Halloween Goodies!

I made these last year for my girls' classes and am heading to the store to purchase supplies to do it again this year!  Their school has a strong emphasis on "No/ Very Limited Sugar", and while I LOVE sugar myself and believe that sugar is okay for children (if it is in moderation of course!), I do respect the school's wish to limit it in the classroom.  

Here is my alternative to sending in sugary sweets! 

"You light up my Halloween" attached to glow bracelets.  These are perfect! Being a "practical parent", I like that the kids can use these to be seen on Halloween night while trick or treating.  

I know it's not yet October, but HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Summer Reading Incentives

My girls LOVE to read, however, during summer reading often gets put on the back burner.  I can be guilty of this myself, however with all of the Summer Reading programs that offer students incentives to read (see previous blogs for details!), we are more apt to read daily.  I know that this is our first Monday of Summer, but my girls are well on their way to meeting and surpassing their reading goals.

I snapped this picture at about 8:00 this morning (They haven't mastered the whole sleeping in on summer break thing yet!).  My older daughter was teaching my younger daughter to read.  

I have to note that they are reading Kindergarten Rocks by Katie Davis.  This is one of our favorite books.  Here is a link to the author's site: Kindergarten Rocks.

Early morning reading.

Always Learning, Even in CABO!

Over the weekend, I took my girls to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for a couple days of swimming in the pools, jet skiing, shopping, and relaxing.  Even though we were only there for a couple of days, we had a great time.  Some of our highlights that pertain to education (that you may never have thought about!):

• Currency converter: USD->PESOS
• International Air Travel and Customs: What countries allow you to bring in, declaring items purchased, etc...
• Spanish lesson at the resort (My oldest daughter pictured below with Miss Christina, her instructor)
• Finding washed up Puffer Fish on the sand (Pacific side- Strong current, waves crashing on the shore)
• Watching the fish flap around on the sand, then get pulled back into the ocean (Again- Current)
• Bracelet making lesson at the resort (My younger one pictured below)
• Learning traditional Mexican dances, seeing their attire (Learning culture)
• Eating REAL Mexican food (Culture)
• Seeing "ALTO" signs rather than "STOP" signs

And so much more! We love to learn, no matter what part of the World we may be in!

Kaley & Miss Christina (Spanish instructor)

Lilly making her bracelet in Miss Myrobi's class

One of the many fish we saw washed up on the Pacific side

All of these fun experiences thanks to the beautiful time-share resort Playa Grande!

Ways Reading Is Discouraged

I came across this great piece (on Pinterest of course!) today and thought I'd share it!

It lists ways that parents and teachers discourage kids from reading.

Many years back, I did observations at a local Montessori preschool that was well- loved by everyone I spoke with.  I was short of impressed.  They had MANY issues, but one in particular aligns with this article.  The students who needed what they referred to as a "Time Away", spent this time in the reading corner.  They weren't even allowed to read.  When educators and parents are trying to encourage children to read books and magazines, why would we allow them to associate that space and aspect of learning with negativity? Check out this great site for more ways that parents discourage kids from reading so that we can do the opposite!

Happy Reading!

Ways Parents Discourage Reading

Trying to get that WELL LOVED teacher next year?

It's the end of the school year and you and your student have an eye on that fun, popular teacher for next school year... What do you do?

Your school may say that they do not accept teacher requests, and while I would agree that it is inconvenient and hard to accommodate requests from the administrative viewpoint, I say that if you have a real "concern" or "need", vocalize it prior to class placements.  So for those of you that have asked, YES file your teacher request! 

Here are a few things to DO:
- Discuss your student's personality and how that aligns with the teacher you are requesting. (Shy: needs to come out of their shell, Rambunctious: Needs structure? etc...)
- Mention learning styles or individual needs. 
- Mention emotional support if applicable. (Parents going through divorce and child feels comfortable with particular teaching because a sibling had them or they interact with them on campus and feel secure around that teacher, etc...)
- If you like what you have seen, vocalize it! (Teacher requested worked with an older sibling, and you saw how well they benefited from them, you have volunteered in the teacher's classroom before and you like how they have developed positive relationships with the students, or have created an exciting classroom atmosphere, where students are excited about learning, etc...)

Here are a few things NOT to do:

- Mention how the teacher is popular on campus, how kids seem excited to see the teacher, teacher reinforces with candy or toys, etc... If so, you will sound uneducated and ill informed, and your request will likely go unrecognized! 

Provide concrete examples and really dig into how the requested teacher will have a positive influence on your child and their education.

Personal Note: I did not request a teacher when my daughter went into first grade and I am not requesting a particular teacher for next year either.  Why? Even though I am regularly at the school volunteering, I haven't felt as though I could make an educated choice as to who would best fit my child.  So I have left it in the hands of the teachers and administrators, and have been pleased with the results.  It is also what you make of it!

Lastly, do not discuss recommendations with your student.  It will create negativity if they know and do not get placed in the classroom requested.  Take it for what it is, and make the most of your school year, regardless of who you get!

Earn a book!

Barnes & Noble is offering an incentive for students to read this summer! Students in grades 1-6 can read 8 books, fill out the Summer Reading form found at the link provided below, and earn a free book! (The book options are wonderful, and age appropriate!)  Thanks Barnes & Noble for encouraging our kids to read over Summer!


Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program

Puppy Love

I typically don't bring my phone into Jazzercise, however today I happened to, and I could hear it vibrating over and over on the wood floors. Ugh! Thankfully I had brought it in because it was my daughters' school calling to let me know that my oldest one was sick. Luckily, her Papa (Grandpa) was around and able to get her from school so that she wasn't waiting so long for me.

So she is home, resting, and enjoying a day full of the Disney channel. On a typical day, Oso (one of our dogs) would be jumping around the house, doing laps in the yard, and just be the usual, 90lb clumsy puppy that he is. Not today. He knows that his girl isn't feeling well, and he is comforting her in the best possible way, snuggling and watching cartoons. It is amazing how dogs can sense the well-being of a person and act in an appropriate manner, even our gumpy puppy. Here is a great article that I found on how dogs and other animals benefit humans.

Click to Enlarge
Via: TheDogTrainingSecret.com

Benefits of Children Traveling

Children gain so much from traveling with their parents!  

Since my kids were born, I have taken them to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Key West, Orlando, Seattle, Idaho, British Colombia, Monterey, Boston, San Francisco, Bahamas, Arizona, Sacramento, Cabo San Lucas, Maine, Tennesse, Puerto Vallarta, Las Vegas, and so many more places, I can't even remember! 

I enjoy traveling and see the benefits of taking my children with me.  

**Don't get me wrong, we have left the kids with grandparents for a weekend here and there for Catalina and Las Vegas trips.  We need that adult time as well!

I recently came across an article in USA Today that mentioned some of the many benefits that children have from traveling with their parents. Some of the key points in the article are: quality time together, security in relationships, really getting to know each other, and learning with one another.  According to Michelle Kulas, the author of the article, "Tasting foreign foods, hearing different languages and visiting homes in other countries can be an eye-opening experience."  This is true for kids and adults alike.  

Here are some highlights from our adventures as a family:

- What we call Bathrooms, Canadians call Washrooms (My girls loved this!)
- Learning about dolphins and swimming with them
- Finding a baby octopus while snorkeling
- Exchanging currency in different countries
- Enjoying the company of people different than us (skin color, accents, languages, clothing, appearance)
- Tasting unique foods
- Driving on the other side of the road (My girls were confused by this one!)
- Many aquariums, zoos, and museums

And the list goes on...

There are so many benefits to traveling with children that strengthen the family bond.  While a trip to Walt Disney World or Alaska, or Australia may not be feasible in a family budget, there are so many other ways that you can make memories and build relationships in your family.  See my blog about free and inexpensive things to do around San Diego for a list of great family fun ideas!

Remember to have fun with your children and build them up!

Water Balloon Battle!

Who doesn't love a good water balloon battle?! Yes, I said "battle".  Fight can be such a harsh word, and battle sounds a bit more pleasant to me! While the kids were at school the other day, I filled up 100 water balloons! Okay, well not quite 100.  There were 100 in the pack, and a few popped in the process, but we can round up since I slaved over the water spicket for an hour.  

The kids were so surprised and excited when I picked them up from school and they learned that their friends were coming over AND that water balloons were prepped for throwing! These little surprises show children that we value them.  Here's an unconscious thought: "Mom was thinking about me while I was at school and took the time to fill up water balloons for us.  We must be pretty special."  While they may not say this out loud or even in their minds, they will remember and reflect upon the times that their parents made the effort to give them a childhood of great memories.

Frederick Douglass said, "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."

Let's build up today's children!

Summer Vacation Fun CONTINUED!

I told you that I'd have the rest of my list ready for you later this week, so here it is!

Here are even more fun, inexpensive (And even FREE!) things to do around San Diego County to avoid hearing, "I'm bored."

The links are provided.  Remember to call or check their website prior to going for current rates.

• Shadow Mountain Church Summer Blast! (This link goes to a YouTube Video from 2011): Many churches refer to it as Vacation Bible School (VBS) but at Shadow Mountain, its Summer Blast! Registration has not yet opened for it, but this year it will be held July 15-19.  It is so much fun! The kids will make new friends, crafts, play games, sing, dance, have snack, and learn about Jesus! It is a drop off program and free of charge. I get the privilege of teaching a classroom each year!
• Balboa Park Museums: San Diego County residents are free at selected museums on Tuesdays!
• Free Crafts at Lakeshore Learning: Saturdays from 11-3, Lakeshore Learning offers free crafts for kids! Keep in mind that since this is an educational store, they are not your boring crayon and paper "crafts".  
• Regal Movie Theaters: Check the listings for $1 movies during the summer! They are G and PG movies at 10:00 am, and perfect to beat the hot summer sun!
• Home Depot Kids (And Adults!) Workshops: Saturdays, from 9-Noon, kids can create and take home a fun wood craft.  It usually includes hammering and painting, which kids love! 
• San Diego County Fair: Okay, if you're like us, this is by no means free or inexpensive, because I enjoy purchasing unique items that I don't need, go on countless rides, and have to try every food item there! Nonetheless, children ages 12 and under can get in for FREE if they read 10 books, fill out the certificate, have their teacher sign it, and bring it with them to the fair! 
• Lowes Workshops for Kids: Build and grow workshops are fun and free for kids!
• Kids at Ikea: Mom Break! Did you know that when you shop at Ikea, your kids can play in a fun, supervised area, for free?! 
• GymTrix Alpine Flip for Friday: DATE NIGHT! Check the GymTrix calendar for the Friday evening kids events.  From 6:30-10:00 pm kids can have supervised play on the gymnastics equipment and partake in the theme of the night.  There is a cost for this, however, they have fun and even get fed!

And the list goes on! Whether is it Old Town, Julian, Lake El Capitan, a ferry boat to Coronado, kayaking at the bay, or riding bikes at Lake Murray, there is so much to do in this beautiful city! You don't have to break the bank to entertain your kids this summer.  I hope you enjoy the resources that I have provided and have fun!!

Summer Vacation!

With summer quickly approaching, I have had so many parents ask me what I was going to do with my children this summer.  My answer: "EVERYTHING!" I miss my kids so much while they are at school that I don't know where to begin with summer.  While my kids to take a week or two for a summer camp of interest, we spend the rest of the time learning, exploring, and having fun.  I always seem to find my inner child during the summer months!

Most of the activities listed below are FREE, run off donations, or cost a minimal amount of money.  Check with the websites or call the locations to find out what the cost is, if any.
I have tried to include links to these activities and locations to better assist you!

Keep in mind that my girls are 4 and 7 years old, so these pertain to them!

• The New Children's Museum: Did you know that admission is free the second Sunday of each month? It is a fun, hands on learning experience for kids of all ages! Check their calendar for dates/ times.
• San Diego County Libraries: There are summer reading programs available, story times, computers with kid appropriate games for use, science experiments, take home crafts, etc... My older daughter enjoys reading to the therapy dogs that can be found at many locations.  
• La Mesa & Campo Railway Museums: Kids can explore the inner workings of the trains, and learn the history of the railways.
• Mission Trails Regional Park: There are hiking trails, a beautiful welcome center, and activities that can be registered for.
• Cabrillo National Monument & Tide pools: The view of San Diego from atop Cabrillo National Monument is breathtaking.  There are tide pools (depending on the tide) where people can have a hands on experience with sea animals in their home habitat.
• Carlsbad Flower Fields: Tractor wagon rides, beautiful views, and year around family events.
• YMCA Gymastics Open Gym and Open Swim : Here you can find swimming pools (watersides as well!) where the kids can cool off, as well as gymnastics centers where the kids can have free play on the equipment.  *Our favorite is the Santee location because of the large gymnastics facility.
• Santee Lakes: Here you will find a "Spray ground" for the kids, as well as playgrounds scattered around the lakes, paddle boat rental, etc... TIP: If you don't want to pay to park inside, they do allow pedestrians to enter free of charge, and there is parking on the side streets.
• Viejas Interactive Fountain: Kids can beat the heat and play in the water.  They do need to have shoes on (water shoes work best), and there is ample seating around the fountain area.
• Hilton Head Park~ Rancho San Diego: Two large playgrounds, grass, tables, and an interactive water area.
• Shadow Hill Park~ Santee: This park is great because there are shaded tables and chairs, as well as the playground has shade coverings, which is great due to the hot summer sun! Great place to bring bikes and scooters, however, don't let your children venture too far, as it is on the side of a hill, and we personally have seen a rattlesnake on the tennis court. So be cautious!
• Air & Space Museum at Gillespie Field: Children (and adults!) are allowed to climb through old aircraft and can learn about early flights. 
• Creation & Earth History Museum: We were here recently and the human body exhibit was going on, and my daughters were in awe of the inner workings! From the veins to the brain, they were intrigued! 
• La Mesa Car Show: Takes place in the Village and runs Thursday nights from 5-8 pm during the summer months.  It's fun to show the kids the old cars (with no seat belts!), trunks in the front and engines in the back, and so forth!

This is only about HALF of my list! I will post the other half later this week so be on the look out for it!! 

Also, later this week, be on the look out for ways to make the most out of these activities.  We will be using K-W-L charts (What we KNOW, WANT to know, and LEARNED), bar graphs, Venn Diagrams (Compare and Contrast), Collages, Cameras, and so much more! I will show you how to apply them to some of these activities, and keep your child learning over the summer without them feeling like they are still in school!

National Teacher Appreciation Day!

Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day! I hope that our teachers are enjoying their day and being showered with love from their students.  

This is one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Seuss:

"Think left and think right and think low and think high.  Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!"

Thank goodness we have educators that stimulate our thinking!

Kindergarten Readiness...

Have a soon-to-be Kindergartener in your home?

Like most parents, you may be wondering if your child is ready.  Here is the link to the State of California Department of Education Kindergarten Common Core Standards.  Your student DOES NOT need to know this information prior to beginning Kindergarten, but rather will have obtained this information through the course of the school year and be proficient before moving on to 1st grade.
The link may look daunting, but it will give you an idea of what your student will be learning and what you can work with them on.

If you're completely lost and overwhelmed, READ to them! EVERYDAY! You will be preparing them in more ways than you can imagine!

CA Kindergarten Common Core

If you need assistance in preparing your student for Kindergarten, e-mail me: Ambermwilson@cox.net

With my Bachelors of Arts in Early Childhood Education and my Master of Arts in Teaching, I am a qualified teacher and tutor who works in preparing students for Kindergarten.

REMEMBER: Make it fun!

Progress Through Praise!

Progress Through Praise!

"Johnny, you missed 4 on your spelling test."

"Susie, you weren't facing forward during the fire drill."

These statements are very common in the classroom, and while they are not horrible things to say to students, they are not the most positive either.  Let's rephrase them for fun.

"Johnny, you got 6 correct on your spelling test."

"I noticed that most of you were facing forward during the fire drill.  I definitely noticed."

It seems minor, but taking the negative connotation away, acknowledges what the student(s) did well, and motivates them to keep up the good work, because they're good work is noticed.  By not directing the forward facing issue to 'Susie', the other students are acknowledged for a job well done, and students, such as 'Susie', know in their mind that they weren't included in the positive statement.  She, along with others, will naturally work toward acknowledgement.

Let's think... The "class clowns" or "troublemakers" generally get much attention from the teacher because s/he needs to address their behavior and correct it.  This takes time away from the other students, and gives the aforementioned that attention that they are seeking. So, let's take that attention away from these students and ignore their behaviors, or address them outside of whole group time.  Of course, this can be easier said than done, especially with various behavior issues, however, giving praise to students will lead to more progress because they want to please their teacher and be recognized for their hard work!  

** What about that boy who is in the 3rd grade, but is still reading at a 1st grade level?
Praise him! Don't look at how far he still has to go, but rather how far he has come. Keep him motivated and make sure he knows that you believe in him.  Highlight his strengths.  Chart his successes.  

Let's help our students and children progress through praise and feel confident and proud, rather than embarrassed and defeated. 

This picture was taken recently of the beautiful display of art that was created by my daughter's 1st grade class.  A few moms and I worked many hours to create this wall and display the hard work of the students for the school's annual Art Show.

I smile as I relive that evening and their faces as they showed off their masterpieces to their family and friends.  How proud they must have felt!