Snail Pace Race Game

Game: Snail Pace Race

This is my all time favorite game to use with little busy bees when teaching them how to play their first closed ended board game. This great and simple snail game teaches young learners how to take turns, roll dice, match colors, following instructions and practice using focus and attention skills. I highly recommend this game to any 4-year-old and possibly 3-year-olds too! It's cute, fun and easy to learn. 

Enjoy & buy Snail Pace Race here! 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Busy Bees! 

I know I haven't been posting much so I apologize. The winter season got away from me faster than I realized. I'm glad to welcome another year and say goodbye to the last one. I have a feeling that 2013 will be a fantastic year. Another year to work with as many little busy bees as I can!

To start the year off right I returned to one of my student's homes with a small gift: a visual! I offered this as a gift to the child. I presented it to him and we touched it together and spoke about what it was. 

Nothing too fancy just a piece of cardboard from a holiday package from Amazon, a simple number line {Bank Street Book Store} and the letters of the alphabet {Michaels}. 

We started using it this week. Since this one particular little busy bee enjoys "playing" the guitar, we sing the ABCs together while he plays. Today he announced that he wanted to sing it without me, which was very exciting. As he sang I made sure to touch each letter to help him with his letter recognition and knowledge. Already a big hit with him, so I thought I would share it with you. It's a great an easy way to bring part of a classroom into the home to enhance learning, curiosity and exploration. 

Do you even know what a bucket is?

Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

A guide to Daily Happiness for Kids

By Carol McCloud & Illustrated by David Messing

What an amazing book and idea about filling people's buckets. I first discovered this book while searching through pinterest and discovered that a teacher basis her entire yearly curriculum on bucket filling. As a SEIT I only get to work in different classrooms a few hours a week, so no full year curriculum planning for me. But as soon as I read the book I wanted to share it with all the professionals that I work with. Carol McCloud thinks of such a creative but simple way to express how we can all be a little nicer and not be "bucket stealers". If everyone believed in the imaginary buckets this earth and the people on it would be much happier. Please if you are a parent, teacher, friend of a friend who has children, buy this book and give it out for this years holidays. I know I will. And if you're a freind of mine, guess what you're getting this year.

Read more about filling buckets and buying bucket books here! 

The Day Leo Said "I HATE YOU!"

Book Review

Topic: Social Skills/Hate

Let's be honest here...We've all heard those adorable Little Busy Bees use the hate word. But have you ever caught yourself not being so sure how to respond to such a strong statement? During the first few years of teaching every teacher experiences those "UH-OH-what-do-I-say-now?" moments. Well I'm here to let you know that Little Leo up there says it loud and clear to his mom! I know can you believe that!? But well educated mom lets him know that she hates things too. She teaches him that everyone has the right to say what they want when they want, we all wish that would be different at times, I'm sure! But we do have the right, which many people don't. So that being said, it's okay not to like things whoever you are {grown ups, kids, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.}. But if it's going to hurt someone's feelings please keep it to yourself. Ever heard of - Sticks & stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me! It was my dad's mantra to me when he heard about negative stories from school. But every LBB should know that it's okay to have feelings. As adults, lets help them understand exactly what they are feeling and why. The Day Leo Said I HATE YOU! Is a great jumping off point even before your child says I hate_______. So why not talk about the topic before they hear it negatively from someone else.

Check your local & school libraries first. If they don't have it, then why not buy it for them if you are able to.

Learn more about the author Robie Harris here! 
Buy the book here! 

Selective Mutism: How to help

Book Review: Helping Children with Selective Mutism and Their Parents
Topic: Selective Mutism

This book gave me my first insights in how to start understanding those children who are reluctant to speak. It was the perfect jump start to really understanding how I could help as an educator. The book breaks down slow progress by pointing out that whispering to barely audible speech is a vast improvement to a child who is reluctant to speak in public settings. Worksheets are provided as tools to learn more about the child while also giving recommendations for how to encourage children to speak just by answering the door even when asking who it is, or having the child pick up the telephone.
Children who are diagnosed as having selective mutism or those who are reluctant to speak also have a good chance of also having oppositional behavior and or other development differences. However social anxiety should not be mistaken for being oppositional and that children who do have social anxieties could be affected in a variety of situations and with a variety of people, including family members. The book focuses on how important both exposure methods and immediate reward treatments are.

Hurricane Sandy

As many readers know, I work in Manhattan and earlier this week I lost contact with a family that I have become close with and happen to work with. They didn't respond to my emails when I reached out to check on their family's safety. And if you live in the Tri-state area you would know, phones weren't an option. Even though I was extremely lucky this week, I had a sick feeling in my stomach and have felt so depressed while watching the news. I have reached out to everyone I know that could have been affected by Sandy and I have donated to the red cross. I have worked every day this week, creating games and sending out numerous emails, even though it was announced by Bloomberg that NYC public schools were closed. But it just isn't enough. 

I finally got in touch with the family and was very happy to hear that my little friend has been "enjoying" themselves during this tragic time. I was thrilled to hear it, but I can't even imagine the affects this hurricane will have on many children, especially children with special needs. 

I have been sitting and doing as much work as possible to be ready to give my students an extra fun week with me.  But we all can't just turn around and pretend Sandy didn't come. So I am going to do 2 things....1. I have included a few tips on how to talk to your children about Sandy and 2. I want to vow to HELP more and I want YOU to as well. Hurricane Sandy just taught us all a very loud lesson. Anything can happen and we have no control over many things. Life is short. Not only during a natural disaster but each and every day we should all be treating one another as though we lost someone we love, lost a home, or even just be more thoughtful and mindful of everyone around us. I think we all forget how we affect each other and how easy it is to do something nice for one another. Is making another person even smile too much to ask? I think not. 

Busy Bee's Tips on how to talk to your Little Busy Bees about Hurricane Sandy:

1. Be age appropriate - I'm sure your child hasn't heard of Katrina, so why scare them even more. Talk to them about rain, storms, thunder, lightening and especially how we have no control over rainy or snowy days but things like umbrellas, homes, friends, can all help keep us safe.

2. Safety - Reassure your children that your job is to keep them safe and vice versa. Depending on their age explain the government (police, firemen, the president) has the job to keep everyone safe as well. Give them examples of police and fire fighters, teachers, doctors, etc.

3. Model Appropriate Behavior - If you act nervous or chaotic not only will your child pick up on it and become nervous as well, but later on your child will mimic your behavior and think that since you did it, it's okay for them to do it. It's never easy but try to remain calm. It's okay to show emotion and even cry. Just ensure them that they are safe and should remain calm for their siblings, family, pets, etc. 

4. Ask your children about what they know, don't know and want to learn about - Hurricanes, rain and wind. If they ask something you don't have the answer to at the right time, look for the answers together. Getting more information can settle you and your LBB down. 

5. Have fun - Even though Hurricane Sandy hit doesn't mean that all fun goes along with her. Ask your child about what their hurricane would be like if it was named after them. For example:  I would say, "If there was a Storm Busy Bee I would want marshmallows to fall from the sunny skies".  

6. Help as a family - Decide with your children a few different helpful ways you and your family can help. Give your children the opportunity to decide how your family is going to help. 

Ways we can HELP: 

Families with children have asked for gift cards to Babies R Us and Target, which can be sent to Rock Center with Brian Williams, 30 Rockefeller Plaza #412E, New York, NY 10112.

Donate to the Red Cross Here

TEXT to the number 90999 the word REDCROSS to make an automatic donation of $10

CALL 1-800-HELP-NOW  - Your call will be directed to HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF

Help in NYC by clicking here! 

10 Mindful Minutes

It's so simple...Children learn more when they enjoy experiences {PERIOD}. 

I'm a little confused as to why I haven't heard about this book from anyone else. I was perusing a local book store and stumbled upon this little gift.  Quite the eye opener. Yes, you might think "Oh Jeeze, A book by Goldie Hawn, are you serious BUSY BEE?" 
Well, yes I am serious. Read it and then you'll see why. 

This book has not only given me a new perspective on teaching children in a positive way to encourage them to want to control their behavior through fun activities, while also giving examples of strategies to keep them calm and appreciate the world around them when things can get a little, lets say, busybusybusy. Children often don't look back on recent experiences and think of how they could have handled situations a little better or even to just be thankful. Well, I think that's an important piece about life that we don't teach children. Be thankful and enjoy the time you have now and look to how you can better yourself and the world around you.  

Throughout the book Goldie {And yes, now that I know more about her personal life I feel that we are friends therefore can talk about her on a first name basis} gives personal examples of how these strategies have helped her family learn through happy and positive experiences. Along with Goldie's insights are blurbs from active users of the MindUP program with statistics that shows how enhancement of the learning process works happily for children. 

It's so simple...Children learn more if they are happy. This book gives parents, teachers and caregivers the exact tools and modeled language to use when communicating with children about their brains. It gives you lists of activities to do with children to have them be mindful about their senses and how to control them. 

To read more about Goldie Hawn's Book or Foundation click here