preschool

Behind the Scenes Busy…

May 7, 2012 By Valerie Mcclintick 1 Comment

Just so you don’t think I’ve completely fallen off the face of the Earth,
I thought I’d share with you what I’ve been up to!

I’ve been working like crazy
(read: KER-A-ZIE)
on a new look for Preschool Post.

Preschool Post is a website that I work on with Lynn Felts (of GroovyStorytimes).
We post fun Preschool Bible Lessons that incorporate some beloved children’s books
with fun thematic units. You can read more about why we started the site here.

Anyway Come take a peek….

You can find a lesson by book

You can find a lesson by Bible theme (sidebar)

You can find a lesson by suggested month

You can even find resources by type:

File Folder Games
Bible ABC Coloring Pages
to name a few….

We’ve also added something completly NEW! ABC Visuals: These are great for morning circle time, we’ve got a set up for each lesson available…..with plans on adding additional letters as we wrap up the final lessons.

What fun! We’re really working hard at getting the entire set up!
You can subscribe if you want notification when new lessons are posted.

And that’s not all!

I’ve been busy creating more Bible Printables for Seeds Family Worship Music!

Did you see that we’re over halfway through Seeds of Purpose!

(btw-I post these biweekly on Totally Tots in case you want to follow along)

I’ve also been updating our Bible Verse Printables on Christian Preschool Printables.

I thought these needed a new look, some more activities, and some introductory Bible Vocabulary.
These are worth checking out if you have little ones who want to learn short bible verses too!

And Homeschool Mom Brag Moment:
We are done testing!!! And we passed! Yippy!

Phew….

And yes…In case you’re wondering I do post these updates on Facebook…when I remember!

Hope to be back soon with some fantastic reviews,
we’ve been trying out some great products that I can’t wait to share!

Sewing for the Birthday Boy!

February 1, 2012 By Valerie Mcclintick 7 Comments

Someone very special is turning 1 this month!
Someone cute, and adorable,
and someone who’s diaper I don’t have to change!

Someone who made me an Aunt for the very first time!
Someone who deserves an AMAZING 1st birthday gift,
(you know…..to remind him who his ~~favorite~~ Aunt is)

I found (via Pinterest of course)
this wonderfully simple tutorial for making a drawstring bag.
I just had to make one!

…..with a little more color!

For the outer fabric:Celebrate Seuss Squiggle Stripe Multi

And for the inner fabric:Celebrate Seuss Book Titles White

You can purchase these by the 1/2 yard at Fabric.com or by the yard on Amazon here.
(they have TONS of other Seussical prints too….be careful!)

I’m using a Fat Quarter of each.

As far as constructing the bag
I pretty much followed the tutorial here on Mother Huddle,
Since I was using a lining fabric, I just put them wrong sides together,
and followed the pattern step by step as if I was just working with on fabric.

HOWEVER:
Before I sewed up the sides of the bag,
I decided it would be fun to add in a little peek-a-boo window
(another idea spawned from Pinterest)

I just cut out a rectangle (through both fabrics)
and then used a plastic scrapbook page protector (both layers)
as the window.

Note: I have never done this before,
it sewed just fine, and makes a nice crinkly sound,
but it already has “folds” and “creases” in it.
I would suggest that you use a clear table cloth or something more sturdy.

However it was thin enough for me to use two layers
so I made it into a pocket and inserted some foam numbers
before sewing up the final edge.
(This is just a very tight zig-zag all the way around)

Then I decided to make a pocket from the scrap rectangle I just cut out.
I just ironed and folded the edges and then added a bit of bias tape across the top.
I also added ribbon to the sides (using this method)

At the end of the ribbons I wanted three little fishes:
So to make them I just drew a rough template, cut out a few sizes,
sewed them back to back with some chenille,
and made them “crinkly” by stuffing them with old
baby wipe packages. (tutorial here)

I love these little fishies!

Note: Button eyes would be super cute…
but I’m super paranoid and since it’s a gift I’m keeping it extra baby friendly!

Then I went back to following the tutorial.
I sewed up the sides, squared off the corners, and added the draw string.
(mine is actually a cord)

The bag was complete and ready to fill up with goodies:
Note: Those are just little plastic balls, like from the ball pit at Mickey D’s.
I have not idea why photoshop is turning them into crazy psychedelic orbs?

Anyway, I stuffed in an adorable Dr. Seuss baby book,
filled with interactive pages that squeek and rattle.

Some colorful balls, one for each color of the rainbow,
plus a super Seusical pink tuff ball

And then I finished it off with a set of dollar store preschool flashcards,
which I laminated and then tied together with a matching ribbon.
(they look so much more adorable this way, and baby can drool away!)

All packed up and ready to go!!

Sure wish I could “hand deliver” this one!

Fish, Flowers,Frogs….and a Flashback!

September 9, 2011 By Valerie Mcclintick 5 Comments

Did you know that I started blogging/websites when
my daughter was a preschooler?

In fact, my first website was dedicated to this age:
(ChristianPreschoolPrintables)

Psssst….Wanna see what CPP looked like when I first
started out in 2006? Pretty Rockin’ eh?

Ha!

Now it’s 2011 and my Sissy is entering 3rd grade.
My Bubba is entering 1st grade.
And my Monkey is teetering on Tot-Preschool Age.

It FEELS like
It’s been so LONG since I’ve had a Preschooler.
And now my little Monkey is almost there.
Almost.

Currently, Monkey is 2 years old and able to sit still
for about 4 1/2 minutes. A Day.

I know you think I’m exaggerating.

But, I love when people ASK ME what I do with Monkey
while I’m teaching the older children.
I really try not to burst out laughing.
If you only knew….

You see, usually when someone is asking that questions, what they
really want to know is:

WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS CRAZY MONKEY
WHEN I NEED TO TEACH _________.
(Fill in the blank with something that is hard to teach
when a buck naked, curly haired little primate is running circles
around your ankles, begging for “sippy” and “juice” and “cake” and “frogs”
and anything else that you don’t have in your pocket)

Cause somedays that’s really what it’s like.
Not all. But some.

(most days I really have to recall the words written in this book)

But, during the times in which my little Monkey wants
to quietly sit at the table for 4 1/2 mintues,
I want to have something fun and educational for him to do.

So tonight I made him some simple matching games,
with colorful REAL photographs that a little Monkey
can appreciate.

One with Frogs:

One with Flowers:

One with Fish:

Then (with all those F’s) I got to thinking that
I could make this into something a bit more FUN!
Something for my older kiddos to play:

A game for them to play in the wee hours of the morning

Perhaps long enough for a certain someone to sleep in
an extra hour or two.

So this is how I left the kitchen table:

I’m pretty sure my plan is going to work.
(I mean…What kid wants to go smell Mom’s morning breath
when they have a game like this to play?)

Seriously children.
The cereal is in the bottom cupboard for a reason.

Psssst…. Wanna sleep in like me?
Download Fish, Flowers and Frogs on our sister site here!

Coming up in July:

July 5, 2011 By Valerie Mcclintick 3 Comments

Thanks to our July Sponsor: Speekee~

You might remember that last month I mentioned Speekee’s new homeschool curriculum? Well it’s ready and LIVE on the site,
so now is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the Free trial.
Here are some details:

“This is a 40-week program divided into 4-day weeks with an activity per day. Most activities are around 10-15 minutes in length and all are very easy to follow. As we are happy to reiterate, there is no need for the parent to have a knowledge of Spanish when using Speekee with their children; teacher and student learn together.”

Here are some screen shots of what you can expect:

(You can click these a couple times to see larger versions)

Needless to say I’m super excited about this!
I don’t know Spanish so I can appreciate the guidance that comes with a program like this.
Starting in September we’ll be using Speekee’s 4 day outline alongside one day of Co-op Spanish class.

And I want to say a special THANK YOU to everyone for sharing a link to
The Crafty Classroom!
Here are the Top Five referring websites:

Homeschool Creations
No Time For Flashcards
No Ordinary Moments
Totally Tots
1+1+1=1

Thanks Friends!!!

Lynn and I are working on a new bible lesson for Preschool Post,
The theme will be Responsibility with a preschool theme of Cats!
We’re placing this into our October lessons, but as always you can use them
whenever you need!

I’ll be posting more Bible Verse Printables on Totally Tots!
We’ll be starting up the third CD of Seeds family worship music.

I also plan to share a little bit about what we’ll be using for our
2011-2012 Homeschool Year…Once I finalize all my chocies that is!

So that’s what’s coming up!
Subscribe or Stay Tuned!

Fourth of July Printables

June 28, 2011 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

Are you busy planning for the Fourth of July?
Here is a quick list of some of helpful resources:

Preschool Fourth of July Bible Printables

K-5 Fourth of July Bible Printables

Fourth of July Bible Treat Printables

Fourth of July Lapbook

Fourth of July File Folder Game

Patriotic Crafts & Activities

Additionally, here are some more resources from around the web:

Lots more 4th of July Printables from Carisa @ 1plus1plus1equals1.com

Learn the 50 States & Capitols Song….My kids love this and we’re more then halfway through! There are lots of other songs if this isn’t you’re style :)

Patriotic Songs w/ Printable Lyrics. Scroll down to “Listen to the Song”

And if you’re planning a party in your classroom this year,
you still have enough time to order goodies through Oriental Trading and get them in time!

Soooo, How will you be celebrating this year?
I’m thinking Rib Eye….I cook a steak like Ree,
but I like to throw on a bit of Garlic Salt too.
What about You?

Sculpting Tools

March 5, 2011 By Valerie Mcclintick 3 Comments

This weeks Crafty Classroom projects called for playdough!

And we were completely out.

Okay, that’s not really true.

We have a HUGE pile of puke brown playdough.

And while I love the color brown, the projects we have planned require a bit more of a variety of color.

So I pulled out the recipe book and decided that it was time to try for some Homemade playdough.

And I must say that this is the best batch of playdough I’ve yet to make:

It’s soft, and pliable, stays fresh and best of all….
No dirty pot to clean!

You’ll want to
boomark the recipe & tutorial
Trust me….good stuff!

Homemade playdough got me thinking about Homemade Tools so I thought I’d share a few of the sculting tools we use on our projects:

Popsicle Sticks make great knives for little hands

Cut Popsicle Sticks make great scoring tools for older children

Any cylindrical shape toy makes a rolling pin…tinker-toys, markers, ect.

Paper Clips, beside being great hole pokers…are great for gauging out bits of clay from hard to reach places…great for sculpting faces!

Toothbrushes make great textures

So do Combs….

Doorknobs make great stamps….

And even your clothes make interesting patterns!

The trick is to find objects throughout your house that you can repurpose into a useful crafty tool! That’s part of the fun too, so get your children invloved in the scavenger hunt and let their creativity shine through!

Preschool Birds & Bees

June 21, 2010 By Valerie Mcclintick 6 Comments

So this afternoon, while talking with my middle child. (Yeah….got three children now…..that means one is in the middle)

My middle child, Bubba, who is 4 declares:

“Mom, when Daddy dies and goes to heaven, then I will get to marry you!”

(btw-Happy Father’s Day hunny)

“No sweetheart. Daddy is my husband, and you can’t marry your family. You have to go find a girl in a different family and pick her.”

“Yeah!” chimes in my first child, “Daddy already picked Mommy, and she’s already married. You can’t marry your family or your babies will come out all weird…..that’s how God made it.”

“Well….that’s not fair!” says Bubba, “How come Daddy got to pick first?”

Melt my Heart!!

Homeschool Tools: Texture Squares

November 13, 2009 By Valerie Mcclintick 3 Comments

I’ve started a new tab on our main site called Homeschool Tools!

I hope to be able to post some of the different tools we use in our homeschool, nothing to fancy but maybe it will inspire you to get crafty in your own classroom!

Last week I posted the Base 10 Bean Counters,
and this week I’m showing off these colorful Texture Squares:

I’ve been saving every little bit and scrap from all my sewing projects in hopes of making something like this for a long time. (hence the large pile of fabric…I might have overdone it a bit..)

Not all the fabrics have a defining texture, some I chose because of the color patterns, but it makes a great matching game, especially one to store in your purse for the long wait times at the Doctor’s office.

(Did I mention we’re on Ear Infection number 7 for the year? Same kid, same ear….what gives?)

Anyway, I put up more photos with instructions, including the sizes that I used on our main site.

I’d love to see any homemade matching games you’ve made with your children! Drop me a link below if you’ve done a similar project!

Busy, Busy, Busy Bags

July 20, 2009 By Valerie Mcclintick 11 Comments

Okay, so how long has this site been up?

And how many free Printables have I posted?

Less then 10? Less then 5? Less then 1?

Yikes,

I know some of you are going through withdrawls:

Okay….So it’s most likely only me going through the withdrawls.

Moving on….

A printable from me to you.

Fantastic right?

Oh…..

Are you wondering what it is?

Check it all out here.

But don’t forget to come back and tell me how cool it is.

I know you love it. (Because I love it)

And it’s the only way that I even had time to write up this blog post.

Which, in case anyone is wondering…

was interrupted by a vomit spewing Monkey on my lap.

But still I typed on.

Must…….Make…….Printables……. ;)