Perspectives

Yes I did create this blanket - my own pattern!!! My cousin bought it from me and I hope the friend she gave it to loves it as much as I do :)

My latest project completed! Sock Monkey bag modeled by it's new owner :)

If you haven't found pinterest you should! I am hooked now. I find so many ideas on there!

These are artwork made with Apples and Celery. Cut apples in half, dip them in paint and stamp with them. Use rubber bands to hold stalks of celery together and dip ends in paint and stamp with them. Fun and easy! The display is made from bamboo sticks tied together and then hung up. I used small clothespins to hang the artwork from each square.

I believe that the Atmosphere in a classroom is important. The school I teach at is a Title I School. Creating a warm, cozy, inviting atmosphere helps the children feel safe and welcome when they walk in the door. I decided to add christmas lights hanging from the ceiling and material draped over a corner to add some warmth and lighting that was more welcoming that the fluorescent lights that are in my classroom. I actually turn off the fluorescents  and have the christmas lights, lamps and natural outside light filtering through the classroom. It creates more calm and even when children are playing it makes it not so crazy in the classroom. Add some soft classical music and what an amazing difference! I will post pictures next week :)

I love this post by my friend Jill @ Kinder Friends Learning. I want to do this in my class this year! Kinder Friends Learning: Child Care Land : "Have you discovered Child Care Land ( www.childcareland.com )? If you haven't, you are missing out! They some great ideas and best of all, ..."

We have three Pre-K teachers at my school and since our classrooms are all together, we share centers. Half of our class goes outside while the other half is in center explorations. We do not have a center rotation, but we allow the children to move freely between all three classrooms choosing their center and which classroom they wish to play in during center time. It is a little hectic at first, but absolutely worth it later in the year when we are working with children at centers individually and the other children are fully engaged in their "work".