Back to School Week: Day 3 and 4

On day 3 of "Back to School Week," we read "David Get's In Trouble."  Then we used some cards that I made to help us decide whether actions were "good choices" or "sad choices."  It was "Wisdom Wednesday" so this was a perfect time to discuss treating others with respect and making good choices. 

 

After we read the book, Christian and I worked on a portrait of David.  

It turned out so stinkin' cute!

Solomon told me that he wanted to paint at school so he worked on this little drawing.

 

Christian is looking forward to building at school!

Day 4 was also "Thoughtful Thursday" and the chance for us to meet the teachers!  To begin our day we read. . .

After we read the book I pulled out "the box."  I asked the boys what they thought was inside.  I told them that it was things that they would need for school.  I wrote their predictions all over the box.  I would have taken a picture of that too, but I am embarrassed of my handwriting was looking terribly crazy! 

The big reveal. . .

 They love the bags, and we're all set to go!

As part of "Thoughtful Thursday" the boys wrote a short note to their teachers.  

 

Christian danced all over the house like it was his birthday or Christmas!

But when we got there. . .someone was a tad bit nervous.

Nothing like a pep talk from "dear old dad."

Christian found his seat. . .

and the place for his backpack!

We went back to Solomon's class to see if he would warm up a bit, and he did [slowly but surely]!

He got a special gift from his teachers which was SO cute!  

He was not letting go of that thing!

He tried to dump the goodies out!

Finally poked a hole through the froggies tummy!

Back to School Week. . .Day 2 with David and Pete

Today was day two of "back to school week."  We spent a lot of time with David and Pete today {two of my favorite book characters}.  We began our activities by reading "David Goes to School."  We discussed what David was doing on each page, and the boys were really into it.  After reading it Christian asked, "Can I read it again?  It's my favorite book!"   

Favorite parts. . .

We completed a self portrait and name writing practice next. . .

 Sol did one side, and I did the other to help him out!  He's learning!

Love this little guys self-portrait. . .so funny!

Part two of "Book Talk Tuesday" was with Pete.  We read "Pete the Cat:  Rocking in My School Shoes," and of course the boys loved that book too.  I love the resources on the Harper-Collins Site.  As a matter of fact after we finished singing the song and dancing around Christian said, "Can we read it again?  It's my favorite!"  Guess what we did after we read this book?  To buy new shoes for school!  

We didn't get a chance to finish up everything with Pete, but if you take a look below you will see the page that we were going to do.  I also included a copy of the "David" activities that are above.  You'll see some of the activities for tomorrow as well.  I'll explain those in tomorrow's post.  

Back To School Week. . .Day 1

Yesterday was our first day of "back to school week 2012."  We are off to such a wonderful start!  I realized last night while talking to Mr. Perry that I am more excited than the boys.  It's o.k.  It's just the "teacher" in me.

So we're following a new weekly schedule which I LOVE so much!  We still do lots of other things on most days, but this is the one thing that we focus on even if it's a busy, crazy, random kind of day!  I'll post more explanations about this schedule as we continue to follow it each week.

Since yesterday was "Make Something Monday," we made a little something for the boys' teachers! I know as a teacher I LOVED getting sweet treats and gifts from my kiddos.  It wasn't just the gift cards or expensive items [don't get me wrong-those were nice too] that encouraged me.  Often times it was the simple, thoughtful handmade or homemade treats that were such a blessing in my life!  So this little gift isn't much, but it's the thought that counts!  Most of the items came from Target and Dollar Tree [they have everything you need for gifts like this].

Simple items like candy, sticky notes, pens, notepads. . .a teacher can never have too many!

Found these cute bags at Dollar Tree.

The boys placed the items in the bags in our "assembly line."

I just need to add the "beach ball" and gift card (below), and we'll be all set!

We can't wait to meet our teachers on Thursday night!

First Day Keepsake

These guys are getting way too big way too fast!  Before I know it I'll be dropping them off for school, and they'll be too cool to give me a good-bye kiss.  So for now I cherish every. single. moment.  I made a little first day keepsake that I plan to use on the first day of school every year until at least 4th or 5th grade beginning at age 4.  I'll still take little Sol's picture on the first day, but I won't ask him the questions or have him fill out the packet [although it might be hilarious to hear how he answers some of the questions].  I also plan to revise the format as the boys age so that it will be developmentally appropriate.  If you're interested in a copy you can check it out below.

First Day Interview

Our Newest Additions. . .

We've just added 5 new pets to the Perry family. . .fish!  I think they're the easiest, safest, and cleanest for us right now.  Eventually we will probably get the boys a dog, but for now we have
Bobby, Nemo, Dora, Ike, and Francesca!

            waiting with great anticipation. . .

a new home. . .

                                           They're glow-fish.  Those little babies are fast!

Houston we have a problem {solver}!

All summer long I have been working on a calendar set and problem solving pack for Christian to use since he loves numbers, patterns, counting, and just about anything to do with math!  Even though the problems that I created are very simple and take him about 5-10 minutes to complete, he loves it!  I have created problems for August-October so far, and I will create problems for the rest of the months over time.  These are designed for pre-k/kindergarten students.  They are designed around a simple theme which corresponds to the entire month.  August/September has a theme of apples.  The problem solving question is "What does my apple tree look like?"  This month's problems include skills like patterns, one to one correspondence, greater than, less than, equal, odd, even, and simple addition.



I was really impressed with Christian because he is the type of kiddo that won't always try new things if he can't do it "perfectly" the first time!  He also wants to do things ALL BY HIMSELF so he needs major coaching in the area of knowing that it's o.k. if you're not sure how to do something.   We started off with a pretty easy problem for him.  I was a "hands off" mama for the most part, and I tried to allow him to do everything that he could without interfering.  That wasn't difficult for me in the classroom, but boy oh boy is it hard when I'm the "mom."  I did quite a bit of modeling up front with a dry erase board, but once he got going he really surprised me.  He was finished in less than 10 minutes. . .he's just four years old!

 

 If you're interested you can check them out here.  August-October are freebies as part of my "Calendar Math for Pre-K Pack."  You can take a look here.  So glad Christian got Mr. Perry's math skills because he says he wants to be a doctor {today}!

 

I love the calendar and problem solving packs because they're so simple to use.  We do a short calendar activity each day and problem solving about 3-4 times per week.  The calendar math pack also has a set of introductory vocabulary words with lots of pictures, colors, shapes, numbers, and weather tracking pages.  Happy Saturday. . .it's 4a.m. and I'm the only one who's up.  Jax has been sleeping so well at night so I must be crazy for not catching some extra zzzz's.  The early morning hours seem to be the only time when I can get some things done in peace and quiet!