Kid Wednesday: Teaching Letters to Preschoolers

Teaching preschoolers letter by letter is a great way of introducing the letters and having them have contact with different letters through art, reading and more.   There are many ways to do it whether starting at the beginning and working your way through from A to Z or easier to learn letters first.  I have used the method outlined in Handwriting without Tears which has an order of letters (found here) that suggests an order that might be easiest to learn capital letters.





I think that it is nice to mix up the letters instead of doing them in order but it has an added benefit that this makes it easier for the kids.

The lower case letters are different orders but we do both capital letters and lower case letters at the same time.

When I was teaching my son, I made a list of all the words that started with a certain letter and a list of all the books that had things to do with that letter.  There are great resources all over the internet but I love the list of the books from Measured Mom because there are so many different ideas.  We had a rough idea that we would use a lot of different ideas to learn the letter such as:

• reading books with the letter
• doing arts and crafts to make things with the letter
• learning math dealing with the letter (my son's favorite subject)
• using writing with the letter
• using fine motor skills with the letter
• using sensory items with the letter
• incorporating science with the letters
• singing songs or learning rhymes with the letter

The hardest part for me was to get so involved in planning that we didn't get anything done because I had too many ideas.  Remember that preschoolers are young and want to have fun so as long as you make learning fun, they will enjoy the process!!  Pick a few things to do and don't feel like you need to do everything with every letter.  I will be sharing letters with you each week with links to find some interesting files and information for yourself.

Enjoy and have fun!!

The Chase Book Review

I was excited to start The Chase: A Novel (Fox and O'Hare) by Lee Goldberg and Janet Evanovich.  The second book in the series about Fox and O'Hare.  It was interesting to read the next installment in this interesting series.  My main problem was that I read it too quickly because I couldn't put it down!!

Internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox is famous for running elaborate and daring scams. His greatest con of all: convincing the FBI to team him up with the only person who has ever caught him, and the only woman to ever capture his attention, Special Agent Kate O’Hare. Together they’ll go undercover to swindle and catch the world’s most wanted—and untouchable—criminals.

Their newest target is Carter Grove, a former White House chief of staff and the ruthless leader of a private security agency. Grove has stolen a rare Chinese artifact from the Smithsonian, a crime that will torpedo U.S. relations with China if it ever becomes public. Nick and Kate must work under the radar—and against the clock—to devise a plan to steal the piece back. Confronting Grove’s elite assassins, Nick and Kate rely on the skills of their ragtag crew, including a flamboyant actor, a Geek Squad techie, and a band of AARP-card-carrying mercenaries led by none other than Kate’s dad.

A daring heist and a deadly chase lead Nick and Kate from Washington, D.C., to Shanghai, from the highlands of Scotland to the underbelly of Montreal. But it’ll take more than death threats, trained henchmen, sleepless nights, and the fate of a dynasty’s priceless heirloom to outsmart Fox and O’Hare

This book was even better then the first book because we already knew and loved the main characters.  I couldn't wait to find out what trouble they would get into this time and it was not a disappointment.  This was a really fast paced book with lots of intrigue.  The added stress of going after a powerful person in the government added some additional stress but Kate's father added much needed entertainment with his antics.  I enjoyed all of the stressful and amusing times in this book and picked up the next in the series right after.  I hope that you check out this book and the rest of the series because I know that you will enjoy them as much as I have.  This second book was even better then the first so I can't wait to find out what happens in the third!!!!  I can't wait to find out what else happens in this series.

Heist Book Review

I was at the library with my son and got a chance to find some of the books which was great because my shelf was empty.  I was glad to get this other series by Janet Evanovich because I have loved all of her other series.  They had the first book in the series so I reserved the other books in the series so that I could read it all!!  The Heist: A Novel (Fox and O'Hare) by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg was the first in the Fox and O'Hare series.

FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare is known for her fierce dedication and discipline on the job, chasing down the world’s most wanted criminals and putting them behind bars. Her boss thinks she is tenacious and ambitious; her friends think she is tough, stubborn, and maybe even a bit obsessed. And while Kate has made quite a name for herself for the past five years the only name she’s cared about is Nicolas Fox—an international crook she wants in more ways than one.             

Audacious, handsome, and dangerously charming, Nicolas Fox is a natural con man, notorious for running elaborate scams on very high-profile people. At first he did it for the money. Now he does it for the thrill. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail—particularly Kate O’Hare, who has been watching his every move. For Nick, there’s no greater rush than being pursued by a beautiful woman . . . even one who aims to lock him up. But just when it seems that Nicolas Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: He convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with Special Agent Kate O’Hare.

Problem is, teaming up to stop a corrupt investment banker who’s hiding on a private island in Indonesia is going to test O’Hare’s patience and Fox’s skill. Not to mention the skills of their ragtag team made up of flamboyant actors, wanted wheelmen, and Kate’s dad. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day’s work . . . if O’Hare and Fox don’t kill each other first.

I thought that this one was a really good book.  I enjoyed the main characters a lot.   Kate reminded be a lot of Kate from Castle and Jane from Rizzoli and Isles so I felt connected to her.  The other main character was Nick Fox and although he was a "bad guy," it was still nice to root for him too.  The dynamic between the two was funny and interesting.  It kept you wondering if things were going to go right or wrong.  Of course, you are going to have to pick up the book to find out what happens because I hate giving it away.  It was I hope that you check out this book and the rest of the series at your local library or bookstore soon!  I know that you will enjoy it as much as I have!!  I can't wait to read the next one in this great series...as soon as I figure out which on it is!

Menu Plan Monday 9/12

 

Monday- Chicken fries, Buffalo Chicken with Homemade Fries
Tuesday- Pasta with garlic bread (and sausage for my husband)
Wednesday- Tacos with spicy saffron rice
Thursday- Grilled Chicken with white rice
Friday- Chicken Paninis with leftovers
Saturday-?? Might have Soccer Game ??
Sunday-Leftovers

Last week we did pretty well except we switched Thursday and Friday and ended up doing a pot luck on Saturday and Pizza on Sunday.  It was a very busy week but having the plan in place made sure that we always had something ready for dinner.

This week, we are going with a few things  that are really easy and I don't have a clue what I am going to marinate the chicken in because my husband took out the plain chicken so I will decide on either Tuesday or Wednesday but maybe just Italian Dressing with extra seasonings or some seasoned skewers from the cupboard.  No clue about soccer because we haven't gotten the schedule yet but we are supposed to have a game this weekend but not a clue about what time.

What do you have planned for the week??

August Reading Review

Here is a list of all of the book that I read this month!  If you missed any of the reviews or you would like to see them again, click on the title and it will take you the original review.  I hope that you add a few of these books to your reading list even though the summer reading season is sadly coming to a close.  I am getting closer and closer to my hope of having 100 books read by the end of the year and there are still months left to go!!

Hope you check out a few of these books and want enjoy them too!!

Just One Kiss (11)
by Susan Mallery

Two of A Kind (12)
by Susan Mallery

Three Little Words  (13)
by Susan Mallery

A Fool's Gold Christmas (10)

by Susan Mallery

When We Met (15)
by Susan Mallery

Before We Kiss (16)
by Susan Mallery

Until We Touch (17)
by Susan Mallery

Fetching Sweetness
by Dana Mentink

Hold Me (18)
By Susan Mallery

Christmas on 4th Street (14)
By Susan Mallery

The Loyal Heart
by Shelley Shepard Gray

Kiss Me (19)
By Susan Mallery

Marry Me At Christmas (21)
by Susan Mallery

Bygones
by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Beginnings
by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Blessings
by Kim Vogel Sawyer 

Best of My Love (22)
by Susan Mallery

Curious Minds
by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton

Reading for 2016

January           13

February          11

March              9

April                 8
May                 9
June                 9
July                   16
August               18 

Total Books    93

Currently Reading:

Mind in the Making
by Ellen Galinsky

and

The Heist
by Janet Evanovich and
Lee Goldberg

Curious Minds Book Review

I was excited to find this book on the new shelf at the library while we were waiting for my son to do something Pokemon at the library.  Curious Minds: A Knight and Moon Novel by Janet Evanovich was a new series.  I looked it up just to make sure that I didn't miss another book in this series but it looks like there are other books planned in the series because there is already a series listed on the cover.  I guess that bodes well for the ongoing series which has me excited to read another series but I have to be patient for it to come out book by book since I am finding it at the beginning.

Emerson Knight is introverted, eccentric, and has little to no sense of social etiquette. Good thing he’s also brilliant, rich, and (some people might say) handsome, or he’d probably be homeless. Riley Moon has just graduated from Harvard Business and Harvard Law. Her aggressive Texas spitfire attitude has helped her land her dream job as a junior analyst with mega-bank Blane-Grunwald. At least Riley Moon thought it was her dream job, until she is given her first assignment: babysitting Emerson Knight.

What starts off as an inquiry about missing bank funds in the Knight account leads to inquiries about a missing man, missing gold, and a life-and-death race across the country. Through the streets of Washington, D.C., and down into the underground vault of the Federal Reserve in New York City, an evil plan is exposed. A plan so sinister that only a megalomaniac could think it up, and only the unlikely duo of the irrepressibly charming Emerson Knight and the tenacious Riley Moon can stop it.

Even though I was really busy, I read this book really quickly.  It was a page turner that was hard to put down and I could totally see it becoming another movie.  It was a wonderful action packed adventure with great characters.  I knew that instantly I was hoping for the best for Riley Moon.  She had everything go wrong for her days after starting her dream job and if there was one more thing to pile on, she certainly did it quickly.  There was a race to try to fight for the truth before Emerson and Riley were beat by the bad guys who were trying to cheat the world out of wealth and power.  There are lots of ups and downs in this riveting book.  I hope that you check out this book for yourself soon!!  I really enjoyed this one and can't wait for the next book in the series.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I have!!

Kid Wednesday: Summer To Do List

Did you finish everything on your Summer To Do List??  We fit in lots of things but I actually didn't make a list this year...I started but then got totally distracted with summer here so quickly.  I started this post to tell you what we had planned this summer and never got it done either.  I guess we were too busy doing things.


My little guy had lots of fun playing basketball for the first time which started the day school ended.

We started it off right by heading to the beach to have a week long family vacation. We got to swim at the pool and the beach with huge waves...those are the ones that knocked me down but those are my husband and son's heads.  Built a huge sandcastle with the breaks from the water.

We played lots of Skee Ball at the beach and won lots of prizes!!!  Too many prizes!!

We went to the fireworks to celebrate the 4th.

Many quick stops to Panera and Starbucks to get special treats for my little man.  We also had many meals out like Chuck E. Cheese and Cheesecake Factory which were all met with smiles.

We made it to the park to watch my son's favorite musicians, Rocknoceros! Can you see them... I might be bad at taking pictures.

We saw his favorite puppet show company twice- once at the library and once at the park!

Went for Mini Golf and Ice Cream More times then I can count to my son's new favorite hangout!

Learned About Pennsylvania, New York, Florida and New Jersey. Lots of fun facts about those states for sure.

Went to a Science Program at the Library and Learned a Ton about cells and DNA.

He got to do Magic Tree House Book Club where they made a sea serpent and a cave out of sand dough at the library.

There was a trip to the local splash park which was lots of fun and then their wonderful playground.

We went to my son's favorite wooden playground and visited a wooden playground in Delaware too!

We also enjoyed making some sugar cookies at home together for the Olympics

We went to AC Moore for the summer craft projects which we really fun and of course FREE!!

We missed the first project because we were at the beach so we used the bonus money back to pay for the tie dye kit to make our own at home.  We mixed up the dye and made three t-shirts, four bags, one apron, three pillow cases and two towels.  It was fun to make some stuff but we were totally overwhelmed with the amount of projects that we got out of half of the dyes that we bought.  I was exhausted from the amount of twisting of the rubber bands but we had some great projects.  My favorite was the pillowcases but the most vibrant were the hand towels.  My mom went out and bought more dye on clearance at CVS so we will have enough to dye the whole house.  I really think that we should do the sheets for the beds next!!

We did a ton of summer reading and charted out minutes read per day to turn in at school.  We had some more books that we wanted to fit in this summer but didn't get enough time so we are hoping to have a lot more reading through the school year!!!

We had a great summer playing with friends, a week of Geology camp, Vacation Bible School and enjoying the pool.

Wishing that we had a little more time to spend together having fun and learning.