Lying or Promoting Creativity? You Decide

Check out my latest post on Parenting Magazine's blog. Leave a comment there, too. You don't have to agree. My feelings will not be hurt! :)

http://www.parenting.com/blogs/mom-congress/lyssa-sahadevan/why-do-children-lie

The library used to be easier....

Taking T to the library last summer was a breeze. We read a few books, looked at covers, pointed out things we saw in the books. We played with the blocks and puzzles, picked up a few books and went our our merry way. 

NOT THIS YEAR!

Now that Mr. Smarty Pants is rocking three and half, he only wants books that he chooses. He wants to play for a bit, book shop for a bit, be read to for a bit, and then start this cycle all over again. Aaaaahh!! That was fun for the first half hour, but let's face it moms-there were many other kids. They weren't quiet. They weren't calm. They weren't loving and respecting books. Their babysitter was the librarian while moms were texting, reading, or gazing out the window dreaming of a day to themselves. I do not blame the moms (well, a little) because it was hotter than hot and where else could they go, but still! Needless to say, I was ready to bail.....unlike my son.

I watched him build one more castle and tell me all about the evil king and the knight and the horses and the alligators and the machine that made it all go into outer space before I could take it no more! I couldn't block out the others any longer! In my calmest mommy voice, I said.....

OK, LET'S CHOOSE OUR BOOKS!

We head over to the picture books and I am ready to show him my favorites, those near and dear to my heart. Oh.my.goodness. What does my angel choose? Franklin-as in, the turtle. 

 

Franklin lovers, please don't send hate mail. I love your turtle friend but I have been a primary teacher for over a decade and have been forced to read more Franklin than any one woman should. I've been through cover changes. I've been through the tv show and the attempt at chapter books. I thought my days of Franklin were done. I was wrong and I accept that. We are a Franklin family.

P.S. I picked up Little Red Hen, Where is the Green Sheep, and The Three Little Pigs while we there. He has loved them all.....thank goodness! 

Let's be honest....what books have you dreaded or reread until you can't reread it one.more.time?

Boys and Their Trucks

While in the Big Apple, I was terribly missing my little guy. I'm sure that goes without saying, but I had to throw it in there. It is really hard to be away from the cutest 3 1/2 year old in the whole wide world. 

I spent every night agonizing over the perfect gift for T. A shirt with Columbia on it? Got that-so predictable though! Candy in a test tube? Got that-knew he would love it. But what else? What else is perfect for my guy? BOOKS!

My teacher friends and I headed to SoHo for a trip to the Scholastic store. If you are ever in NYC, I recommend swinging by there. Teachers receive a 25% discount and you know I love that! 

Another great thing about the Scholastic store is the wide selection and the autographed copies-because authors often visit! 

T is a big fan of Jon Scieszka's Trucktown series. (A few of my first graders are, too!) When I saw these two-I had to have them! The first is a paperback book full of sounds heard around Trucktown. I've been home two days and have read it 10 times. He loves it. Scieszka has spoken to the boys in my class for years and now he is talking to my son! 

This large, hard cover book is Scieszka's take on nursery rhymes. T loves it, but is very specific that I not sing any of them. (Kind of hurtful, but I am aware how my voice sounds. :/ )

This is the Trucktown version of "Jack and Jill." T really relates to the book because he is familiar with most of the rhymes. His favorite character is Big Rig. He finds him in the book and we read any page with him an extra 256 times. :)

Head to a library or bookstore and check these out! If you have a little guy running the house, I mean running around the house, these books are for him! 

Do you have any other boy recommendations? We are always looking to expand our library! 

Make Your Own Post It Notes!

The title is not misleading! I'm serious! I attended The Reading and Writing Project Summer Writing Institute and was blown away with this! Picture it....

I'm sitting in class watching Kristi Mraz (author of the upcoming book, Smarter Charts) place regular colored copy paper onto her fabulous chart.

 She was peeling papers off the chart, moving them around, pulling them off one chart and moving them to the other. In my head, I was like, "Wow, she has magical paper powers." She must have noticed the entire room looking at her all misty eyed, because she pulled out her magic wand.....
 

REPOSITIONABLE GLUE STICKS!!!

I could not believe my eyes. She pulled paper after paper, a rainbow of colors, off a chart, off of her pile of notes, off of the chart stand placing them all different places...it was <sniffle, sniffle> beautiful. 

Our mouths were watering...I'm serious. Where might one purchase this magical glue stick and how much does it cost? You will be happy to know they are about $3 (and last a long time) and are available at office supply stores, right next to the good old fashioned glue sticks. You can also buy them online. I rushed out and bought some right away!

 

I was like a kid in the candy store! Sticking and unsticking. Checking for any paper damage (none.) Watching out for sticky residue (it was minimal.) Seeing if it would hang on the wall (it did.) Turning the paper one way and the other. It works!

I LOVE IT!!!

Teachers: The possibilities are endless. Big post its are expensive and the space is often small. This little stick allows you to make any paper a post it. It works on all sizes. Not sure about construction paper though....

Parents: T and I have been hanging his letters with the glue stick! We swiped the back with the glue stick and mixed them up and then he put them in order. I can't wait to see what we come up with next!

Go out and get some of this stuff! You will thank me later! It is teacher/parent gold! You might also want to get Kristi's book! I'm preordering it!

What might you do with this magic wand glue stick?