Teaching Cutting Skills

Don't worry with supervision this is achievable!  Fine motor skills(small muscle movements) is the name of the game and let's face it- very difficult and frustrating for a preschool child.  I suggest you work your way up to this by having your child, rip paper, bead pasta or beads.  It is quite easy and remember never leave a child unattended with scissors.

What you need:
Play dough...I prefer homemade on the stovetop kind
Scissors, blunt tip, also with cushioning on the handle
Construction paper not copy paper(Copy paper is flimsy and very difficult for preschool children to use)
ALWAYS establish your rules for using scissors first!
Start by rolling play dough into long, thin snakes. 

Place your  fingers along with your child's in the correct holding position in the scissors.  Cut the snake in small pieces by doing most of the work for your child.  Your child needs to understand how these muscles work and undertsand the movement.  Slowly allow your child cut without removing your fingers.  By cutting play dough, child's muscles become stronger and are able to use those fine motor skills


Once you feel like that has been mastered draw simple, thick lines on construction paper and assist your child cutting them, work your way up to more complex lines like zig-zag and shapes.

Week of 9/9-9/13 "D" is for Dinosaurs

Fossils.  Made from salt dough really easy recipe that can be used all year round:

4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1-2 cups water
Mixing Bowl and spoon

Mix all ingredients together and roll out to desired thickness and shapes.  Bake 350 one hour.
Paint and cover with clear coat like polyurethane.

Paper plate dinos-Art/Math(using triangles for shapes of dinos)
Dot D's:  I used cheap Bingo stampers from Dollar Tree

Focus on Letter D, triangles, 9

I also bought sentence strips and put one word dinosaur and used clothespin to stand on table.  I wrote number 9 with 9 dots and had Little R place 9 clothespin on strip.

Week of 9/2-9/6. "C" is for Colors

Anyone who has been around a preschool child knows the importance of a schedule.  Little R is in the routine now of sitting down at the table when she is "ready for my learning".  We include fingerplays, songs, and books into our day.  Don't be a slave to a schedule we all know stuff happens...and sometimes the child just wants to snuggle :)

I try to have song we do everyday because let's face it like she has simply stated every princess sings. I found a great deal on large tablet paper from Walmart on clearance!  I WISH I would have bought more than one though...

Mornings are devoted to our learning.  Lunch is 11-1130.  A little tv, nap at 1230.  Little R waked usually 245 just in time to pick up her brother by 320.

Routines help you and the child!  It may be difficult to start but the pay off is some quiet time you know to fold laundry and start dinner ;)

I have also started including Fall projects.

Color Mixing- Science
Rainbow-Fine Motor and Art
Letter C- Language and Literature
Pom Pom Matching-Math

Things you need to stock up on:

Ice cube trays-Great for sorting and counting

Paper Plates

Clothespins-Counting, fine motor skills

Craft sticks-Mixing, Matching, Crafts

 

Week of 8/26-8/20 "B" is for Bugs

Little R loved this week...as much of a princess as she is she loves bugs too!  We usually start our week by introducing a shape, color, letter, and number. Remember the idea is to have fun and teach but not to overwhelm the child.  As the child gets older you can add more letters, sight words, etc.  Don't underestimate the power of clothespins and craft sticks!  You should consider creating a gallery or Wall of Fame.  I made mine simple by using laundry line, tacks and clothespins.

Ant Word Bug- Language and Literature

Spider Counting Legs-Math

Tissue Butterfly-Art

Ladybug Spots-Math

Life Cycle of a Butterfly-Science

Face Painting, Sensory tub, Matching bug shapes,

Week of 8/19-8/23 "A" is For Apples

Big R started school this week, so I came up with a game plan with Little R.  After dropping her brother off at school we would come back home and start our learning.  The first week was a difficult transition for Little R just because she was missing her Big R so much.  Big R started school mid week so he helped with most of the lesson plans.  Please keep in mind we are down one income so most of the lessons are cost effective-stuff from Dollar Tree(love this place) and stuff around the house.

The following we did:
Apple Tree Art
Apple Patterning- Math
Apple Parts- Science
apple Stamping- Fine Motor

The Summer in one short post...

As mentioned in my description I have had a recent career change-SAHM.  I was once a career woman as a teacher.  I was married to my job and my husbands career as second to that.  When T came up on his window for orders it happened we got new orders to a new city.  With a heavy heart I left my job and we moved after the end of the school year.  In short, the move was tough.  We had roots in our last city after 8 years.  Moving to a new city was difficult for obvious reasons-job search, finding new friends and no family close by.   For my own sanity and my children, I did what I knew best lesson planning.  I developed themes and tried to keep it age appropriate for both kids.  The results were posted on my fb page and my friends  commented "Why don't you start a blog?"  So here I am.........
First theme: Dr. Seuss

Second Theme: Fourth of July

Third Theme: Zoo Animals

4th Theme: New Orleans

5th Theme: Pirates and Princesses

6th Theme: Ocean Life

7th Theme: A is for Apples