I Call My Hand Gentle

Book Review
Topic: Manners

What a sweet little book to teach rules and what we can do with our hands. I read this book with a few Little Busy Bees and they had a great time measuring their hands with the one inside. After reading the book we then discussed it and did some comprehension work. Great illustrations with simple language makes this book great for LBBs who are learning about rules, manners or who aren't using their "gentles". 

Own the book

As the Preschool years come to an end

It's hard, I'm sure, to believe that your 4 or 5-year-old child is finito with preschoolo! Well congrats! You have survived as a parent and I'm sure you've done an amazing job. {I mean look, your on a website looking for products to better your child's education & growth - high fives to you!} Get ready for a graduation party where your child will be completely overwhelmed and I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this but s/he will now expect every end of the year to be a celebration like this one!


This part of the year is an emotional roller coaster for all but that's why I have compiled a list of books for you to use to get your child ready for the big K stay! Yup - here it is, a list of books about Kindergarten that you can spend no money on through the wonderful forgotten place called the library! 


{If you have multiple children you might want to invest and then give them as gifts when they are through with them...but how many times is your LBB going to want to read about kindergarten once their off and running to the first and second grades!?}


Kindergarten Book List:

• Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come! by Nancy Carlson
• Polka-dot Fixes Kindergarten by Catherine Urdahl
• Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Natasha Wing
• The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing
• Countdown to Kindergarten by Allison McGhee
• Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
• Panda Goes to School by Tara Jayesh Morrow

  

If you have other favorites that you would recommend please leave them in the comment section to share with others. Thank you!  - BBny

Child Mind Institute

Through my work as a special educator, I've had the chance to meet and learn about many great organizations. And over the past few years, one such organization that I've had a continued association with has been the Child Mind Institute. Located in Manhattan, their focus is studying children with a variety of disorders, and offering extensive services to accommodate each individual.

I recently went to their Adam Jeffrey Katz Memorial Lecture with hot-shot producer, Brian Grazer {A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, Frost/Nixon, & Splash} who openly spoke about growing up with Dyslexia. It was really interesting to hear what he had to say and how he copes with it. 

If you are a special education teacher or a parent with children with special needs, I highly recommend you getting involved with organizations like The Child Mind Institute. They are full of information and help is always readily available. 

Click here to learn more about The Child Mind Institute

It's Okay to be Different

Book Review

Topic: Differences

One of these days I have would LOVE to meet Todd Parr. His books are absolutely outstanding! Being a teacher, I'm always looking for short books with a great messages that can be read 100 times over. Kids love repetition, and I could read any of Parr's books on a continuous loop and still not get sick of them. If you don't own any yet, you need to change that right now. He is a unique illustrator, but also has the ability to get his point across by simplifying the message. 

In It's Okay to Be Different, Parr touches on an abundance of differences, allowing readers to find at least one that they can relate to. 

Check out a full list of Parr's work here.

SENSORY GYMS: NEW YORK CITY

Are you looking for a sensory gym in the New York Area? 

Look no further! Just click the names below. 

Making Milestones

Sage

Special Programs in Occupational Therapy {SPOTS}

Support By Design 

Sensation

{Busy Bee Tips: 1. If you see a place you like now that happens to be right around the corner CALL NOW even to see if anyone is available in your Little Busy Bee's schedule. 2.Visit the gyms, you might decide that you don't like it for one reason or another. 3. Some gyms, might not give tours however by just walking through the door can give you a good feel of the place.}

When Sophie Gets

Topic: Anger

It's hard to be a Little Busy Bee at times, especially when mom forces you to share and when grabbing is involved. Sophie is a little girl who becomes extremely mad when things don't go her way. She deals with her feelings and recovers in her own time. A great book to use to address a certain someones unacceptable way of dealing with their anger. Have a conversation about how your Little Busy Bee deals with theirs and feel free to use your self as an example also. 


Invite Sophie to your house by purchasing her here

Yes, No, Maybe So

Topic: Manners & For Fun

Little Busy Bees LOVE this book. These two monkey brother characters, are just that. Each page shoes 3 options, a yes, a no and a maybe so. It depends on individual families of what is really allowed but children love to discuss the options on each page. It's also fun to hear from a teacher's perspective on what each child is allowed to do at home. For example: one page has brothers sharing pants when they obviously don't fit so NO and the yes is the brothers sharing socks. A very cute book. Includes meal, bath and bed time habits. Enjoy! 
Get Yes, No, Maybe so here