school | The Angel Forever

Category Archives school

Shalom Preschool Shabbat

Posted on June 9, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear JSL,

Yesterday, we had another milestone of sorts. I hardly mentioned it to you because you seem sad about the end of the year. I know it is hard for you to understand leaving nursery school and moving onto kindergarten. We have all grown to love the two years that we have spent as part of the amazing community within your school. Everyone has been supportive from the parents, teachers, to the amazing director.

The milestone was your last Shabbat in nursery school. This was the last Friday that you were officially in preschool. It tugged at my heart to realize that, in less than a week, you will be a kindergarten kid. You will never have the chance to be the Abba, to say the blessings in school with your friends, or have challah to celebrate.

We will have to cherish the memories of you being Abba on your birthday week. It was so sweet seeing you wearing your birthday crown and helping your class. I also captured a video of this, but do not have permission to share it here since another classmate is on it. I know one day we will watch that and smile.

The memories that you have from the last two years will last you a life time. You have learned so much about Jewish life, celebrations, and adore it. I know you will take this with you and share with your friends in kindergarten and beyond. I am so proud of all that you do and look forward to watching you continue to grow up before my eyes.

Love,

Mommy

Categories:
arts and crafts Dear Kid Saturday holidays jsl milestone photos school

Tuesday Tales – Magic Tree House Books Take 2

Posted on May 29, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

It is hard for me to believe that my baby has already turned five. This September, JSL will be heading to kindergarten. He loves to learn. I believe that with a little help from his big brother, he may be ready to try reading this summer. JSL adores being read to, but I can tell he wants to take off with a book and try to do it on his own.

The summer before NHL started kindergarten, we spent a lot of time at the library. It was a place to explore, keep cool, and find books to read with both of the boys. This was also the time that we first read The Magic Tree House book series by Mary Pope Osborne. Although I began reading these early chapter books to NHL, TechyDad eventually took over since I was busy with the little guy. It was sad not hearing the stories, but in the back of my mind I knew I would have another chance.

By the time NHL was almost finished with kindergarten, he had read the 40 Magic Tree House books that were already published! The first book was published in 1992 and the 48th book with Jack and Annie will be coming out this July for the 20th Anniversary of the series. It only seems right that JSL and I started reading these books now.

JSL and I sat down over two nights and read Dinosaurs Before Dark and he loved it. He already has demanded to keep reading more about Jack and Annie. I am certainly not going to say no. As a parent and educator, I love the positives in the book. The characters do not give up, they help each other, they think about their surroundings, and they are chock full of educational items. From dinosaurs, to knights, to pirates, and onward he will be learning about literature, people, places, and things from history and the world of science.

Although the books are made up of ten chapters, they are the perfect length to introduce children to longer stories. They are filled with just the right amount of writing and pictures to keep the attention of younger children. In addition to that, the stories connect with one another and will allow kids to really get to know characters and their adventures.

I know that JSL and I will continue reading these books. Even NHL has joined in to listen since it has been a while since he enjoyed them. Before I know it, the little guy will probably be reading the books to me. For now, I will enjoy our time together as we see where Jack and Annie are off to next. Who knows, maybe we will even be able to check out the Magic Tree House play one of these days.

Are you a Magic Tree House fan? I would love to know what other books you like to read with your preschoolers that are getting ready for school. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Categories:
books Educational milestone school summer Tuesday Tales

Fun Classroom Themes

Posted on May 25, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

When I was teaching younger kids, one of the items that was fun was to pick a unit plan, theme, or other item to cover with the kids. In first grade, this would involve lesson planning across academic areas and lots of items for center activities. One of my favorites was for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and also the Five Senses. Yes, there are days when I really miss that part of being in the classroom.

As the parent of a child in preschool, it has been fun to see what his teachers pick and choose each week to do with kids that are now 4 and 5 years old. Tuesday morning, we walked into the classroom and the theme was very clear.

The details in the classroom were amazing. There were dinosaurs romping all over the place. They were here:

Yes, there were even more dinosaurs over on the other side of the room. The best part: Laurie Berkner’s We are the Dinosaurs was playing as the kids explored the new dinoland.

When JSL went in the next day, I suggested wearing one of his dinosaur shirts. Little did we know that his shirt would be perfect inspiration for a project they were making. Check out their dino hats.

So my question to you week is inspired by my son’s creative teachers:

What theme in school was your favorite as a child? If you can not recall, how about a favorite your child has done or perhaps one you wish you had done.

It's Me

P.S. If you are in a dinosaur dancing mood, here’s a little Laurie Berkner video.

___________________________________________________________________________

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #204

Categories:
Aloha Friday arts and crafts Educational fun interesting jsl me moments photos school

Percussion Playing Prowess

Posted on May 19, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear NHL,

In the fall, when you decided that you wanted to play percussion instruments, I wondered how things would go. With most of the school year and two concerts behind you, I can hardly imagine life without a percussion playing kiddo in our house. Though the bell set is a bit shrill at times, we can recognize songs when you play them. The only down side is the size of your kit that has to travel into school each week. I now know where to park to drop it off and where to set it down outside of school at the end of the day.

While we were at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we made sure to stop over by the drum area in Africa. Daddy and I knew that you would have fun experimenting on the different items that were there.

Of course, it was also interesting to watch your little brother follow you around. As you can see, one of you had an easier time switching things up, while the other needs to stretch a bit more.

Still, I think the moment that made me the proudest happened at Mimi’s house on Mother’s Day. She had a little keyboard. Suddenly, we heard a song and looked over. There you were taking what you learned from playing the xylophone to play the same song on the piano without any sheet music. Of course, I wanted to test this theory. When we went to Nana and Papa’s house a few days later, you did it again proving that you really have learned quite a bit. Keep up the great work. I can’t wait to see how much more you learn next year and beyond.

Love,

Mommy

Categories:
Dear Kid Saturday Disney fun milestone Music photos school travel vacation

Cake Wishes from the Birthday Boy

Posted on May 15, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Yesterday was JSL’s 5th birthday. Monday birthdays are tricky when you are in school. It means you can’t do anything too big and elaborate, but still need to make the day extra special. On Sunday, JSL finally opted not to ask for an ice cream cake and wanted a chocolate cake with sprinkles in it. That can not really happen, so he picked something else, along with frosting and items to decorate the cake.

In the morning I took the boys to school. When I dropped JSL off, his teacher E had him make a special birthday crown. Later on when I went back in, the crown was complete.

Then it was time to have a birthday snack with everyone. When the kids were done singing to JSL, he was asked to share how old he is now. Yes, he now needs an entire hand.

After a story and some dancing, we packed up to head home. We were on a mission. Before going to school JSL asked me only to bake the birthday cake. As a new big five year old, he wanted to help frost and decorate his own masterpiece. So I set out supplies and we started to work.

JSL soon learned that when you pull up on frosting…cake will follow along with it. Thanks to that, he also learned how to repair holes with more frosting.

Once the cake was covered in frosting, it was time to add some color. JSL was careful placing sprinkles at first, then he started to just dump them on, and eventually he wanted some gold to add a little sparkle.

When the cake was finished we pulled out the present that he begged for. JSL wanted walkie-talkies for his birthday. These are the cool Perry ones that we found for the Phineas and Ferb fan:

Unfortunately, the walkie-talkies did not work. We called the company and they were amazing. Later on we brought them back to the Toys R Us and exchanged them for some the exact same item that worked perfectly. Then we came home to have some of the cake that JSL helped to make.