Disney in the Mail

What a great opportunity for your kids to interact with Disney, without having to actually be there (and save thousands of dollars)!!!  I can't take the credit for this one, however; I found the idea while scrolling through my Facebook feed one day (not sure who the actual source was).  But thanks to one of my good friends, she shared this idea on her FB feed, which led to me wanting to do it with my kids, and paying it forward to share with you, too!

This is an easy thing to do, and can be done with no planning, right in your own home.  Just have your kids draw a picture or write a letter to their favorite Disney character, put it in the mail to the address listed below, and wait a few weeks to get a little something in your home mailbox in return.  

We did this over the summer in my home.  My kids LOVED picking out their favorite character to mail a picture too, and when their Disney postcards came in the mail in return, they were so excited!!  Try it!

Mail to:

Attention:  (Your child's characters name)

Walt Disneyworld Communications

P.O. Box 10040

Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

See more at: http://www.eteachingme.com/Mom-Blog.html?entry=disney-in-the-mail#sthash.7Hu5arZj.dpuf

Elf on the Shelf - Fun ideas & Teaching Tools

In my family we love "Frank the Elf!"  He is always getting into something!  My kids love finding him every morning throughout December.  As I "try to keep up" and "be a good mom" preparing him for each morning - I have also have taken the time to think about what really matters?  During this time of year, we are busy.  We are awaiting the arrival of Jesus' birthday.  We are shopping for presents.  We are taking the kids to go see Santa.  And we are trying to Pinterest ways we can "set up" our Elf so it is fun for our kids.  

However, I am all about meaning, too.  As it just is important to make sure we continue this fun Elf tradition for/with our children - we must also stop and remind ourselves to take each moment, as a learning opportunity.  In our household, we must not forget what the true meaning of Christmas is really all about too!  Therefore, I created this Calendar!  It gives you daily ideas of how to "set up" your Elf on the Shelf, and then approach your kids finding Elf as a learning opportunity.  Every day gives you a "set up" and teaching tool.  Integrated within the monthly calendar, are Christian opportunities for you to also teach your child what the real meaning of Christmas is all about!

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Learning with Home-Made Tools

Teachers, parents, and nannies .... teaching your child is easy and interactive with this "outside of the box" thoughtful idea!  You can vary it in many different unique ways, for any age, to teach multiple concepts, anywhere at anytime!

Watch our Videos for an interactive experience of HOW-TO TEACH this Lesson Plan 

Video 1

Video 2

Lesson Plan:  Learning Literacy using Home-Made Tools

Age Range - 1 to 5 years old

Cognitive Learning Focus Areas:  Literacy, Math, Language development, Early reading readiness, Fine-motor skills, Hand-eye coordination

Author:  Kristin Miller, M. Ed. Founder www.eteachingme.com 

Materials needed:
Paper towel roll
Black magic marker
Long white art paper (or poster board) cut into strips (about 1 1/2 feet long and 1 inch wide)

What to do:
1. PARENTS ONLY - Pre-Create the "Language Tool" before teaching lesson to child.   Using a knife (to start the square holes) and then scissors, cut 4 squares out on one side of a paper towel roll.
2. Cut long strips of paper (about 1 1/2 feet in length and 1 inch wide) out.  Multiple strips desired for however many learning concepts you wish to teach.
2. Create "language strips" by writing different teaching concepts on each strip.  See ideas below for what to create and teach child.
3. Line up the strips of paper, following the same length apart as the 4 square holes on the paper towel roll, and write whatever concept you want your child to learn in that same spot.  Do so in a way that when the child pulls the paper through to "read" what's inside each hole, they can see what is written through the holes easily, so that it all measures up accurately.  See pictures as an example.
4. Sit with your child and learn together; using different "language strips" to teach specific concepts.
5. Let your child put the "language strips" in the paper towel roll, and "learn freely" to teach you what they may see in the holes, or you help guide child to teach the concepts.

Ideas for "Language Strips":
* Alphabet letters to build words
* Numbers
* Shapes
* Sentence - story telling pictures and/or words combine
* Sequence of event pictures
* Child's letters in their name
* Emotion pictures
* Colors
* Counting amounts (# of dots for children to count)

92 Ways: Living a Great Life, Learning How, & Paying it Forward

IN PROGRESS….My First Published Book

Almost one year ago, my grandmother passed away.  She was like my second mom.  She was, and still is, the glue to our entire family - rather large and loud family too may I add =)

She was 92 when she passed.  In memory of her life, and all she taught me, I wrote a “92 Ways Memoir List” in honor of her.  That list consisted of 92 daily ways she lived her life and devoted herself to it.  My girl cousins and I read the list at her funeral.  After speaking with family members, we decided it would be a blessing to share her wonderful life with others, and pay it forward.  Therefore, I am in the process of writing and publishing my very first book.

I cant wait to share the gift with the world.  My goal is not only to honor her and all she stood for, but to help others through their journey in life, learning what is important and ways we can always be our best.  

In today's world, some have seemed to be lost in life.  This book will be "food for thought" - getting back to basics with what should remain important, to living happily and full of yourself.

I miss you grandma, more than words, and think about you every single day.  I know you're there, and hear me, because I can hear you often.  

Thank you for giving me the strength to "keep going".  I hope to make you even more proud....  Love you!

10 Step Checklist for Choosing Child Care

• In regards to child care, it really depends on what YOU feel the most comfortable with. There are pros and cons to both in-home child care and an actual child care location or center.
• When you find one, remember these 10-STEP "feelings" to look for during the first few weeks of dropping your child off and picking them up.

• 1. Are the kids engaged in something constructive? 2. Is the teacher or child care provider bending down to the kids level to speak with them? Is he/she welcoming with a hug, or nice gesture? * The day care I had my kids in most recently, there was not a day that went by that I didn't drop them off and pick them up and BOTH of their teachers gave them each a hug and said "I love you" every morning and afternoon. I really loved that and they reciprocated in return to love their teachers too. * It is extremely important that the teacher/care giver loves their job. Not b/c of the money and getting a paycheck, but b/c they have a passion for doing it. In all teachers, this DOES show and you will be able to tell just by how they communicate with you, run their classroom/home care, and interact with the kids. 4. Is the owner friendly, welcoming, and communicative? * Again, the latest day care I had my kids in here, the owner would even call me if the kids were beginning to get a slight cough, or she would call if my son wasn't napping b/c he said his head hurt. Nothing for me to worry about or reason to pick them up, but I thought as a parent that was so nice for her to be completely open and communicative with me about even the smallest things with my kids, so I trusted everyone at the school completely when/if the "big things" were to happen. 5. What are their discipline policies? Time-out, redirection, positive reinforcement? 6. What is the ratio per classroom? Typically at a school for toddlers is 9 kids to 1 teacher and preschool is anywhere between 18-20 kids per 1 teacher. Although it seems like a lot, if it is the right teacher (and I have worked with both kinds, good and bad, for that age group) - the right teacher knows how to handle all of them so it doesn't seem "so chaotic" and busy.....that is where #1 comes into play, are the kids engaged? 7. Is the environment structured consistently? If there is a routine and the teacher/school follows that routine daily so the kids know what is expected of them - this is a MUST for little kids to be in such an environment. They crave for that, and if there is no "daily schedule" (ask for this) then it may not be the place to put your kid. More importantly, just b/c it is written as their daily schedule on a piece of paper, you must make sure they actually follow/do it. 8. Voice tone. Is there a lot of screaming, crying, yelling - loud tones from the teacher and/or care giver? There is a difference between "good - having fun engaging learning" loud noise, and upset loud noise. Look for the good kind. 9. Cleanliness and organization. Is the classroom/home look clean and sanitary? Does the classroom look organized shelves, center areas, and work stations? 10. Curriculum - what are they doing to actually and age-appropriately engage your child to learn. Even at the littlest of ages (infants-toddlers), there still should be learning of shapes, colors, numbers, his name, songs, reading books, art activities, sensory activities....and so forth. If there is not a curriculum or plan for learning - that is a negative. Play is learning....but constructive play is learning with a cherry on top!

  In-Home Child Care VS School Child Care Centers, Things to know and keep in mind:

• From a teachers standpoint, some times with in-home care, having a HUGE age-range of children in one setting (such as 4 kids all between the ages 10 mo to 3 years) is DIFFICULT to actually keep structured, engaging with age-appropriate activities for each age group, and meeting the needs of all ages (b/c the needs for a 10 month old is EXTREMELY different than that of a 3 year old). Keep in mind, when the ages are separated into classrooms at a school or daycare center, that teacher can plan/focus her schedule, activities, curriculum, and nurturing needs care around that specific age group, which as a teacher makes it SO much easier to make sure the kids are all getting what they need to meet at their specific age range.
• One thing to remember about in-home that is important - make sure they are licensed by the state. Also, just a friendly reminder that I know as a parent I felt more "at ease" with knowing - when you have 1 provider that is in-home, there is no other "adult" around present from day-to-day that would be your "back up go to" when/if there was something unacceptable going on while your child is in their care. Where as, at a child care place, there are multiple adults and not all of them would let harm, misconduct, or unacceptable things happen with the children present. More than 1 adult present, does ease the mind in knowing, you have "back up" to communicate with you, watch your child, and build a relationship with. (Or so you would hope!!!)
  Even though child care places can seem more "busy" especially for little ones his age - there are, I think, a lot of pros than cons. If you look for the things mentioned above as I stated in #'s 1-10 - it is a lot easier to leave your child and make the decision of what you feel is right. Cost is one of the cons at a school center location, along with overcrowding can be a problem at some.
• 
  Good luck on your journey, it can be super frustrating (somewhat fun) to find exactly what you need/looking for, I know - but you will and it will all work out. Just keep your eyes open, and remember whatever you decide, your child will be just fine b/c mom & dad know best!!!