Roll Out the Dough

Supplies: Brown or tan towel and rolling pin

Process: Three year olds have a difficult time roll playing at times. Interacting with you during an activity like getting down and pretending that you are a rolling pin didn't go well at our house. So, out came the rolling pin and we pretended to roll out the towel to a baking poem instead.

September 2010
Originally uploaded by Teach Well Teach Often

Teach Well: Use real pastry and create something yummy to eat for snack while reciting a poem would work even better.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Puppet

Supplies: 2 brown socks (one dark brown and the other light brown), black and pink felt or fabric, and washable fabric glue

Process: Pre-cut the shapes for the mouse's face and tail. Have the child use a Q-tip to dip into the fabric glue and put glue on the pieces. Then, have the child carefully place the pieces on the sock. Place the tail on the heal of the sock. Dry for several hours before handling.

September 2010
Originally uploaded by Teach Well Teach Often

Teach Well: Create the puppet after reading the book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Have the child use their mouse to act out the story and to share with.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

This month we are learning about sharing through the lesson of "Jesus Feeds Five Thousand." My first lesson with this story is always telling it in a "hands-on" way. Check out my post here on how I do it.

Guest Illustrator - Joel Stewart

Last week we featured Michael Rosen for the book Red Ted and the Lost Things and this week we have the pleasure to introduce the illustrator, Joel Stewart. His illustrations are beautifully whimsical.

When did you begin drawing?

I drew from childhood, though in a calm sort of way. I didn't go in for dragons firing lasers and rockets etc, which I think a lot of little boys do. My father still has some insects and wildlife drawings that I'd copied when very little. The thing is, I didn't give up. I don't really remember drawing wildly much before I was ten or eleven, but a lot of people in my family drew, and my grandfather made a living from it all his life, so I never had the all too common idea that it was just a childish thing to do.

What inspires you everyday?

Wow, big question. I think, like everyone, some days nothing does! But in terms of drawing there's just something about the activity that expresses things, and allows me to look at things, in a way that makes me happy. But so many things are inspiring, from all kinds of art and music that I tend to live in a permanent state of distraction. In some ways the times when you aren't inspired, and just get on with finishing what you started when you were, are just as useful.

What gave you the idea for the artistic style for "Red Ted and the Lost Things"?

Mostly my own sketches and paintings. I'd found that this particular shade of indian red had the interesting effect of giving a kind of warm, slightly nostalgic feeling like sepia, but the nostalgia (and that isn't the right word) wasn't specific to a time period, so it could feel contemporary at the same time. Then I also realized that doing backgrounds in a muted range of colours like that allowed me to put in loads of detail, which you need in a lost property office, or to give the feel of a real city, but keep focus on the central characters, who are more richly coloured. In a way I wish I hadn't let the texture of the backgrounds get so rough, because I think it distracts a little, but otherwise I think those ideas came together quite well.

What was the last thing you lost?

Actually, it was my favourite pencil, which I bought in Florence. I managed to replace it with one the same, but then I decided that I ought not to have a favourite pencil anymore because it's too annoying when you lose it.

Have you found it?

Nope. I think it's buried somewhere in a very messy and dusty music recording studio in North London.

Did you have a favorite Teddy Bear as a child? Did it have a name?

Badgie. He's a Badger Glove puppet, but I treated him like a Teddy Bear, and I still have him.

What advice do you have for parents who want to encourage drawing?

The most important thing probably is not to DIScourage it. Otherwise exposure is the best thing. Just to be around as many different kinds as possible, preferably without discrimination. I loved awful cartoons and comics as a child, as well as things that are still important to me now (including cartoons and comics of a slightly higher caliber), and they all fed my desire to continue. My parents were brilliant at not telling one thing was better than another. I imagine I might not be so good at being unbiased.

What can you tell children who have a passion for art?

That drawing (all sorts) is important. They'll already know it. But it can't harm to say it a few times

Teach Well: Do not discourage a child who has a desire or gift to draw. In fact, feed the desire to continue.

Guest Author - Michael Rosen

This week's guest is Michael Rosen, author to Red Ted and the Lost Things. This story is about the journey home for two lost toys. I love that the dialogue between the toys are in a comic book style where you can only see their thoughts (since toys don't really talk out loud). It truly is creative and everyone young and old can relate to losing something special to them!

photo credit

When did you begin writing?

I liked writing when I was at school, but the first time I started writing poems and stories out of school was when I was about 15.

What inspires you everyday?

Hearing other people's poems and stories is a great stimulus. But I'm listening and thinking about things to write about all the time.

What gave you the idea for "Red Ted and the Lost Things"?

I think it was several different things. Lost property offices have always interested me. They seem to say so much about who we are. Then I thought about the way people get lost and how important it is for us to find a home for ourselves. I was also thinking about journeys and how you can never make a journey entirely on your own. You always need help, but the people who help will always have different reasons for travelling with you.

What was the last thing you lost?

My father's autobiography. I can't find the book he wrote.

Have you found it?

No

Did you have a favorite Teddy Bear as a child? Did it have a name?

I had a teddy but I think he was just Teddy.

What advice do you have for parents who want to encourage writing?

Just keep reading to your children, talking about stories, poems and films. Don't try to control what your children read or in the end it will put them off. Keep taking children to libraries and bookshops. Try to help your children's school keep up a good library, a good school bookshop. Take your children to see authors at book festivals and libraries.

What can you tell children who have a passion for writing?

Keep a notebook. In the notebook, write down your thoughts, phrases and sayings that you hear people say. Write down your favourite lines from poems and books. Collect words and thoughts. Keep reading. Never stop reading what other people write.

Teach Well:  Try to help your children's school keep up a good library, a good school bookshop.

Guest Illustrator - Sarah McMenemy

 This week's guest is Sarah McMenemy, illustrator to The Busiest Street in Town. Sarah began drawing houses as a teenager around her community when the word spread about her talent! The Busiest Street in Town is a beautiful story of friends making a difference in their neighborhood.

I can remember drawing as a small child. My mother was very good at drawing and I used to try to copy her drawings and was usually quite frustrated with the results. But I kept going!

I find drawing very exciting, I am most often inspired by beautiful architecture, people's faces, or nature.

The illustrators from the Festival of Britain era were my early influences, Edward Ardizzone, John Minton, John Piper. I absorbed their wonderful line work through old children's books and looking at the dust covers of novels on visits to the library with my Grandmother. These days I still love work from that time but I admire the work of contemporary illustrators like Emma Chichester-Clark.

I work with mixed media, gouache paint, black ink and coloured paper collage on watercolour paper.

My favourite colours are prussian blue and venetian red.

The busiest street I've been on is Oxford Street in London.

If I could plant a garden in my neighbourhood it would have plenty of trees in it, silver birches, maples, oaks, robinias. It would also have a wide variety of flowers, it would look like a cottage garden and would be alive with bees, butterflies, birds and squirrels.

My favourite type of cookie is homemade shortbread. Rub 100g of butter into 175g of flour until it becomes breadcrumbs, then add 50g brown sugar. Press the dough into into an 18cm tin and bake in the oven for 45 minutes at 150c.

I have a best friend called Ella. We love to dance together. I dont think we've ever played Parcheesi, I'm afraid.

Teach Well: Check out the post about the author, here.

Guest Author - Leigh Hodgkinson

This week's guest author is Leigh Hodgkinson, who is also an illustrator and animator. Boris and the Wrong Shadow, is about a cat named Boris who wakes up from his nap having Vernon's shadow! Boris finds out what it is like having a shadow of a small mouse instead of his own. Not only is the story delightful, humorous, but the illustrations ROCK! Here's what Leigh had to say...

When did you begin writing and drawing?

I have always drawn and made stuff… as long as I can remember. A drawing or a painting or a collage or whatever, was never just that, there would always be a story to go with it… even if it was only in my head!

Can you explain a little bit of the process it takes to create your images? (Do you tend to use mixed media most of the time? Why do you use the media that you do?)

I love using an assortment of bits and bobs…. Scanning in textures (from potatoes to sequins to a nice piece of lace), using photographs, doing nice scribbly drawings and using paint and glue. What ever I feel like at the time! Then I never get bored or precious about what I create and I think (hope!) this makes the artwork feel fresh and fun. Then, once I have everything in the computer I can play with colour, scale, composition, and smarten it all up untill I get the image exactly as I want it. This way of working gives me a freedom that perhaps “traditional” artwork wouldn’t give me. I always feel little scared of a very clean and white piece of paper… I feel like I might make a mistake and muck it up. So I always like to scibble or paint or stick something on it just so stop the paper being quite so new to stop me worrying, then I can get on and enjoy being creative!

When did you begin making your images into movies and can you briefly tell the process of creating them?

I first studied animation at art school. This is when I got a taste for the magic of making things move… it got me hooked! After that, I went on to study animation direction at film school before then going on to work in the animation industry.
I make my animation in much the same way as my artwork for books and animate them in a styalised cut-out way in the computer. (where all the elements on screen are cut up into pieces so have the potential to be animated) I like working in a kind of 2.5d way! The animation is flat (2d) yet placed in a 3d environment. This way I can play around with lights, shadows and camera moves to add atmosphere and drama.

Where did you come up with the idea of “Boris and the Wrong Shadow?”

I have always liked shadows, whenever I am on holiday I always take photos of peoples shadows. I like the shapes they make, how they stretch and squish around things. Also, in “Peter Pan” I loved the bit when Wendy sews Peters shadow back on him… that idea that a shadow was part of you, but could be something detachable I found really interesting.

For me, the story isn’t just about shadows, it is about feeling happy and confident and happy with who you are. Venon tries to be something he is not, and that never works out well in the end. So Boris teaches him that being a small mouse is actually fine. I used the shadows as a way of visually showing that idea.
I also wanted to do a story where a cat and a mouse were friends. Boris is such a happy-go-lucky kind of a cat that he doesn’t care if you are a mouse or an elephant. If you are nice and interesting and fun to be with… that is all that matters.

If you could trade shadows with anyone or anything, what would it be?

Probably a giraffe…. I love their necks and would be an amazing shadow to have! I am not sure a giraffe would be so impressed with my shadow though!
When I had long hair I used to like putting it up in little scrunched up bunches that always reminded me of the funny nodules giraffes have on their heads. When I wore my hair like this it always made me smile when I caught sight of my shadow.

Do you have any pets?

No I don’t…. but I do have a little baby which nearly the same!
I really wanted a cat, which is why I wrote the origional Boris story (Boris and the snoozebox) about a cat who didn’t have a home and was sent around the world in a parcel. I would love it if a cat who didn’t have a home came to stay with me.

When I was a child we had siamese cats… and for a while, stick insects and silk worms!

What are your hobbies? (Do you love a home makeover like Vernon?)

I like swimming, listening to old records in the shed, making new things out of old things, sitting in cafes with friends, having baths and sleeping!

What do you like to do with your friends? (Tea please?)

I love having tea parties and picnics. This gives me a perfect excuse to make cakes and biscuits. A few years ago I had a “Cake-off” cake baking competition. It was fun, but there were about 20 different ones to try- everyone ate too much cake and felt a little bit sick! My husbands lemon drizzle cake won the first prize (and he hasn’t stopped showing off since!)

What advice can you give to children who love to draw and create?

Just enjoy the process of drawing and being creative. Don’t worry about whether it will be any good, don’t worry that it has to be the best thing you have ever done. Even if you make a mistake or think it is rubbish, you will learn from it. Some of  the best things I have made have come out of doing something I didn’t mean to do. For me, the experimenting and the playfulness of creativity is what I find most enjoyable. So the most important thing is to have fun with it!

Also, be confident in your own ideas and ways of being creative. There is no right or wrong. That is what is so exciting about art. There is no one else like you in the world, so your way of seeing things and drawing things is unique. It is good to be inspired by others, but try not to copy. Anyone can copy, but not anyone can do what you do.

What advice can you give teachers about going that extra step to create movies of their classroom’s illustrated work?

Keep it simple. Animation is very involved and time consuming… so quite a lot of patience is needed. Perhaps start off with good old fashioned techniques that show the potential of animation to get pupils inspired….. zoetropes, flip books, then perhaps some simple under the camera cutout characters. Digital technology is making it easier for people to make their own movies which is fantastic. But it is important to be realistic about what you can achieve in the time so that pupils don’t get dissappointed. After all, one second of animation is 24 frames… which is 24 different images!



You can check out Leigh's other books and some of her animated videos at her blog, Wonky Button.



Teach Well: Have your child choose different items around the house, scan them, and create illustrations with them.

Borders Summer Reading Double Dog Dare

At Borders today, I noticed this great reason to start your summer reading program with your children today! You can pick up forms in the store or online. All you need to do is write down the titles of the ten books your child read and turn the form in to get your free book. Check out the list of the free books they are giving out!

Teach Well: Get your child signed up at your local library's summer reading program and use this free book as an intensive to begin reading!

Sentence Builder

I found this old game for 99 cents at Goodwill! I love you Goodwill!

Supplies: thrift store game, word strips, or printed out words from the computer

Process: Place a sentence on the table (or at circle time) and have the children read the sentence with you. Take turns finding a word from the pile you set aside to add to the blank in the sentence. Have them read it. Then read it together.

Teach Often: For a little fun, throw words in the pile that might not work with the sentence.

Decorate a Snowman

Find items around the house to help you play this fun and decorative game!

Supplies: craft foam snowmen, buttons, ribbon, pom poms, and dice

Process: Roll the dice and count the number you land on. Add that many pieces to your snowman and decorate him as you wish! Let your friend have a turn. When your snowman is filled clean him off and play again!

Teach Well: Snowmen are alway on clearence this time of year at your local craft store. No craft foam? Use clipart from your computer to make your "game board." Use this game with your favorite snowman book!

My Christmas List

I always try and give parents a sort of wish list for their child. You know, those games, toys, and movies that would help their development. Here's this year's.

1. Super Why ABC Letter Game

 2. Super Why movies (which you can also find on Itunes)

3. Lucky Ducks

4. Leap Frog Letter Factory Board Game and movies

                                              

5.  Textures and Colors Matching game

6. Candy Land game

Picture Book Sequence Cards

Ever have those favorite books fall apart? Keep the pages for storytelling sequence cards. I love this book about pumpkins. I had the growth of a pumpkin lined up and then had a few pages missing from the line up. Have the children place the missing pages in the place where they belong.

Teach Well: Find ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle old books!

Writing Readiness

White boards can be good change from worksheets. I like to keep a variety of writing activities in class to keep the children from getting bored of the same thing. White boards seem to give a child a feeling of independence.

Supplies: a small dual white board per person and dry erase pens

Process: Pre draw a circle on one side of the white board. Add several of the same letter that you are working on. Then put other letters around them. Have the child find and circle the letter you are working on (in this case letter Hh) When they are done have them flip the board and practice writing.

Teach Well: Take photos of your children writing. It helps you evaluate them later. Are they holding their pencil correctly? This way, at the end of the day, you can see where each child is while keeping the photo in the child's log.

Same Sound Stuffing

Supplies: Mailbox Magazine October/November 2009 page 55

Process: Make copy of cooked turkey from Mailbox Magazine and game cards. Lay cards face down on the table and take turns flipping two cards at a time. If the card has the same beginning sound place on the cooked turkey. If not, flip the cards over and it's your friend's turn.

Teach Well: If you are playing this game as a class enlarge the cooked turkey copy.

It's Computer Time!

I love to get different programs from the library to use on our Friday computer lessons. Not only does it keep things interesting around here but there is more of a variety of learning games to choose from. Since I live out of town, I can order a program from a city library and have it sent to my small local library down the street. So easy it's almost like Netflix but free! :)

Teach Well: Teaching computer skills at a young age doesn't just encourage learning technology but also helps develop small motor skills in preparation for writing with a pencil.

Children's Post: Autumn Leaves

Fall leaves are these colors... yellow and red.

When it gets cold outside... "the leaves fall down and then they turn to colors." - Terron

If you were a leaf on a tree and it was autumn, what would you do? "Fall down!" - Ethan

"Fall down and I would hop around when I'm a little leaf. I could hop around like this. I would talk and I would hop to my home. Then, I would go skateboarding with my mom!" - Terron

Using Technology in the Classroom

How as teachers and parents can we use technology to teach our children? I want to use technology as a tool to help teach in unique and fun ways! My husband has an Apple Ipod Touch. For those who are familiar with this device know that there are thousands of applications that can be downloaded and some are free.

Today we used the Ipod to begin our writing-readiness training. We found an ABC Tracing game for preschoolers in which you can use your finger to trace along the letters while also hearing the phonic sound for that letter.

Teach Well: Use technology to introduce new things in new ways!

Good Night Gorilla!

Read Good Night Gorilla, watch Scholastic's video, and go on your own walk through the zoo!

Supplies: Stuffed animals that you may find at the zoo, clipart keys, a 3x5 index card for each animal, & markers

Process: Use clipart of a key and make several and cut them out. Color each index a different color. Color a 3x5 index card to match each colored key. Then place your stuffed animals around the room an index card at its side. Hand out enough keys to the children so that everyone has an even amount. Take a walk around the room and together find an animal to let out of "its cage." Match the key with the colored index card and have the child with that colored key "unlock" the animal. Let the child carry the stuffed animal around as you go walking through the "zoo."

Teach Well: Keep the animals and keys out at center time. You will be surprised how the children act out the story. Add blankets and pillows to the center so they can pretend to be the zoo keeper and zoo keeper's wife.

StressLESS Teaching Resources Giveaway!

If you are returning for our week long celebration welcome back! If this is your first time check out this post, and this one for another chance to win!

Today's giveaway comes from StressLESS Teaching Resources, a great Etsy store for teachers! I love this felt board set that goes with the book Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. We are going to be reading this book this month. I love how interactive the book can be in a classroom setting. How much more interactive will it be with this felt board set?!

Give each child in the class a character (if your class is larger read the story again) and when you get to their animal have them come up and place it on the felt board. Leave this set out after reading the story so that the children can do the story again during center time. Make sure to keep the book at the center so that the children can read it to themselves or a friend.

A little about Tanya and her Etsy store: My name is Tanya Winters and I am an Early Childhood Educator in Maryland. I hold a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master's of Science Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. I am a trained Reading Recovery Teacher and I have taught grades kindergarten and first. Moreover, I have functioned as a reading specialist--training teachers and instructing elementary aged students. I have also worked with students with special needs and have assisted in developing Individualized Educational Plans (IEP's). Currently, I am homeschooling my 3 children, Autumn(5), Caleb(3) and Aaron(1). In addition, I am newly an adjunct professor of early childhood education at a community college in my area. That's right, you've guessed it...I LOVE EDUCATION!!


In developing my teaching resources, I draw on the 18 years of experience that I have educating children. I utilize my skills as a highly qualified teacher to develop educational tools that are developmentally appropriate and excellently constructed. It is my goal that a mom experience NO STRESS while using my educational resources to homeschool her little ones.

To win a felt piece or fingerplay glove from StressLESS Teaching Resources leave a comment in this post. All the comments for each post will close September 15th, at midnight Pacific Standard Time.

Teach Well: Keep the book at the center so that the children can read it to themselves or a friend.

Good Night Gorilla!

Welcome to another day of giveaways! This month we will be reading Good Night Gorilla and doing a fun "walk through the zoo" activity to go right along with it. Wouldn't it be great to have this wooden set, from Mama Kopp Shop, to use in the classroom or at home when you walk through the zoo?

Comment on this post to try and win this beautiful wooden set! Comments close on September 15th, at midnight Pacific Standard Time.

Lorilee Kopp, the owner of Mama Kopp Shop, is a mother who stays home with her kids to ensure they have a unique educational experience. She says, "This is the love of my life, being home with my children. Next is my love to create. I love being part of heirloom toy making. I am very proud to be part of it and so proud to make things for families all over the world. I strive to tempt imagination in children as well as adults. It is important to me that each piece be made as perfect as can be. I use quality, natural materials. And hold close to my wooden art waldorf traditions. And if I can sneak in a little educational element I will." Visit her blog, Live n' Learn for those "live creatively and homeschool."


Teach Well: Tempt imagination in children.