So Funny!

The winner of the "Martha Speaks" giveaway is Lisa from Cheerios Underfoot.

Thank you to everyone who entered. You all had great suggestions for books that will tickle your little ones' funny bones, so I thought it would be nice to offer a list of these "tried and trues".

Click here to download a list that you can print and keep for reference.

In the Moment

Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry

Random Generator chose La Dolce Vita to receive the book.
Thank you to everyone who commented.

A couple of years ago, I had a long talk with a dear friend about how quickly our children were growing up. I admitted that I sometimes feel guilty because I allow myself to get so busy that I don't always feel like I am living in (and appreciating) the moment. Being a homeschooling mom of three little ones, she completely understood what I was talking about. We went on to talk about ways that we could be "present" for our children. A couple of days later, my friend graciously left a lovely package on my front porch. Inside was a book that soon became one of my favorites.

The book is called Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry. It is a collection of essays about finding joy in the simple things, slowing down and living in the moment, and finding peace in our everyday lives.

While unpacking a box in my basement, I found this book and immediately remembered how much I had appreciated it. I thought it would be fun to pass along my copy to another "busy Mom", who can read and enjoy it before passing it along to another Mom.

If you are interested in participating and would like the book next, leave me a comment about a way that you "live in the moment" with your family.

I will randomly select a comment on Wednesday, August 5.

The Perfect T-shirt

Literacy Launchpad is selling the coolest t-shirts. Anyone who is a true advocate for early literacy just has to have one!

Amy says:

What's so great about these shirts is that there is a three-fold benefit to purchasing one:

1. You get to wear it around, look super cool, and make everyone else jealous!

2. You're promoting literacy to everyone who sees you sporting this bad boy!

3. 100% of the profit from the sale of each t-shirt will be put into our (my husband's and mine) adoption fund. We're currently in the process of adopting two children from Ethiopia! You can read all about that by clicking here. And subscribe while you're there, so you get all our awesome updates! :)

Please tweet and blog this!

Fun Finds

After catching up with my Feedly, here are some of my favorite finds!


This post at Angry Chicken is all about "coloring work". She recommends some great art supplies and beautiful sketchbooks. Perfect for this "Back to School" time of year.



A "How To" video on water sponge toys from Make and Takes.





An easy, quick summer tent from Craft Addictions.



Tutorial on fun alphabet block magnets from Plum Pudding. These are a great gift idea.





How to make homemade Moon Sand from Skip to My Lou. Can't wait to make this with my own children!


What are some of your "Fun Finds"?

Giveaway: Martha Speaks

Martha Speaks

The winner is ...Lisa from Cheerios Underfoot

One of the books for The Itty-Bitty Bookworm's August curriculum is Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh. This is a hilarious story about a dog who learns to talk after being fed alphabet soup by her young child owner. Martha, the talking dog, speaks, and speaks, and speaks. In fact, she talks so much, that Helen begins to wish Martha had never learned to talk at all. When Helen announces this, Martha is devestated. Will she ever be able to make up for all of her wild and crazy hijinks? As you read to find out, you and your child will laugh out loud!

Click here to see Amazon's Look Inside.

This book has been such a hit that there is now a PBS KIDS show by the same name. Click here to learn more about the program and to see clips. The PBS KIDS website contain tons of activity ideas and printables which correspond with the episodes. It is a great resource for parents and teachers. In addition, it offers games, coloring sheets, and videos for kids.

I am giving away 1 copy of this zany, comical book, which also includes a set of colorful stickers. To enter, leave a comment about a funny book that cracks you and your child up.

For additional entries:

• Subscribe to our blog and leave me a comment to let me know.
• Become a fan on our Facebook page. Go here. Then come back and tell me.
  
• Tweet about this giveaway and link to it. Then come back here and leave me a comment and your Twitter name.

A winner will be chosen on Friday, July 31.

Good Luck!

My Little Chefs

Both of my daughters have been very interested in cooking this summer. They have helped me cook dinner and have baked cookies, a banana bread, and a caramel apple cake. These cooking experiences are not just about learning to cook, they also provide the girls with the opportunity to practice reading (the recipes), math (measuring, counting, reading numbers and fractions, etc.), and following multi-step directions.

Junie B., my eight year old, has taken these cooking lessons a step further. She has written her very own recipe. It is called "Popcorn Krispie Treat". Here is the recipe in her own words:

Popcorn Krispie Treats
(A delicious, but hardly nutritious, snack)

Ingredients

Popcorn

M&Ms

Marshmallows

Icing

Sprinkles or Nuts

Directions

1. Pop the popcorn and put it in a big dish.

2. Melt some butter and marshmallows on the stove.

3. Pour the butter and marshmallow mixture and the M&Ms over the popcorn. Stir until sticky.

4. Pour all of this into a rectangle pan.

5. Let it sit for 15 minutes.

6. Then add the icing of your choice. Spread it on nicely

7. Top it with sprinkles or nuts.

8. Cut it into squares and eat!

So creative! Who knows ~ I might be raising the Next Food Network Star!

Dollar Store Finds: Sensory Tubs

One of the craziest times of my day is right before dinner when I am trying to cook, set the table, etc. Now that my children are a little older, I try to get them involved in the process, but when they were younger it was much more difficult. One solution I found was using sensory tubs.

Sensory Tubs are large container bins and tubs that can be filled with different types of materials. Not only do children love exploring these materials, but the exploration provides them with the opportunity to practice observation and fine motor skills (scooping, pouring, etc.). You can purchase sensory tables, but it is simple to create your own with items from dollar stores. Here's how:

• At the dollar store, choose a large plastic bin to use as the actual tub. You will want one that is large enough for the child to play in.
• Then, choose the materials with which you will fill the tub. Here are some examples that are commonly found in dollar stores: rice, small dried pasta, craft pom-poms, flour, oats, dried beans, corn meal, cereal, bird seed, and tear-less baby shampoo.
  
• Next, you will need a plastic shower curtain liner.
  
• Back at home, cover the play area with the shower curtain liner. This will make clean-up much easier.
  
• Fill the plastic bin with one of the materials you purchased. Then add measuring cups, large spoons, plastic bowls and cups, a funnel, etc. Invite your child to play with the sensory tub by showing him/her how to scoop, pour, fill, dump, etc.
  
• After a few play sessions with this material, your child may lose interest. No problem ~ simply dump the material out and add a new one.
  

*If your child puts things in his/her mouth, use only edible items.
**Always supervise sensory tub play.
***To use the tear-less baby shampoo - Fill the tub with water. Add enough shampoo to create some bubbles and a wash cloth. Invite your child to give his/her dolls or toys a bath or wash play dishes.

For additional sensory tub ideas go here!

Do you have any creative ideas for using sensory tubs? Please share!

Learn to be Buddies

Since I first began using Twitter, I have "found" many interesting people with a wide variety of backgrounds. One person I was lucky enough to find is Amanda Gray. Amanda is an inspiring early childhood and special education teacher who has worked in early childhood settings, primary schools, community services, and University teacher training. Her latest venture is developing a series of children's stories to help educators teach children relevant life skills. The series is called Learn to be Buddies.

The first book in this series is Dave is Brave. It is about a little boy who is being bullied and how he confronts the bully. The illustrations are very detailed and realistic. They show lots of different facial expressions, a great lead in to discussing how to interpret body language. The text is simple and straightforward with a pleasing pattern of sound.

Dave is Brave is currently available as an e-book and as a read aloud movie clip. I enjoyed this version because Amanda has a beautiful narrating voice. A hard copy of the book will be coming available in August.

In addition, Amanda has developed activity plans, a song, a card game, and a board game to supplement her first book. These materials are designed to lead parents and educators in helping their children practice the skills taught in the book. They will also help children see how these skills can be incorporated into their everyday life.

Check out her blog which provides extra ideas and discussions about behavior and social issues. It is a wonderful resource for special education teachers and parents of children with disabilities.

If you are interested in Amanda's products, go here and enter for a chance to win a copy of Dave is Brave and one of five supplemental products.

Share some of your resources for teaching social and life skills.

Read Inch by Inch!

Giveaway: Alphabet House

Giveaway is Closed!

True Random Number Generator
chose Colleen's lucky number.
Congrats!

One of the books for The Itty-Bitty Bookworm's August curriculum is Alphabet House by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace. This is a wordless picture book about a family of rabbits that live in an alphabet house. It uses cut-paper illustrations to introduce preschoolers to the letters of the alphabet. Each page represents a different letter of the alphabet, and all of the pictures on each page begin with that particular letter. For example: On the "S" page the rabbits are wearing sweaters, scarves, slippers, and sneakers and are sitting on a sofa. There are sunflowers, the sun, and a snake outside the window. Click here to see Amazon's Look Inside.

Younger children will love to name all of the objects on each page. Older children will enjoy the "I Spy" challenge of the book. There is a list of the items that appear on each page at the end.

We are giving away 1 copy of this adorable book. To enter, leave a comment about an alphabet book that your child enjoys.

For additional entries:

• Subscribe to our blog and leave me a comment to let me know.
• Subscribe to The Itty-Bitty Bookworm newsletter by emailing contact@ittybittybookworm.com with "Subscribe" in the subject line. Then come back here and let me know.
  
• Tweet about this giveaway and link to it. Then come back here and leave me a comment and your Twitter name.

A winner will be chosen on Friday, July 17.

Good Luck!

Pinky Dinky Who?

Pinky Dinky Doo ~ That's who! This is my children's new favorite television show. This is saying a lot because it is very difficult to find a cartoon that they will all agree upon. I think they all like it because "Pinky Dinky Doo" offers a little something for everyone.

• Junie B appreciates Pinky's creativity and imagination.
• Fancy Nancy loves her pink hair and spunky personality.
• Jesse Bear loves Mr. Guinea pig.
• They all love the theme song. It is pretty catchy. Listen.
  

I like the program because each episode is written to include the following (as stated by noggin.com):


Celebrates the Power of Inventing Stories
By showcasing the storytelling process, PINKY DINKY DOO encourages kids to use their imaginations, demonstrates that stories come from ideas, and shows kids that their imaginations can lead a story down any path they choose.

Introduces the Basic Elements of Narration
Pinky's stories familiarize young children with the basic components of story structure--characters, dialogue, main ideas, event sequences, and details--which is essential to reading success later in school.

Encourages Listening and Comprehension
Pinky and her brother model effective strategies that kids need to make sense of stories, such as taking another look at a story, asking questions, getting clarification on unfamiliar words and concepts, and predicting what will come next.

Expands Vocabulary
Listening to stories is an important source of vocabulary acquisition. All of Pinky's stories demonstrate a joy in playing with language, focus on the meaning of words and concepts within a story, offer helpful support through visuals and dialogue, and include fun songs, games, rhymes, and alliterations.

The Noggin website has some really fun Pinky Dinky Doo stuff. The coolest thing is the selection of podcasts of the Pinky Dinky Doo stories. You can download a story onto a portable music player or stream an episode from your computer. You can also print the free activity pages that accompany each episode.

In addition, the website offers the following:

• Create your own story podcast to share with other children.
• Storytelling Picture Pack ~ Look at these colorful pictures with your children and encourage them to tell you a story about them.
• Pinky Paper Dolls
• Pinky Puppets

If you have a Pinky fan, check out these activities and let us know what you and your little one think.

An Amazing Blog and Blogger

I am not sure how I first stumbled across 1+1+1+1=1, but I was blessed to find it. It is the blog of a missionary family living and serving in an inner city. They minister and lead many programs at their community church. In addition, this Mommy blogger is a former Kindergarten teacher who uses her education and experience to homeschool her children. Carisa shares all of her wonderful ideas, activities, and organizational methods on their blog. For specific information about all of the different categories offered on 1+1+1+1=1, go here.

Carisa also has two additional blogs: Totally Tots is a blog she started for Christian Moms who are choosing to keep their tots at home in possible preparation for a homeschooling future. This blog has tons of different categories. To name a few: Bible Bites, Now I Know My ABCs, Tot Food, Simply Made, and Crafty Corner. It also "Features" a new tot each week. You can email your tot's picture and information for a chance to be featured. Too cute!

Raising My Lil' Ladybug is where Carisa documents the growth of her baby daughter. She also uses this blog to post about her first experience with cloth diapering and natural living. I like checking out all of lil' ladybug's adorable outfits.

As you can imagine, Carisa is a very busy wife and mommy. Caring for three little ones and her husband, homeschooling two of her children, and leading several children's ministry programs at her Church does not leave her with a lot of free time. However, with what free time she does have, Carisa chooses to give back to the blogging community by sharing lots and lots of ideas, activities, and printables for young children of all ages. I have enjoyed all of her hardwork for quite a while and would now like to give back to Carisa by supporting an important ministry at her Church.

Carisa' husband works with recovering addicts and heads up the entire recovery ministry at the Church where he and Carisa serve. They have recently acquired a property through a sheriff sale that will be used as transitional housing for men who are in the pre and post stages of their recovery journey. Their hope and prayer is that The Redemption House will be a place that will lead many to Christ and sobriety. This ministry has launched a campaign to pay for this house in full by August 3, 2009.

To support Carisa and her husband and their Church with this honorable campaign, The Itty-Bitty Bookworm will be donating 10% of their sales from now until August 3, 2009. Please show your support by placing your Itty-Bitty curriculum orders during this time period and typing "Redemption House" into the comments section at check out.

We appreciate your support!

Canoeing

Yesterday my husband and I took our 3 children canoeing. We weren't sure how they were going to like it because it is obviously not an action-packed adventure. However, they absolutely loved it and have been asking when we can go again.


Here is what they each enjoyed:

Junie B. ~ "Oh, the turtles are so cute! I am going to take pictures of them." She loved quietly observing all of the turtles sunbathing on logs and rocks. If it had not been for Jesse Bear yelling "Wake Up" at them, I think she would have stayed and observed them for a long time. We explained to Jesse that it was not nice to yell. However, he promptly responded with "But Mommy, I just wanted to see them swim!". Oh, three year old little brothers! Needless to say, the turtles jumped into the water and swam away.

Fancy Nancy ~ "These cookies are so yummy!" Fancy's favorite part of the trip was devouring the huge, yummy, chocolate chip cookies that our lovely neighbor had brought over that morning.

Jesse Bear ~ "Daddy, watch me! I can skip wocks!". Jesse enjoyed all of the different types of rocks that he found. He especially, like throwing (I mean "skipping") them into the lake.


There you have it. A canoe trip ~ something for everyone!

Read Inch by Inch

Simple and Delicious No-Bake Blueberry Pie

I don't usually post recipes, but I have to share this one. It is so simple and yummy. Plus, blueberries are in-season and inexpensive right now. I am not sure where this recipe originally came from. I got it from my Aunt Margie. Here goes:


Aunt Margie's Simple and Delicious No-Bake Blueberry Pie

1 8oz. Cool Whip
1 cup sweetened condensed milk

3 Tbls. lemon juice

4 cups blueberries

2 9inch graham cracker pie crusts

Mix Cool Whip, sweetened condensed milk, and lemon juice together. Fold in blueberries. Divide into 2 pie crusts. Chill in refrigerator until set.

ENJOY !!!!!!

Let me know what you think. If you have a yummy blueberry recipe, please share.

Read Inch by Inch

New Printables

Check out The Itty-Bitty Bookworm's new Fourth of July Printables!

Do you have any fun Fourth of July printables? If so, share your links with us!

Happy Fourth!

Read Inch by Inch

F is for Flag

Shannon, from Teaching My Little Bookworm, has compiled a unit based on the book F is for Flag. She has been generous enough to allow me to share it with you.

Have a wonderful Fourth of July!

Click on the book to order from
The Reading Warehouse (only $2.77)!

Summary:

Perfect for reading aloud and together, this book shows in simple terms how one flag can mean so many things to so many different people.

Celebrate the origin, symbolism, and power of the banner that represents the United States of America.
====================================================================================
Workboxes:

1: Sensory Table:

Red, White and Blue -Dye rice Red, White and Blue and add to your Sensory Tub add 4th of july confetti


2: Playdoh Table:

Red, White and Blue -Make Strawberry, Blueberry and Coconut scented play-doh and add Star Cookie Cutters.

3: Discovery Bottles:

4th of July Bottles - Add corn syrup and 4th of July confetti to empty water bottles add a little water to thin so your confetti moves. Can make several with different amounts of water to make the confetti move from Slow to Fast.

=====================================================================================
Day 1:

Read book and show flag

Say Pledge of Allegiance

Talk about the flag is made up of 3 shapes (Stars, Rectangle and Square) and 3 colors (Red, White and Blue)

Art:

Paint with Red and Blue paint on White Paper

Math:

Make patterns with Red, White and Blue Star

Gross Motor:

Star Jumping - Draw stars with sidewalk chalk and have your LO jump from one to the other. Could make a bunch of Red, White and Blue ones and call out a color to jump to for more learning fun.

====================================================================================

Day 2:

Read Book

Talk about how the Flag has 13 Stripes

Say Pledge of Allegiance

Count the Strips on the flag

Art:

Painters Tape Flag - Place painters tape lines on white poster board to make strips paint the poster board with red paint. When dry remove the painters tape and you have the start of the flag. (will be finished tomorrow)

Patterning:

Lay out 13 strips of white and red paper and have your LO line them up

Fine Motor:

Glitter Fireworks - On a piece of black construction paper make chalk lines for fireworks and have your LO squeeze glitter glue on the chalk lines to make fireworks in the sky

==================================================================================

Day 3:

Read Book

Talk about how the flag has 50 stars

Say Pledge of Allegiance

Count the stars on the flag

Art:

Cut out a Blue Square and have LO place silver stars on it, then glue to your poster board stripes you painted yesterday ( if you can get 50 that is great if not just have LO put as many as they want). Staple a paint stick behind her flag and now you have a homemade flag

Snack:

4th of July Yogurt - Vanilla Yogurt with Strawberries and Blueberries

Gross Motor:

Play some patriotic music and have LO march around with their homemade flag

=================================================================================

Day 4:

Read book

Say Pledge of Allegiance

Talk about how the 4th of July is America's Birthday

Sing Happy Birthday to America


Star Birdfeeder - Cut a piece of bread with a star cookie cutter and punch a hole in it with a straw. Let it dry out overnight (or you can make several), spread with Peanut Butter and press birdseed into it. String with yarn and hang from a tree.

Sequence and Sorting:

Print off the Flag Printable and let your LO place them in size order from smallest to biggest. Can also set out 3 pieces of paper and have them sort them according to size.

Gross Motor:

Bean Bag Toss -Make 3 stars with sidewalk chalk outside and let your LO toss beanbags on to them. Count how many land in the stars

====================================================================================

Day 5

Read Book

Say Pledge of Allegiance

Tlk about what all you can do to celebrate the 4th of July

Talk about Fireworks and Fireworks Safety

Art:

4th of July Streamer - Paint a paper towel tube or toilet paper tube with red, white and blue paint and roll in glitter. When dry tape some red, white and blue crepe paper streamers inside both ends. Staple one end shut and add rice or beans staple the open end shut and now your LO has their very own noisemaker

Gross Motor:

Fireworks -Lay out some bubble wrap and let your LO run on it and pop the bubbles making their own fireworks sounds

Fine Motor:

Puffy Paint Squeeze - Make up a batch of puffy paint in Red, White and Blue and give your LO a piece of cardboard covered in foil and let them squeeze all over the cardboard. Set aside to dry, when dry is it raised and sparkly!

Snack:

4th of July Sundae - Vanilla Ice Cream with Blueberries and Strawberries and Whip Cream you could even use Strawberry Whip Cream
==================================================================================
Ideas gathered from:

Activity Village
Perpetual Preschool
Step by Step CC
Preschool Express
Hummingbird Educational