Must Have Learning Gadgets!

The following items are on my mega wish list. Meaning, I don't expect to get these anytime soon, but maybe one day when I'm rich and famous (just kidding). I will probably need to write a grant for some of these awesome gadgets, but I LOVE these little learning gems:

The Boogie Board (love the name). It is an LCD writing tablet that I think would be fantastic for spelling activities during small group, or for working math problems. They are actually very affordable--only $35.00 on Amazon! I think these might be my new MUST HAVE. So cool.


The Leapster Explorer. This one is pretty expensive, $64.99, and you have to purchase the learning cartridges to go with it separately, but I love it anyway. It has games to teach handwriting, math, science, and geography! I think it would be a fantastic addition to any center.


Vtech V.Reader. It's like a Kindle for kids! The V.Reader is a touch screen ebook that has interactive stories! Can you imagine how much fun the kids would have at listening station?! This one is $59.99.


I love technology.

Challenge No. 15 - winner & Top 3

Last weeks challenge went well, didn't it?  Probably due to having such a fab sponsor, One Stop Card Crafts.  I hope you all got time to have a look at the website because it's well worth it.

As usual, I chose the winner with Random.org

and surprise, surprise it chose number 1!  That's quite unusual (even though it's random).  Congratulations, Suzi, please email me on cardsformen@donnasden.co.uk and I'll pass your details on to Shelley.

Now onto the top three, which is always a difficult job.  They are (in no particular order),

63 - Sally Atkins 

(two weeks in a row!)

15 - Melissa 75

38 - Vicky

Congratulations to you all.  Grab the top 3 badge from the sidebar and add it to your own.

Whimsical Giant Tissue Paper Flowers

Need a cute and cheap way to decorate a classroom? Make giant tissue paper flowers! I made them this summer, and I think they make my room look kind of whimsical! I couldn't believe how easy they are to make. You can find video tutorials online if you need to see someone make an example--I'm a visual learner, so I had to seek out the tutorials!

1. Flatten out 8 sheets of tissue paper.
2. Fold it accordion style.
3. While the paper is still folded, tie the middle with string or a twist tie.
4. Scallop cut the edges of the tissue paper.
5. Gently pull the tissue outward, and it will begin to look like a flower!

Easy, and it adds a bright pop of color to the room! I also thought they would be great for parties!

Work to Tweet About!

As the first day gets closer and closer, I am slowly checking things off my never ending "to do" list! To go along with the bird/outdoor theme this year, I finally finished making the little birds for our classroom work display in the hallway! I had a hard time finding the right type of bird (they just weren't "Richardy" enough!) so I just decided to draw my own! *If you don't understand my made up word, Richardy, just see my post about Richard the class mascot!* It's getting exciting going up to the school--everyone is finishing their rooms, and the halls are starting to look bright and cheery again! Now my task is to find a cute picnic table for the writing station, organize my center baskets for reading and math, prepare for meet the teacher, plan for the first two days, finish my last bulletin board, make notebook labels, create new poem charts...the list goes on. Oh well. At least my birds are cute (and Richardy).

Challenge No 16 - Off On An Adventure

Last weeks challenge had a wonderful, 65 entries.  That's great.  I'll be back later with a winner and top 3.

This week's challenge was rescued by the wonderful, Squiggle Stamps, when the scheduled sponsor, unfortunately, had to close shop and I was in a bit of a panic.

Squiggle Stamps carry a unique range of cute, quirky and whimsical stamps designed by a talented team of illustrators. Our images are available as both Rubber and Digital Stamps with new designs added regularly. We are lucky to have a wonderful Design Team and you can see all their fabulous creations and take part in monthly prize challenges on the blog at www.squigglestamps.blogspot.com

Tracy has really come through for us with a wonderful prize of the following five digi stamps:

I'm sure that there'll be loads of you out there who'd like that now.

As the title says, we're 'Off on an adventure' so we want to see wonderful images but equally you could apply the theme to 'Moving Home', 'Leaving work', 'Retirement' or any of life's great adventures.  That should give you something to think about as should these great ideas from our design team.

Kitty

Shirley

Mandy

Issy

Sarah

Alison

Kym

Patricia

Donna

Hopefully that's given you some ideas.  The challenge will close at midnight BST (British Summer Time) on 15th August 2010 and the rules are:

1. The card must be for a man/boy.
2. You need to follow the theme/sketch that is set.
3. It must be a new card.

Leave your name and a direct link to your entry (not just to your blog) below.  If the link tool is not there for some reason then leave the details in the comments and I'll add you in when I'm doing the draw.

Snap Shots of Summer

Giving thanks for the blessings in the "everyday" of life!
How precious that we have these days and
we can offer up our THANKS!
May the LORD help us each to
give HIM thanks in ALL things!

"In every thing give thanks:
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
I Thessalonians 5:18

681. Corn growing and the glistening dew
still on leaves in the early morning ~
GLORIOUS!

682. Reminders that we are not in Heaven yet ~
the destruction of some corn plants presumably by a squirrel (or two)...
*so* thankful that we do not DEPEND on this harvest!

683. "Last minute" help with a "problem" in the landscape of our yard
that has been there for the full 16 years we have owned this home!

684. A pressure-washer that we can use and
a husband who knows how to use it!

685. Watching Father and Son as they pressure wash together

686. Cleaning up ~ "getting there"...
this photo is of the deck during the pressure washing of the roof!
Thankfully Howie kept on cleaning and made all this pretty too. :)

687. Youngest boy who is excited to learn Spanish ~
and practices and studies at almost every opportunity,
despite the fact that it is summer vacation! :)

688. Here he is again...on another day ~
so precious to see him so passionate about this!
What does God have in store for our Fraser?

689. Lifejackets for the children,
and the beach to use them at! :)

690. So glad this guy was OUTSIDE...really, I am! :)

691. Stringing out lines and lines of clothes ~
day after day in this glorious summer weather!

692. The view from our bedroom window of this stunning full moon ~
a summer evening feast for the eyes!
God's creation is so MAGNIFICENT!

693. Daddy training his sons not only in the practical
things of life, but in the Word of God!

694. Painting and sprucing up the house

695. Helpers that are eager

696. That only a deer and the car were injured in a recent
car accident involving an extended family member ~
what an incredible blessing!

697. A compassionate husband who is also
a compassionate son and father.

698. So thankful that I can travel through this life
with that compassionate man!

699. Learning more of our LORD and His ways...
how precious that HE does not leave us to ourselves!

700. Watching our children learn more than we did at their age
about our dear Saviour ~ how much we have to learn together!

Many Blessings,
Camille

Lid Sorting Math-tivity

Speaking of water bottle caps (see previous post) I also have a very large collection of lids! I love putting everyday items into some sort of creative use in my classroom. You know how sometimes kids like the box better than than actual gift? All it takes is some imagination-- and that's what makes those everyday items new and exciting! Who knew lids could be exciting?! I use the lids for math sorting activities, based on a lesson from the Investigations hands-on math series. Parents, if you have any cool and different lids at home, please send them! The kids love to sort the lids!

Some of the sorting possibilities:

metal, plastic
round, square
holes, no holes
snap caps, solid lids
writing, no writing
sorting by color or size...

Ice Cream Lid Example:


Metal Lid Example: