Noodle Noggin Learning House Blog

UPDATE!

Taci is working on a new blog and this one is currently suspended.

(not loving typepad... I thought it would become more user friendly but not so much)

Stay Tuned!

Great News!!

I just received a letter that I'll have an idea featured in the popular teaching mag, The Mailbox!

I am Stupid Excited about it!! I'll get a free issue where it appears and it will say my name, idea and the name and city of our school!!!!!!

The idea they accepted:

Use a large cut out (I used a child shape) and buy a supply of stickers that correlate with your theme (ours was ocean so I had treaure gems, mermaids and sea life stickers). When a child exhibits great behavior, helps out, listens right away (THIS objective is what stirred the idea- I just had to keep asking and asking day after day!) they get one sticker. Somedays they'd get up to 4 or 5 stickers! When the cut out was full the kids got a gift from me. I wrapped them and it was VERY special for them. It took us about 3 weeks I think to finally earn the special gift. The best part was, we had a couple different themes represented on the kid shape so the theme of the sticker also served to remind them what we were learning about!!

It was really exciting for them! I LOVE LOVE LOVE using tangible rewards for good behavior from time to time. Doing it over the Summer worked because their aren't really any "gifty" holidays after Easter so they were extra excited I think.

We've also used a "prize box" system and I occasionally reward them with a peice of gum, juice box or something like that at pick up time. What I loved about THIS reward was that it provided them with a visual reminder of all the many good things they did. They could put the cut out in their room, on the fridge etc. and *FEEL GOOD ON THE INSIDE* each time they'd see it!

http://video.scholastic.com/services/player/bcpid1842760475?bctid=86097427001

http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2009/01/19/save-money-on-healthy-organic-foods/

http://www.planetwalk.org/ Might have ta check out this book!! hmmm..

Save The Gulf! Treasure *this* Planet!

This week we've been learning about the oil spill in the Gulf. I have never had a group of such eco-lovers! It's so sweet and wonderful to see. We discussed the spill the other day and the kids had such amazing ideas and showed such a mature and yet innocent understanding. The skipped right to "how will they clean it up" Honestly sometimes I wonder if this dynamic group could work together to do a better job in the White House answering the toughest problems then you-know-who. Kids just get right down to it, don't they? We had to watch the fire in the beginning of this video MANY times :)

Gulf Oil Spill video

Anyway! With all of the construction and cosmetic changes here at NN, we've needed to be outside more in the last 1.5 months. This has lead to more gardening and allowed us more time with my AMAZING neighbor and friend Patty. She lives two houses down. She composts, plants, uses rain barrels, etc. We bring her our left over edibles to compost and she shows the kids how to put the food scraps in and turn over the compost. THEY LOVE IT! In addition to that she brings us fresh strawberries from her garden a couple times a week! She recently delivered us a rain barrel which was a big hit with these water lovers. Water play is VITAL at this age so we've rigged up a fun little sink using the hose and the kids delight in watering the flowers. We learn about saving water and not over soaking the plants. We fill up our table with water and turn on the little "sink" but we also talk about not "taking up all the water in the ocean" and the kids accept that. The love feeling in charge of the Earth's health!

Pics:

 

 

I'm trying to implement more ways to "be green". To let the kids catch me doing environmentally sound acts but it's hard to be mindful of it all day every day. Its funny how angry they get when we talk about people throwing garbage out the window. I tell them very honestly that throwing trash on the ground is lazy and yucky and it makes Earth sick. We listed things the Earth loves and things that it doesn't. We thank the garbage trucks every Wed. for helping keep things clean. I explained to the kids that it's important that they learn all they can because some day (tear in my eye) I do believe THEY will be the ones to save our beautiful planet.  

More Goodies

No Seriously, Etsy has taken over my life. Oh, it feels so good to just admit it.

My name is Taci and I am an Etsy addict- but.... I don't want help. Hmmm....

I had found these chalkboard labels there a long time ago and saved them to pursue later on. Well my very good and sweet friend, Katie has a thriving Etsy business and a Cricut machine and she helped me to create shapes that were just for me and my spaces. My plan is to use these little cuties in the kitchen, bath and laundry. Here is what happens, my home is a split-level and often I realize I need to add an item to shopping list while I am on the opposite level as my mounting list. With these labels, I can write down what I need in that area and then check each spot before I go shopping. 

Here is a pic of one of the labels she created for me:

 

Chalk worked just fine but I want to try chalk markers instead so I can print a little smaller. It was easy to put up and easy to wipe off!!

She's also made me 24 smaller toy shelf labels which I will post when I get to that face of my reorganization!

Katie can be reached here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BellaBeanCrafts

Also check out her allergy cards- GENIUS!

 

BE SURE TO CHECK BACK ON MONDAY WHEN I POST THE MONDAY "GET DOWN TO IT" ITEM! and we get this blog rollin...

March Songs- send the Winter out in song!!

Let's start with our songs!! I printed these from my theeducationcenter.com extra's. I need to learn how to correctly "cite" these copyrighted songs :(

Kim???

Anyway- this is a favorite. I copied a leprechaun, colored him and taped him to a stick. I hold him up as we dance and follow directions to the song.

Another song:

March Winds- song and sign Language

(to the tune of "Michael Row Your Boat Ashore")

March Winds Blow With Happy News

Spring is Coming!

March Winds Blow With Happy News,

Spring is Coming.

- Totline (Jean Warren)

"It's March"

(tune of "The Ant's Go Marching", we made our own movements)

Oh do you know what month it is,

It's March, It's March

Do you know what month it is

It's March, It's March

Sometimes we sweat sometimes we freeze

It rains, It snows

There's quite a breeze and it blows us all around

and around oh oh oh (repeat)

-The Mailbox Feb/March 2008

Next week we'll be celebrating St. Patricks day and then delving right into Spring/Easter preparations!

We had some doozie Thunderstorms on Thursday! A couple of the kids were too little last year to really remember them and we afraid. I reminded them where we go if the alarms go off (the "Teacher Closet!!") and that we are safe inside. I told them the thunder is loud so that the flowers wake up from Winter to take a drink. They are very thirsty and need to grow for Spring. It's ok to plug their ears and go to the story tent with a blanket and flashlight and hide if they need to but I emphasize that it's fun to watch "the show" from inside. The lightening is a bright light that the flowers like to watch. Maybe a fun explanation will help!! I am going to make sure we have more flashlights and books on being afraid of Thunderstorms to keep in the tent.

LOVE U Spring- glad you found us!!!

*Taci*

Noodle Noggin is on Facebook!!

Noodle Noggin has a  Facebook page. Noodle Noggin Learning House is how you can find us!

It has became a great place for my old families, teacher friends, mom friends to connect with what I am doing at Noodle Noggin. Some of them asked so I listened :) It's been so nice seeing the people who "fan" us! They have wonderful things to say about the program and the kids.

Thanks SO much! I plan to keep adding more to my blog AND FB.

*Taci*

upcoming manners theme

Parents,

I am starting to plan a manners theme to work with our Valentines Day festivities in Feb. I would like to know what specifically are your concerns and the manners really focus on at home. Not just meal time manners. Some of the ones that are important here:

Kind words, gentle hands, quiet voices inside and listening and looking at your friends when they are talking to you.

SHARING

Greetings and social norms such as saying "good morning" or "have a nice day". We shake hands (always using our right hand) as we sing our morning song. Telling each other "good job" and clapping and cheering each other on.

As far as table manners which I am a little bit of a stickler for: sitting correctly with our feet down, using nice words and always saying "please" for another serving and "thank you for lunch, Taci". We don't use potty talk or sing at the table. We chew with our mouths quiet and closed. Something else I am REALLY working hard on in particular is keeping food on your plate even if you don't like it. Bread crust is really a trial for them. Also using utencils and not fingers. These are "prince and princess manners". I've heard good feedback so I hope these things are being seen at home from time to time as well. Niki reported that Lilah is putting her hands in her lap to be served and I've seen the kids working hard to "fold their napkins like a present" and throw away leftover snacks by themselves. VERY IMPRESSIVE.

So I really really want to hear: whats important to you, one or two things your child does well, what your child needs work on.

 At my house it's loud chewing or burping out loud- so gross! Rachel if you are reading this, I'll never forget your sis and the licking fingers rule! :D That one is so rude but I catch myself doing it sometimes. Quite honestly I don't think any standard manner should be overlooked and I think we are getting pretty lax as a society. To let a child grow without learning the basics is unfair. Okay strengths and ones to work on:

Amalia: girl can keep her napkin in her lap so well the Fairy Godmother would weep. Unfortunately she is in violation of the bread crust on the table rule almost daily. 

Athan: he never complains about anything I make and he can use a utencil with more precision than any baby I've ever seen... though he isn't one to waste so he makes sure it all gets to the belly! :D although he loves to eat on the rare occasion there is something he doesn't like, he either uses it for art on the table or chucks it which really really really fires me up!

Lets hear yours!! 

Proof that Noodle Noggin Rocks!

Can you read what it says? Grayson wrote his name BY HIMSELF! It's really really really good too! 

Love, one proud teacher