, waiting for color

Maddy used the whisk to dissolve the food coloring, and then we added flowers. The daisies had been around for a while, but the tulips and daffodils were right outta the garden.

We added the flowers, and then we waited.

. . . and then we waited some more.

And about four hours later (yes, there was a lot of stuff shoved in between this little experimento), we spotted tiny bits of blue around the edges of the tulip and blue around the center of the daffodil.

We didn't check the flowers again until breakfast the next day.

Finally, the next morning, we noticed that our tulip had really absorbed the blue but that the red really wasn't that noticeable. We also observed that the older flowers didn't absorb as much as the more fresh flowers.

We didn't get into the science of it all or the specifics about why it happened; I really just wanted Maddy, Owen, and Cora to see how flowers absorbed (or 'drank' as they said) water. We'll try this experiment with Queen Anne's Lace which is found all around Maryland and Pennsylvania come summer because that's what I remember using as a kid, and it is a really simple--but worthwhile--bit of science learning for our little ones.

And that's it. We've been enjoying the sunshine, playing lots with our new pooch, and trying to get back to Healthyville, which really hasn't been easy for us. But the rain is coming, and hopefully it'll wash away this pollen and our colds.