Back in the USA!

You have to go to other countries to realize that we live in the greatest place on earth!  Happy birthday USA!

Oh, my goodness!  Our trip was incredible!  St. Petersburg, Stockholm, and the "Little Mermaid" in Copenhagen were my favorites.  I'm a "child watcher" so I loved looking at all the beautiful children.  Sorry I didn't get to do a post, but it was a busy "on the bus" - "off the bus" week.  Besides, when you're paying $1.00 a minute to use the computer you realize you don't have anything that important to say that can't wait until you get home.

Can you believe it's almost July?  You'll have to check out my website with the Parent Power Pak.  I've been working on it for months, and I hope you'll get lots of ideas to engage families in your program this coming hear.

My brain is jumbled (8 hour time difference from Russia to SC), so I'll just give you a great summer recipe today.  I promise to do better in the days ahead.

Summer Cobbler

With all theberries and fresh fruit available, I wanted to share my favorite cobblerrecipe.  If you “don’t cook,” youcan do this!  If you are a “chef”you’ll enjoy it just as well!

You will need:

1 stick butter cutinto pieces  (You can use ½ stickif it matters.)

1 cup sugar

1 cup all purposeflour

1 cup milk

2 TBS bakingpowder

½ tsp. salt

3 cups fruit(blueberries, raspberries, peaches, etc. – fresh or frozen)

Preheat the ovento 350.  Put the butter in thebottom of a 9” x 9” pan and place in the oven to melt.  Combine the other ingredients (exceptthe fruit) in a mixing bowl. Remove pan from the oven and pour the batter on top of the meltedbutter.  Place fruit on top andreturn to the oven for 50-60 minutes until crust is golden brown.  Serve warm with ice cream or whippedcream on top.

Hint!  For the 4^th of July use 2cups of blueberries and 1 cup of raspberries.  When you top with vanilla ice cream you’ll have a red,white, and blue dessert!

Snack in a Cone - Hello from Stockholm!

Hel
Hi from Stockholm!

This is a beautiful country!  Did you know that Stockholm is a city on 14 islands?  We have seen so many fathers walking baby carriages.  That is because they have very generous paternity leaves.  Interesting!

Okedookee!  Snack in a cone is a perfect treat for the summer and outdoor play.  You can put snack mix, cheese crackers, popcorn, pretzels, or any other snack in an ice cream cone.  After the children have finished their snack they can eat the cone.  No mess!  No clean up!

On to Finland!  Hej då!  Good bye to Sweden!

Painter’s Tape and the Midline

Draw a line down the middle of your body from the top of your head.  That’s your midline.  Every time you cross over that midline it’s like doing exercises for your brain because it engages both sides of the brain. 

You can explain it to your students by having them put their two fists together.  Now, demonstrate how to cross your fingers to make connections from one side to the next.  When we cross the midline, it’s like building bridges and making connections in our brain.  Give each child a piece of painter’s tape to place on their midline.  This will increase their awareness when you sing songs, do cheers, or do exercises that are good for their bodies and their brains.

P.S.  John (a.k.a. Mr. Dr. Jean) and I are heading for a Baltic Cruise tomorrow.  Wahoo!  I’m sooo excitied!  I will do my best to blog every day, but forgive me if I am lax over the next few weeks.

Doing a blog is like throwing a pebble in the water.  You never know how far the ripples will go…I don’t even know if I’m making any ripples out there???  But it feels good to put something positive out there every day.  If you read my blog, I thank you!  If you read my blog and actually use the ideas you are my BFF!

JAMBOREE!

JAMBOREE  

The first Monday of each month all kindergarteners and preschoolers meet for a sing along they call JAMBOREE.   “Rise and Shine” is always the first song they sing and they end with “May There Always Be Sunshine.”  They sing several songs, say nursery rhymes, and retell stories using props and masks.  The children look forward to starting each month with JAMBOREE, and it creates a positive community spirit!

*This idea came from Teresa Hanak in Linden, MI.  I think it would be a terrific project to implement in your school this coming year.  You could change it to the last Friday in the month and let each class be responsible for leading a song.  Pete Seeger (famous folk musician) said, "Music is a way to help us love each other."  Let's start singing!!!

Virginia Rocks

I just returned from Christiansburg, Virginia, and the teachers were wonderful!!!  Anybody who would give up a day of summer vacation to go to a workshop is my kind of teacher!  Here are some new ideas they shared.

Focus Finger Play  (Pat Kesler uses this before handwriting.  It wires up the brain!)

Two tall telphone poles   (Fists touching with index fingers pointing up.)
Across them a wire was strung.  (Touch middle fingers.)
Two little girds hopped on  ((Put thumbs up on middle fingers.)
And sung and sung and sung.  (Swing fingers.)

Beach Week  (Kathy Conway)

If you have a family vacation planned take your "readty to make" materials and supplies.  Gather your family around a big table and have a "make and chat" party.  Your family will love to help and the conversation will be great.
*Beach beverages optional but recommended.

Facebook (Ruth Lefko)

Take two boxes and write "Facebook In Box" on one and "Facebook Out Box" on the other.  Provide children with scrap paper, pencils, and markers.  Children fold a sheet of paper in half and draw their face or a picture on the front.  Inside they write a note to the teacher or a friend and place it in the "In Box."  The messages are delivered and then the teacher or friend write a reply and place it in the "Out Box."  What a great idea to encourage writing!

School/Camp Cheer Song

I try to do at least one free concert every week in the schools in Charleston.  My husband calls it getting my "kid fix."  Today I'm going to sing at a camp and this is a song I'm going to use.  You can insert the name of your school, camp, grade, church, etc.

School Cheer

(Tune:  “Father Abraham”)

(Name of school) School has many friends.

There are many friends at (name of school).

I am one of them,

And so are you.

So let’s all give a cheer.

Right arm.  (Begin moving right arm up and down.)

Continue adding left arm…right foot…left foot…nod your head.

End by singing, “Turn around and sit down.”

Father's Day

That’s right!  Father’s Day is the this weekend, so here’s an idea for your children to help dad celebrate his special day.  First, give each child a 2 ½” circle and tell them to draw their father’s face when he is sleeping.  Glue this to the top of the flat side of a paper lunch sack.  Next, cut 4 ½ ” x 6” pieces of plaid or striped wrapping paper or wall paper.  Let children glue this to the sack under the sleeping head so it looks like their dad is in bed.  Finally, let children make a card with this poem:

Breakfast in Bed

Since it is Father’s Day

I have something to say.

Don’t lift your head.

Have breakfast in bed!

In the bag you will see

Breakfast prepared by me!

Let children make muffins or another breakfast goodie and place it in the bag.  Punch a hole in the top and tie on the card with a piece of ribbon.