Happy New Year!

It's a new year in ECFE and I am super excited about the activities we have set out this week. I took a few pictures of a few of my favorite things. Oh shoot, I totally forgot to take a picture of the NYE Bingo game. :-(

Our sensory table turned "I Spy" this week!

 And just because I can't get enough of my new furbaby...

Happy Birthday!!

 

Student Teaching

I started student teaching in a 2nd grade classroom on Tuesday and my first day was a huge success!

Reading Education Websites

http://www.readingrockets.org/

Reading Rockets has information on teaching reading, helping struggling readers and children’s books and authors. There is also a reading topics list. You can search topics from A- Z. Information can be found on Dyslexia, STEM literacy, oral language and more.

http://www.raz-kids.com/main/Login

Raz Kids is an award winning website where K-5 students can go to read anywhere and anytime. The books on Raz Kids are leveled and teachers can track and monitor student progress. Students will take comprehension quizzes after reading each story.

http://www.starfall.com/

Starfall teaches children to read with phonics. It is perfect for Kindergarten through 2^nd grade as well as special education and English language learners.

http://www.funbrain.com/brain/ReadingBrain/ReadingBrain.html

Kids, teachers, librarians and parents use Funbrain. Funbrain has games, online books, and comics. Funbrain was created for kids ages Pre-K through 8^th grade and it offers more than 100 fun, interactive games that develop skills in math, reading, and literacy. Kids can read popular books and comics on the site including, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amelia Writes Again, and Brewster Rocket.

http://www.jumpstart.com/

JumpStart is a groundbreaking evolution in children’s learning games and the first learning game delivered in a browser with high-quality 3D graphics and advanced play. It is a completely secure and safe online environment where kids can interact, explore and learn.

http://www.bookadventure.com/

Book Adventure is a free reading motivation program for children in grades K-8. Children create their own book lists, take multiple-choice quizzes on the books they’ve read, and earn points and prizes for their literary success. Book Adventured was created and is maintained by Sylvan Learning Centers.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/

Clifford the Big Red Dog is interactive on this fun website. This website has phonics fun, games, and stories for early readers.

http://storynory.com/

Storynory has published a new audio story every week since 2005.

http://www.theteacherscorner.net/

Teacher’s Corner has lesson plans for multiple subjects, bulletin boards, thematic units and many other teacher resources.

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/

Read, Write, Think has lesson plans that you can narrow down by theme, grade level, lesson plan type and learning objective.

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/free-lesson-plans

Scholastic has lesson plans for grades Pre-K through 12^th grade. This website allows you to search for a lesson plan or to view all featured lesson plans. Scholastic also has sections on resources and tools, strategies and ideas, student activities, books and authors and more.

http://www.jumpstart.com/teachers/lesson-plans/reading-lesson-plans

JumpStart offers free reading lesson plans as well as reading activities and worksheets for kids that teachers can use to add fun to any reading lesson plan. JumpStart has games for children to play to enhance the reading skills they are learning in the classroom.

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/general_content/free_resources/teachers_corner/lessonPlans.jsp?f=m

Lakeshore has great lesson plans and the best part is, they update their lessons every month! They have lesson plans for Preschool to 5^th grade. The lessons are also aligned to Common Core, it doesn’t get better than that.

Cover Letter

I am posting this here because I can never seem to find this document on my computer when I need it. Feel free to use it or take ideas from it to use in your own cover letter. P.S. I know the spacing is off but I don't know how to fix it on here. :)

Company Name

Street Address

City, State, Zip

Phone Number

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in response to a 1^st grade teaching position as advertised as being open in your school at this time.  I am a highly capable and educated professional in the field of Early Childhood Education.  In addition to my teaching skills and teacher’s aide skills, I offer significant abilities and experience in implementing curriculum, attending to children’s needs, and putting the child’s needs first.  My ability to get along well with others, to make necessary adjustments to meet deadlines, and successfully work in fast-paced environments have all contributed to my growth in Early Childhood Education and have allowed my employers’ to place a significant degree of trust in me. 

My childcare skills, eye for detail, and general knowledge have all served to help make me a qualified employee.  My approach to my work goes beyond my job description, as I am always looking for ways to improve efficiency and methods of teaching.  I am skilled at working with children to resolve issues, implementing curriculum and any day-to-day tasks that will need to be done.  In addition, I am recognized for my ability to communicate with children, their parents, and management.

The accompanying resume serves to give you an idea not only of my past achievements but also of my potential for making a significant contribution to your school and the children and families I will work with.

I would like to thank you for your consideration for the teaching position. If you have any questions or concerns I can be reached at 123-123-1234. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

 Me

Welcome to my Blog!

Today, I am linking up with Kelly's Korner, "Show Us Your Singles!"

My name is Liz.

I am 24. 

I live in Minnesota.

I love Jesus.

I love spending time at the Sculpture Garden.

I have a passion for working with young children in particular with infants, toddlers and preschoolers. I am working on my B.A. degree in Early Childhood Education and should graduate Fall 2014. I am not sure what I want to do with my degree. I love the family I currently nanny for, but I know I cannot do that forever. I have thought about being a Preschool teacher, going into Early Childhood Ministry or running a childcare out of my home. For now, I am trusting in God's plan and that He will lead me where I am supposed to be. 

My cat named Mister Biebs.

I'll leave you with 15 facts about me: 

1. I am obsessed with children's literature!
2. I refuse to touch raw meat, which is half the reason why I don't cook. I bake!
3. I have two cats and a dog.

4. I want to move to South Carolina to be closer to my cousins, an ocean, and warm weather.
5. I HATE snow! I am terrified to drive in it, but I am slowly getting more confident.
6. I was in Synchronized Swimming for two years. I wish I never gave it up.
7. I like to be independent and do things on my own. According to my mom, "I march to the beat of my own drum."
8. I have never been out of the country.
9. My dream vacation would be visiting Hershey, Pennsylvania.
10. Cars is my favorite movie!
11. Spring is my favorite season, I love rain!
12. I worked as an Assistant Manager at Children's Place for two years before going back to school full time.
13. So far in my college career I have been to four different colleges and switched my major five times.
14. I do not know how to whistle.
15. I am a big kid at heart! :)

My families Christmas gift to me. It's Shemar Moore from Criminal Minds!

Don't hesitate to ask questions or leave me a comment.

Happy Friday!!

Halloween Craft

Adorable!

Ghost Footprint:

1. Paint child's foot with white paint.
2. Press onto black construction paper.
3. Add eyes and a mouth with permanent marker.
Optional: Add a bow for a girl ghost. Type out 'Happy Halloween' and glue onto the paper.

Leaf Songs

Today, http://www.survivingateacherssalary.com found a great collection of leaf songs and poems at the Busy Teachers Cafe. Here were a few of my favorites:

Leaves Are Falling
to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?"
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling,
All around, All around,
Brown and yellow leaves, red and orange too,
On the ground, On the ground.

Raking Leaves
I like to rake the leaves
(Make raking motion with hands.)
Into a great big hump .
(Pretend to pile leaves.)
Then I move back a bit,
(Take a step or two back.)
Bend my knees and jump!
(Bend knees, then jump.)

Ten Little Leaves
to the tune of "Ten Little Indians"
One little, two little, three little leaves,
Four little, five little, six little leaves,
Seven little, eight little, nine little leaves,
Ten little leaves fell down.

Five Little Leaves
Five little leaves so bright and gay
(Hold up five fingers.)
Were dancing about on a tree one day.
(Dance in place.)
The wind came blowing through the town,
(Sway with the wind.)
And one little leaf came tumbling down.
(Gently tumble to the ground.)

Four little leaves . . . 

The Leaves Are Falling Down
to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell"
The leaves are falling down,
The leaves are falling down,
Fall is here, and winter's near,
The leaves are falling down.

 The Leaves on the Trees
to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus"
The leaves on the trees are changing color,
Changing color, changing color,
The leaves on the trees are changing color,
All around the town.

The wind makes the leaves say "Swish, swish, swish,"
"Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish,"
The wind makes the leaves say "Swish, swish, swish,"
All around the town.

Then the leaves come tumbling down,
Tumbling down, tumbling down,
Then the leaves come tumbling down,
All around the town.

The leaves on the ground make crackling sounds,
Crackling sounds, crackling sounds,
The leaves on the ground make crackling sounds,
All around the town.

We'll rake them up into a pile,
Into a pile, into a pile,
We'll rake them up into a pile,
All around the town.

ECFE Songs, Fingerplays, and Recipes

Acorn Brown:

I'm a little acorn brown,

Lying on the cold, cold, ground,

Somebody came and stepped on me,

That is why I'm cracked you see,

I'm a nut

(knock head and click tongue)

I'm a nut

(knock head and click tongue)

I'm a nut, I'm a nut, I'm a nut!

Two Little Airplanes:

Two little airplanes sitting on a cloud,

One named quiet, the other named loud,

Fly away quiet. Fly away loud.

Come back quiet. Come back loud.

The Apple Tree:

Way up in the apple tree,

(point up high)

Two little apples smiled at me.

(index fingers at corners of smile)

I shook that tree as hard as I could,

(shake pretend tree)

Down came the apples,

(point finger up in the air, then point down)

Mmmm! They were good.

(rub tummy and smile)

Five Little Pumpkins:

Five little pumpkins were sitting on a gate.

The first one said, "My it's getting late."

The second one said, "There are witches in the air."

The third one said, "We don't care."

The fourth one said, "Let's run and run."

The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun."

OOOOOOOOO went the wind.

Out went the lights.

And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

Five Green and Speckled Frogs:

Five green and speckled frogs, sitting on a speckled log,

eating the most delicious bugs.

Yum Yum! 

One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool...

now there are four green and speckled frogs.

Ribbit Ribbit!

(Repeat using four; three; two; one green speckled frog(s))

Grizzly Bear:

A grizzly bear, a grizzly bear, was sleeping in his cave,

A grizzly bear, a grizzly bear, was sleeping in his cave.

Please be very quiet, very, very quiet. For if you wake

him, if you shake him, he begins to roar!

R  O  A  R

Traffic Light Cookies:

(These cookies might be fun to try to help your child 

become more aware of traffic lights.)

Shape a roll of refrigerated sugar cookie dough into 

a rectangle. Chill the dough until firm. Cut slices 1/4

inch wide. Press a red, yellow, and green M&M into the 

dough so it resembles a traffic light. Bake according to

package directions.

Traffic Rhyme:

Red on top means stop

Green below means go

Yellow in the middle means wait

Even if you're late!

Homemade Stickers:

(All children love stickers. Here's an easy recipe for you to

make your own at home. Children can draw pictures or

cut them out of magazines or wrapping paper.)

Dissolve 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin in 2 tablespoons of

very hot water. Brush the solution on the back of the designs 

or pictures. Let them dry; then simply lick the stickers. If

your child doesn't want to lick the stickers, use a sponge

moistened with water.

Glue Bottle Tip:

Do you get tired of glue caps getting plugged up? Simply

place clogged caps in a bowl of water and microwave

for about one minute. The glue will be much softer and

much easier to remove.

Detergent Scoops:

Don't throw out the scoops that come in detergent boxes. 

They can be used for many things. We love them for our

sensory tables at school. They work better than shovels

or spoons. They also can be used for sorting or counting

activities. Label each scoop with a picture or number.

Have your child pick up the appropriate items.

Counting Song:

Tune: Mary Had A Little Lamb

Lightly tap your foot one time,

foot one time, foot one time.

Lightly tap your foot one time,

Now let's count with two.

(Repeat changing numbers or use other body parts:

clap your hands, shake your leg, etc.)

Gray Squirrel:

Gray squirrel ran up the tree. He look all around.

"Oh dear," said little squirrel, "My lunch is on the 

ground." What did the squirrel see on the ground?

What kind of tree was it? 

**Content from ECFE District 279