My writing career started young. My first official published work can be found at Highcroft Elementary School in St. Louis, MO. It is titled, "Lovisa Goes Shopping." A deep look at the world of little girls shopping at toy stores. I believe it was around 8 pages and fully illustrated by my third grade self.
I then moved on to explore other subject matters in my novels...mainly death and cancer. There was "Don't Stop Me Now, I'm On My Way" and "Last Breath". I'm not sure what happened to both these stories. A tragic loss for the literary world.
I took all the usual classes in high school and wrote tons of depressing stuff about things I knew nothing about. Then came all the years in college where depressing turned into what I thought was profound and symbolic work which really translates to profoundly stupid writing. And here I am...
I think I always thought I wanted to be a writer. This week I attended a writing conference at BYU and decided that what I REALLY want to be is a book editor. I'm not sure that was really the point of the conference but it was the most inspirational thing I walked away with. The conference was excellent! But really, I'm not all that great at writing but I am great at telling my husband what is wonderful or really bad with every book I read. I love children's literature and I love reading. I believe in the power great writing can have in a child's life. I've seen its influence in my life, in the lives of children I've taught, in the faces of parents and toddlers at story times, and in the lives of my own children. So there you have it. A little A-HA moment that happened last week. Isn't it great when your whole life takes a pleasant turn and you develop a new perspective for a mere $109 and some time off in the afternoon??
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Some Things To Consider
(This list was forwarded to me in an email. I thought it was blog worthy...it made me laugh and then weep. I still can't decide if I think it is hysterical or tragic but maybe I liked it because it was both. Anyway, enjoy...)
*Raising Boys - 24 key points to ponder
The following came from an anonymous Mother in Austin, Texas...
Things I've learned from my Boys (honest and not kidding):
1. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft.
house 4 inches deep.
2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with
roller blades, they can ignite.
3. A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded
restaurant.
4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong
enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a
Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can,
to spread paint on all four walls of a 20 x 20 ft. room.
5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When
using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few
times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long
way.
6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit
by a ceiling fan.
7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already
too late
8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9. A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a
36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.
10. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year
old Boy.
11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12. Super glue is forever.
13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still
can't walk on water.
14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15. VCR's do not eject "PB &J" sandwiches even though TV commercials
show they do.
16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not
like ovens.
20. The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.
21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms
dizzy.
22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24. 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake
fluid.
Those who pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without
boys do it because:
a) For those with no children - this is totally hysterical!
b) For those who already have children past this age, this is
hilarious.
c) For those who have children this age, this is not funny.
d) For those who have children nearing this age, this is a warning.
e) For those who have not yet had children, this is birth control.
*Raising Boys - 24 key points to ponder
The following came from an anonymous Mother in Austin, Texas...
Things I've learned from my Boys (honest and not kidding):
1. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft.
house 4 inches deep.
2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with
roller blades, they can ignite.
3. A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded
restaurant.
4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong
enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a
Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can,
to spread paint on all four walls of a 20 x 20 ft. room.
5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When
using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few
times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long
way.
6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit
by a ceiling fan.
7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already
too late
8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9. A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a
36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.
10. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year
old Boy.
11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12. Super glue is forever.
13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still
can't walk on water.
14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15. VCR's do not eject "PB &J" sandwiches even though TV commercials
show they do.
16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not
like ovens.
20. The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.
21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms
dizzy.
22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24. 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake
fluid.
Those who pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without
boys do it because:
a) For those with no children - this is totally hysterical!
b) For those who already have children past this age, this is
hilarious.
c) For those who have children this age, this is not funny.
d) For those who have children nearing this age, this is a warning.
e) For those who have not yet had children, this is birth control.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
GARDEN week
June 12-June 16, 2006
Letter of the Week: H, h
Theme: Gardens & Plants
a) Go to www.preschooleducation.com
b) Click on THEME TOPICS.
c) Click on GARDEN.
d) In the purple box labeled “Theme Topics Garden”, click on MUSIC AND SONGS. Choose a variety of songs you would like to sing each day. You can also look up books, arts & crafts, math, science, snacks, etc.
Check out garden/plant/flower stories from the library. Remember to look for a variety of genres…non-fiction books, poetry, picture books, songs, etc.
MONDAY
1) Letter Activity:
• Post words to “Humpty Dumpty” on chart paper on the wall. Read poem together. Discuss what Big H and little h look like and what sound they make. Have kids come circle all the H’s they can find.
• Pour uncooked rice onto a cookie sheet. Have kids practice drawing Big H and little h in the rice.
2) Theme:
• Read “The Crooked Apple Tree” by Eric Houghton.
• Sing “I’ll Plant A Little Seed”.
(Sung to I’m A Little Teapot):
I’ll plant a little seed in the dark ground,
Out comes the yellow sun, big and round.
Down comes the cool rain, soft and slow.
Up comes the little seed, grow, grow, grow.
• Activity: Go out to garden and pick a flower/weed…some type of plant. Be sure to have the kids pick it gently so it pulls up the roots. Take it inside and have them examine it closely. On a large piece of poster paper, draw a plant and start labeling the different parts they observe. (Flower, stem, leaves, roots) Then discuss what essential things a plant needs to grow. (sun, water, soil) Have kids draw/make their own flower, label parts, and add sun, water, and soil.
TUESDAY
1) Letter Activity:
• Read Humpty, Dumpty poem again. Review “H” words located on Monday. On a new piece of chart paper, generate a list of H words focusing on the sound H makes. Have kids come circle the H’s again.
• Give kids a paper that has a big H and little h written on it. Have them glue cut out hearts on to the paper to form the letters.
2) Theme:
• Read “The Reason for a Flower” by Ruth Heller.
• Sung to “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” (Do actions for each line as you sing):
Dig, dig, dig the earth,
Then you plant your seeds,
A gentle rain
And bright sunshine
Will help your flowers grow.
• ACTIVITY:
Fold a paper towel and spray it with water. Put the paper towel and three lima beans (that have been soaked in water for about an hour) into a ziplock bag. Seal the bag. Take a piece of green construction paper. Cut a big house shape. Staple the ziplock bag into the center of the “greenhouse”. Let kids decorate their greenhouse around the bag. Explain that you will be observing their seeds grow in the bag every day. Review parts of a plant and what a plant needs to grow. (See www.littlegiraffes.com for a full explanation. Go to TEACHERS, then click on THEMES, then scroll down to PLANTS.)
Place white carnations in a glass of water. Have children add a few drops of food coloring to their water. Have them predict what will happen to their flower. Set flowers aside until Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY
1) Letter Activity: Read/review H words from chart paper. Have a sheet with Big H’s and little h’s. Have children start tracing H’s on the sheet with guided help. Have them draw a picture of an H word on the back of the paper.
2) Theme:
• Read “Growing Vegetable Soup” by Lois Ehlert.
• Sing a song.
• ACTIVITY: Check on white carnations. Discuss what has happened to their carnation and why (the carnation will have turned whatever color the water was). This experiment illustrates how plants drink water to help them grow and be healthy.
• SUNFLOWERS: You will need 1 large paper plate for each child, yellow crayon/paint, brown crayon/paint, small black beans, and scissors. Have the children color the inside of the plate brown. Then the outside rim yellow. Give them some beans and glue, and let them glue the beans in the center where the brown is. After they dry, cut around the edge to give it fringe. Hang them in a window or from the ceiling.
THURSDAY
1) Letter Activity: Using old magazines, have children find pictures that start with the letter H. Cut pictures out, glue to a piece of construction paper and label the picture. Have child practice tracing more Big and little H letters.
2) Theme:
• Read “Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together With Children” by Sharon Lovejoy
• Sing a song.
• ACTIVITY: Go on a field trip to the INTERNATIONAL GARDENS in Salt Lake City. Kids sketch their favorite flowers, trees, plants in their journals.
FRIDAY
1) Letter Activity: Have children practice writing their letter H on dry erase boards without tracing them.
• Have children trace each of their hands. On each hand write: “Name of child’s hands can…” and have them made a list of what their hands can do.
2) Theme:
• Read “One Bean” by Anne Rockwell.
• Sing a song.
• Activity: Go on a scavenger hunt outside. Collect different examples of things that grow from the neighborhood. Bring them home and glue them on paper to make a collage of “Things That Grow In My Neighborhood.”
• Review sketches from the field trip the day before.
MONDAY-FRIDAY: Introduce play “From Seed to Plant”. (From book “25 Just-Right Plays for Emergent Readers” by Carol Pugliano-Martin, Scholastic) Choose parts. Decide on costumes and scenery. For the next couple of days we are going to work on putting on this play. I’m really trying to work with my kids on memorizing different types of things from plays to poems.
Letter of the Week: H, h
Theme: Gardens & Plants
a) Go to www.preschooleducation.com
b) Click on THEME TOPICS.
c) Click on GARDEN.
d) In the purple box labeled “Theme Topics Garden”, click on MUSIC AND SONGS. Choose a variety of songs you would like to sing each day. You can also look up books, arts & crafts, math, science, snacks, etc.
Check out garden/plant/flower stories from the library. Remember to look for a variety of genres…non-fiction books, poetry, picture books, songs, etc.
MONDAY
1) Letter Activity:
• Post words to “Humpty Dumpty” on chart paper on the wall. Read poem together. Discuss what Big H and little h look like and what sound they make. Have kids come circle all the H’s they can find.
• Pour uncooked rice onto a cookie sheet. Have kids practice drawing Big H and little h in the rice.
2) Theme:
• Read “The Crooked Apple Tree” by Eric Houghton.
• Sing “I’ll Plant A Little Seed”.
(Sung to I’m A Little Teapot):
I’ll plant a little seed in the dark ground,
Out comes the yellow sun, big and round.
Down comes the cool rain, soft and slow.
Up comes the little seed, grow, grow, grow.
• Activity: Go out to garden and pick a flower/weed…some type of plant. Be sure to have the kids pick it gently so it pulls up the roots. Take it inside and have them examine it closely. On a large piece of poster paper, draw a plant and start labeling the different parts they observe. (Flower, stem, leaves, roots) Then discuss what essential things a plant needs to grow. (sun, water, soil) Have kids draw/make their own flower, label parts, and add sun, water, and soil.
TUESDAY
1) Letter Activity:
• Read Humpty, Dumpty poem again. Review “H” words located on Monday. On a new piece of chart paper, generate a list of H words focusing on the sound H makes. Have kids come circle the H’s again.
• Give kids a paper that has a big H and little h written on it. Have them glue cut out hearts on to the paper to form the letters.
2) Theme:
• Read “The Reason for a Flower” by Ruth Heller.
• Sung to “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” (Do actions for each line as you sing):
Dig, dig, dig the earth,
Then you plant your seeds,
A gentle rain
And bright sunshine
Will help your flowers grow.
• ACTIVITY:
Fold a paper towel and spray it with water. Put the paper towel and three lima beans (that have been soaked in water for about an hour) into a ziplock bag. Seal the bag. Take a piece of green construction paper. Cut a big house shape. Staple the ziplock bag into the center of the “greenhouse”. Let kids decorate their greenhouse around the bag. Explain that you will be observing their seeds grow in the bag every day. Review parts of a plant and what a plant needs to grow. (See www.littlegiraffes.com for a full explanation. Go to TEACHERS, then click on THEMES, then scroll down to PLANTS.)
Place white carnations in a glass of water. Have children add a few drops of food coloring to their water. Have them predict what will happen to their flower. Set flowers aside until Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY
1) Letter Activity: Read/review H words from chart paper. Have a sheet with Big H’s and little h’s. Have children start tracing H’s on the sheet with guided help. Have them draw a picture of an H word on the back of the paper.
2) Theme:
• Read “Growing Vegetable Soup” by Lois Ehlert.
• Sing a song.
• ACTIVITY: Check on white carnations. Discuss what has happened to their carnation and why (the carnation will have turned whatever color the water was). This experiment illustrates how plants drink water to help them grow and be healthy.
• SUNFLOWERS: You will need 1 large paper plate for each child, yellow crayon/paint, brown crayon/paint, small black beans, and scissors. Have the children color the inside of the plate brown. Then the outside rim yellow. Give them some beans and glue, and let them glue the beans in the center where the brown is. After they dry, cut around the edge to give it fringe. Hang them in a window or from the ceiling.
THURSDAY
1) Letter Activity: Using old magazines, have children find pictures that start with the letter H. Cut pictures out, glue to a piece of construction paper and label the picture. Have child practice tracing more Big and little H letters.
2) Theme:
• Read “Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together With Children” by Sharon Lovejoy
• Sing a song.
• ACTIVITY: Go on a field trip to the INTERNATIONAL GARDENS in Salt Lake City. Kids sketch their favorite flowers, trees, plants in their journals.
FRIDAY
1) Letter Activity: Have children practice writing their letter H on dry erase boards without tracing them.
• Have children trace each of their hands. On each hand write: “Name of child’s hands can…” and have them made a list of what their hands can do.
2) Theme:
• Read “One Bean” by Anne Rockwell.
• Sing a song.
• Activity: Go on a scavenger hunt outside. Collect different examples of things that grow from the neighborhood. Bring them home and glue them on paper to make a collage of “Things That Grow In My Neighborhood.”
• Review sketches from the field trip the day before.
MONDAY-FRIDAY: Introduce play “From Seed to Plant”. (From book “25 Just-Right Plays for Emergent Readers” by Carol Pugliano-Martin, Scholastic) Choose parts. Decide on costumes and scenery. For the next couple of days we are going to work on putting on this play. I’m really trying to work with my kids on memorizing different types of things from plays to poems.
Monday, June 12, 2006
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Summer has started and school has ended. Does anyone else find this slightly traumatic? We finally had our routine down and suddenly it all changed and I felt like I was floating around in my black hole of "wearing pj's til noon and eating Doritos for breakfast" mode. So we have implemented a new summer schedule. Now, I'm sharing this because it is my blog and I can share whatever I want but remember I am also a junkie for playing school in the basement and making people play MY games with me. (Isn't that why we have kids?) Anyway, it has helped lessen the boredom and amount of T.V. time, increased our "fun" meter, and even added a splash of learning into the mix. Here is how it works.
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Breakfast and lounging
*(We are not huge morning people here...it takes all of us a while to get moving!)
9:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Daily Chores
*(Each person in the family, including mom, has a chore chart on the fridge with daily chores on it. They are age appropriate for the child and change as the needs change or the kids become capable of doing more.) Chores include: Getting dressed, Making Bed, Cleaning Bedroom, Going Potty, Reading One Chapter/Book Out Loud, and helping with a "Special" Chore. We set the timer and go to work. If the kids complete their chores by the time the timer goes off and without me nagging them, then they are invited to a special activity at the kitchen table. If they don't finish or if I've had to nag them, they are uninvited and have to find something else to do alone.
9:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Special Activity/ Mom gets ready
*If the kids have earned it, they get a special activity. I have a fabulous deck of cards that I bought called "50 Simple Activities to Do with Kids"...each card has a different activity on it that is EASY to do. We pick a card, get out the "supply" box, and the kids do their project. I am also an "Oriental Trading" junkie (really...a total addict! Check out orientaltrading.com OR handson fun.com). Every couple of months I place a huge order of crafts, stickers, stencils, stamps, etc. and place them in a huge storage box in my room. This is a great resource for pulling stuff out and giving the kids last minute activities and projects to do. Oriental Trading is a super cheap, super fun place to get stuff like this! I also have them write cards to people, write letters, do birthday cards for friends and family, or whatever else I can think of. Giving them a project is great because I can go have 20-30 minutes to actually get dressed and put on deodrant. So lovely.
For the rest of the morning we have our "stuff" to do. On Mondays, Jake goes to a special class at the library. On Wednesdays, Hannah and Matthew go to their special class at the library. On Tuesdays, if the kids have filled up their chore charts from the week before, we go to the special Mom/Kid Summer Movies at the theatre. There are a ton of these kinds of things you can do. Check around your library, school, rec center, movie theaters, etc.
We have lunch around noon, I put Hannah down for her nap and the boys and I have some serious quiet time for a few minutes. The boys are hugely against naps but they get to watch part of a movie or show while we just veg.
In the afternoon, after "veg" time, we go downstairs for Busy Bee School. This little school lasts for 60-90 minutes and is my favorite part of the day. We start with our theme song and then I have a little section of the playroom with a calendar and weather chart. We do the calendar (both boys know all 12 months, all 7 days of the week and can count to 31 because of this simple thing!) and the weather chart and then we sing our ABC's and do our flash cards.
Next is an activity with our "Letter of the Week." Each week we focus on a different letter. We talk about how it looks, sounds, and how it is written. Matthew focuses on the basics while Jake is working on his handwriting and spelling. We do a short activity and then move on.
After letters, I read a picture book that goes along with our weekly "theme". (While Jake is at his special class on Mondays at the library, M., H., and I go on a treasure hunt for books that fit our theme. I try to get a variety of books from different genres...nonfiction, picture books, poetry, how-to books, etc. that I put in a big basket in the basement.) Then we do an a thematic activity. I don't know if anybody is really all that interested but I will post our letter activites and weekly theme activities on my blog if you are looking for ideas. Check out 3 of my favorite websites for ideas:
A) starfall.com (This is amazing for all levels of kids. It is online games and activities but you can also print things off or even order the materials for a minimal fee. It has been an amazing resource!)
B) littlegiraffes.com (Click on the TEACHERS button and then on THEMES. This whole website is great so check all the other sections out too!)
C) janbrett.com (This has really fun alphabets, numbers, games, activities, etc.)
Sometimes for Busy Bee School we just go on a field trip...museums, swimming, parks, downtown adventures, hikes, etc. We try to have at least one field trip a week.
At 5:00 p.m., the kids write in their "journals" while I start fixing dinner. J. can write and illustrate his own journal and for M. and H. I have them dictate to me and then they illustrate. I keep a container full of stickers, stamps, markers, crayons, glue, scissors, tape, etc. upstairs in the kitchen so I can get out what I want for a quick "art" project whenever we need one.
OK, so this was long and probably way, way more than you wanted to know but it has made our summer really fun. We always have friends over to play and take friends with us on any field trip, swimming, biking, hiking, whatever excursion so it has been so, so, so much fun! I'm hoping this will also help us not be so shell-shocked when fall rolls around and we have to get back on our "school" routine!
Now it's your turn. What great summer things have you discovered??
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Breakfast and lounging
*(We are not huge morning people here...it takes all of us a while to get moving!)
9:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Daily Chores
*(Each person in the family, including mom, has a chore chart on the fridge with daily chores on it. They are age appropriate for the child and change as the needs change or the kids become capable of doing more.) Chores include: Getting dressed, Making Bed, Cleaning Bedroom, Going Potty, Reading One Chapter/Book Out Loud, and helping with a "Special" Chore. We set the timer and go to work. If the kids complete their chores by the time the timer goes off and without me nagging them, then they are invited to a special activity at the kitchen table. If they don't finish or if I've had to nag them, they are uninvited and have to find something else to do alone.
9:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Special Activity/ Mom gets ready
*If the kids have earned it, they get a special activity. I have a fabulous deck of cards that I bought called "50 Simple Activities to Do with Kids"...each card has a different activity on it that is EASY to do. We pick a card, get out the "supply" box, and the kids do their project. I am also an "Oriental Trading" junkie (really...a total addict! Check out orientaltrading.com OR handson fun.com). Every couple of months I place a huge order of crafts, stickers, stencils, stamps, etc. and place them in a huge storage box in my room. This is a great resource for pulling stuff out and giving the kids last minute activities and projects to do. Oriental Trading is a super cheap, super fun place to get stuff like this! I also have them write cards to people, write letters, do birthday cards for friends and family, or whatever else I can think of. Giving them a project is great because I can go have 20-30 minutes to actually get dressed and put on deodrant. So lovely.
For the rest of the morning we have our "stuff" to do. On Mondays, Jake goes to a special class at the library. On Wednesdays, Hannah and Matthew go to their special class at the library. On Tuesdays, if the kids have filled up their chore charts from the week before, we go to the special Mom/Kid Summer Movies at the theatre. There are a ton of these kinds of things you can do. Check around your library, school, rec center, movie theaters, etc.
We have lunch around noon, I put Hannah down for her nap and the boys and I have some serious quiet time for a few minutes. The boys are hugely against naps but they get to watch part of a movie or show while we just veg.
In the afternoon, after "veg" time, we go downstairs for Busy Bee School. This little school lasts for 60-90 minutes and is my favorite part of the day. We start with our theme song and then I have a little section of the playroom with a calendar and weather chart. We do the calendar (both boys know all 12 months, all 7 days of the week and can count to 31 because of this simple thing!) and the weather chart and then we sing our ABC's and do our flash cards.
Next is an activity with our "Letter of the Week." Each week we focus on a different letter. We talk about how it looks, sounds, and how it is written. Matthew focuses on the basics while Jake is working on his handwriting and spelling. We do a short activity and then move on.
After letters, I read a picture book that goes along with our weekly "theme". (While Jake is at his special class on Mondays at the library, M., H., and I go on a treasure hunt for books that fit our theme. I try to get a variety of books from different genres...nonfiction, picture books, poetry, how-to books, etc. that I put in a big basket in the basement.) Then we do an a thematic activity. I don't know if anybody is really all that interested but I will post our letter activites and weekly theme activities on my blog if you are looking for ideas. Check out 3 of my favorite websites for ideas:
A) starfall.com (This is amazing for all levels of kids. It is online games and activities but you can also print things off or even order the materials for a minimal fee. It has been an amazing resource!)
B) littlegiraffes.com (Click on the TEACHERS button and then on THEMES. This whole website is great so check all the other sections out too!)
C) janbrett.com (This has really fun alphabets, numbers, games, activities, etc.)
Sometimes for Busy Bee School we just go on a field trip...museums, swimming, parks, downtown adventures, hikes, etc. We try to have at least one field trip a week.
At 5:00 p.m., the kids write in their "journals" while I start fixing dinner. J. can write and illustrate his own journal and for M. and H. I have them dictate to me and then they illustrate. I keep a container full of stickers, stamps, markers, crayons, glue, scissors, tape, etc. upstairs in the kitchen so I can get out what I want for a quick "art" project whenever we need one.
OK, so this was long and probably way, way more than you wanted to know but it has made our summer really fun. We always have friends over to play and take friends with us on any field trip, swimming, biking, hiking, whatever excursion so it has been so, so, so much fun! I'm hoping this will also help us not be so shell-shocked when fall rolls around and we have to get back on our "school" routine!
Now it's your turn. What great summer things have you discovered??
Saturday Is A Special Day
I have to admit that for many years now I have found Saturdays to be a particularly painful time. It has always meant "lots of chores/low fun" for me. Houses to clean, grass to mow, weeds to pull, groceries to buy, baths to be taken, blah, blah, blah. And it seemed like my darling hubby ended up with the outside chores in the blazing sun and I ended up doing inside chores in the stifling dust and the kids ended up somewhere in between getting into messes. Well, we have tried something new and it has changed my world and my "Saturday" attitude. I thought I'd share...
Saturday morning we all wake up, eat a delicious breakfast together, and then organize ourselves on to teams. One grown-up per one child. (Or one big kid with one little kid if you have "big" kids!) There can be more than one child on a team but the point is to have AT LEAST 2 people working together. We then decided what the fantastic reward is that we are working towards...a snow cone, fun field trip, treat at the store, picnic, etc. Each team is handed a list of "Must Do's". Our list has the following things on it:
1) Make bed
2) Clean Room
3) Get Dressed
Then we have a "Mystery" can (which is actually an old raisin can) that is filled with 6 "clues". (Can you tell my 2 boys came up with portions of this game?) The 6 clues are additional chores that need to be done in the house. The idea is that you start with your "Must Do" list and then you go pick a clue/chore from the can. Once you have finished your list & done 3 chores from the mystery can, you are done. Finished. No more work and lots more fun.
The kitchen timer is set for ONE HOUR and the start button is pushed. When that timer goes off, we are done. If there are chores not finished then they are left for the following week or another day. The idea is for each team to compete against the TIMER, not each other. We have not had a week where we haven't finished our chores and we work faster and more efficiently. After chores inside, we put cleaning stuff away and head out for our "reward"! I can't believe how spectacular our house looks, how well the jobs get done, and how much my attitude has changed about cleaning the house. Doing together as a family with everyone helping has been fantastic. Let me point out the serious benefits:
a) Doing something TOGETHER is so much easier and more fun than being sent off alone.
b) I get one-on-one time with a different child each week and we spend the whole hour talking about stuff, singing songs, and telling the dumbest jokes you have ever heard. I love the time alone with my kids!
c) I am really teaching/training my kids how to do the chores around the house. My kids are working right next to me cleaning toilets, sinks, bathtubs, vacuuming stairs and floors, washing windows, organizing playrooms...nothing is off limits. I feel like they are really learning how to do these chores and will hopefully one day be able to do them effectively and without any stress on their own.
d) My kids get to see my husband and I doing chores equally and as a team. There isn't any chore that is considered "mom" or "dad's" chore...they get to see us working on different aspects of the house together.
Really, I can't say enough about how well this has worked and I can't claim any credit for creativity because I got the basis of this idea from a book called "The Potentially Sane Mother's Guide To Raising Kids" by Tammy Fackrell. (I don't know if I got that title and author completely correct but I'll check on it!) Let me know what YOU do to get cleaning done. I can use all the help you've got!
Saturday morning we all wake up, eat a delicious breakfast together, and then organize ourselves on to teams. One grown-up per one child. (Or one big kid with one little kid if you have "big" kids!) There can be more than one child on a team but the point is to have AT LEAST 2 people working together. We then decided what the fantastic reward is that we are working towards...a snow cone, fun field trip, treat at the store, picnic, etc. Each team is handed a list of "Must Do's". Our list has the following things on it:
1) Make bed
2) Clean Room
3) Get Dressed
Then we have a "Mystery" can (which is actually an old raisin can) that is filled with 6 "clues". (Can you tell my 2 boys came up with portions of this game?) The 6 clues are additional chores that need to be done in the house. The idea is that you start with your "Must Do" list and then you go pick a clue/chore from the can. Once you have finished your list & done 3 chores from the mystery can, you are done. Finished. No more work and lots more fun.
The kitchen timer is set for ONE HOUR and the start button is pushed. When that timer goes off, we are done. If there are chores not finished then they are left for the following week or another day. The idea is for each team to compete against the TIMER, not each other. We have not had a week where we haven't finished our chores and we work faster and more efficiently. After chores inside, we put cleaning stuff away and head out for our "reward"! I can't believe how spectacular our house looks, how well the jobs get done, and how much my attitude has changed about cleaning the house. Doing together as a family with everyone helping has been fantastic. Let me point out the serious benefits:
a) Doing something TOGETHER is so much easier and more fun than being sent off alone.
b) I get one-on-one time with a different child each week and we spend the whole hour talking about stuff, singing songs, and telling the dumbest jokes you have ever heard. I love the time alone with my kids!
c) I am really teaching/training my kids how to do the chores around the house. My kids are working right next to me cleaning toilets, sinks, bathtubs, vacuuming stairs and floors, washing windows, organizing playrooms...nothing is off limits. I feel like they are really learning how to do these chores and will hopefully one day be able to do them effectively and without any stress on their own.
d) My kids get to see my husband and I doing chores equally and as a team. There isn't any chore that is considered "mom" or "dad's" chore...they get to see us working on different aspects of the house together.
Really, I can't say enough about how well this has worked and I can't claim any credit for creativity because I got the basis of this idea from a book called "The Potentially Sane Mother's Guide To Raising Kids" by Tammy Fackrell. (I don't know if I got that title and author completely correct but I'll check on it!) Let me know what YOU do to get cleaning done. I can use all the help you've got!
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