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JDaniel4s Mom

growing & learning with him

Deirdre Smith writes/owns JDaniel4’s Mom. After twenty years as a elementary school and technology resource teacher in Northern Virginia, she became a stay at home mom in upstate South Carolina. Her blog features ways she and her 5 year old are exploring learning, crafting, creating healthy meals and living life to its fullest. Deirdre can also be found on twitter as @jdaniel4smom and on her blog's FB page. You can also check her out on Google+.

Muffin Tin Monday- Chocolate

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Today is National Chocolate Milk Shake Day! I decided to focus today’s muffin tin on chocolate today to celebrate! Oh! It is also Cream Filled Doughnut Day on Wednesday I decided to celebrate that too!

I started  this weeks lunch with cream cheese mixed with Ovaltine on an Arnold’s Mini Thin bread with hole taken from the middle to make it look like a doughnut. (My son just loves doughnuts. Next I have a cheese heart, because many people heart chocolate.
The corn made it in the tin to counterbalance all the chocolate and the cream filled doughnut beside it. I am really lucky that JDaniel loves veggies. Corn is one of his favorites. He also likes baked potatoes. This half of a baked potato was cut so that it could be wedged into the muffin tin.
Finally there are thin slices of fresh peaches with a chocolate syrup dip. Dipping is something I think most kids like to do.
This tin was fun to make and fun for JDaniel to eat. It really isn’t my healthiest tin. I will have to work on that for next week’s tin.
Disclaimer: I used an Ovaltine coupon I found in my Type A swag bag to get the Ovaltine for fee.
What is your favorite chocolate food?

Wilton’s Muffin Tin Meal Starter Kit Giveaway (3 winners)

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I have exciting news! I have been talking with a lovely lady from Wilton about offering a giveaway that would feature Muffin Tin Meal starter kits!

I mentioned that several of you expressed a desire to start muffin tin meals like the ones I feature on Mondays when I link to the Muffin Tin Monday on the Muffin Tin Mom’s site, but thought that is was cost prohibitive. She agreed to put together a few kits containing silicone cups, muffin tins and a box of cookie cutters. If you have been dying to start muffin tin meal, this is giveaway is for you.

I love Wilton products! In fact I have most of the products that are in the starter kit. The only items I don’t have a the green flower muffin tin and the teddy bear silicone cups.

Why?

Wilton products last well! We put a lot of wear and tear on the cookie cutter sets we have and the muffin tins. The cookie cutters have been used for playing with playdough, cookie dough, shape sorting, letter arranging and more.
They have survived not only our playtimes, but also the constant washing they need have we have played with them.
Would you like to become a Muffin Tin Meal family too?
Would you like to win the Mini Heart Silicone Mold, the Mini Flower Silicone Mold,  the Mini Star Silicone Mold, the Bear Silicone Baking Cups, and a set of ABC and 123 Cookie Cutter Set? I have two sets to giveaway. I am even giving the ABC and 123 Cookie Cutter Set, the Mini Star Silicone Mold, and the Mini Heart Silicone Mold that I received in my reviewers package as a second prize. I already have them and would love to have one of you have them too.
That means two people with win the complete set (A $50 value) and one of you will win a partial set ( A $30 value). Three winners!

Here is how?

-Visit the Wilton site and tell me what else you love there.( 1 entry)

For additional entries you can do any or all of the following:

* Leave a comment on the Wilton Facebook page and tell me where you placed it. ( 2 entries)
*Tell me your favorite Wilton recipe off their webiste. ( 2 entries)
*Follow me on Pinterest. ( 2 entries)

*Leave a comment on any post or on one of my  Facebook  messages. ( 1 entry)

*Tweet about this giveaway. ( 5 tweets per day with 1 entry for each tweet.)

*Place my button on your blog or my blog on your blogroll. (3 entries for each)

*Stumble any non-giveaway post. ( 3 entries per Stumble)

*Follow the Muffin Tin Mom via Google Friends Connect.

This giveaway starts September 11 and ends September 27 at 11:59 p.m. EST.  There are 13 different ways to enter. The winners will be randomly selected using Random.com.

Disclaimer: I was sent a package of Wilton products to review. I am only keeping the the Bear Silicone Baking Cups and the Mini Flower Silicone Mold. All other review products are being passed on to one of you as a second place prize. All opinions on their products are my own.

Read.Explore.Learn.- A is for Apple and Rocket Learns to Read

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Welcome to Read.Explore.Learn.! This meme was designed to be a place for you to share the learning opportunities, crafts, field trips, and other activities you have done this week that tie-in to children’s books. I look forward to seeing ways you have learned with and explored books.

Steps:

  • Link your activity below.
  • Please place the Read.Explore.Learn. badge on your post or create a link back to this meme.
  • Please try to visit at  least three of the other people that have placed links below and leave a comment. I will visit each of you and leave a kind comment.
  • If you are not linking up an activity and are just visiting, please try to stop by a few of the links below.
My Book Tie-Ins of the Week:

I was so excited when a box of the Tiger Tales Books fall release books arrived a few weeks ago. I will be sharing each of them during the next few months.

The first book from the box is called A is for Apple and JDaniel loves it.

Why?

A is for Apple is more than just a alphabet book with a picture of an object that starts with that letter of the alphabet. It is also a flap book that includes another object that starts with that letter. Wait there is more! It also has the letter channeled out so that JDaniel can run his finger through the shape of the alphabet with arrows guiding him as to the direction his finger needs to travel.

My friend Bridget was just asking about ways for her three year old to start to work on letters. This book would be a perfect way for her to do just that.

JDaniel loves the interactive elements in the book. He lifts the flaps with one hand and traces with the other.

How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills is the second letter book we looked at this week. Rocket is a fluffy and playful dog that just wanted to play with sticks and take naps.

Those were his favorite things until he met a little yellow bird that offered to teach him how to read. Rocket wasn’t interested at first, but after hearing the little bird share a wonderful storybook to him he decides he wants to read too.

Rocket first learns the letters of the alphabet and their sounds. Then he learned to spell words that involved what was going on in his world. He learned f-a-l-l and r-e-d as the fall changed the season and the leaves.

When the bird has to migrate for the winter, she leaves Rocket to work on building words one letter at a time.

Rocket works on wind, cold, dig, sun, melt and mud along with other words that decribe his world in the winter.

Winter turns to spring and school starts again. This time Rocket and the little bird read together.

You will love the pictures of Rocket and the little bird in this book. I love that Rocket is so excited about reading.

What did we do?

Letter Work

I had JDaniel put noodles in the letter channels and rub his finger over the letter formation to see how each letter feels. I really should have tried it with smaller noodles.

The second thing we did was use empty cardboard food boxes to make the letters. It was hard to make the curves in some of the letters.

Disclaimer: I received the book A is for Apple from Tiger Tales to review. All thoughts on the book are my own.

A Teacher Remembers 9/11

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Due you remember where you were on 9/11 ten years ago?

I do. I was in the computer lab working as a technology integration teacher at a school in Northern Virginia right near Dulles Airport.

The library aide came to the door of the lab and asked me to come see something that was on television in the library. I couldn’t imagine what she wanted me to see. There weren’t any new videos in the library I needed to preview. There couldn’t be anything I needed to see.

She remained silent as we walked down the hall and then to the left towards the library. Once she made it into the backroom away from the library filled with children, she finally uttered the words that would change the rest of the school year. She said, “ The Twin Towers have been hit in New York by planes.”

That didn’t make sense. I had landed in all three airports near New York and hadn’t gone near the Twin Towers.

“They think it was done unpurpose!” she said.

I watched the footage on the television in the backroom and it just didn’t look real. It looked like it was from a movie.

After watching the news for a few minutes, I made my way back to the computer lab. It was empty of students, but there were teachers waiting to use the phone I had near my desk. Each wanted to check on a spouse. Some has spouses that were working downtown and others had spouses in airports around the country. The lab was filled with panicked tension.

The school quickly went into lockdown as the school system weighed what should be done. Ultimately they decided that the children would be released to parents that came to the school. Each parent would have to show an I.D. before they would be allowed to go home.

Teachers were encouraged to go home as soon was school was over. I think many of us did just that. I know I went straight home.

Aside from phone calls to my parents and siblings to make sure they were okay, I sat glued to the television watching the story unfold that afternoon

My church had prayer vigil that night, but I didn’t go. I felt safe at home and just wanted to stay there. Instead I spent the evening talking with a friend. We talked for hours about all kinds of things. Some things were random like the fact that I had stayed in the hotel at the base of the Twin Towers and they had worked in the Pentagon. Other things were more serious like what we thought would happen next or how much the world had changed in a day. I lived alone and was so grateful to have someone to connect with that night.

Things did change where I lived.

A check in person was hired for each school to watch the main door and sign all visitors in and out for the rest of the year.

For days there was silence in the air. I lived right under the flight landing path for Dulles Airport. I was eerie to have an empty sky.

Things seemed to move slower as people tried to figure out how to live life in this new world.

This post is linked to Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop and A Dollap of My Life’s Remember 911.

Understanding Preschool-Lessons from the First Week

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I am able to learn a lot about JDaniel time in preschool using his communication frame in the kitchen and the white board outside his classroom where his teachers write down everything they do in class.

There are things I hear about over time as we travel in the car to run errands or play with Jdaniel’s construction equipment in his room.

What have I learned?

Free Play Time

Free play time is before school starts. Parents are able to drop their children off between 8:30 and 9:00. The school day starts at 9:00. The more time you get there before 9:00 equals more free play time with the dump trucks and robots.

JDaniel would like to go to school as early as possible to get the most free play time.

Hand Raising

JDaniel has informed me that just because you raise your hand doesn’t mean you get to share. A lot of children like to share and you have to wait your turn. Your turn may not come every sharing time.

This is hard when you want to share your summer vacation at Calloway Gardens with the class. Maybe it is a good thing he didn’t get to share. We went to Calloway Gardens last fall for Thanksgiving. This summer we had cousins visit and went to Atlanta to visit my sister.

Dirty Clothes

The school handbook states that children should wear clothes that can get dirty. Last week the ground was dry and dusty due to lack of rain.

JDaniel’s tan short came home dark brown both days. I asked the Mom Loop moms about dirty clothes and they said to expect them everyday.

Quiet Walking

JDaniel informed me that preschoolers need to walk down the hall with one pointer finger over their lips.

It keeps you from talking he informed me. This is big change from home where we both talk all the time.

Avoiding the Potty

You don’t have to go to the bathroom when you are at school I was told. You can wait until your mama gets there JDaniel explained.

I am hoping he feel more secure about using the restroom this week. He is just doesn’t seem to want to have to go by himself.

I am sure he will learn a lot more this year, but he seems to have learned a lot already. I look forward to seeing what he shares this week.

This post is linked to Mrs. Matlock’s Alphabe Thursday.

Pause Life for a Moment- Be Still a Minute

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Sometimes you visit a blog and realize you and the blog’s writer are kindred spirits. I felt that way when I first visited Be Still a Minute’s blog. Her words hit home with me each time I read them.  I haven’t been through all the things she has in her life, but I do feel like I have learned from them. You are blessed to get to read some of her wonderful today.

Pause Life for a Moment
I’m Gonna Miss This
We live in a small town. The kind you can’t go to the post office or grocery store without running into someone you know and it never fails that each time I have my boys (ages 12 and 8) with me, someone will say, “My, those boys sure are growing up on you… getting so big, aren’t they?!”
And I always say, “Yes, they sure are.”
Funny how that happens. But when we see them every day we don’t realize just how fast it is happening which is why it is so very important to take time out now and then, pause our lives for a moment, snap a few photos, write a blog post or just take a big deep breath of the here, the present, the right now….the life that is happening all around us.
I’m not going to lie, life with my two boys, who are in an almost constant state of sibling rivalry, can get a little hectic at times. Okay that’s an understatement. It can get downright insane and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to take deep breaths while simultaneously counting down and praying for the strength not to jump on the crazy train and bang my head against the wall.
And yet somehow, miraculously, by the grace of God, I find myself remembering to be thankful for the noise, the dirty socks all over the house that never match up when I wash them, the cleats, book bags, and ball gloves that I’m forever tripping over, the stinky guinea pig cage that I know I will have to remind them to clean yet again, the countless trips to the baseball field, the piles of dirty laundry that never end and the all too common arguments over the bathroom sink, laptop or last chocolate chip cookie.
Because just like that Trace Adkins song that was so popular a couple of years ago I know that one day, in the not so distant future, I’m gonna miss this….I’m gonna want this back…I’m gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast…
I already find myself missing the days when they still sat on my lap, held my hand, couldn’t go anywhere without that favorite ball cap or priceless Curious George stuffed animal, asked for “piggy-ride backs” to bed and thought I knew everything.
So I will continue to remind myself to pray, breathe, pause life for a moment, and just be thankful for the present…the here… the right now, no matter how chaotic it is, because those two boys of mine? They sure are growing up on me!
Please stop  by Be Still a Minute and browse through her amazing posts.

 

Muffin Tin Monday- Celebrating Labor Day

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In honor of Labor Day today’s tin is filled with blue, white, and red foods with stars.

He had Oreos sprinkled with stars, a cheese star on an Arnold’s Mini Sandwich Thin, tomatoes, my mom’s lasagna, black cherry yogurt with sprinkles, and fruit salad of blueberries and cranberries.

JDaniel loved everything. The tin is filled with many of his favorite foods.

I thought he would complain about the cookie being opened, but he didn’t. The sprinkles seemed to make him very happy.

My mom makes the best lasagna. She only makes it a few times a year and we always enjoy it. JDaniel actually asked for more of it.

How are you spending Memorial Day?
This post is linked to Muffin Tin Monday.

Our Back to School Traditions

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I have read everyone’s wonderful Back to School Traditions posts and thought I would share what we did for JDaniel’s first day. If you haven’t had a chance to share your back to school traditions or first day of school pictures, the link up will stay open until September 8th.

Labeling Clothes

Before school started we labeled all of JDaniel’s things for preschool using Mabel Labels. I met some of the Mabel Label’s ladies at the Type A Conference and they offered to make JDaniel a set of labels for school. I really love them. Some are designed to go clothes, some of shoes, and others on everything else.

School Shopping- Items I Love
These are great for inside shoes. We also used them to label JDaniel’s extra clothes bag and backpack.
These are designed for inside clothes.
These are great for pencils, notebooks, and everything else.
JDaniel loved helping to label his clothes.

Back to School Breakfast

We started the day with blueberry pancakes I made the night before and reheated. I was worried things would get to hectic in the morning so, I went ahead and made them early.

Back to School Pictures
After breakfast, I took JDaniel out to his tree to take his first day of school picture. He didn’t look happy. I decided to take some quick shots as we walked into school later.
They weren’t much better. I may have to stage some next week.
Back to School Lunch
JDaniel requested pizza for his lunch. I picked up pizza from Moretti’s a family favorite while JDaniel was in school. My husband met us at the house to celebrate JDaniel’s first day of school and hear about his morning.

He was able to share a few things between bites of pizza. He loved recess and snack. The dump trucks and robot in class were a hit too. I was also informed that he didn’t need his worry rock. He said that he won’t need it this year. He just loves it there.

This post is linked to Mama Kat’s Writing Workshop.

Read.Explore.Learn.- Maisy Goes to Preschool

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Welcome to Read.Explore.Learn.! This meme was designed to be a place for you to share the learning opportunities, crafts, field trips, and other activities you have done this week that tie-in to children’s books. I look forward to seeing ways you have learned with and explored books.

Steps:

  • Link your activity below.
  • Please place the Read.Explore.Learn. badge on your post or create a link back to this meme.
  • Please try to visit at  least three of the other people that have placed links below and leave a comment. I will visit each of you and leave a kind comment.
  • If you are not linking up an activity and are just visiting, please try to stop by a few of the links below.
My Book Tie-Ins of the Week:

JDaniel officially started school this week. He loves it. In fact he told me he doesn’t need his worry rock. He doesn’t seem to have a worry about school. He couldn’t wait to go back today.

In the story Maisy Goes to Preschool by Lucy Cousins Maisy loves preschool too. She walks the reader through her day.

She hangs up her coat, paints a beautiful picture, has a wonderful snack, uses the restroom (and washes her hands), has story time, takes a nap, has music class, and recess.

Maisy has a really busy day. She must be in full day preschool due to the fact she takes a nap.

JDaniel had a busy first day. He had Spanish and music classes along with his regular routine. On Thursday he went to the science room. He is only in school for three hours. I am not sure how they fit it all in.

What did we do?

Review of Letters of the Month

I made a flip chute for a guest post on making flip chutes called Strategies for Learning: Creating a Flip Chute Learning Tool  I did earlier this week on Simply Stacie. I put together flip chute cards to review the letters of the month in JDaniel’s class. They are L, E, and F. Jdaniel looks at the picture and tells me the initial sound of the word. Then he puts the card in the flip chute and the initial letter appears of the card.

He really like using the flip chute. We will be using it again for other skills.

Teacher Portraits

JDaniel drew his teachers’ heads with all kinds of spirals around them. I am not sure why.

Parenting: Tell Me About Your Day with a Communication Frame

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Tiggerific linked a post about Back to School Traditions that mentioned taking pictures of her grandson’s classroom. She wanted her grandson to feel more comfortable at a new school he was attending so, she made a poster of things that were in his new room.

That idea stuck in my head as a went to JDaniel’s preschool open house last week. I took lots of pictures of his room and his teachers and put them in a frame.

I decided to use the pictures to help him share about his day with my husband when he comes home from work.

I get to pick JDaniel up from school. When I do, I get to read what he has done in class on a white board outside his classroom.

My husband doesn’t have that advantage. By the time he gets home Jdaniel has had six hours to do more things that now may occupy his mind and the preschool thoughts may have been replaced with digging in the dirt or playing with a friend ones.

The pictures in the frame are there to jog JDaniel’s memory. I have a pictures of the calendar area, work tables, free play area, his teachers, and the snack time prayers in his classroom.

We will be keeping the frame in the kitchen so, JDaniel and his dad can use them as starting points to share his preschool time.

My husband can ask him about what he did in each area of the room by pointing to the picture helping JDaniel reach back into his mind for the details.

My frame is not well done. If you like this idea and decide to do it for your own children, please let me know and I would love to see it.

This post is linked to Alphabe Thursday, Link and Learn, and the Mommy Club Linky Party.

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