tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18573613867262825902024-03-05T04:45:30.147-08:00teacher 2 momteacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-34679600469715008032011-07-24T17:51:00.000-07:002011-07-24T17:51:34.582-07:00Reading With Charlie<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIWTsUKyK9xbNZ0xAAYSGmjFiP90VQUt_-aCCuRzCXn6MjJGQpPUQN96PldV8VrK4ary8rNnLLxQSMxBAuzQaxuXWAjc_g6r0M_nZXaafNNfZ1qdiA4Nmz45pxTXAySK3wCEsbuTuligQ/s1600/IMG_0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIWTsUKyK9xbNZ0xAAYSGmjFiP90VQUt_-aCCuRzCXn6MjJGQpPUQN96PldV8VrK4ary8rNnLLxQSMxBAuzQaxuXWAjc_g6r0M_nZXaafNNfZ1qdiA4Nmz45pxTXAySK3wCEsbuTuligQ/s640/IMG_0197.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">While we were visiting family out of state, I was able to tutor my sweet nephew Charlie for a few weeks. I wish we lived closer because it was so much fun working with him. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Here are some of the activities we did together to help with reading:</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: blue; text-align: center;">*Whiteboard practice: We did EVERYTHING on the whiteboard. We practiced vowel sounds by writing a word and then I'd ask him to change the "a" sound in cat to the "u" sound and hold up his whiteboard nice and high to show me what word he made. We did this with much more complicated words such as stack to stuck.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">*Ending practice: We practice endings such as "ed" "ing" and "ies" in words like played, hopping and puppies. Since we were slightly limited on resources, we practiced these types of words with magnets, letter cards, magic "finger" writing in the air, on the whiteboard, and with chalk. Using shaving cream or whipping cream would have been fun too!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: blue; text-align: center;">*Spelling practice: Any of the above activities can work for practicing spelling words but we also practiced with pictures and letter cards. What made it fun is that we were outside on a blanket, still enjoying the sun. <span style="font-size: x-small;">{this is the activity in the picture above}</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">*Journal writing: Since reading and writing go hand in hand, I gave Charlie his own notebook where we practiced writing with crayons and he was able to take home each day. This gave him the opportunity to write stories or draw pictures if HE wanted to. If he did, he earned a sticker. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We played a few other games that I had saved from teaching as well as reading together for 15 to 20 minutes daily. The best way to improve fluency is to read everyday for at least 20 minutes. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Last, to help motivate Charlie, I gave him a mini notebook where he could earn 3 stickers during each "session." He could earn them for: using his best handwriting, reading his very best, and overall always doing his best. We then set goals: when he earned 15 stickers he could go get a special treat and when he earned those stickers we set another goal. Positive reinforcement is SO important when helping a child learn and be successful.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Charlie and I had so much fun working together and hopefully some of these activities/tips will help you at home or in the classroom!</div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-55354010893875915222011-07-14T10:07:00.000-07:002011-07-14T10:11:38.966-07:00Improving Your Toddler's Comprehension<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"> </span></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">LOVED this article taken from <a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_your-18-month-olds-language-and-cognitive-development-speaki_1213794.bc?scid=mbtw_post18m_2w:1168&pe=MlV4bU1nUHwyMDExMDcxMg..">The Baby Center</a> website. <b>Comprehension</b> is such an important skill to have and will improve your child's reading skills starting at an early age. This is a great idea that is easy and quick and doesn't require anything store bought....just a blanket!</span> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></h3><h3 style="color: black; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><b>Improving comprehension, memory games</b></h3>"Your toddler has begun to realize that every toy, every animal, every person, every thing, has a name. And she relies on you for labels. She constantly points at pictures in books and asks, "What's that?" Or she just points repeatedly at the picture until you name it for her. She comprehends many more words than she can say easily and is filing the information away for later.<br />
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Sometime between 18 and 24 months, toddlers begin to be able to think about things that aren't present. She knows that her shoes are in her closet and will go fetch them if you ask her to. Or she stands in front of the pantry and asks for a cracker, which she knows is there even though she can't see it. If you want to test her on this ability, play a very basic version of the game Concentration. Hide a favorite toy under two or three blankets. She won't be foiled when she removes the first layer and the toy isn't visible — she'll keep searching. In fact, she'll have fun looking for things that you hide."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-68454632558202942162011-07-11T15:45:00.000-07:002011-07-11T15:45:27.231-07:00Baby Nurseries<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well it has been WAY TOO LONG since I have posted! I am so sorry to all of our wonderful, dedicated readers. But we still love you so much and I can't wait to get back on the wagon and get to blogging again. But I DO have a great excuse....I am expecting again! Owen gets a new little sibling and we are so thrilled. :) So back to the lack of blogging....I have been SO SICK and TIRED and so therefore super super LAZY. But I am finally getting some energy back; I just hope that the sickness will leave soon. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So since babies are on my mind....I just had to share some of these ideas for nursery decor. It's not very educational but it's definitely FUN. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCkoK8BQjhjQuI6JM-DDsoNb91GR997sBHlrGPSpEVby34GTp5B9RmS-Va4WCXzogCZO3W8kQ6wVSfbzcFBvm3mkOafE1RWjEJmyzqyd0SxLXXtxR8V6Q2WZS0yeZ4DwoqhShtAER5swW/s1600/damien-hadley-campbell-477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCkoK8BQjhjQuI6JM-DDsoNb91GR997sBHlrGPSpEVby34GTp5B9RmS-Va4WCXzogCZO3W8kQ6wVSfbzcFBvm3mkOafE1RWjEJmyzqyd0SxLXXtxR8V6Q2WZS0yeZ4DwoqhShtAER5swW/s640/damien-hadley-campbell-477.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBtPGGOKmTMFb40bUwtxfYiqMJwJjWDCPAMhyphenhyphen9PCEigu6pghyW7CI50oucTZ6_1amLIZZFefFy0ALZEssMTqys1N3t5eeJn0ZpOytOs1YY_J5crosBeMdq8ENU5DsrRCs_0L4Jt52MEcp/s1600/evelyn-ivory-quinn-477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBtPGGOKmTMFb40bUwtxfYiqMJwJjWDCPAMhyphenhyphen9PCEigu6pghyW7CI50oucTZ6_1amLIZZFefFy0ALZEssMTqys1N3t5eeJn0ZpOytOs1YY_J5crosBeMdq8ENU5DsrRCs_0L4Jt52MEcp/s640/evelyn-ivory-quinn-477.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgKlPf7JHtTBbcgusHLu_beVKqMp6QQJzD6wVEI9f2DYEN85K9H6NnbVHOqHh_O0XuwUJ39urDFQ5tsyxwjvQSdOPBLUgSXxfRLzr23WHopr_h8I7Uxh7jrRIWGvtYxkv9iVKMvYnwqH_/s1600/laura-elise-braverman-477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgKlPf7JHtTBbcgusHLu_beVKqMp6QQJzD6wVEI9f2DYEN85K9H6NnbVHOqHh_O0XuwUJ39urDFQ5tsyxwjvQSdOPBLUgSXxfRLzr23WHopr_h8I7Uxh7jrRIWGvtYxkv9iVKMvYnwqH_/s640/laura-elise-braverman-477.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wVgtoych8h_GYin3cy5ZVCgAy2LLardkCY0JGxwrK-OuOT6EGoBjYcWY1wrRRX57VhnYj_QHRpvCJVFdN_A9gchEU2aBj9NEHQEA0zHyFvBIGQLZEufDoB_xf-nAfRfV3qcMGvL5r4ED/s1600/nursery-yellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wVgtoych8h_GYin3cy5ZVCgAy2LLardkCY0JGxwrK-OuOT6EGoBjYcWY1wrRRX57VhnYj_QHRpvCJVFdN_A9gchEU2aBj9NEHQEA0zHyFvBIGQLZEufDoB_xf-nAfRfV3qcMGvL5r4ED/s640/nursery-yellow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KdAk7RxkaRUNiGTREPTcPuQR6p4A3swktoKUWb2PlzQcNh2mEdvcoXpQIV_DYe-ZI11aAUxH8hTec4AN5p4617_XiX5DvNApy6x1Dy8CXqz6XBQLaRHD-Q5im1RiD_KNaVmepyHAqhUZ/s1600/nursery-decorate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KdAk7RxkaRUNiGTREPTcPuQR6p4A3swktoKUWb2PlzQcNh2mEdvcoXpQIV_DYe-ZI11aAUxH8hTec4AN5p4617_XiX5DvNApy6x1Dy8CXqz6XBQLaRHD-Q5im1RiD_KNaVmepyHAqhUZ/s640/nursery-decorate.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">{images taken from <a href="http://www.ivillage.com/nursery-ideas/7-b-259560">HERE</a>}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am thinking that I need to spruce up Owen's room since it will now be home to TWO lovely babes. </div><div style="text-align: center;">(I know that Owen will be 2 when this babe is born but he is still my baby).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We can't wait!</div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-45178849773997085452011-06-13T16:29:00.000-07:002011-06-13T19:11:24.807-07:00Moms Who Teach Mondays<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello everyone! I’m excited to be able to share with you some of the ideas I’ve come across that have helped me teach my little guy who is two and a half. I’m a stay at home mom with no teaching background, but I have a passion for teaching my little joy. Teacher-2-mom is my best resource for teaching and I’m grateful to Mama J and Mama K for starting it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’m going to share with you a few ideas that we love right now besides all of the wonderful ideas on teacher-2-mom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 115%;">The first activity I wanted to share is a counting activity. I recently created a felt board of "The Five Little Ducks" song (an idea I got from a friend).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> You can Google the lyrics to "The Five Little Ducks" and listen to it on Amazon or iTunes (we love the version by Raffi).</span> <span style="line-height: 115%;">Brayden absolutely loves it and asks to do this counting activity several times in a row. We sing "The Five Little Ducks" song together and each time we count down he takes a duck away, then at the end of the song he puts all the ducks back. To help him with number recognition I cut out felt numbers to go along as we count down. I plan on using </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">the felt board for teaching shapes and storytelling too.</span></span></div></div><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcQtLFUatMZ9oNdwMsXK-IZ_erzO0jE3ZjtQXdQXLnts5Eb3qO9db6stqO8AH1b49COYHk-TCg87h6EMz8oWgeZ5EjwTxQRNPKSAZ4oI_XkGYlmatQzP1jyCzTtaikippXZ2nB8eTCmxX/s1600/IMG_0741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcQtLFUatMZ9oNdwMsXK-IZ_erzO0jE3ZjtQXdQXLnts5Eb3qO9db6stqO8AH1b49COYHk-TCg87h6EMz8oWgeZ5EjwTxQRNPKSAZ4oI_XkGYlmatQzP1jyCzTtaikippXZ2nB8eTCmxX/s640/IMG_0741.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Another activity we do a lot is read. Shortly after Brayden was born a friend of mine let me borrow a copy of “The Read Aloud Handbook” by: Jim Trelease. Check it out at the library if you haven’t. I think it’s been mentioned on teacher-2-mom. It’s a wonderful resource and there is a great list of book recommendations. Ever since then I have been reading aloud to Brayden. Now that he is two and a half I hear him say phrases from books we read several months ago (at the time I didn’t think he was listening, but now I have proof that he was). With each passing month his attention span and vocabulary have grown. To help expose him to books, and allow him access them, I keep books at his level several places around the house. It’s always a sweet moment when I find him looking at books and enjoying a story on </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">his own.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></div></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Recently we checked out a Winnie the Pooh audio book to listen to in the car. Brayden has been enjoying it and asks to listen to it every time we get in the car. A friend of mine recommended the Dr. Seuss Audio. We’ll be trying that next. </span></div><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4V6hMEagPphUVdAwWsDMiGrEzV37yYCjB4V-idCSG3Sf_6OXFIWzIgeLrBoKOoVicHfhrZxhL2Fup9QvYkqpc5GvOM54nW1YFmwqyy_FwDUh_0rAJOUTGn3H_41kGBbuPE89Ttu1oNmB/s1600/Untitled-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4V6hMEagPphUVdAwWsDMiGrEzV37yYCjB4V-idCSG3Sf_6OXFIWzIgeLrBoKOoVicHfhrZxhL2Fup9QvYkqpc5GvOM54nW1YFmwqyy_FwDUh_0rAJOUTGn3H_41kGBbuPE89Ttu1oNmB/s640/Untitled-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The last activity I wanted to mention was singing. It’s so much fun for everyone. Some good learning songs that we love right now are listed below:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Open Shut Them” by Hap Palmer<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“What is your Name” by Hap Palmer<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“My mommy comes back” by Hap Palmer<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“The Bean Back” by Hap Palmer<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%;">‘Tap your Sticks” by Hap Palmer<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Brush your Teeth” by Raffi<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Shake My Sillies Out” by Raffi<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“I Am a Child of God” Children’s Songbook<span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy Teaching! I can't wait to learn from other moms on Mondays.</span></span></div></div><br />
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</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Thank you so much Ashley! What wonderful ideas that we can't wait to put to use!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Can you tell that Ashley is an amazing photographer!? You should check out her website <a href="http://www.everylittlesmile.com/">here</a>. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: magenta;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>If you would like to be featured on "Moms Who Teach Mondays" please email us at teachertomom@gmail.com</i></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>{Please note: you do not need to be an educator or past educator to contribute...just a mommy :)} </i></span></span></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-71201280044618951042011-06-06T19:58:00.000-07:002011-06-06T23:00:58.163-07:00GIVEAWAY Winners!<div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have not one, not two, but THREE winners!!</span></div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Blogger" class="comment-icon blogger-comment" src="img/blank.gif" /> </span></div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b><span dir="ltr">CONGRATULATIONS LADIES!!</span></b></span></div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span dir="ltr"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span dir="ltr"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Please email us at teachertomom@gmail.com to claim your prize. :)</span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01812167536265228922" rel="nofollow">Nicole Hunter</a></span> said...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I posted about this giveaway on FB!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14509124069645151607" rel="nofollow">Jackie</a></span> said...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have been following your blog from day one and using the math counting chips like crazy! I would love to do the same with the vowel kit!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/13292000822630183639" rel="nofollow">Elle</a></span> said...I would love to have this because I feel I have NO learning/teaching activities for my kids and just recently thought about looking for some but have no idea where. This would be so great to have. Thanks for the giveaway.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> {winners drawn courtesy of <a href="http://random.org/">Random.org</a>}<br />
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Also, as mentioned earlier, if you'd like to buy my Short Vowel Review click <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-Vowels-A-Week-Long-Review">HERE</a>. :) </div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-921790097544320752011-06-05T11:49:00.000-07:002011-06-05T11:58:59.681-07:00Journal Writing ~ Summer Challenge<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIZ9Jt6ePhT1Jv4wpbyx3977Gsn0Rs82JVJpGOMaro4jneHSGeRqOD0XZHKnVuPjNiCSbxdIkiDZ2v7b07pMU0Fin75QKeu4fIPViZaozl5KmJ9r-FZ11Wl5ufBAS7QA1LfA0qcT3wcI/s400/etsy+kids+journal.jpg" /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">This summer challenge your child to keep a journal. I used to tutor students over the summer and I would always start my sessions by having the child write in his or her journal. I would give them 5-10 minutes (longer if they would like) to write about anything from my list of topics. I usually would give them three choices and they choose the one that they liked the best. We would paste it on to the page and then the child would proceed to write.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">The beauty of journal writing is that it pours from the child's heart and mind. It is imaginative, creative, and exciting. Journal writing is not to be graded, critiqued, nor judged. It is writing in it's PUREST form. I LOVE IT! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">There are many ways of making journal writing fun for your child. Here are the steps that I came up with:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">1. Let your child choose their own journal and then let them personalize it! (Try the Dollar Store.) They need to take ownership of this very special writing space.</span></b><br />
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</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">2. Let your child choose their own writing utensil. (I always let my students use a pen for their journal writing. Not only is it EXCITING for a child to write with a pen, but they cannot erase any of their mistakes which reinforces writing in it's PUREST form. I love that!)</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">3. Share some of your journals with your child. (I always loved to share my own journal entries from when I was in elementary school with my students.)</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">4. Take a few minutes before writing to model to your child what journal writing looks like.</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUI_MYF05Pkug_7TJ647cQrDiE0ZpGKaiNCElroRcwWqdyXH4GGZGsCgZY57KpK8qbtfIXrp9vOPOekAzL5HP3vo82wpQJAi72hrykFusVQZgHNcnAZ9TvHmi7x54zlfVo0Aa9jmYjbJL/s320/boat+in+book.jpg" /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">5. Give your child a few topics to choose from to write about. (If they would rather write about something that they thought of, then that is great too!)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Here is a list that I used with my students:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Journal Prompts (ideas) <br />
</span></u></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Cut out an idea and paste it in your journal. <br />
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Write about a time when you were brave, or finish this sentence: I am brave because . . .<br />
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Write about a time when you were helpful. <br />
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Write about something or things that you do well. <br />
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Write about three things that make you interesting. <br />
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Write about a time when you were honest. <br />
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Write about a time when you were dishonest. <br />
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Write about favorite things to do at recess <br />
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Write about your best friends. Who are they? Why do you like them? What do you do together for fun? <br />
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If you could have any animal in the world for a pet what animal would it be? Shark? Piranha? Alligator? Leech? Why? <br />
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What country would you like to visit? Why?<br />
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Write about the most exciting thing that ever happened to you. <br />
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Write about a time when you were nice to someone in your family. <br />
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Write about books that you like <br />
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Write about your home <br />
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Write about things you play with <br />
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Write about soccer or other sports you like <br />
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Write about your favorite foods <br />
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Write about your school <br />
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Write about your family <br />
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Write about the world <br />
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Write about yourself (describe yourself or write about your interests) <br />
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Write about animals <br />
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Write about your friends <br />
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Write about a vacation <br />
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Write about your favorite activity <br />
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Write about your favorite candy <br />
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Write about your favorite toy <br />
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Write about your favorite computer or video game <br />
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Write about what you are doing during summer vacation <br />
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Write about what you do after the school day is over <br />
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Write about how you are feeling <br />
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Write about your favorite drink <br />
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Write about a favorite friend <br />
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Write about one way you can be kind to animals. <br />
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Write about a time when you were mean to someone in your family. <br />
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If you could have anything in the world what would it be? <br />
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If you could be any super hero or video game character who would you be and why? What would you do? <br />
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What would you do with a million dollars? And why? <br />
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Write about a goblin named Billy who is blue and green and slimy. <br />
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Write about yourself. What color is your hair? What do you look like? Write details. <br />
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Pretend you are the president of the United States. What would you do? <br />
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What would you do if you had magical powers? <br />
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Write about an embarrassing moment. What happened? Who was there? <br />
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Would you like to be on TV? Why? What would you like to do? <br />
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If you were a pencil, what would you do? Or what would you draw? <br />
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Write about your favorite cartoon character. Why is it your favorite? <br />
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Who are your favorite sports players? What sports do they play? <br />
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Write details about your life. Where were you born? Who do you live with? Where have you lived? <br />
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Write about what would happen if one morning you woke up and you were a stuffed animal. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;">6. Allow your child enough time to write a page or so depending on their ability level. Encourage </span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;">your child to add details in their writing.</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;">7. Finally invite your child to read their entry aloud to you! ENJOY!</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Happy Journal Writing!!!</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktmOAe9uY88sPQyp4jdUsmQ9FgE7myhioL9oPGbzPih2QI-6AYv4o3O2Ciq61Z7gSrIiX5arfIgU16JLY3MlLtFaD7ml3UaiUdGGAsDcDdqVghhtIdeQm4Rwnq0L5CKdsniteDK-VAHni/s400/giraffe+nicopapergoods+journal.jpg" /></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">**Don't forget about our AWESOME<a href="http://teacher-2-mom.blogspot.com/2011/05/giveaway.html"> GIVEAWAY</a>!!!</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</b></div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-59379720076994117502011-06-03T08:40:00.000-07:002011-06-03T15:37:09.070-07:00Petco<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKHsVVZ1ChSdQJkJV70KWFp4vvimVlyhMJBhT8uq50D-IoHlJVrgBfNf8QK2t7P-f7BFgk-59-ykKFzz1ltx8mHflvKTzRjrgcMrRf-fHPfKIIoCrVp_h-D7_FcSsS8Nb074o8_hvWPGz/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKHsVVZ1ChSdQJkJV70KWFp4vvimVlyhMJBhT8uq50D-IoHlJVrgBfNf8QK2t7P-f7BFgk-59-ykKFzz1ltx8mHflvKTzRjrgcMrRf-fHPfKIIoCrVp_h-D7_FcSsS8Nb074o8_hvWPGz/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Owen and I have made a few trips to Petco these past few weeks and he has LOVED it. Where we live it is HOT HOT HOT and so anywhere that is air conditioned and free is a major plus. I took him in a cart around the store so he wouldn't be running wildly, and we just went up to each animal's cage and talked about the animal, what sound the animal made, and how it felt. He was so happy to see them move or "talk" and would laugh each time. It was so cute! It was the perfect little outing that was "different" yet a good use of our time. And we went home happy. :) So if you have a pet store near by, it's definitely worth a little trip to change things up a bit!<br />
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Don't forget to enter our <a href="http://teacher-2-mom.blogspot.com/2011/05/giveaway.html">GIVEAWAY</a> if you haven't already!! :) </div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-16040821154695011062011-05-31T18:35:00.000-07:002011-05-31T19:18:32.631-07:00GIVEAWAY!!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">It is time for another GIVEAWAY!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am so excited for this giveaway because I think you will find it useful and fun for your kiddos!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have created a "Beach Themed" <span style="color: magenta;">Short Vowel Review Unit</span> which includes: a week long, day by day instruction packet as to how to use each activity (plus some great tips for teaching your child!), and fun games, worksheets, and assessments that will last you throughout the week and give you ideas/motivation to create other fun and educational activities. Also, each vowel has it's own "poster" to use daily/weekly/or whenever! This unit is designed to help your child practice his short vowels and help him continue to be a great reader and writer. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbCBFWtxBhwqbfwFB0MBgb0VCEvCYcYtU5thkZCC6I5hkvK0JYvpKGpEaVrx5wy8Fo_7FhyjLFja2wA8duTE1_JnJarNto8bUnm5wQ7hC9squiDcSrDO6nrB5KGNqfUGIOo6jTBxdoHF_/s1600/Short+Vowel+Review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbCBFWtxBhwqbfwFB0MBgb0VCEvCYcYtU5thkZCC6I5hkvK0JYvpKGpEaVrx5wy8Fo_7FhyjLFja2wA8duTE1_JnJarNto8bUnm5wQ7hC9squiDcSrDO6nrB5KGNqfUGIOo6jTBxdoHF_/s640/Short+Vowel+Review.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is PERFECT for the summer or the beginning or end of a school year! It can be used by parents AND teachers and I am giving away this unit to <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">THREE</span> lucky readers! (after the giveaway it will be posted on my TpT store to be purchased)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here's what you need to do:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1. Follow us or already be a follower (mandatory)</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
2. Tell me how/why you need this unit :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">3. Post about this on your blog or Facebook or wherever!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">4. Add our button to your blog</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">Each entry can be a comment! The winners will be drawn next <b>Monday, June 6th</b>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Good Luck!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-87200643095793599592011-05-29T17:20:00.000-07:002011-05-29T17:20:46.534-07:00Fun Activities for Summer, part 1<div style="text-align: center;">I have been seeing SO many fun ideas floating around the internet and I just can't get enough. Here are two that I have seen that look like way too much fun. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;"><b>*Homemade Gak*</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You need to click <a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/2009/07/24/how-to-make-gak-slime/">here</a> to see a picture and directions. For some reason I can't upload any pictures!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;"><b>*Kids Carwash*</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This looks awesome. I seriously want to try it one day. Click <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/g/a/2011/05/25/dip.DTL&object=%2Fc%2Fpictures%2F2011%2F05%2F25%2Fba-Bike_Wash_0503519863.jpg">here</a> to get the picture and info.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Summer!</span></div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-36587952076072661722011-05-25T21:58:00.000-07:002011-05-25T22:01:34.505-07:00Structured vs. Non-Structured Activities<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
We received an email a little while ago asking how many structured versus non-structured activities your child should participate in throughout the day and what type of activities these should be.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">First of all, I view a "structured" activity as one that is planned with the intention to further your child's education. A non-structured activity is basically everything else....it's like "free play." It's the time when your child is just roaming freely, playing with toys by himself or wandering around. There's no planning behind it (which is okay too ofcourse!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, how many structured activities should you plan for your child?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I feel that you should try to have a few structured activities a day. However, "planned" activities don't necessarily mean you have to go out and buy something new or spend 30 minutes planning one activity for your child. A structured activity can be spur of the moment or random, as long as it's educational and enhancing the skills of your child. For example, each day I try to have a few structured activities that will work on areas that are on my 16 month old's level. We <a href="http://teacher-2-mom.blogspot.com/2011/04/joy-reading.html">read 15 minutes a day</a> but right now he doesn't have the attention span to sit for all 15 minutes so I break it up into 5 minutes (or less) increments throughout the day. Some of my structured activities are small, like counting the goldfish on his highchair tray. Even though he cannot pronounce the numbers he still points to them as I sing a counting song. We like to go on nature walks, and when we do I am involved. I point to things and help him say their names...t t t tree or r r rock. Or when we feel things I help him use his senses by asking questions like "Doesn't this rock feel smooth?" I try to plan trips to the library weekly to explore new books and try out new toys. I love the story time class and try to attend it as often as possible. I also love taking him to The Children's Museum or the Zoo. These are all "structured" activities that can be small or big...either way they are all focusing on Owen's education in some way or another.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
This past week Owen and I worked on stacking to help his dexterity and motor skills...not to mention his creativity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwolaI2F8MOlHXJcBefPjJpzIsZmfLMjr-i71ZgwIm5hx0cMIss9IEI2tH67CpujtACqsgdhmwTABpNud8SFmd6YJKHZM3Lz1qESYnoVP2xozb9ib5lzKQVVyYlCg-LL6SNQ-H9nGselFm/s1600/IMG_0746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwolaI2F8MOlHXJcBefPjJpzIsZmfLMjr-i71ZgwIm5hx0cMIss9IEI2tH67CpujtACqsgdhmwTABpNud8SFmd6YJKHZM3Lz1qESYnoVP2xozb9ib5lzKQVVyYlCg-LL6SNQ-H9nGselFm/s640/IMG_0746.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6TecxxoaNOHyaJ6eUM94KRRMAu5NMDHk9o_HUjb1wFkCT57u0tmlg1jgRU1PMXIV7PJF8gTcSbMIvqSWq92APiVDFRhRd8aSnrXcot2Y9vf1kwu_9hj4GFhmMURDKoli4RK__O5N6_Ic/s1600/IMG_0749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6TecxxoaNOHyaJ6eUM94KRRMAu5NMDHk9o_HUjb1wFkCT57u0tmlg1jgRU1PMXIV7PJF8gTcSbMIvqSWq92APiVDFRhRd8aSnrXcot2Y9vf1kwu_9hj4GFhmMURDKoli4RK__O5N6_Ic/s640/IMG_0749.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Art is a great structured activity that can be done with all ages and in many different forms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3Fic0b44v8epq-iW2YHoIxLMeLAXU_DvFE9ExWdbf6RBIrYtWSD_2PBYF9qi7xzvZCsrh-9UEsOvgxCjayAVjMsGH_tTat39c1IsNSN1-hY7VORQ5K3K9GyEUU7KSvDaFQw5sVOh5v_i/s1600/IMG_0753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3Fic0b44v8epq-iW2YHoIxLMeLAXU_DvFE9ExWdbf6RBIrYtWSD_2PBYF9qi7xzvZCsrh-9UEsOvgxCjayAVjMsGH_tTat39c1IsNSN1-hY7VORQ5K3K9GyEUU7KSvDaFQw5sVOh5v_i/s640/IMG_0753.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cooking is another great activity. We made homemade poptarts found <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/04/homemade-pop-tarts/">here</a>. They were delicious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sJt6O2DOPgzbuhB8RDMg1jaReCs59LId2tpg98SaulwMI_nnUKHSf_Gyu8POwyl45F9WjWvyJoD7_PJiqnMxm3_8HYvIFGy5xNzNxgvyJCoeKQkieijvhQTmgshJCtOaPTPAhjyEGS7C/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sJt6O2DOPgzbuhB8RDMg1jaReCs59LId2tpg98SaulwMI_nnUKHSf_Gyu8POwyl45F9WjWvyJoD7_PJiqnMxm3_8HYvIFGy5xNzNxgvyJCoeKQkieijvhQTmgshJCtOaPTPAhjyEGS7C/s640/IMG_0750.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6ROjnfZ8xRHFlhwT_RAfy8-E4rrMihUfaUZZ5dPEhEBTKz5vE_XUQ1K9Z4VrJiLJtXJOGaVRl15_818q0QyTWCb4lp5vYvq9ZEq5idncXBScWGhzZUn9H3DTQJMFkICSsGLfYGhvvkXG/s1600/IMG_0751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6ROjnfZ8xRHFlhwT_RAfy8-E4rrMihUfaUZZ5dPEhEBTKz5vE_XUQ1K9Z4VrJiLJtXJOGaVRl15_818q0QyTWCb4lp5vYvq9ZEq5idncXBScWGhzZUn9H3DTQJMFkICSsGLfYGhvvkXG/s640/IMG_0751.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Water play is always a fun one and doing it in the bathroom when outside isn't an option works just as well. This was one of our "<a href="http://teacher-2-mom.blogspot.com/2011/05/texture-bins.html">texture bins</a>" for the week. Those of course are always a fun structured activity!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RR35bkGAgBvzZoADePX5Ns49q_yajpSvYflfuNKlLEVCftSVLXMZf8gWF7Ucy9ICyqswI5HY9R5E4_nl_shv8VNNxodgYe50JT6f8XvziQ2Yx-P1nkCHBsz4_3WcbIhMvCMvGzNL7dUI/s1600/IMG_0755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RR35bkGAgBvzZoADePX5Ns49q_yajpSvYflfuNKlLEVCftSVLXMZf8gWF7Ucy9ICyqswI5HY9R5E4_nl_shv8VNNxodgYe50JT6f8XvziQ2Yx-P1nkCHBsz4_3WcbIhMvCMvGzNL7dUI/s640/IMG_0755.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some other activities we might do include: <a href="http://frogsbeesundertheseas.blogspot.com/2011/04/substitute-teacher-3.html">dancing</a>, singing songs, reading Nursery Rhymes, learning about our body parts, going to a pet store, going to swim lessons, or talking about our family and church related things. Not all may seem mainstreamed "educational" but they are enriching in all different ways. We also have MANY <a href="http://teacher-2-mom.blogspot.com/p/browse-articles-by-age.html">activities for all ages</a> on our blog that you might also enjoy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As long as you are exercising your child's mind and body, you are providing him with the enrichment he needs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">These activities mentioned can be tailored to meet your child's needs and of course there are countless ways to do this for <a href="http://teacher-2-mom.blogspot.com/p/browse-articles-by-age.html">ALL ages</a>. Get creative and search blogs, read books and ask questions to find the right activities for your child. I have always felt that there can be a limit to too many educational activities. However, I feel that as long as your child is having fun AND learning you can do as many activities as you want. But once the fun is gone and it becomes a boring task, enough is enough. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">So, what do YOU do with your child throughout the day?? We would love to post all of your ideas and link them back to you!! Please share!</div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-89582052375658688472011-05-19T17:34:00.000-07:002011-05-19T17:39:46.062-07:00Recipe Fun this Summer (take 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpU5muJjAnFGF2FvRz3OFAbJCtigcW_zZ5BakOSBDWgTQHg1xKqaJylTYkhLVu70-lwBEaXALNwhNGo-NULhPfDrhHPAYDvw36v-oFe0uUeQ6pFBlwjyF6iv31PSRUnlL4xen_IxZtgMtd/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpU5muJjAnFGF2FvRz3OFAbJCtigcW_zZ5BakOSBDWgTQHg1xKqaJylTYkhLVu70-lwBEaXALNwhNGo-NULhPfDrhHPAYDvw36v-oFe0uUeQ6pFBlwjyF6iv31PSRUnlL4xen_IxZtgMtd/s400/IMG_0007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglz6O45SCRhh8pVqEO_fkD-TED_cNBcKuHnH9cHAkMvVJwsK7svmvnqIQ09NLvDtgANgANP4HBXsHz321u2iIVHfSWiCSNoA9whbymqKxFW9UI7iGzwXJ9Ol7KVDqUlh4eQwx9TvbKRXvA/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglz6O45SCRhh8pVqEO_fkD-TED_cNBcKuHnH9cHAkMvVJwsK7svmvnqIQ09NLvDtgANgANP4HBXsHz321u2iIVHfSWiCSNoA9whbymqKxFW9UI7iGzwXJ9Ol7KVDqUlh4eQwx9TvbKRXvA/s400/IMG_0009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvR7EfYMM9hyTb1iL3KR6RI7fuP9xP-7ZhCy-QSiQvyhK_hJkdUygcaR7Vx3DVnIx6saoNmjuV8R6uJPyxMiFzrZjO_RuhkFoIUy62oKvMFb4ddl9vYfYjixpLnPM0KG-YgprmjCL2kD1/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvR7EfYMM9hyTb1iL3KR6RI7fuP9xP-7ZhCy-QSiQvyhK_hJkdUygcaR7Vx3DVnIx6saoNmjuV8R6uJPyxMiFzrZjO_RuhkFoIUy62oKvMFb4ddl9vYfYjixpLnPM0KG-YgprmjCL2kD1/s400/IMG_0012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I posted earlier this week some fun recipes to make with your kids this summer. Check them out <a href="http://teacher-2-mom.blogspot.com/2011/05/cookin-in-kitchen-with-kiddos.html">HERE</a>. Here are some more that I thought you might like! They won over these kids!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Leelawadee, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Delicious Whole Wheat Crepes<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Leelawadee, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Makes 16 crepes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Leelawadee, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ingredients<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Leelawadee, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> - ½ cup whole wheat flour - 3 large eggs<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Leelawadee, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> - ½ cup all-purpose flour - ½ cup 1% milk<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Leelawadee, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> - 1 tsp. sugar - 2 tsp. butter, melted <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Leelawadee, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> - ½ tsp. salt - ½ cup seltzer water (club soda)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Leelawadee, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. Combine whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, salt eggs, milk, and butter in a food processor or blender; process until smooth, scraping the sides once or twice. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Leelawadee, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. Slowly whisk seltzer water (or club soda) into the crepe batter. Lightly oil a small nonstick skillet with a crumpled paper towel; heat skillet over medium-high heat. Ladle about 2 tablespoons batter into the skillet with a small ladle or measuring cup; immediately tilt and rotate the pan to spread the batter evenly over the bnottom. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Leelawadee, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. Cook the crepe until the underside is lightly browned, about 30 seconds. Using a small metal spatula or a fork, lift the edge of the crepe, quickly grasp it with your fingers and flip. Cook until the second side is lightly browned, about 20 seconds longer. Slide the crepe onto a plate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Leelawadee, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4. Serve with your choice of toppings (jam, powdered sugar, fresh fruit, syrup, or Nutella). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><o:p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="213" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3664846533_ae0f40589e_o.jpg" width="320" /> </o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><o:p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><o:p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Leelawadee, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Leelawadee, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="WordSection1" style="font-size: 12pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Banana-Nut-Chocolate Chip Muffins<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Serves 12 large muffins or 48 mini-muffins<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">INGREDIENTS <o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" /> </span> <br />
<div class="WordSection2" style="font-size: 12pt;"><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">1 cup all-purpose flour <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">½ cup whole-wheat flour<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">1 teaspoon baking powder <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">1 teaspoon baking soda <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">1/2 teaspoon salt <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">3 large bananas, mashed <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">¾ cup white sugar <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">1 egg <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">1 tsp. vanilla<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">1/3 cup butter, melted <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Mini-chocolate chips or chopped nuts (optional)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" /> </span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">1.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat muffin pans with non-stick spray, or use paper liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">2.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Combine bananas, sugar, egg, vanilla and melted butter in a large bowl. Fold in flour mixture, and mix until smooth. Add chocolate chips and nuts. Scoop into muffin pans. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">3.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Bake in preheated oven. Bake mini muffins for 10 to 15 minutes, and large muffins for 25 to 30 minutes. Muffins will spring back when lightly tapped. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><o:p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="214" src="http://asweetpeachef.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/banana-nut-muffins.png" width="320" /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">Graham Cracker Bruschetta<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-size: 13pt; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Graham crackers cut in half<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 13pt; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">4 oz. softened less-fat cream cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 13pt; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">2 Tablespoons of peanut butter (optional)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 13pt; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">1 Tablespoon of sugar or honey<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-size: 13pt; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Toppings of your choice: (berries, nuts, sliced bananas, etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Place graham crackers onto a serving plate. Combine cream cheese, peanut butter, and sugar in a bowl and mix with a fork until combined. Spread onto graham crackers and top with your choice of toppings. Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://drjulesinthecity.weebly.com/uploads/7/0/3/4/7034301/9801458.jpg" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Maiandra GD', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Kristen ITC'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">~ No-nonsense Nachos ~<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Kristen ITC'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">1 package of corn tortillas (about 6 in. diameter)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Kristen ITC'; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">2 cans (15oz. each) black beans<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Kristen ITC'; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">1 tsp. chili powder<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Kristen ITC'; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">½ cup bottled salsa<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Kristen ITC'; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">1 cup shredded cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">1.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">Preheat oven to 500˚.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">2.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">Half-fill bowl with water. Dip tortillas, one at a time, into water; shake off extra water and stack tortillas on cutting board. Use knife to cut stack of tortillas into 6 pie-shaped wedges. Spread tortilla pieces out in a single layer in baking pans. Bake for 3 minutes; then use mitts to remove pans carefully to racks. Use pancake turner to turn tortilla pieces over and use mitts to return pans to oven. Bake for about 2 more minutes, until chips are light golden. Use mitts to remove pans carefully to racks. Reduce oven temp. to 400˚. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">3.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">Place beans in colander and rinse with water until water runs clear. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">4.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">Wash and dry bowl. Place beans and chili powder in bowl and mash with potato masher until well blended. Use spoon to spread bean mixture in pie pan; cover with salsa and top with cheese. Bake for about 25 minutes, until cheese is golden brown. Turn off oven and use mitts to remove pan to rack. To serve, place pie pan on serving plate and surround with chips. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;">-Makes 6 servings<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16pt; text-align: center;"><o:p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://www.sargento.com/recipe/photo/1593.jpg" /></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: LilyUPC, sans-serif; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%;">Homemade Lunchables<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: LilyUPC, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">Ingredients<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: LilyUPC, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"> - 12 Ritz crackers (or crackers of your choice) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: LilyUPC, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"> - 6 squares of cheddar cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: LilyUPC, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"> - 6 squares of ham or turkey<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: LilyUPC, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">Place a cutting board on the counter. Using a knife carefully cut 6 squares of cheddar cheese. Next place the lunch meat on the cutting board and cut 6 squares of ham or turkey. Place the stack of cheese in one corner of the Tupperware. Then place the stack of lunch meat in the opposite corner. Next place the crackers in the remaining corners of the Tupperware. Seal and place in your lunch box. Enjoy at school with a delicious piece of fruit, some carrots, and a drink!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: LilyUPC, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="213" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/197/3163111463_cba203cf82.jpg" width="320" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: LilyUPC, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: LilyUPC, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chef Pettit’s Lemonade & Soda Pop Cupcakes<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Soda Pop Cupcakes:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">1 box of yellow cake mix<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">1 can of lemon lime sparkling water<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">2 Tbsp. lemon rind<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">~ Preheat oven as directed for cupcakes on the back of the cake mix box. Line 2 cupcake trays with cupcake liners. Next pour the cake mix into a mixing bowl. Add the can of sparkling water, lemon zest and lemon juice to the cake mix. Beat on medium speed for 2 mins. Pour the batter into the cupcake liners and bake as directed. Let cool for 10 minutes and then remove from pan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Lemonade Frosting:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">2 Tbsp. butter (softened)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">2 tsp. lemon rind<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">2 tsp. thawed lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">½ tsp. vanilla<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">8 oz. less-fat cream cheese (not softened)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">3 ½ cup powdered sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Beat butter, lemon rind, lemonade, vanilla, and less-fat cream cheese in a bowl on high until fluffy. Add the powdered sugar just until blended. Don’t over beat. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Chill frosting for 1 hour. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Frost the cupcakes and store lightly covered in fridge. Serve COLD!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="240" src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/pIGwzH0NkqmgrzoxcDHFmDyMo1_500.jpg" width="320" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Let us know what your favorite kid friendly recipes </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">are and we will share them on our blog!!!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-58658674571108934482011-05-16T11:48:00.000-07:002011-05-16T11:48:49.911-07:00Mom's Who Teach Mondays<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Featuring: the Teacher Mum</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">We love ALL of our readers and are so excited to be featuring this fabulous mother who loves to teach: <a href="http://www.teachermum.com/">TeacherMum</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Thanks TeacherMum for contributing to our "Mom's Who Teach Mondays" articles!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><img src="http://www.teachermum.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/front-cover.jpg" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;">Last week</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.teachermum.com/2011/03/the-news-on-reading-and-writing/">our very own newspaper was released</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;">! Our launch was fantastic, the “excitement was palpable” (my principal’s words) and the kids had a hard time controlling their delight. Instead of an 8 page newspaper, we managed to produce 24 pages of material written by primary school children for other kids to read. I have been informed that our school’s marketing committee were so impressed with our newspaper, that they will now be publishing it on the school’s website as a marketing tool. My reporters are going to be so chuffed. I crawled across the internet looking for ideas for our newspaper, and I really struggled to find them. Usually only high schools and universities make papers. I would like to challenge other primary schools to make their own newspaper. The benefits are numerous. To help get you started, these are the articles we included in our first edition of the year. Most of these ideas belong to the reporters. Where relevant,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.teachermum.com/2011/03/the-news-on-reading-and-writing/">the photographers I had hired </a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;">took photos to accompany the articles.</span><ul style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><li>We made our cover using this incredible tool on <a href="http://www.wordle.net/">http://www.wordle.net/</a></li>
<li>Meet your reporters and photographers page (A photo of each with a fun comment, like what they could not live without)</li>
<li>Editorial</li>
<li>Comments from new students on what they think of our school and how they are settling in</li>
<li>Interview with the school principal and a special cartoon of him drawn by a student</li>
<li>Interview with the head prefects of the school</li>
<li>Adverts for school clubs</li>
<li>Class reports or quotations about school excursions and camps</li>
<li>A great piece of writing from a teacher about her first day of school</li>
<li>Interviews with our past reporters and what they are up to now</li>
<li>Latest and Greatest Technology review</li>
<li>Freakiest and Funniest Facts</li>
<li>Animal Extinction Report</li>
<li>Future Report on the 2012 Apocalypse</li>
<li>Playground report: The Flying Shoe (As luck would have it, when I was on playground duty this week another kid lost his shoe, which landed on the roof – so now we have Flying Shoe 2 in production for our next edition)</li>
<li>Photographs of the playground at lunchtime – taken by our photographers</li>
<li>Six to Nine: Six questions were asked to nine different children and their answers were all published (kids love seeing themselves in print)</li>
<li>Fundraising Report on <a href="http://www.teachermum.com/2011/03/my-ten-year-old-son-is-losing-his-hair/">The World’s Greatest Shave</a></li>
<li>Book Review</li>
<li>School chess and debating report</li>
<li>Yummy Fun Recipe page</li>
<li>Puzzle and Jokes page</li>
<li>The Sports Report</li>
<li>A music article on Rihanna</li>
<li>A back page competition</li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;">Our next newspaper is in full swing. The reporters have come up with some great ideas which are currently in production:</span><ul style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><li>A playground report on the amount of rubbish lying around</li>
<li>A movie review (which involves looking up which movies are coming out in the next holidays and writing a blurb on them)</li>
<li>Organising for a teacher to write a guest article. I have one teacher writing an article about funny things that have happened to him in all the primary schools he has worked in.</li>
<li>A poetry page (You have to love Americans – they have something called Poem in my Pocket Day! How amazing is that? I have been given permission to adopt this idea at our school and we are going to promote it through the poetry page)</li>
<li>Science experiments</li>
<li>A review of vegetable rice from the school canteen (hopefully that will go down well and the canteen will still let us stick our newspaper ads up at their checkout.)</li>
<li>What is happening in Year 3? This involves a reporter visiting the Year 3 classroom for a period and writing about the kinds of things they are doing there.</li>
<li>Articles on kids in the school and what makes them special. We already have an article on a kid who is a great cartoonist.</li>
<li>An interview with a kid in high school to find out if high school is all it cracked up to be.</li>
<li>Travel Page</li>
<li>Environmental Awareness Page</li>
<li>Lunchbox review as in, "What's In Your Lunchbox?"</li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;">Each reporter has their own press ID badge. We have more reporters wanting a position in our paper. Unfortunately there is no more space in the club…but we willingly accept articles from anybody! If you have any more ideas for me on what kids should/could be writing about for their school newspaper, I would love to hear them.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Thanks Teacher Mum!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20px;"><div style="color: magenta;"><b><i>If you would like to be featured on "Moms Who Teach Mondays" please email us at teachertomom@gmail.com</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: magenta;"><i>{Please note: you do not need to be an educator or past educator to contribute...just a mommy :)} </i></b></div></span></span></div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-13520447668844882042011-05-15T19:30:00.000-07:002011-05-15T19:30:08.437-07:00Cookin' in the Kitchen with the Kiddos!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's almost summer...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the kids will be home...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">what will you fill your days with....any ideas??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How about COOKIN' in the KITCHEN!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my <b>FAVORITE</b> places to be is in my <b>kitchen! </b>Those who know me well know that I have a passion for cooking and love more than anything to try new recipes. A few summers back I taught a kid's cooking school out of my house. I called it <b>"Kid's Kitchen"</b>. We had a BLAST!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbcaGL9Dej483Kuao0ibcvdf3AZJncw0fSM64rJoS79WcxOyDsThxrLDlXMI76_kYFvCC1xRAbtYDFzW-16hD6Pc8b_rQPWrmvNA3qRuaP7NIi0jTb0dy2z4JxatJRao4DoEMo4S_8518/s1600/Kid%2527s+Kitchen+2009+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbcaGL9Dej483Kuao0ibcvdf3AZJncw0fSM64rJoS79WcxOyDsThxrLDlXMI76_kYFvCC1xRAbtYDFzW-16hD6Pc8b_rQPWrmvNA3qRuaP7NIi0jTb0dy2z4JxatJRao4DoEMo4S_8518/s320/Kid%2527s+Kitchen+2009+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMSCpi8qZDIJqiEKtDpj_K2Qk5gvxtskiqqkcQVHSHo0rT1qVi3xMC9vCzkw0EcdJRj9_PN-s817dCwBhnjyaEB72GZO6np7hUGa4_Ac607AwJuupjc9rUIFK9h_lr6HDQ_jvf4JQtcXl/s1600/Kid%2527s+Kitchen+2009+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMSCpi8qZDIJqiEKtDpj_K2Qk5gvxtskiqqkcQVHSHo0rT1qVi3xMC9vCzkw0EcdJRj9_PN-s817dCwBhnjyaEB72GZO6np7hUGa4_Ac607AwJuupjc9rUIFK9h_lr6HDQ_jvf4JQtcXl/s320/Kid%2527s+Kitchen+2009+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJaFkMgLVMsLz2-2odcFpCytegvjacXHqcq8xfJE9BoSCk0dpIoBIvsBAKj3l46WdutGx6ChUrk4JXtauHVPhK87Uuad4t86-fkxHRcJLVZlT5MgwY8_A5n56kxyNTkW0XZI3lPE21Kxa/s1600/Kid%2527s+Kitchen+2009+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJaFkMgLVMsLz2-2odcFpCytegvjacXHqcq8xfJE9BoSCk0dpIoBIvsBAKj3l46WdutGx6ChUrk4JXtauHVPhK87Uuad4t86-fkxHRcJLVZlT5MgwY8_A5n56kxyNTkW0XZI3lPE21Kxa/s320/Kid%2527s+Kitchen+2009+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O1zE3kyn1ZuiXovuWgkftWxLQn04sriu39UGrqHkid-BV5ftff4WVw8UeKR-1jhOp3NkRXB2XxHNQ_g3ecECJQabCT1gWie_TaAD0SjlnapoHWmJoWtksc88XJvjKHA9pJ0fOpw6mm4c/s1600/Kid%2527s+Kitchen+2009+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O1zE3kyn1ZuiXovuWgkftWxLQn04sriu39UGrqHkid-BV5ftff4WVw8UeKR-1jhOp3NkRXB2XxHNQ_g3ecECJQabCT1gWie_TaAD0SjlnapoHWmJoWtksc88XJvjKHA9pJ0fOpw6mm4c/s320/Kid%2527s+Kitchen+2009+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnRihrA2f2s_9oCJMoZL6AsiqNhyphenhyphen_ER4kye8UP6uL1iYcLBb6SClxL2i0lIhQ5e2E4I4_rCnHsIvwJTh9onCv1qd2kgAKhpKMkjGA3_cSnqPaqV2gidxBQ3F2BLX1pF0VlJVIMC5o9RYw/s1600/Kid%2527s+Kitchen+2009+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnRihrA2f2s_9oCJMoZL6AsiqNhyphenhyphen_ER4kye8UP6uL1iYcLBb6SClxL2i0lIhQ5e2E4I4_rCnHsIvwJTh9onCv1qd2kgAKhpKMkjGA3_cSnqPaqV2gidxBQ3F2BLX1pF0VlJVIMC5o9RYw/s320/Kid%2527s+Kitchen+2009+007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div> I love experimenting with fun, healthy recipes and especially love when other people (kids included) LOVE my cooking. I thought I would share with you some of the <b>KID APPROVED</b> favorites from my "Kid's Kitchen".</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Curlz MT'; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%;">Strawberry Mice<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fresh strawberries<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>- Almond slivers<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mini chocolate chips<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>- Red lace licorice<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Black decorators’ icing<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>- Wedge of cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 29.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For each mouse slice a section from the side of a strawberry so it sits flat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 29.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Press a mini chocolate chip into the tip for a nose, using a small dab of icing to secure it in place, if needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 29.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Add icing eyes and stick 2 almond slivers into the top of the berry for ears.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 29.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For a tail, use a toothpick to carve a small hole in the back of the berry and push the end of a piece of licorice lace into the hole. Serve these BERRY cute treats with small triangles of cheese. Enjoy with crackers!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 29.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Iskoola Pota","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="244" src="http://cuteeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/strawberry-mice-e1273723123269.jpg" width="320" /></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 29.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 29.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 29.25pt;"><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oven-Baked Carrot Fries*<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Recipe from Williams-Sonoma: <u>The Kid’s Cookbook<o:p></o:p></u></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ingredients<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Kristen ITC";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1 ½ pounds carrots (10 medium)<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 tsp. sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Kristen ITC";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2 Tbsp. olive oil<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>½ tsp. salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Kristen ITC"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Kristen ITC";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2 tsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>- pinch of pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line the jelly-roll pan with aluminum foil.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Using a sharp knife and cutting board, cut away the tip and end of each carrot. Place 1 carrot on the board and hold with one hand. Holding the peeler in the other hand, run it over the carrot always peeling away from you. Turn the carrot as needed to peel completely. Repeat with the other carrots. Using the sharp knife, cut 1 carrot in half crosswise. Next, cut each half in half lengthwise. Finally, cut each half in half lengthwise again. You will end up with 8 sticks from the carrot. Repeat with other carrots.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-In the mixing bowl, combine the carrot sticks, olive oil, rosemary, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir with the rubber spatula until the carrot sticks are evenly coated with all the other ingredients.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Dump the carrots onto the foil-lined jelly-roll pan, scraping out any herbs clinging to the sides of the bowl. Spread the sticks out as much as possible. Bake until the carrots are tender and well browned, about 20 minutes. Using oven mitts, remove the pan from the oven. Serve the carrot fries hot or at room temperature.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Kristen ITC'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="214" src="http://www.elanaspantry.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/carrot-oven-fries-baking-sheet-DSC_8044.jpg" width="320" /> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Kristen ITC'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pizza Roll-Ups<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ingredients: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Juice ITC"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Juice ITC";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Guerrero Whole Wheat Tortillas (These are the best around!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Juice ITC"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Juice ITC";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Handful of shredded mozzarella cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Juice ITC"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Juice ITC";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5-6 turkey pepperoni’s per tortilla<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Juice ITC"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Juice ITC";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2-3 Tablespoons of pizza sauce<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Place tortilla on microwave safe plate. Sprinkle tortilla with cheese, layer with pepperoni’s and drizzle with pizza sauce. Microwave for 30-60 seconds in microwave until cheese is melted. Roll up and dip in additional pizza sauce if desired. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Juice ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 24px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Matisse ITC"; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---Taco Munch---</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6 cups popped, unsalted popcorn<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3 cups corn Chex<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 cup mini-pretzels<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2 Tbsp. butter, melted<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2 to 3 tsp. dry taco seasoning<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Century Gothic";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4 oz. cheddar cheese, cut into ½ inch cubes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.75in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Combine popcorn, cereal and pretzels in a large bowl. Combine butter and taco seasoning and drizzle this over popcorn mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and toss to coat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Store in an airtight container. Toss with cheddar cheese just before serving. Makes 10 servings. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziwtXXfMh6uJpMeRvtJmFZE1G4jOW_xEYtaqYbCbixELnDSLe4YqkfSyvHwpMlc7U2IxAOnNHpTgefbvYq54_4D2P0vqgMpu4tUOBIPGKoA6ExRaJbONPunEO2DR7c_GiHfF78L6BbOUQ/s200/2007ChexMix.jpg" width="200" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Iskoola Pota', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Crunchy Coated Chicken Breasts</span></u></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Recipe from Williams-Sonoma: <u>The Kid’s Cookbook<o:p></o:p></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ingredients<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe Print"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;">17 Saltine crackers<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2 Tbsp. olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe Print"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;">¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>- 8 chicken tenderloins<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe Print"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;">½ tsp. dried thyme<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>- 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;">-Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a jelly-roll pan with aluminum foil and set aside.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;">-Put the crackers in a plastic bag. Press down on the bag to release the air and seal the top. Using the rolling pin, crush the crackers to make coarse crumbs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;">-Empty the crumbs into a shallow bowl. Add the Parmesan cheese, dried thyme, and a good pinch each of salt and pepper. Stir with the table fork until well mixed. Drizzle the olive oil over the crumbs and toss with the fork until the crumbs are evenly moistened. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;">-Rinse the chicken tenderloins with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place them on a clean work surface. Spoon the mustard into a small bowl. Using the knife, spread the mustard over the top of each piece of chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;">-Press the mustard-coated side of the chicken into the crumb mixture. Place the chicken, crumb side up, on the foil lined jelly-roll pan. Repeat with the other chicken tenderloins. Sprinkle any leftover crumbs on top of the breasts and pat them onto the chicken with your fingers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;">-Bake until the chicken is no longer pink in the middle when cut into with the sharp knife, about 25 minutes. Using oven mitts, remove the pan from the oven and serve the chicken immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><img src="http://www.nancyskitchen.com/frenchs-mustard-recipes/Party_Size_Crunchy_Onion_Chicken_Tenders.jpg" /></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Curlz MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Homemade Mac & Cheese<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Curlz MT"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Recipe from Williams-Sonoma: <u>The Kid’s Cookbook<o:p></o:p></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Ingredients<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">2 Tbsp. butter<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">2 Tbsp. flour<span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4 quarts (16 cups) water<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">1 & 2/3 cups milk<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 pound rotini or fusilli pasta<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">1 cup shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>salt and pinch of pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">-Put the butter in the large saucepan and set the pan over medium heat. Stir with the wooden spoon until the butter is melted, about 2 minutes. Add the flour and whisk it together with the butter until smooth and bubbly but not browned, about 2 minutes. If the mixture begins to brown, reduce the heat to medium-low. With the pan still on the heat, slowly pour in the milk, whisking constantly. Cook, continuing to whisk, until the mixture is smooth, thickened, and gently boiling, 5 to 7 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">-Using a pot holder, remove the pan from the heat and add the cheddar and Parmesan cheeses. Whisk until the cheeses melt and the sauce is smooth. Cover with the lid and set aside.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">-Put the water in the large pot and add 1 tablespoon salt. Set the pot over high heat, cover with lid. Be careful: The steam is very hot! Slowly and carefully add the pasta, then stir it with the long-handled wooded fork. Boil the pasta, uncovered, until al dente (tender but still firm to the bite), about 8 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent from sticking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">-Set the colander in the sink. Have the pot holders ready. When the pasta is cooked ask an adult to pour the contents of the pot into a colander. Let the pasta drain completely, shaking the colander a few times. Add the drained pasta, ¼ tsp. salt and the pepper to the cheese sauce. Stir until well blended. Serve immediately</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"></span> </o:p></span><img height="213" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3392/3512912370_f0fc49ba00.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Pristina; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cookies and Cream Rice Crispy Treats</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: Pristina; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4 Tbsp. butter<br />
4 cups mini marshmallows<br />
8 cups rice crispy cereal<br />
½ tray of Oreo cookies, crushed<br />
<br />
½ cup chocolate chips, melted<br />
<br />
Place butter in a large saucepan over med-low heat. Once butter begins to melt add marshmallows to pan. Continue stirring until all of the marshmallows are melted and there are no bumps. Turn off heat and remove pan from burner. Stir in cereal and Oreos. Pour into a large 9x13 inch baking dish. With the back of a large spoon that's sprayed with cooking spray press and smooth treats. Drizzle melted chocolate over top and let cool. Cut into squares.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><img src="http://cloud.foodista.com/content/images/ML5XG26K_med" /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Let me know if you like these...there are plenty more I can post!</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Have fun COOKIN'!</b></span></span></div><br />
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</div></div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-84141510287415502762011-05-11T19:34:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:33:13.611-07:00Top 6 Ways to Keep Your Toddler Busy and Happy<div style="text-align: center;">Our good friend Sarah, who also just posted the amazing post on our latest <a href="http://teacher-2-mom.blogspot.com/2011/05/moms-who-teach-mondays_09.html">Moms Who Teach Mondays</a>, sent us this awesome <a href="http://www.momtastic.com/parenting/toddler/167239-the-top-6-ways-to-keep-your-toddler-busy-and-happy">list</a> today. I am already going to be using a few of the tips tomorrow! <a href="http://www.momtastic.com/parenting/toddler/167239-the-top-6-ways-to-keep-your-toddler-busy-and-happy">Check it out</a> if you're interested....it's definitely worth your time. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.momtastic.com/parenting/toddler/167239-the-top-6-ways-to-keep-your-toddler-busy-and-happy"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5c6dttrUNKaqvgIf-1mE3L4ntd8NhEMq1Gdr1VTw-gQg6B_bRVNSUGEwnSeNio6Npw23F_CIgcyVKbzA9McRUUdK21kVRnyZ-uU5ueC2lAaI_mlxClgUc1X6lKl7Y3atJtVGG8SPL19b/s640/110510-boredtoddler.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-12751341153020462162011-05-09T20:23:00.000-07:002011-05-09T20:23:49.563-07:00Moms Who Teach Mondays<div style="text-align: center;">Hello! I am happy to have the opportunity to share some of my favorite ideas. Before I had my little ones, I taught school and tutored little ones in reading and math. I am loving being apart of the process of learning and growing that my own little ones are going through. Kate and Julie are the best. I was lucky enough to meet them during our college years and I knew right off that they were choice ladies! Great students, teachers and now Mothers! I think this blog is a grand idea and I am happy to contribute. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I had so many things I wanted to share... I narrowed it down to just two little tidbits... <b>toys and a creative learning space</b>.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Toys... oh toys</b>. I have so many thoughts on toys. First, the bright plastic, fancy toys are super fun, but they are also really big, and take up a lot of space, and are not mother nature friendly. My kids seem to love them at first, but they seem to loose their glossy appeal pretty quickly. As a Mom I really try to limit the plastic intake in our home, because if you aren't careful it seems like you can have a house full of plastic. So- enter playing and learning with household items. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">1. Coin Jar- Eliza (2.5 yrs) loves to sort coins at the table. </div>We put a bowl for each different coin on the table, a quarter, dime, nickel, and penny, and she sorts. She loves to sort (what kids doesn't) and it's such an important skill to learn for reading and math. It's a treat that happens when I am in the kitchen, usually preparing dinner. It's engaging, educational and easy to initiate! (This is a table only activity at our house. Due to baby brother crawling around the floor and I have found it is much easier to clean up.)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">2. Put the Lid in the slot/sort- William (9months) and Eliza love this activity. I saved frozen juice lids and an old fashioned oat container. We then cut a slot in the top and voila- one our favorite learning toys. (We have fancy shape sorter as well- the kids love this so much more.) The kids just fit the lids through the slot. It is good for William because he is working on fine motor skills, like moving his wrists side to side and the pincer grasp. When we first starting this activity he would lay the lids flat on top of the oatmeal lid, but as time has gone by he has learned to turn his little wrist and slid the lid in. This is great practice for him! Eliza loves it, and to stretch her a bit, we count the lids as we drop them in, or we time her to see how fast she can do it, or (hardest level :)) we take turns putting them in. This requires tons of patience for Eliza, because she has to wait for William- and he is slowl, but they both get so excited when he finally does it, it takes a lot of patience for all of us, but seeing Eliza cheer for William - it is worth it. </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> Creating a child sized place to eat, learn, play and explore art.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I am big into art with Eliza. We do art everyday. Usually Monday-Friday I plan something simple to do. The creative aspect is an outlet for her. She is so engaged while creating. It is beyond simple for me to implement and the confidence and engagement from Eliza is rewarding for all involved. I have learned to trust her with supplies and she totally steps it up and does a great job. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Since Eliza was 18 months old we have had a little table and chairs in our kitchen. It is her space to create. She loves to sit there! She loves to have snacks at her little table! It is her space. Above her table I have a nursery rhyme poster framed and a space to hang her art work. To one side I have a hook with a few aprons she gets when she needs one. To the other side is a rolling cart we use for extra kitchen storage, but on one shelf is Eliza's stuff, a supply of art stuff all ready to go and organized for her use when she wants. I have crayons, paper, homemade salt dough, tools, mat, etc. She loves the freedom this gives her, she loves getting out her dough and playing all by herself, and she loves putting it away (huge surprise here!). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnF9bCaekuO3Lta5OPVaKzRz6smY12JMGMDau4yP64x6GEa3uOY3qOAr52q3ZNDCOc6Ke-O-xcjstGe6-gj-V4cz4S8wtwNm_lvzTT3pmcV_IYVoJ0FfHNNRVmF4Big-jnI8tjiv9T9ek/s1600/littletable.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnF9bCaekuO3Lta5OPVaKzRz6smY12JMGMDau4yP64x6GEa3uOY3qOAr52q3ZNDCOc6Ke-O-xcjstGe6-gj-V4cz4S8wtwNm_lvzTT3pmcV_IYVoJ0FfHNNRVmF4Big-jnI8tjiv9T9ek/s640/littletable.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">She loves to have her work shown and really feels proud when we hang her art. Simple art projects we do at the table: water colors, finger painting, homemade salt dough, cutting and pasting, gluing shapes, letters, buttons, beans, and more to paper. Our best and most inexpensive canvases for painting have been paper plates and coffee filters. I save a lot of her projects, but I also use it as stationary to write birthday and thank you cards to friends and family.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The thing that keeps these activities running smoothly is <i>teaching and</i> <i>learning procedures first</i>. We go over our routines for this space many times before I let her loose. For example, we pretend to get out the paints, pretend to paint, pretend to clean up and this helps her have confidence and know what to do when we do it, and also most importantly gives her autonomy. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Oh my goodness this is getting long. I have many other things I wanted to share like the importance of teaching nursery rhymes and ideas how to teach them, more homemade toys, music integration, word of the week, color of the week, letter of the week, and don't even get my started on literature! You would be here all day. Thanks for letting me contribute! </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;">No thank you Sarah! As Sarah mentioned we have a lot of history with this <b>amazing</b> teacher now turned mommy. We can't wait to try this out on our little ones!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: magenta;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>If you would like to be featured on "Moms Who Teach Mondays" please email us at teachertomom@gmail.com</i></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>{Please note: you do not need to be an educator or past educator to contribute...just a mommy :)} </i></span></span></b></div><span style="color: magenta;"> </span> </div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-71988151295138171082011-05-07T06:05:00.000-07:002011-05-07T06:06:51.423-07:00Mother's Day: Last minute ideas!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Demdaco Mother and Daughter Figurine" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/s8-M0ABxVs6RI3DF4fLXFrm5Xj1Sk9gR0hGSDl2KkcToh3_LfhkYvWXRL4Ax703P0mAr1MgJrMU1XaA2amUHIaXudFnmq2UtTY_rRAwYg7rNVqn1RNtRKvFI0p9ZccvFmE9xDA5eLbf-V6H6QsrD3r7rGsZvK46WQ5Mr" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">First of all....Happy Mother's Day tomorrow to all of you WONDERFUL, INCREDIBLE, SUPER WOMEN moms out there. You truly are the hero's in our lives! Thank you for all that you do and contribute to the world!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">I just thought that I would share with you some last minute, fun Mother's Day ideas for your kiddos to do with you or for you to help create for your mothers/grandmothers in your lives.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">Here they are:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">1. Write Mother's Day poems.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">2. Write a story and illustrate it about your mother.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">3. Fill out a STATS ON MY MOM sheet that you prepare for your child... (ie: height, weight, color of hair, etc.) DO NOT HELP THEM...It's hilarious to see what they come up with!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">4. Plan a menu together for the kids to make of all your favorite things!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">** Check out these awesome websites for more ideas:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.supermommoments.com/">http://www.supermommoments.com/</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://frogsbeesundertheseas.blogspot.com/2011/05/mothers-day-tea-theme-thursday.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">http://frogsbeesundertheseas.blogspot.com/2011/05/mothers-day-tea-theme-thursday.html</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.moomootutu.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">http://www.moomootutu.blogspot.com/</span></a></div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-72870821667003147472011-05-05T12:30:00.000-07:002011-05-05T12:33:17.515-07:00Texture Bins Part 2<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yikes! I meant to post about this yesterday but the day got away from me! Does that ever happen to you? I feel like it happens to me way too often!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The other day I posted about <a href="http://teacher-2-mom.blogspot.com/2011/05/texture-bins.html">Texture Bins</a> (aka sensory tubs) and was so excited to try them out on my little one. Let's just say, it was a total success!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't bring out the water quite yet because I figure I'll do that when he gets bored of the beans, rice and ball bins. The ball bin wasn't a ball bin for very long before the balls were scattered about. But I figured that would happen. It just freed up another bin for Owen to scoop the rice and beans into. He sat and played for 35 minutes straight without a peep! Hooray! Victory! I was able to get completely ready without him tugging on my leg. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TzS8VWN9Km8bRqfCCzhPjDskQfX8QIssHmN3FBWs4vC0qFKKZ9EMfJVcOxxASQ2eOT7YSRIzEOmhhPqAWTQaktyOb5YaFK0eVs4SjbWhnCG4c3xkOFaeOLSJs4nmc1F3TBQTk40MtRyz/s1600/IMG_0738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TzS8VWN9Km8bRqfCCzhPjDskQfX8QIssHmN3FBWs4vC0qFKKZ9EMfJVcOxxASQ2eOT7YSRIzEOmhhPqAWTQaktyOb5YaFK0eVs4SjbWhnCG4c3xkOFaeOLSJs4nmc1F3TBQTk40MtRyz/s640/IMG_0738.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course it was a total MESS but that is why I put them out on our balcony. I also taught Owen that the bins and rice and beans stay outside. He learned this quickly and knew I wasn't going to budge even when he was trying to be sly and sneak some in his little fists. Stinker! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8WwT-tCKLdGMni7FM5xjGP5lGRXpjBjB6oBqSMEUJbZDBGdUscRMWAjzB1cRRJYD6ZUOVqHAPhb3HX9bpCbfU7qWjB6ruKiEzW-nn6q5g01gKiC9w4FyZL_21DACKQDjYXmZcWhPDykh/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8WwT-tCKLdGMni7FM5xjGP5lGRXpjBjB6oBqSMEUJbZDBGdUscRMWAjzB1cRRJYD6ZUOVqHAPhb3HX9bpCbfU7qWjB6ruKiEzW-nn6q5g01gKiC9w4FyZL_21DACKQDjYXmZcWhPDykh/s640/IMG_0737.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiw-xqINvY6kcSBFcTSTUMih5-lD_L5zfWj-vyZOxVOlr1esbro2XmbD2BxWdcARBRhSSHgKwx08UYsC2TWmCWUUOpqw4Sm2wng4UIJKFrUDUJGMGAIym4EfMCHv8SMrSoU11-DzWiVcPt/s1600/IMG_0740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiw-xqINvY6kcSBFcTSTUMih5-lD_L5zfWj-vyZOxVOlr1esbro2XmbD2BxWdcARBRhSSHgKwx08UYsC2TWmCWUUOpqw4Sm2wng4UIJKFrUDUJGMGAIym4EfMCHv8SMrSoU11-DzWiVcPt/s640/IMG_0740.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We only ended up with a few pieces of rice here and there inside the house that would get inside his clothing or stuck to his little legs. We even revisited the tubs later in the day with some friends and it was yet again another hit. I am excited to switch out the tubs often with various items and I will for sure post when I do. <a href="http://activitymom.blogspot.com/2011/05/soap-experiment-and-sensory-tub.html">The Activity Mom</a> had a great idea the other day that we are going to have to try. Check it out!</div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-57281124278176465152011-05-03T19:41:00.000-07:002011-05-03T20:14:35.035-07:00Texture Bins<div style="text-align: center;">Lately I feel like my son (16 months) has NOTHING to do. He already is quite the mama's boy and always wants me to play with him, however lately I feel like anything I offer him he refuses. Of course his toys are just not good enough and the kitchen appliances are all of a sudden boring to him. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So instead of rushing out the door to the nearest toy store, I decided that he needs more "real-life" toys right now. Something to keep his interest and something to use his senses. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I decided to create a few inexpensive texture bins.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLfxuYqWC3K2gkuQVMT3ApHrbIHwa06WFwCxJbnyBwMS2uej3QoCOfGQRRK0BFsBl4f_0zQvQKpRJDgI5uEHepuHDBayUhbottd5ydvcOyBk8n603lmiYJ2uSa07KCHOjqcA8p9s0Q5_k/s1600/IMG_0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLfxuYqWC3K2gkuQVMT3ApHrbIHwa06WFwCxJbnyBwMS2uej3QoCOfGQRRK0BFsBl4f_0zQvQKpRJDgI5uEHepuHDBayUhbottd5ydvcOyBk8n603lmiYJ2uSa07KCHOjqcA8p9s0Q5_k/s640/IMG_0735.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I headed to the dollar store and bought 4 colorful bins with enough depth that my son could reach his little hands inside and not spill the contents immediately while being able to still move them around. I came up with a long list of items I can put inside of the bins and chose 4 to begin with. This is why I love this idea so much. I can reuse the bins over and over again and change it up often so that my son doesn't get bored. Brilliant!<br />
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So to begin, here are some tools he can use to play with the contents in the bin: shovel, pails, scoopers, etc.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVmQpAupyI_ioTRRimAP95wJBUq8mjyBxkZ8Kgb6u_aVArKyXGljP-vPrz62kosrCVtkyn1UdM27ou_3Efap-cGcbd1YABIi7nEgY-fkwqgEjuV3evFfrP1Ue8Xt97ko8O3iK8E8WLpsk/s1600/IMG_0734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVmQpAupyI_ioTRRimAP95wJBUq8mjyBxkZ8Kgb6u_aVArKyXGljP-vPrz62kosrCVtkyn1UdM27ou_3Efap-cGcbd1YABIi7nEgY-fkwqgEjuV3evFfrP1Ue8Xt97ko8O3iK8E8WLpsk/s640/IMG_0734.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>One bin I filled with rice. It's kind of like sand, but not. :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUq9ol_rjv2fvwZFK4bxvF6sMVh0UwKzGqfuO8BZrISVBz6GpYcLuxdawtXW93A5va_1rAKLwH0KHueh1ck0ZBsL0yA8vDI_qf1mlss84e2WgGbtuAuV0GeqS4az1L6Ww4FWtnHxjJxDx/s1600/IMG_0733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUq9ol_rjv2fvwZFK4bxvF6sMVh0UwKzGqfuO8BZrISVBz6GpYcLuxdawtXW93A5va_1rAKLwH0KHueh1ck0ZBsL0yA8vDI_qf1mlss84e2WgGbtuAuV0GeqS4az1L6Ww4FWtnHxjJxDx/s640/IMG_0733.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The next bin I filled with various types of beans. I like the variety of color, size and texture. One day he'll be able to sort them too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMZ22m95oera7FKK3mifwVo-4Mmp7gkm9JjhkHqXvDYcx3bqoFc2udCeFKUBMOOI7iDGEUFPY16feE7ak0SPaH1s1vB7H-0PGEqHYTDw6U1R0d1waPUsF0GxZsnFFV6mRk3JGdX-y7uv_/s1600/IMG_0732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMZ22m95oera7FKK3mifwVo-4Mmp7gkm9JjhkHqXvDYcx3bqoFc2udCeFKUBMOOI7iDGEUFPY16feE7ak0SPaH1s1vB7H-0PGEqHYTDw6U1R0d1waPUsF0GxZsnFFV6mRk3JGdX-y7uv_/s640/IMG_0732.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The third bin I filled with different textured balls. I found the tennis balls at the dollar store and threw in some older balls he doesn't play with often.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ye-6AlCYwBoyJy0LbEOwfNHOWWwZez1hVSFe-vGlSVWy4BMgM_JrjZ2NsvtqzMn9JIvu5526cN2tcQ50z5U0oz47gXP_RkQMHrVA39SKrtwWbqb3iGgi8LJnSYte3_EDDrJyyECBjTNW/s1600/IMG_0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ye-6AlCYwBoyJy0LbEOwfNHOWWwZez1hVSFe-vGlSVWy4BMgM_JrjZ2NsvtqzMn9JIvu5526cN2tcQ50z5U0oz47gXP_RkQMHrVA39SKrtwWbqb3iGgi8LJnSYte3_EDDrJyyECBjTNW/s640/IMG_0730.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>For the last bin I intend to fill with water and add bubbles. This is the water bin. It has a squirt bottle and some sponges to add to the fun. Did I mention I'm putting this out on the balcony? Yes so hopefully not too much of it ends up on my living room floor...we will see. ;)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPnBy9vmuWB_c-BiTtJpt3DH_mcK_d6WzQ_pN1omuIPc-KllJ1CCx5mUEsxod09VTflVYvBVmH5jE0fA36tZQaJkRGjMncOuWy2XZ_Ysgww2t50gzUnV21sUcEvICAGAQak58ZmoTAVzK/s1600/IMG_0731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPnBy9vmuWB_c-BiTtJpt3DH_mcK_d6WzQ_pN1omuIPc-KllJ1CCx5mUEsxod09VTflVYvBVmH5jE0fA36tZQaJkRGjMncOuWy2XZ_Ysgww2t50gzUnV21sUcEvICAGAQak58ZmoTAVzK/s640/IMG_0731.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
And that's it! Easy and cheap: two words I like. :)<br />
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I am excited to try this out on Owen tomorrow morning. I'm going to first let him explore and then I'll step in to help him find new ways to use his texture bins. I will keep you updated on how it goes and when I end up changing the contents in the bins. Here's to made up "toys"!</div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-5956478026011856992011-05-02T11:19:00.000-07:002011-05-03T20:18:33.085-07:00Moms Who Teach Mondays<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This week May 2-6 is Teacher Appreciation Week and we thought it would be fun to ask a few teachers what gifts they received that made them smile.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is what they came up with:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">A simple bouquet of flowers</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">Handmade cards from the student</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">Gift Certificates - even for restaurants or clothing stores!</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">A really nice thank you card</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">A hug from both the student and parent with a very sincere thank you</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">The cutest bulletin board display with letters from each of my students!</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">One time a parent took my class outside for some games and free play giving me 30 minutes to myself to do whatever I wanted and to take a break! </div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">Simple gifts and thank you notes</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">Handpicked flowers by my student</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">One year my class wrote messages to me on a big poster board that the room mom put together. They delivered it to me singing "Skiner a Mink a Dink a Dink..I love you!" and with my favorite cookies.</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">Thank you letters from both the students and their parents</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">Lotions and hand soaps</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;">My favorite meal from Paradise Bakery</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As you can tell, many teachers just love a sincere "thank you" and a hug. But of course sweet gifts are always appreciated!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Being a teacher is the most rewarding thing I have ever done, right after being a mother. Please don't forget to thank all of those wonderful teachers out there. They really do put their hearts and souls into what they do and they love your children like they're their own. {I know from personal experience}. If you need some more cute and fun ideas for the teachers in your life, head on over to <a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/teacher-appreciation/">Skip To My Lou</a> where she has created a mini-series with amazing ideas from some top bloggers. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you amazing teachers out there for all of your hard work. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We sure appreciate you!!!</span></b><br />
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<div style="color: magenta;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>If you would like to be featured on "Moms Who Teach Mondays" please email us at teachertomom@gmail.com</i></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>{Please note: you do not need to be an educator or past educator to contribute...just a mommy :)} </i></span></span></b></div></div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-80243853861580683402011-05-01T15:19:00.000-07:002011-05-01T15:19:54.799-07:00Help!<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hi friends. I need your help. I have been searching and searching online and let's be honest, my life does not give me time to search the internet for hours. So...I'm hoping you might be able to help me. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you noticed off to the right, we have a "shop lessons" tab. I have been working hard on some units for you guys. But I have yet to find some great places to find clip art. I have a few sites I like and I don't even mind purchasing them either, but I need MORE options! This is where you come in. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For those of you who use clip art....where do you like to go?? What are your favorite sites? Your help is seriously so much appreciated. I can't wait to share with you what I've got cookin' over here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, thank you</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUjlpbTRoH0hQJtonfqZ3EyDLQyE1-aXmY_JTf9_CA6WZe04ojoea69AfXOihVbwSQ3NatGUbX3y7LMECdt-Q4xGe7r9H69Y-RJKopEstbUHxq_1eGYcGnOpopoXl-rsQg8FFEasx6WLI/s1600/4831518985_660461ec4e_z_large_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUjlpbTRoH0hQJtonfqZ3EyDLQyE1-aXmY_JTf9_CA6WZe04ojoea69AfXOihVbwSQ3NatGUbX3y7LMECdt-Q4xGe7r9H69Y-RJKopEstbUHxq_1eGYcGnOpopoXl-rsQg8FFEasx6WLI/s400/4831518985_660461ec4e_z_large_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-89741957811482418842011-04-30T09:32:00.000-07:002011-04-30T09:34:30.852-07:00Come Visit Us Over Here...<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://frogsbeesundertheseas.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JmhVpMrivWTha4OdP-nFBkSNXUx35e8effZONVex9beDw6z7f8Zb20T8Q81a4mZ37mj9O1BH12nRHIAAq3oQF_cU088TyoKTByDjlmQIK8hUbVYNexoTXr06F7Ta41nf8M8o5krClYXy/s400/title.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Over at <a href="http://www.frogsbeesundertheseas.blogspot.com/">Frogs, Bees, and Under the Seas</a> we are talking about movement and learning. Hop on over to their amazing blog to see what you can do with your children to help them learn while getting their groove on!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We hope you have an awesome Saturday!</span></div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-65239189353509865212011-04-28T08:48:00.000-07:002011-04-28T08:50:21.637-07:00Joy Reading<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
My goal for Owen is that he will LOVE to read. I want reading to be a JOY for him. This was also my goal when I was teaching first grade. So every morning we had <span style="color: magenta;">JOY READING</span>. My students knew to come quietly into the classroom, put their backpacks on a hook, put their home lunch (if they had one) in the bin, put their homework and "green go home" folders in their cubbies and then quietly sit down and read. Each group of desks had a small tub with various books inside. They could choose any book (one at a time) and read as many as they could in the 10 minutes that I gave them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2ZR8LsGCFOxv2gfnI1_nOLyqOmL-YcmiJULOQPKVtRDxiYi8rbWoJjN99qh3aq68ExM14ei6-d3fGWZ3ZAQkLV7S8bK844slUxpSVbzo1bJoR0VWxn562Pekpb3cbXtBYPOl28AzKyxm/s1600/IMG_3394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2ZR8LsGCFOxv2gfnI1_nOLyqOmL-YcmiJULOQPKVtRDxiYi8rbWoJjN99qh3aq68ExM14ei6-d3fGWZ3ZAQkLV7S8bK844slUxpSVbzo1bJoR0VWxn562Pekpb3cbXtBYPOl28AzKyxm/s640/IMG_3394.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did this for a few reasons:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">1. It reminded my students that once they entered my classroom, they were there to learn.</div><div style="text-align: center;">2. It helped get their minds ready for learning.</div><div style="text-align: center;">3. It helped them forget about how they lost their place in line when lining up outside and begin to focus on the day ahead.</div><div style="text-align: center;">4. It gave me some quiet time to take their homework out of their folders and take attendance, as well as speak to any parents who might be lingering at the doorway. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">5. It helped my students love to read and understand that it is important that we do it daily.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I rotated their tubs daily and then switched the books out weekly. I tried to stay organized. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvKUfW9TiZLSAFuzl95f6hxcOgs-jpXP-cchCLMhRIiueZUJyLlSscsiayT1lQT9M160cfgNlnPhNyyZFBs0rjWbc9Asr1IsAcwc4529xVvasAEiiY25ExkBcLX11v8Kd3YEIwTQ8eR2j/s1600/IMG_3420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvKUfW9TiZLSAFuzl95f6hxcOgs-jpXP-cchCLMhRIiueZUJyLlSscsiayT1lQT9M160cfgNlnPhNyyZFBs0rjWbc9Asr1IsAcwc4529xVvasAEiiY25ExkBcLX11v8Kd3YEIwTQ8eR2j/s640/IMG_3420.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was also important that our classroom always have a comfy place to read where there are plenty of books to choose from.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLnxamZGqUrgrTTuEBZ5Bb0PYKn95Sj_6OJmEmu1mDnZ9sgEtJ4LSZ4-Qr9yzn8N_xkuBhPIbT1-xZ3UBDnzkLsyWuCrrUeYW8znYNK462Nj9OmGp4Mv1gxryZJ47a-5bRcOMUrpayqeG/s1600/IMG_3406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLnxamZGqUrgrTTuEBZ5Bb0PYKn95Sj_6OJmEmu1mDnZ9sgEtJ4LSZ4-Qr9yzn8N_xkuBhPIbT1-xZ3UBDnzkLsyWuCrrUeYW8znYNK462Nj9OmGp4Mv1gxryZJ47a-5bRcOMUrpayqeG/s640/IMG_3406.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, how do we do this at home?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">First off, we need to be organized and have books easily accessible to our children. Owen doesn't have many that he's interested in quite yet, but there is a basket underneath an end table in our front room filled with his favorites.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There is also a bookshelf with some classic picture books in his room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7n0hQ3xe6neHBb2W185W5nNnisgTV_M-gWsN9G9ODvXhyo6YpIhR7m2ecoVWB4vHHN-3gLBbba11m2RRUzKYO_iSJdW5JbI3Db0xnb9l5NULMkElrOi1asCOlei9lXpXPREWXZ_Ctk3n/s1600/IMG_1374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7n0hQ3xe6neHBb2W185W5nNnisgTV_M-gWsN9G9ODvXhyo6YpIhR7m2ecoVWB4vHHN-3gLBbba11m2RRUzKYO_iSJdW5JbI3Db0xnb9l5NULMkElrOi1asCOlei9lXpXPREWXZ_Ctk3n/s400/IMG_1374.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Next, you need to make a comfortable and inviting place for your child to read. Whether it's a fun bean bag chair or fort, make it enjoyable. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Last, you need to be involved. You need to read to and with your child as often as possible. Cuddle while reading or let your child read to you. Make it a special time. This way your child will have positive feelings when she thinks about reading and her love of reading will continue to grow as you help her nourish it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't wait to continue to do this with my son! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">What do you do with your children to foster a love and joy of reading?</span></span></div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-85739442661835288322011-04-25T10:10:00.000-07:002011-04-28T12:21:11.040-07:00Mom's Who Teach Mondays<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Waiting for Superman"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517rHgEwE1L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Have you seen this yet? If not, I would highly recommend it!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">I taught 2nd grade for three years and am now a mother to three beautiful children. I have a passion for teaching and love children! I had heard about this movie "Waiting for Superman" and the other night I sat down with my hubbie to watch this amazing documentary about the public school system in the United States. It struck a chord with me. Now that I have children it seems that I am more concerned than ever with the educational system that I once used to be apart of. Here are some statistics that the movie depicted:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/12677264?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">"<i>In America right now, a kid drops out of high school every 26 seconds. These drop-outs are 8 times more likely to go to prison, 50% less likely to vote, more likely to need social welfare assistance, not eligible for 90% of jobs, are being paid 40 cents to the dollar of earned by a college graduate, and continuing the cycle of poverty.”</i><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After being a teacher and now a parent, I realized that we as parents HAVE to speak up and be advocates for our child's education. Do what it takes to help your child receive the BEST education that he or she can. </span></div><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>If you would like to be featured on "Moms Who Teach Mondays" please email us at teachertomom@gmail.com</i></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>{Please note: you do not need to be an educator or past educator to contribute} </i></span></span></div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-8251756279720764562011-04-24T19:48:00.000-07:002011-04-24T19:48:53.555-07:00the Easter Giveaway goes to....<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>#12- Jennyfer Murphine</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>CONGRATULATIONS on winning your very own copy of </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>The Phonics Dance CD!!!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><img height="200" src="http://www.phonicsdance.com/files/Phonics_Dance_CD-Full.jpg" width="200" /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Jennyfer said:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">am your newest follower! This will be great for teaching kindy next year. I also really liked the crayon roll idea. What a fun gift!</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">www.teachinginthecouv.blogspot.com</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Thanks Jennyfer for following us!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Please e-mail us your mailing address so that we can have this shipped to your house.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>teachertomom@gmail.com</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="true-random-integer-generator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #777777; font-family: verdana, sans; font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 148px;"><span id="true-random-integer-generator-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ccccff; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; display: block; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: -6px; margin-right: -6px; margin-top: -6px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">True Random Number Generator</span><span id="true-random-integer-generator-min-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><label for="true-random-integer-generator-min" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #777777; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Min:</label> <input id="true-random-integer-generator-min" maxlength="9" name="true-random-integer-generator-min" style="margin-left: 10px; width: 77px;" type="text" value="1" /></span><span id="true-random-integer-generator-max-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><label for="true-random-integer-generator-max" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #777777; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Max:</label> <input id="true-random-integer-generator-max" maxlength="9" name="true-random-integer-generator-max" style="margin-left: 6px; width: 77px;" type="text" value="100" /></span><span id="true-random-integer-generator-max-button-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><input id="true-random-integer-generator-button" name="true-random-integer-generator-button" style="display: block;" type="button" value="Generate" /></span><label for="true-random-integer-generator-result" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Result:</label><span id="true-random-integer-generator-result" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ccccff; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; display: block; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;">12</span><span id="true-random-integer-generator-credits" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-size: 6pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;">Powered by <a href="http://www.random.org/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #777777; font-size: 8px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">RANDOM.ORG</a></span><span id="true-random-integer-generator-credits" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-size: 6pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</span></div></div></b></span></div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1857361386726282590.post-36839792430407863512011-04-23T21:04:00.000-07:002011-04-24T17:14:54.375-07:00Our New Blog Button...and The Teacher Wife<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Check out our ADORABLE new blog button!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2K9mCXYosIEQ91zFtRyViWKJOfkOUZqHRd4jyzfaIQVwWrz9wtiFHxqdJ9crJg0aLBaFBXESt0TE05W5kfml3h4k-oHmkUmoxzkyipFDLTRFSvnI7SOLax9HsIV6yV-KhastWeA3gYl9/s1600/t2m-button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2K9mCXYosIEQ91zFtRyViWKJOfkOUZqHRd4jyzfaIQVwWrz9wtiFHxqdJ9crJg0aLBaFBXESt0TE05W5kfml3h4k-oHmkUmoxzkyipFDLTRFSvnI7SOLax9HsIV6yV-KhastWeA3gYl9/s1600/t2m-button.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was created by the VERY talented lady who writes <a href="http://www.theteacherwife.blogspot.com/">The Teacher Wife</a>. We simply adore her and if you haven't checked out her blog, YOU SHOULD! She also did our whole new blog makeover. I know, I wish I was that talented at everything too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you want to get our new button, just copy and paste the HTML code on the right side of our blog and add a "gadget" to your blog. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for your support!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">xoxo</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: magenta;">p.s. Only ONE MORE DAY before we pick the LUCKY LUCKY winner of our <a href="http://teacher-2-mom.blogspot.com/2011/04/phonics-dance-giveaway.html">GIVEAWAY</a>!!!</b></div>teacher2momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441196584545799046noreply@blogger.com1