Nanny Locator Service

Are you a family looking for a Nanny in the San Antonio area?

Visit our friends at Nurturing Nannies for more information.

** Mention our blog and receive the Family and Friends 25% off discount on all Nanny placements.  **

10 frames

Today we learned about using 10 frames to recognize sets of numbers quickly.  We discussed how many filled boxes vs empty boxes we had for each number.  Lil was excited to see how she could use them to recognize how many objects were in a set without even counting.  After she made frames 1-10 she decided to make a giant 10 frame by placing them on the floor.

Christmas Light Sequencing

Cynthia (Nanny): 

To work on our number ordering to 15 I cut out light bulb shapes and numbered them. The girls did very well with 1-10 but needed some support with 11-15. Our focus right now is recognizing and orally counting up to 20 so this activity was a good informal way for me to know what lessons to pull next week to reinforce numbers to 20. 

Winter Snowflakes

Cynthia (Nanny): Today we read one of our favorite books, Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell. If you've never read it, you must. It touches on so many great lessons and topics like self worth, self confidence, bullying, family, and starting in a new school to name a few. 

After we read the book we made paper snowflakes like the main characters does in the book. I introduced the concept of being unique and special, just like snowflakes. 

A friend of mine named Beth reminded me about making paper snowflakes this season so thank you Beth! :) 

I needed a refresher on folding the paper but found a good one here: http://www.marthastewart.com/276331/how-to-make-paper-snowflakes/@center/1009041/christmas-crafts-projects

Afterwards, we used glitter to decorate them and hung the snowflakes on the kitchen windows

. 

Christmas Tree Name Puzzles

Cynthia (Nanny): 

I started by cutting out a triangle tree shape. Then I wrote each girls name on a tree vertically. Next, I cut the tree into strips w one letter on each. Then they assembled the tree to spell their name and adds star and trunk. 

This was an easy way to spell their names while keeping with our Christmas theme. 

Homemade Snow

Snow in San Antonio is rare, but not when you have 2 simple household ingredients! 

We used 1 box of baking soda (approximately 2 cups) and 1/3 cup of white hair conditioner. That's it! I made one batch for each child. 

We mixed the two ingredients together and it felt like real snow! It was cool to the touch, moldable, and a little slushy. This will for sure be a go to winter activity for us! 

Thumbprint Candy Canes

Cynthia (Nanny): 

To reinforce patterns we used thumbprints dipped in red and white paint to create a candy cane. So fun and easy! To help them keep the shape I lightly drew the cane shape on their papers to stamp over. 

Christmas Patterns

Cynthia(Nanny): 

Patterns continue to be a concept we reinforce constantly. Being able to recognize, identify, and extend a pattern are what we worked on today. 

I made 3 different patterns using a Christmas sticker book I got on sale at Michael's last weekend. The patterns all followed the ABC rule this time but I inserted missing spots within each. 

The girls didn't seem to have problems with them so I need to make them a little more challenging next time. 

When Little Sister was done, she noticed the space I left on the bottom of the page and asked to make her own. Of course, I let her! 😀

What other ideas can you share on having your kids create patterns? 

Graphing with Ornaments

Today we created a graph to sort between different colored ornaments. I created the axis and cut out the ornaments. They're pretty familiar with graphs so we reviewed the concept of sorting and gluing on accordingly. 

I started by having the girls select a pinch of ornaments from a ziplock Baggie. Usually I'd give them a set amount of ornaments but this time I wanted them to create a different graph so we could talk about the different results. 

They did pretty well with constructing the graph so I made sure to ask questions at the end to assess their learning. 

One thing we need to continue to work on is not including the category ornament into the total number of ornaments. We talked about only counting what was inside the "frame" I drew. 

-Cynthia (nanny)

I loved this idea of Cynthia's, so I decided to so my own variation.  I created a paper tree with sticker ornaments.  Then I made graphs with corresponding stickers.  I had the kids count the ornaments on the tree and use dot painters to graph how many of each ornament was in the tree.

Counting Down to Christmas

To help us keep our anticipation of Christmas in check we created a linking chain to countdown to the special day. 

As we made the chain we focused on patterning and using our small motor skills to fold and glue the links. 

To add in more math skills, I cut out numbered circles for the girls to label the links with. They were able to order numbers 1-14 but needed help with the rest through 25. 

Thanksgiving Placemats

Here is an activity we did this week. We read books and discussed what it means to be thankful. Then the girls created a thankful placemat for themselves and then we also created one for Special family members. Their own placemat listed things they are thankful for and the relatives mats listed things the girls love or are thankful for having in their family. 

Counting with Ten Frames

Cynthia (Nanny): 

I think this has been one of my favorite activities we've done in a while. As an educator, I know how important ten frame understanding is even in kinder and first grade. The purpose of ten frames is to develop number sense by teaching mental images of numbers, how to find different ways to manipulate the numbers, and their relationship to a base ten counting system. 

In this particular lesson, I used number flash cards to flip and have the girls demonstrate the value on their ten frame using colored counters. 

Before the lesson I gave them a few minutes of free exploration time aka playing time before we began. This helps cut out the interruption and playing during the lesson. 

Then we practiced placing counters to match the numbers we knew. I used language like "what will I have if I add one more to 7?" and "how can I quickly tell how many counters are there if the whole top row is filled?" And "what does it mean if both rows are filled?" 

They did well with the concept of counting on for 6-10. You have to model showing that if the top row is already filled you can start counting on from 5. We will continue to work on filling the top row first to make our mental images more clear.

I'd love to share more info about this lesson or answer any questions you may have in the comments below. 

Creating Number Lines

Cynthia (Nanny) :

Here's an idea that came to me on a whim. I had some index cards and wanted to quickly assess the girls number identification and ordering skills. So, I had them decorate, order, and glue the number cards to create a number line. We will use these when we're counting or adding and subtracting.

Fall Trees Handprint Art

Cynthia (Nanny) 

Using the girls' arms and handprints we created a fall tree. They enjoyed mixing and layering the fall leaf colors along with having their arms painted. If it involves paint, the girls are all for it. 😊

Apple Tree Addition

Lil loves math (she just turned 5 by the way).  She especially loves addition, which she has pretty much taught herself.  The other day she said "Mommy, can you make me some cards with addition sentences on one side and trees on the back so I can put the right number of apples on the trees?"  So I made cards with addition sentences on one side and a plain leafless tree on the other side.  I gave her a red dot painter so she could use the dot painter to answer the addition sentenced by painting the correct number of dots on the trees.  I also had her write the numeral under the tree.

I made O a modified version (he'll be 3 in January).  I gave him cards with a number (1-5) instead of an addition sentence.

It's safe to say that Lil got this idea from an activity we did the day before during which she had to answer addition sentences with apple seeds on apples.

Since then we have also used the same concept (using some subtraction sentences too) and put Apple in baskets, dog bones in dog bowls, and feathers on turkeys.  I see lights on Christmas trees being an option very soon, there are just so many possibilities!  

Graphing Pumpkins

This is a simple graph we did using clip art pictures of pumpkins and jack o lanterns. This week we were focusing on the similarities and differences of them so I wanted to make sure to pull in graphing into the unit. Reading graphs is such a critical skill school age children need to grasp to be successful in not only math but all content areas. 

Pumpkin Patterns

Recognizing and creating patterns is a recurring theme as we learn. Patterns can be found all around us. One way I like to incorporate patterns into our lessons is to provide a few themed pictures that the kids can use to create their own patterns. During Halloween we talked about the similarities and differences between pumpkins and jack o lanterns and then used these pictures to create a pattern. 

Storybook Pumpkins

This year as an alternative to carving a pumpkin, we tried painting a Storybook Pumpkin. I had the girls pick a favorite character from a book we've read for this project. The Twins had lots of fun seeing them come to life and it was easy enough for me to let them do the painting while I was in charge of the details. I think this will definitely be on our list next Halloween! 

Trace & Lace Pumpkins

Today, I had the twins start this activity by tracing their names on their pumpkins. They are practicing writing and spelling their names daily but I wanted to see how well they could trace letters with correct formation. 

Then I modeled how to lace the pumpkins. We used the words "over then under, over then under" to help them remember the lacing pattern. 

After we were done the name Trace and Lace came to me and I think it will be something I'll continue to do so that I can have them work on both skills. Someone else has probably thought of this name before, but I felt pretty smart for a few minutes. ; ) 

Fall Leaf Suncatchers

Today we used tissue paper, construction paper, and clear contact paper to create a fall leaf Suncatchers to hang on the window.