Quick Tip: Logos in the Block Center

One way to add literacy to the blocks center and to encourage different kinds of play is to add logos to the blocks center.

For this particular activity, we found logos of (familiar) grocery stores and restaurants online. We printed the logos and glued them to index cards. Then we taped the cards to blocks. Kids could use these as signs on buildings and so forth.

Cut logos from bags, boxes, or packages. If you use food labels, kids can create billboards along their block roads.

This idea is a great way to bring in environmental print for kids - use print that they will recognize and can "read."

And, as you can see from the photo, just stacking the logos is fun, too!

Quick Tips: Using Photos to Build Parent Relationships

This weekend at the TBC Weekday Early Education Conference, I led a conference about using technology in the preschool classroom. Here are a couple of "new" ideas about using cameras to build or strengthen relationships with parents.

1. I'm Calm Now - One of the teachers mentioned an idea that I had not heard before. We all know that sometimes a child comes into the room crying and is still crying when the parent leaves. When the child is happy and playing, the teacher takes a photo and sends it to the parent (text or email). This helps the parent know that the child is happy and calm - and eases the parent's concern. I thought this was a great idea! The teacher said that they try to take and send the photo as soon as possible, so the parent knows the child calmed down quickly.

2. My First Day - This week we had our new group of "baby" kindergartners in my Sunday School classroom. As I was taking photos of the action, a new thought popped into my head. I took at least 1 or 2 photos of each child playing and working in the classroom. I'm going to print them and add "My First Day in K Sunday School" and the date. I'll give these to parents next week. I've not done this before - but thought it may be a good memory for parents - and a way for parents to see that we work and play hard as we learn.

What ways do you use cameras to build strong relationships between parents and church/school?

Quick Tip: Mini Trash Cans

Recently we've had some activities that produce some trash. We used stickers when we made our frames. We had lots of small clippings with our snowflakes. So we've discovered that adding a small container (or two) on the table helps control the clutter and makes clean-up time much quicker. I have done this before, but with these two activities I'm a convert. We'll be using these more and more.

Quick Tip: Homemade Play Dough

Play dough is one of our favorite things and homemade play dough is usually what we use. As a reminder, here's how to make it:

• In one bowl, mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, and 2 teaspoons cream of tartar.
• In other bowl, mix 1 tablespoon cooking oil and 1 cup water. (If you want colored play dough, add several drops of food color, too.)
• Combine dry mixture and wet mixture. Stir thoroughly.
• Pour mixture into stick-resistant pan. Stir constantly over low heat until dough forms and pulls away from pan (about 3 minutes).
• Knead dough until smooth. (Watch it! It will stay very warm.) Usually I knead on a piece of waxed paper or a plastic cutting board.
• Cool the dough and store in airtight container or bag.

Other ideas:

Make it with the kids. Take an electric skillet and ingredients to the classroom.

Create surprise play dough. Make white play dough. Form into small balls. Make a hole in each ball and add a few drops of food color; seal the hole. Give dough to kids to knead and watch the dough turn from white to a color.

Enjoy fall play dough. Use red and yellow food color to make orange dough. Add 2-3 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice to the dry ingredients to give your play dough a fall scent.

Quick Tip: Waiting Lists

When we have a popular activity, we use a waiting list. Our waiting list is usually a simple scrap of paper taped or posted near the activity.

We add names to the list or kids print their own names. Then they can go do other things. When a child's name is next on the list, I go to him and tell him it's his turn. He has the option to take his turn or continue whatever else he is doing.

We line through names as kids take their turns. A child who doesn't want to take his turn is move to the end of the list for a later turn.

If an activity is really popular, we will continue the activity for the next week, and keep the waiting list, too. Kids at the top of the list are first the next time.

In addition to keeping things orderly, waiting lists help build literacy. Kids begin to recognize their names and the names of their friends. They also see writing used in a practical way, part of understanding how reading and writing work in the world.

Quick Tip: Roads on a Tablecloth

We love to use masking tape to make roads for our cars. We use tape all over our floors, and then we pull up the tape at the end of the day.

As an option, you can use a vinyl tablecloth (or the back of the Giant Game Floor Mat) as a base for roads. Kids can tape on the tablecloth just like on the floor. But you don't need to worry about removing the tape quickly as you do on a carpeted floor. You can also fold up the tablecloth and save the roads to use again on another day.

This option can make the tape roads reusable and more permanent.

Quick Tip: Realtor Magazines

Many times you'll see an activity that includes magazine pictures as one of the resources. I've discovered that using specialty catalogs or magazines make it easier to find what you need, in many cases.

• People pictures - clothing catalogs
• Food pictures - grocery ads (for basics) or food magazines (for prepared dishes)
• Plant/flower pictures - seed catalogs
• And so forth.

My recent discovery: use realtor magazines/listings (those free magazines at the entrance of the grocery store) for pictures of houses. You could make house collages by gluing house pictures onto paper. Or mount the houses on note cards and attach to cups or blocks - to build neighborhoods in the blocks center.