Tending the Eclectic Kinder-Garden

Jim Horn at Schools Matter discusses Testing and the Death of Play, quoting a Morning Edition Story on NPR:

“Guess what? Play is required for the healthy development of children. Imagine that.”

“It turns out that all that time spent playing make-believe actually helped children develop a critical cognitive skill called executive function. Executive function has a number of different elements, but a central one is the ability to self-regulate. Kids with good self-regulation are able to control their emotions and behavior, resist impulses, and exert self-control and discipline.”

Parents, teachers, administrators, “behavior specialists,” this is a *must read*.

Go.

Now.

Here.

Tags: behavior, developmentally appropriate practice, Early Childhood, kindergarten

M is for *mukluks*, though I know some of you might refer to them as “moccasins.” As girlie as I am, Manolos aren’t for me. Cold feet? Never when I have these on, and for good reason: the first pair (from the left) are made of sealskin with wolf trim, the next pair are calfskin and wolf, the red pair are felt and moosehide, and the fourth are rabbit and leather. All but the red boots are lined, so a pair of comfy socks are all I need to wear when I slip these on in the winter. I had several opportunities to wear them last year in Oz, but alas, this year they have remained tucked away in the coat/boot closet here in Texas.

These mukluks (both pair) were made by my Aaka (Grandmother), Ruth. Yes, *made.*

It was obviously the pretty beadwork on these Athabaskan boots that caught my eye, little promises of spring in the middle of winter.

The fur on the mukluks and Cree rabbit boots (last pair) has started to wear thin a bit, and some of the beadwork on the other two pair has loosened, mostly due to my students! Any kindergarten teacher will tell you, when it’s storytime and you’re surrounded by five year olds, hands and fingers will inevitably end up on your feet (legs if you’re wearing something texturally interesting).

When I lived and taught in Alaska, wearing my mukluks didn’t garner a second look- ever. In New Mexico and Kansas however, I was often stopped and asked politely for an explanation of my footwear. The walrus and moose appliqués on my sealskin mukluks were of particular interest. I’m doubting Texans here in the Bordertown will be subjected to my foot fashion for the remainder of our stay, but our family is keeping our fingers crossed in the hopes that Uncle Sam sends us someplace that annually features snow in its winter scenery.

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Don’t forget M-n-M’s! Did you know you can order your own custom printed candies now? Head here to find more M-n-M fun!

Tags: fashion, Show and Share

After reading “Giving Disorganized Boys the Tools for Success,” (NY Times) this is the scene I was greeted with when I checked on my son:

According to author Alan Finder, “organizational tutors” are cropping up all over the place because “boys seem generally to have more difficulty getting organized and multitasking than girls do.” The tutors help boys sort through their messy backpacks, explain and require the use of binders with divider tabs separated by subject, and often spend more time teaching the merits of cleaning out desks, bookbags, and coat or pant pockets than they do on tutoring lessons for school subjects.

In our home, places for things and everything-in-its-place are the norm by necessity 1) because we’re* forgetful klutzes who will stub toes, break nails and use non-kindergarten-vocabulary as we dig through piles trying to find that one receipt or cd, and 2) because we relocate so often that we’re intimately aware of what we own, why we use it, and how often it is used. One can only pack and unpack one’s dishes so many times before it really becomes an activity that can be performed on autopilot. Our son’s room (believe it or not) is actually organized too, into tubs of blocks, tubs of stuffed animals, tubs of cars and trucks, and play areas away from where he sleeps.

Apparently right now it’s just more FUN to dump all the tubs out in the middle of the floor and have a smorgasbord of creative possibilities through which to swim. Never fear, I’ll keep an eye on his backpack (once I find it) and even help him dig through it regularly.

* Okay, so I’m the klutz.

Mission Organization from Scholastic

Organization and Time Management Strategies from Schwab Learning

Aptly named “Absolutely Beautiful Things” has hosted a Christmas Competition (now closed) for the last three weeks. Photos and stories have been shared from all over the world, so go take a peek:

Week 3
Week 2
Week 1

A Storybook Life offers holiday tips for picking out the perfect Christmas tree and taking part in holiday events in your hometown.

Apparently it’s a very Diva Christmas at Selfridges in London (thanks to Paris Parfait for sharing her photographs!)

Anti-Yawn is passing out grades (hey, are you a teacher?) in the Ultimate Guide to Tacky Christmas Decorations, and though it’s a bit dated, it’s still a fun one to read.

If you’re maxxed out from the sparkle, glitter, sugar cookies and mistletoe, head over to Normal Room where you can have a peek into rooms from around the world (yes, WORLD).

I think I’ll give myself half an hour on my birthday (six days away) to sit back and check through the blogroll, add some more links, read some more insight and words of wisdom from fellow teachers, and just send a quiet, calm wish for peace out into the void.

Merry Christmas, and to you teachers, HAPPY WINTER BREAK!

Here’s today’s to-do list (with thanks to Dianne J. Hook, artist of Baxter Bear for Carson-Dellosa Publishing):

Daughter needs cake for a junior high cake walk- she’s taking cupcakes, turkey cupcakes, which explains the candy-corn-after-Halloween on the list…

Anyone who knows me *knows* I’m a cookie person, so I didn’t have to add chocolate chips to the grocery list since I already have them, but here is the latest chocolate chip cookie recipe I’m eager to try, from Smitten Kitchen! Go, go, go to her site. Look, look, look at those cookies! Now wipe the drool off of your keyboard, check your pantry, and let’s start baking! (Isn’t her food photography GREAT?)

The toddler’s daily afternoon nap gives me the opportunity to 1) quickly clean house, 2) answer email, 3) finish those other “domestic goddess” duties and 4) meander through new blogs I’ve found. Cookies will be a nice treat as I read through Indigo Blue’s archive, especially her “Wellness Wednesday” entries, and find some Christmas photocard inspiration at Wendy’s Way before I write the first draft of our family’s holiday letter, an annual addition to our Christmas card mailing.

New to the joys of the BBC (thanks dear toddler for your interest in Postman Pat), but an old fan of Dr. Who, Torchwood has become one of my newest fave shows to record on the dvr. Imagine my surprise when I found THIS “Torchwood” instead of this one!

Just means more reading instead of watching, which isn’t a terrible thing.

Tomorrow’s to-do list can wait until…tomorrow.

Tags: stay at home mom

It’s back, it’s back, it’sbackit’sbackit’sback!

Victoria Magazine

As for this year’s giftwrap, I’m sorely tempted by Hello Lucky’s holiday choices, fresh, slightly retro, totally cool!

No, I’m not one who sets up the tree right after Halloween (you weirdos know who you are!), and I try my darndest to stay away from malls, shopping centers, etc. after Halloween just because I hate feeling rushed past Thanksgiving by the glare of each store’s Griswald Family Christmas displays. But being part of a military family requires that I do some advance planning when it comes to gift giving. I *do* start my Christmas plans under the radar at the end of October which is coming up shortly, though I typically buy or create throughout the year, saving goodies for December, making sure to have packages mailed hither and yon the day after Thanksgiving, while everyone else is fighting the shopping mobs.

Friends and family know that I DO indulge in holiday music while I crochet, cross stitch, decorate, and yes, (eventually) shop- it just gets me in the mood. Don’t worry, you won’t hear it blasting from my truck speakers, or accosting neighbors’ ears as my kids run in and out of the house! Some of the tunes already loaded onto my iPod:

The entire John Tesh Family Christmas Album

“Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses…

“Let it Be Christmas” by Alan Jackson…

…and all of Windham Hill’s Winter Solstice albums.

Sitting on the couch in December, cuddled up with my family, drinking eggnog, reading
or and listening to Bing and Bowie is the time I most look forward to…

Here are some helpful kindergarten web sites- good links with lots of info for those of us tending the “kidney-garden:”

Kindergarten Teacher

“The purpose of Kindergarten Teacher is to provide a comprehensive and organized collection of substantial educational content available via the Internet and of value to those who teach or intend to teach kindergarten.”

The National Kindergarten Alliance

The National Association for the Education of Young Children

The Top 10 Signs of a Good Kindergarten Classroom

Kindergarten ChatBoard at Teachers.net

Can you recommend any others?