We Are Back!

I can't believe how much has changed since I started this blog two years ago. I was a stay at home mom at the time who quickly began expecting a second child. Two kids and jumping back into work left no time to update the blog. The purpose of this from the start was to update Amelia's teachers, friends and loved ones about her little adventures and BIG changes. She is now an incredible three year old with a strong will and awesome sense of humor. We are on a new adventure of homeschooling until she is off to public school (oh the support I will need then!). 

Since I made this decision many people have wanted to ask me about the curriculum that I plan for the children while they are home. I believe strongly in creating a rich learning environment full to the brim of the kinds of things that Amelia and Charlie LOVE. Amelia has given me a list of what she wants to know more about and it grows/changes all the time. We talk together about what Charlie loves and as the week goes on she will say things like, "hey mom; how about next week we do a pink and red week. Won't that be great?" :) We do a small circle time, literacy and math activities, sensory play, field trips and more. I have some great resources that I will share and I hope to use this blog as a way to inspire other moms, dads and teachers.

Our first week was right after her birthday. As a team we decided to focus our week on the letter B, the color blue and topics such as ballet. Here are some highlights. 

We had a sensory bucket available with "blue stuff" in it. These are things that I had around the house and one of those random bags from Savers with fun little treasures. 

 

Charlie enjoyed trying to put long tubes that used to be a part of a wind chime into this m & m container. Giving toddlers challenges like these will provide endless scientific play. 

We went on a "Letter B Hunt" in the neighborhood and of course brought along the Binoculars. With the help of her aunt and uncle Amelia found butterflies, a basket ball hoop, birds, bikes and more. I took photos along the way and then laminated them and punched holes in the pictures. I attached them all on a key ring so she now has her own letter B book. 

Concentrating

Mom is impressed

 

Proud girl

B is for beading! I hadn't tried beading with Amelia and figured that this week was the perfect opportunity. I had to really restrain myself from trying to help her get each bead on the string. She was incredibly patient and put 80% of this necklace together by her big kid self.

Using the Ballet Preschool Pack from http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/PreschoolPackIBallerina.html Amelia and I did some really great math and fine motor activities during circle time. Check it out!

Years ago I took my group of preschoolers to The Boston Ballet School and had a very nice tour. http://www.bostonballet.org/school.html. David who remembered me from the last time I was there was very kind and made sure Amelia really got to see some magical moments. We even got to go to the basement where they were creating costumes for upcoming shows like Snow White. How very special. She was a super star at finding the letter B all over the building as well.

Overall it was a great first week of homeschooling and I'm already putting some things together for the next week which I'm hoping includes a trip to a bakery to see how they make their pies.
I will leave you with a few favorite photos from Boston and a video that we enjoyed about a million times while discussing butterflies :)

B is for a Bunny in Boston

B is for a Big Boy in Boston

  

Don't miss this adorableness :)