Ii Week

Monday- Went pretty well. Started with ABCs with the Leap Frog Discovery Ball and talked about the letters we've been learning about these last 4 weeks; A, E, F, and H, and that this weeks letter was Ii. Stayed up late making a bingo game for all 5 letters. Turned out pretty nice. I used the capital letters, lower case, and three pictures that started with each letter. They were unfamiliar with the Ii pictures but I didn't have much else planned today. I made one game and printed it up 3 times. Cut them all up and used one set to draw from and the other two for the kids to glue to a blank bingo card. It was a lot of little cards to glue for them, but with lots of encouragement and help they got through it. Then I drew from the pile and had them put a carob chip on the picture that matched. 2yo was eager to see how the 5yo did it and mimicked beautifully one time. Then she decided she couldn't do it and was hung up on not being able to eat some until the game was over. I had her draw the cards and tell me what they were while I played on her game board. That lasted about 5 turns. I ended up doing both. I really wanted them to finish and get the reward. 5yo got bingo and everyone got to eat their chips. We played again and 5yo wanted turns drawing from the pile. 2yo didn't last long, but with me helping her she won the next bingo.
Next we used the left over chips to cover an extra large, printed letter I. I found them on preschoolexpress.com. (I had spent a lot of time the night before trying to use the programs I had on my computer to make one myself, but to no avail.) I could stop blogging forever after I tell you that this is the most awesome preschool website ever. Don't read my blog any more. Just stop and go there right now.
I'm still going to blog... But you can bet I'm going to get a lot of ideas from there.
The idea I'm really excited to try is to tape the kids name (or letter of the day) to the sofa table. What I mean is to spell the kids' names with masking tape. Then you can do all sorts of things; trace the letters with your finger, cover it with paper and make a crayon rubbing, cover it with cheerios so the kids can visually and physically build the letter. I'm ecstatic. I've been struggling to get the kids to write the letters. I think this idea will get the kids to step up in the right direction. 2yo struggled with the instruction to place her carob chips on the paper, but she has seen it now and maybe tomorrow will be easier.
Next we glued craft stick together to make a capital I. Lastly, we read a short article from The Friend magazine. I was going to read another one, but 5yo asked, "Is it over now?"

Tuesday- Started with SesameStreet.org for the letter Ii videos. I'm noticing the kids are loosing interest in watching these clips. And that's ok.
Today I got a little carried away with flags. I stayed up late cutting out stripes and researching the history of the American Flag. I love how it's changed and all the stories that go with it. I didn't even hit on the letter I. I planned to. 'Indivisible' could have been worked in to the flag during the revolutionary war. Lincoln didn't want the union divided and if it had they would have had to take a few stars of the flag. And 'Indivisible is part of the Pledge of Allegiance, which is what I really wanted to discuss. There was another I word, but it escapes me.
I found a lot of flag coloring pages on the web. My favorite site it apples4theteacher.com. Consequently, I didn't find any patriotic or flag related videos on sesame street dot org. Hmmm? They cover the alphabet well at least.
5yo was very upset that he colored his white stripes red. I thought about using tape and paint to make a flag, but that won't teach him to stay in the lines. I guess we just need lots of practice and tolerance.

Wednesday- This was a fun day. Watched an old video I found at the thrift store long ago. It was made in the UK, distributed by Video Treasures, Inc, (which was sold to Anchor Bay.) My version was copyrighted 1990. I think I may have found a version copyrighted in 1994 from Anchor Bay on Amazon.com. Eight copies available. It's titled Pat-a-Cake Pat-a-Cake. It's got cute little songs that I didn't grow up with. I guess I'm a connoisseur of kid songs. My children are very familiar with the fishy song, the centipede song, and I wanted them to learn the inchworm song. Long story short, 2yo learned the inchworm song and you might be able to find a learning video on the web.
Then I found a cute clipart of an inchworm on a branch and cut it out so I could demonstrate the inchworm on the plant, under the plant, and in the plant. I also gave the kids some rulers and tried to explain inches. Note- thin plastic rulers can break and flip you in the eye with the jagged pieces. 5yo wasn't seriously hurt or cut, but it did surprise him in a bad way.
Then we played the 'In, On, and Under' game I made a few years ago. I constructed the 'In, On and Under' spinner (if it must have a name) from pieces of 1/2 inch pvc pipe, a dowel, and scrap wood.

Put it together with some glue and nails and made signs under each spinner. The pvc is divided into three sections; in, on, and under, of course. All you do is have the kids spin the pipes around real fast and see where they stop. Which ever word is more on top wins. Next, you have to put the kids in, on or under these things and they pretend they are a bug and maybe they'll learn a few sight words at the same time.

I used a brown blanket for the dirt. Wrap it around them if they're 'in' the dirt. I used a grey plastic tub for the rock. It's sturdy enough for the kids to sit on. And a green leaf made from poster board. Again, wrap it around them if they're supposed to be 'in.' The boys' favorite is to be under the rock. Just don't let things get out of hand. Establish rules like no rough housing and no sitting on the box while some body's 'under.' We'll play this again on Friday and for Bb Bug week.
Forgot to read Go, Dogs, Go by P.D. Eastman. It's got lots of  'in on and under's and lots of other things. I'll read it Friday and again on Oo week.

Thursday- All about being 'In' your neighborhood. Sang the ABCs and talked to them about some Ii words that I've been neglecting this week. Then I got out a flap book called.Arthur's Neighborhood by Marc Brown. Then we played with a felt picture collection my sister gave me. It's a picture of a street with buildings on it and the little felt pieces you can play with are people, kids on bikes, cars, an ice cream stand, bus, ups truck, postal truck, etc. Needs a garbage truck.
I lost the kids when I got out the maps. Should have had landmark pictures to place on the map. Should have gone on a walk and drawn out were we went. I want to make a box with pictures taken of all directions from our street corner with a map at the bottom of the box and window on all sides so that you can look at the map and then through the window to see what it would look like from that direction. I don't know if I could explain that one better.

Friday- ABCs and made a crayon rubbing with the letters Ii that have been on the sofa table all week. 5yo was disinterested at first, then excited, then angry. He's a perfectionist like the rest of the family and gives up after one failure. Neither kid wanted to play in, on and under. 8yo loved it. I don't understand what the problem is. This problem certainly has a pattern, though. Hmm?
Read Go, Dogs, Go by P. D. Eastman. Kids liked it. Read a book about iguanas and the kids weren't too interested until they learned that marine iguanas can go in the water.
We planned to pick up the older brother from school and head to the Dinosaur Park to see their 5 pet iguanas but 8yo refused to go. All summer long I had a terrible time going on outings because it took 2 1/2 hours to get people in the car or they flatly refused to go. But I learned that if they were already in the car, I could take them anywhere I wanted to go. Normally, we walk to and from school, but on Fridays I drive the car to pick up the oldest. Well, today I let the 5yo talk me into walking. Bad mistake. 8yo wanted me to take him to Grandma's while the little kids and I went to the Dinosaur Park. Well, you know everyone would want to stay at Grandma's, so I talked them into going to a playland at a fastfood place. I managed to take pictures of them 'in, on and under' things and I'll make a book out of it for them.