Summer Learning - Letter "C"

Last week began the first day of our summer learning of our letters and sounds. I used the table of letters and sounds to assess AB on what she knew and didn't know. I'm only specifically focusing on the letters and sounds she didn't know and doing one, maybe two, letters a week. Obviously, I won't get through all of them before the summer is over...but it's a start. I've planned out activities, crafts, bible verses, etc...for each letter we're going to be working on. Today, we learned the letter "C." Here's the game plan for "C."

Letter: Cc

Intro: Invisible letter as a “reveal” to what letter we will be working on for the next day or two; fridge phonics letter/sound song 

Book: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Letter Work: Letter search for the letter "C."

Craft: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Tree with letters from name glued on it.

Snacks: Cheese-Its, Cracker Jacks, Fruity Cheerios

Activity: cupcakes with "C" cupcake toppers

Bible Verse: “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.” Psalm 55:2

Field Trip: Chick Fil A

Movie: The Letter Factory (Leap Frog), Curly Top

References: www.preschoolbookclub.blogspot.com, www.homeschoolcreations.com

We busted out our basket of "C" goodies. This would keep us busy with "C" activities for the day.

My intro to the letter "C" was an awesome activity I found on pinterest, it was a reveal of the letter by writing the letter "C" on piece of white paper in white crayon. When you paint over it with water colors, then the letter shows up. Wouldn't it figure that I had a never opened package of water colors, and a missing paint brush!!?? I tore my house apart looking for it, thinking maybe I used it at another time, but had no luck. So, we had to skip out on that activity...sad.

So, we went straight to the fridge phonics - I love this thing! When you put the letter in the space it sings the sound the letter makes. We did this several times, hoping that we would learn the sound quickly.

And, what is learning about the letter "C" with the best "C" book out there????

However, I had a bit of a "parent fail" with this activity, too! I left the book at my school, and so we had to rely on good old technology - YouTube. We watched it online. I actually think this was probably slightly more entertaining and engaging for a two and a half year old, anyway. I know that my kindergartners LOVE this video. If your child hasn't seen it, check it out...

AB loved it. My favorite part was when she saw the "C" go up the coconut tree, she pointed it out. The rest of the day she was singing the "Chicka Little Boom Boom" song, as she calls it.

Then, we tried to find the letter "C" in the middle of a bunch of letters. This was a bit tricky...

I found an adorable CCBB activity on a website from pinterest (see references above). We made our own coconut tree with the letters from AB's name. We traced her arms as the trunk of the tree and her hands were the leaves. I love how it turned out.

Another great website was one bible verse for each letter of the alphabet. The one for today was "Cast your cares on the Lord. " Psalm 55:2 Admittedly, it's hard to discuss bible verses with a two and half year old and have them grasp the true meaning, but the earlier they're exposed the better, I assume. We just talked about what a care was, and how it made us feel. We talked about how we can always tell God all of our cares through prayer and He will listen. We added the verse to the bottom of our coconut tree.

Whew, all that learning made us hungry! So, what is the best "C" restaurant to go to?

Duh!! Where else? As soon as we pulled up and parked right by the sign, AB pointed out the CFA sign, which she's come to recognize. I guess I go there quite a bit, huh? We pointed out the "C" and also inside when we saw the same letters on our cup! Exciting stuff.

After CFA, we headed back home to make our cupcakes and toppers. For the toppers, I just traced a bunch of "c's" and then AB and I decorated them.

Then AB helped me mix up the cupcake batter. She's getting so big, and such a great helper. She'll be making cupcakes all by herself before I know it.

While she napped, I cut out the "C's," taped them to toothpicks, baked the cupcakes, let them cool and frosted them. when AB woke up, she helped me put sprinkles on the cupcakes and put the toppers on.

They turned out pretty cute, I think!

We've still spent the last week or so after learning about "C" reviewing. She's got the sound down...now just working on recognizing it when she hears it in words. That's kind of hard - but we'll get there.

Summer Learning Volume 2...Full Speed Ahead!

The summer is quickly approaching, and although I'm going to be one busy Mama between two kiddos at home and moving to a new school and getting my new classroom together, I can't forget about our summer learning time! Last summer we learned our colors by learning about rainbows. That was fun! This summer is focusing on letters and their sounds! Today AB and I were coloring and I wrote the letter "A" and asked her to write it. Haha - not quite there yet. Her "A" was a scribble...so cute, though. Although she can identify several of her letters, we're far from writing them - which is ok. Afterall, she's only two and a half! Oh, the teacher in me has SUCH high expectations! The first few posts are going to be my "lesson plans" for our summer learning, starting with a pre-assessment of the letters AB knows. My pre assessment is already made, but you can do anything from using magnetic letters to just writing them and having your child identify. My pre-assessment is a file folder game. AB will identify the letter on the gumball, and have then find the matching letter on the gum ball machine. The letters she does not know are the ones we will focus on this summer. The other ones we will touch on here and there, as more of a review.

I created a table to record the letters and sounds she knows (see below). From there, we will start focusing on a letter or two a week.

So stay tuned for fun letter activities, crafts and field trips! I'm so excited for some fun summer learning (with a little help from my good buddy, Pinterest)!

	Identify	Sound
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
TOTAL:

The Goodnight Box

I hate to admit it, but fun learning activities and crafts have been few and far between since this Mommy started growing another human being in her belly. No energy. No stamina. No time!!! No excuse. 

I really should get the creative juices flowing again. Especially since baby #2 is on the way, and I don't want AB to feel like an afterthought. So, tonight I created a new Aldrich family ritual: The Goodnight Box.

Let me preface this by saying, night time and going to bed has been an absolute struggle for the last couple of months. This started when we got rid of the paci. Although she doesn't ask for it anymore, it doesn't make bed time as smooth as it use to be. If we even say the words, "bed time" AB gets in total freak out mode. She hates it. So, tonight before bed time, I busted out an extra special activity that AB has never been introduced to - play doh!!!

She loved it! We played for about 45 minutes and spent some time together right before bed. Even Daddy came over and played play doh for a bit. I decorated a plain, black hat box with stickers and labeled it "The Goodnight Box." I told AB that every night we would get the GNB out and play with the activity inside the box. I plan on changing it out every couple days. It may be play doh, it may be crayons and a special coloring page, it maybe a fine motor or sensory activity...the possibilities are endless. 

Now, here's to hoping the GNB will be an incentive to not freak out at bed time! I'm hoping the quality time and "surprise" activity will be enough to encourage her to do well before bed! Here's to hoping!!

Goodnight all!!