Saturday, January 31, 2009
Newsletter Issues for Subscribers
It seems that the company I'm using for newsletters is no longer available. I will be hunting around for a different source. Stay tuned for an update. And if you all have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Teaching Symmetry
PetiteMommy was asking today for thoughts on teaching symmetry to her first grader. I tried to think back to my days of teaching first grade. Whew, that was . . . seven years ago?!?! Oh my! Anyway, after some remembering and googling, I found these ideas:
1) Look at pictures of lady bugs and butterflies. Discuss how the different sides look the same.
2) Make symmetric figures using pattern blocks or tangrams.
3) Fold paper in half and begin cutting. Unfold paper to see a symmetric shape.
4) Put a mirror beside pictures to where you can see the exact same picture in the mirror.
5) Check out this video from TeacherTube.
7) Links Learning has a good symmetry video/lesson too, but it is probably best suited for first and second grade.
8) Homeschool math also has a line symmetry lesson.
9) Make a snowflake.
10) Examine the letters of the alphabet. Find some letters that are symmetrical. If possible, have letter cut outs and try to fold them to find symmetry.
Do you have any suggestions for teaching symmetry?
1) Look at pictures of lady bugs and butterflies. Discuss how the different sides look the same.
2) Make symmetric figures using pattern blocks or tangrams.
3) Fold paper in half and begin cutting. Unfold paper to see a symmetric shape.
4) Put a mirror beside pictures to where you can see the exact same picture in the mirror.
5) Check out this video from TeacherTube.
7) Links Learning has a good symmetry video/lesson too, but it is probably best suited for first and second grade.
8) Homeschool math also has a line symmetry lesson.
9) Make a snowflake.
10) Examine the letters of the alphabet. Find some letters that are symmetrical. If possible, have letter cut outs and try to fold them to find symmetry.
Do you have any suggestions for teaching symmetry?
Win a Children's CD Bundle from Charity & the JAMband
Last week I posted about a free monthly song download from Charity & the JAMband. Now, Charity has graciously donated a cd bundle which includes four of her cds!!!! This cd bundle is valued at $52!
How to enter this giveaway:
1) Leave a comment telling why you would like to win these cds or which of Charity and the JAMband's songs you like.
2) Give this post a thumbs up on Stumble Upon and leave me your stumble name.
3) Tweet this giveaway on Twitter and leave me your Twitter name or url from your tweet.
4) Mention this giveaway on any forums or message boards and leave me a url.
5) Add Little Fun; Little Learning to your blogroll.
6) Sign up for our newsletter. You can sign up in the right sidebar.
Please leave a comment for each option you choose. This will make it easier to give you an entry to each item completed. Thanks!
Other info:
This contest ends February 1st and is available to U.S. residents only. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 72 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. You will not be put on a mailing list, but I must have your email address to contact you in case you win. Please make sure your email address is listed on your blogger profile or in the comments. **If you do not have a blogger profile, you can still enter the contest. Simply click "Anonymous" and leave your comment in the comment box, along with your name and email address.
Good luck everyone and don't forget to download Charity & the JAMband's free download for January.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Maya & Miguel "Cupid" Episode
A new Maya & Miguel airs February 13.
Maya & Miguel - "Cupid"
Miguel hates Valentine's Day and considers it a greeting card holiday. Maya loves Valentine's Day and considers it an opportunity to tell your loved ones how much you care about them. As Maya prepares herself for the best Valentine's Day ever, Miguel is horrified to learn that he has been chosen as the official Cupid of the school this year, and must deliver valentines throughout the school, attired in cupid wings. He begs and pleads with anyone and everyone to take over his job, to no avail. He straps on the wings and begins halfheartedly delivering the valentines to thrilled students throughout the school. At the end of the day, he tosses the whole getup in the trash, eager to be done with this accursed holiday. Maya, meanwhile, thinks Miguel is lucky to be able to deliver so much happiness and joy, and gets the idea to start a free valentine’s delivery service for the rest of the neighborhood. Unfortunately, her helper Paco manages to stuff the wrong valentines into the wrong envelopes, and all the valentines are delivered to the wrong people, with insulting results. Soon a mob confronts Maya. Miguel, seeing the mob, digs his cupid wings out of the trash and hops into action to save his sister. In the end, the once angry neighbors are thrilled with the job Miguel does of spreading Valentine's Day cheer... and Miguel's heart grows a few sizes towards the holiday he once hated.
Check out the fun Maya & Miguel activities at PBS.
Maya & Miguel - "Cupid"
Miguel hates Valentine's Day and considers it a greeting card holiday. Maya loves Valentine's Day and considers it an opportunity to tell your loved ones how much you care about them. As Maya prepares herself for the best Valentine's Day ever, Miguel is horrified to learn that he has been chosen as the official Cupid of the school this year, and must deliver valentines throughout the school, attired in cupid wings. He begs and pleads with anyone and everyone to take over his job, to no avail. He straps on the wings and begins halfheartedly delivering the valentines to thrilled students throughout the school. At the end of the day, he tosses the whole getup in the trash, eager to be done with this accursed holiday. Maya, meanwhile, thinks Miguel is lucky to be able to deliver so much happiness and joy, and gets the idea to start a free valentine’s delivery service for the rest of the neighborhood. Unfortunately, her helper Paco manages to stuff the wrong valentines into the wrong envelopes, and all the valentines are delivered to the wrong people, with insulting results. Soon a mob confronts Maya. Miguel, seeing the mob, digs his cupid wings out of the trash and hops into action to save his sister. In the end, the once angry neighbors are thrilled with the job Miguel does of spreading Valentine's Day cheer... and Miguel's heart grows a few sizes towards the holiday he once hated.
Check out the fun Maya & Miguel activities at PBS.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Free Song of the Month
Charity and the JAMband have won awards and acclaim for their cds. Now you can get a free song download each month.
This month's free song is The Bird. You can download the song and also print the song sheet.
This month's song is a dreamy reflection on the cyclical nature of day and night, dark and light, sunrise and sunset -- and a reminder that there's a little dawn bird singing in each of our hearts, showing us the way to the morning. It's called The Bird. We hope it sings to you!
While you're at Charity and the JAMband's site, be sure to listen to other songs and watch some of their videos. Your little ones will be dancing and singing in no time.
I'm hoping that next month's free download is Peanut Butter and Jam. Which song would you like to download?
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Fun with Noggin and Nick Jr.
These past few days, it has been so cold that we haven't been able to play outside. This leaves my little one a bit more energetic and me trying to find things to keep him occupied. Thank goodness for Nick Jr and Noggin.
I've told you before all about Nick Jr. and Noggin, but let me remind you that you can find puzzles and games, videos, printables, crafts ideas, seasonal activities, and so much more! I mean, really, Nick Jr has 176 Dora printables! And you can't help but to sing along with Laurie Berkner's song, "Boots". "In my boots, in my boots, I dance around in my boots. B-o-o-t-s. Boots!" Have fun with great characters such as Toot & Puddle, The Backyardigans, Little Bill, Diego, Pinky Dinky Doo, and more.
These sites are so great for little ones.
image from Noggin
Monday, January 12, 2009
Learn to Read at Starfall
I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce you to my newest favorite website, Starfall! I'm so excited about this website. It is one of the best I have found for helping students to read.
Here a just a few categories on Starfall and a review of them. This will give you an idea of what the website has to offer.
- ABCs - Click on a letter and the upper and lowercase letter come out with music. It tells you the names of the letters and then you click on the letters and you can hear the sound the letter makes. Next click on the arrow and/or blue letters and you'll hear and see words that start with the letter and the sound is reinforced. And if that wasn't enough, after the words, there is a game with the letters. The ABC section also shows you how to make the letters in sign language. Click on the vowels and you go to a classroom setting with a teacher who teaches a song with the vowel sound. "Listen to the short a sound. The a in cat the a in rat makes a short a sound." There are also ABC printouts which are great for teachers, homeschoolers, or moms.
- Learn to Read - Play a game with words families, sight words, vowels sounds, watch a movie about the order of the alphabet, read an interactive book, and then print out the books to keep! (My daughter's kindergarten teacher prints these out and sends them home for evening reading.)
I trust that you will enjoy this website as much as I have.
Kindergarten Site Words
Here is a list of site words for kindergarten up through this point. I will inform you as the list grows.
I
am
the
to
a
at
an
little
is
have
like
we
for
my
she
he
can
me
look
with
see
they
new words: you, and, of
I
am
the
to
a
at
an
little
is
have
like
we
for
my
she
he
can
me
look
with
see
they
new words: you, and, of