Trevy’s February Montessori/Tot School Trays

 

 

Sensory Bin

We shout out to the month of looooove with all things red and pink.  In our bin, Trevy and Bristel will find magnetic (I already have gobs of these, I just had to sort out the red/pinks) and sticker (Target $1 bin) letters, music makers (pink harmonics in Target $1), whistle lips (Michaels) and little red or pink cars and other odds n’ ends we have around the house. 

 

I don’t have any real focus with the sensory bin other than to expose Trevor to a variety of sensations.  He’s a sensory seeking guy. 

 

Bristel loves our sensory bins the most, though.  She made super cute little necklaces out of yarn and the sticker letters for herself and a friend.  She is amazingly already…but playing in the sensory bin just gets her juices flowing even more!  Which can be dangerous for a not so crafty creative mommy!

 

T for Trevy Tray

I’m still using our sand tray because it’s still a hit!  I found the most adorable little open-up-able hearts (Target $1) to hide the letters of his name.  I’m always trying to combine OT/PT with our activities!  Because Trevy still isn’t able to independently spell his name, I used a sentence strip to help him out.  As he finds the letters he can place them on the sentence strip matching letters.  He loves matching things.  And once he’s done matching all the letters we’ll spell his name together.

 

 

All About Reading Tray

I am SO thrilled to be part of the TOS All About Reading review team!  They granted me a special Trevy review – and gave me Pre Level 1.  I believe with all my heart that Trevy CAN and WILL read.  If there is anything I’m going to pour myself into the most…it’s this and his speech.  I spent the weekend organizing the worksheets (I like to hole punch and keep them in a binder for ease of use) and laminating the alphabet cards (because Trevy likes to eat random things ).  Next up, is adding the music to iTunes so we can use our iPad to listen to our lesson’s music/poems.  CDs are not off limits, when it comes to Trevy munching.  I did mention he’s sensory seeking, right?  Much of it oral!  Which is why I cannot say enough how essential the iPad has been to our homeschooling/theraplaying!  Seriously, if you’re wondering if it would help you?  I’m giving it a resounding YEEEES! 

 

For Trevy’s AAR tray, I have Ziggy the Zebra plus a couple other puppets hiding inside.  Because I know Trevy (and Bristel, she <3’s “helping” me teach Trevy) will enjoy playing with his own puppet too.  Everything else is my adorable AAR tote in a closet.  Some things just aren’t safe in Trevy range!

 

 

Music Lovers Tray

Grams & PopPop gave Trevy his cd player for Christmas and he still LOVES it!

 

 

Counting to 10 Tray

We were crazy fools and took all three kiddos to the last Home Depot workshop.  Where Trevy almost impaled me and everyone else within reach with his hammer before he made that super cute little piggy bank shed.  I had been thinking to make something with a slot for fine motor work anyway…so it was GREAT!  Even if I did swear – NEVER AGAIN!  Seriously, you haven’t seen the kid swing a hammer!  Trust me.  You want to be at the far end of the table! 

 

I’m using (in red, of course) 10 counting stix.  We count them as we put them in.

 

 

Speech Therapy Tray

Ah, the good ol’ speech therapy tray.  Where keep all things speech-y.

For pre flash card or PECS work, we use a variety of oral motor fun tools. 

 

Bubbles (in a spill proof bottle)

Whistle lips (Trevy totally loooooves them)

Newborn brush (rub cheeks and lips and face to wake up the muscles)

Straws

Cotton Ball (Trevy loves this one too. I’ll place the cotton ball on my hand and he has to blow it off.)

 

Inside the binder I have a plastic folder holding his current and past flash cards.  I try to do them all each time we work.

A pencil hold is GREAT for all those loose PECS cards!

Trevy love love loooooves just rifling through all the cards.

I have his I want _______ strip hung permanently on the white board.  He’s mastered I want, so I don’t emphasize him using the strip any more.  But he still enjoys seeing it and using it.

 

 

More ABCs Tray

(because there’s no such thing as too much!)

Recycled from last month’s trays.  Letter Recognition of Upper and Lower Case A & B.

 

 

Big Bigger Biggest Tray

I printed these super cute Big Bigger Biggest Hearts.  One for Trevy.  One for Bristel – cause she is all about this kinda stuff!

 

We’ll find the biggest and littlest and the middlest.

 

And then tear up bits of tissue paper to paste on.  Tearing tissue paper is great fine motor work and gift tearing into prep!

 

 

Fun With Friends Tray

Super cute Sesame Street workbooks found at Michaels.  But I also saw them at The Dollar Store too.  I *heart* these!  For just a buck…I don’t get psycho mommy when Trevy scribbles in them rather than letting me hand over hand help him!

 

 

And that’s what we’re doing for February! 

 

 

ps.  I’m using and loving the IKEA Trofast system for Trevy’s Trays.

We only have the small green bins that fit them but it would be GREAT to have some bigger ones for bigger toys/projects.  To be entirely transparent, when I first switched to this system out in open Trevy reach…I was terrified!  I thought he’d be munching and ripping and throwing and spreading things EVERYWHERE!  But so far so good.  He’s doing great.  I’ve found that having things broken into trays helps him understand the concept of First Then.  First finish this tray Then we do that tray. 

 

 

…danielle

my 1st Grader’s too many cups left in too many places fix

 

If your kids drive you bonkers with using a bazillion cups and leaving them in a bazillion places during the day…

 

 

then my daughter’s idea may help you out too!

 

 

 

We were having issues with not just several cups being used…

 

 

but where they were being left too!

 

 

Trevy’s super cute.  But if he dumps a glass of water on the computer keyboard it will still fry it!  He has a dumping obsession. 

 

 

So just labeling cups has been a fail for us. 

 

 

 

A fail which I mutter about often!  My daughter was eavesdropping my mommy griping (under my breath) the other day…

 

 

And she came up with the perfect solution for our family!

 

 

Everyone has their own (we sharpie-d initials) coaster!  Which will live in the kitchen.  On a particular countertop.  Far far away from the gate which keeps the monster out.  Seeing that Trevy’s arm span now reaches a counter top over the gate.

 

 

 

Piled for photo purposes.  When not in use they stay as shown in the first picture.  When in use…they are in a straight side by side line.  Nice n’ tidy in a non-mommy-bonker driving position!

 

 

We implemented this last week and so far it’s going woooooonderfully! 

 

 

…danielle

going stir crazy (a peek in my journal)

 

photo credit

 

In my life this week…

 

Any guesses where my car is?  We’re not getting a new muffler, but that cartoon made me laugh.  I’m car-less today for inspection reasons and I’m going batty!  Mind you, Trevy’s sleeping so I couldn’t go anywhere anyway.  But still.  My skin is positively crawling!  

 

I guess that’s just kinda how I’m feeling lately anyway.

 

Restless.

 

Restless at home.  Restless at…well…everywhere else.

 

And then I did a crazy thing and prayed.  Gasp!  No really, though.  Have you ever in a moment of weakness just verbally vomited your guts out to Jesus while driving home from the market?  And then things happen that make you think maybe He listened? 

 

Yeah. Me too.

 

And now I’m restless.  Oh so restless.  I hate feeling restless.  I’m a nester now.  My restless days ended with my missionary tour.  I can’t even say why or what I’m restless about.  It’s just this feeling.  This thing.  That I can’t shake.  But I’m not energetic any more.  And I’m already over committed as it is.  Besides, I like vanilla now.  Ya know.

 

Oh, and remember how I was griping about the foot of snow last weekend?  By Tuesday it had all melted away and, no joke, the kids were running around barefooted like we live in Florida and not the arctic!  Sheesh.

 

  In our homeschool this week…

 

Despite the restlessness in me…we’ve actually done fairly well with our routine this week.  I created new checker-off-ers for the kids.  Which they found hilarious when I forgot to add some subjects!  It was just a rough draft, kids!  The old system had stopped working so I did away with it before Christmas.  And just never got around to replacing it.  Me thinks this could have contributed to the sluggishness in routine we’ve had.  Along with other random life stressors.  Checklists help.  They help the kids stay on track and keep plugging along.  And they help me stay on track and plug along too! 

 

Speaking of plugging along, the 5th Grader is just about done with Saxon 5/4!  Only, like, 3 more lessons to go.  Yikes!

 

And the 1st Grader is just so darn cute.  Especially when her eyes get all lit up with the magic of learning something new.  Like adding a column of three single digit numbers.  She thinks she’s hot stuff.   

 

 

 

Those kinda moments help tame the restless heart inside. 

 

 

Helpful homeschooling tips to share…

 

If you’ve been putting off purchasing a foreign language curriculum for your kiddos.  Maybe today is your lucky day (although I hope it’s mmmmmmine)!

 

Because Katie’s French Language Café has a Rosetta Stone give away! 

 

And if you want to enter as me, I totally wouldn’t mind.

 

 

 

I am inspired by…

 

For those that might be here for the first time, let me backtrack for a sec.  I have a little guy.  Well, not sooo little anymore.  But he’ll always be the baby to me!  Anyway, I have this little guy with some special needs super powers.  He inspires me daily!  You know, when he’s not thoroughly exhausting me!   And then even in his exhausting moments, he’s inspirational.  And so are all the little friends that joined us last Sunday for our first Winter Special Olympics session!  (I am the co-founder of the Young Athletes program for our community)  My most favorite moment, was when all the mobile children and their “buddies” formed a human tunnel for our less mobile super wheelchair-ing heros to roll through!  I’m all misty right now just remembering.  A beautiful beautiful thing.

 

Trevy at the Track & Field station during the Fall Season

 

The pride and joy I feel in being part of something so special also helps tame the restless thump thump thump inside.     

 

 

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

 

Ice skating.  Of course.  Cause really, it’s just the best thing evah! 

 

And Art Club.  We now have 12 kids joining us!  The class is huuuuge!  So huge, in fact, that we’re going to split the little guys into their own class next week.  I’m so happy the kids have this.  Trevy requires so much time/energy/what not…we don’t get to do as many play dates as I’d like.  This class is helping ease that mommy guilt!  And hopefully is meeting their “friend” needs!   

 

 

I’m reading…

 

When I was young, I read voraciously.  Anything.  Everything.  Especially all things historical fiction.  Which I’m still drawn to. 

 

But then Life happened.  Kids.  Laundry.  Dishes.  Homeschooling.  There just wasn’t time.   

 

Last year, I started reading again.  I’ve read more books than I can remember this year!  I try to pin the goodies.  Because I always like idea shopping from others.  But also, so I can look back and see what I’ve read!  Because my memory is toast!

 

Recently, I started to feel a little tug inside.  Holy Spirit, is that you???  Because…in the spirit of transparency…I’ve been spending so much time reading books.  But neglecting the One that I need the most.  Which could also explain the restless heart syndrome. 

 

So this week, I opened to Ephesians.  Since that’s the book we’re digging into at church. 

 

I’m not sure when I last read Ephesians.  But I am sure, it’s been awhile.  Since before Trevy.  And everything that changed when we learned he was sick.  And our whole life was going to change as a result.  I’m going to link in a portion that really spoke to my soul.  But I have mixed feelings about doing so.  I don’t want it be misleading.  I’m not a super saint.  In any way, shape or form.  I don’t brew a cup of tea each afternoon.  Dim the lights.  And meditate on spiritual things.  I long to be that woman.  Someday.  But for now, I’m just a mom.  A wife.  A daughter.  Who was drawn to Jesus as a girl.  And has stumble bumbled after Him since.  But He has always been faithful.  Despite my depravity.  And when I opened His Love Letter this week He was again faithful.  And spoke to my heart…

 

  …that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is  the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ  when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places…  

 

Oh how I need that.  How I need so much more of that.  The heaviness of this life can be so exhausting.  I need my eyes enlightened and focused on the Hope that he’s called me to.  The Hope that is to come…

 

Anyway…

 

That’s enough sappy about that.  I totally had no plan to share all those guts.  It just sorta flowed.  Moving on…

 

 

A video to share…

 

 

 

…danielle

 

 

 

linking up to

 

Kinderbach (a TOS review)

 

 

If you have a Kinesthetic (and aren’t they all really?) Learner in your home…

 

 

and you’ve been looking for a good foundational music curriculum that will help them really engage in the music making process. 

 

 

Then Kinderbach might be exactly what you’re looking for!

 

 

By using catchy tunes and adorable characters, Kinderbach makes learning music fundamentals F-U-N! 

 

 

 

 

Mommy Warning: 

You may find yourself humming Dooooodi Doooooodi all the live long day!

 

 

The Basics

• Kinderbach offers programs for both classroom and home learning.  There are gobs of specials going on right now!  Hurry and check them out before the sales end!  In fact, click here to find a 40% Kinderbach at Home for new subscribers! 
• There are price points for just about everyone!  Including a free online trial.  Other price packages include online lessons for just $19.99 a month!  Or buy a whole year of online memberships for $95.98.  You can also purchase dvd sets if that’s more your style.  Right now ALL the dvd sets are on sale! 
• Kinderbach’s curriculum is aligned with MENC National Standards for Pre-K (but don’t let the pre-K fool you, this is really really terrific for any child that has never had foundational music training!) with learning that will translate to any instrument the child is drawn to in the future! 
• Lessons include music vocab, learning to read notes, rhythm , physical technique, “do re me” singing, listening skills, music composition and most important FUN! 

• Click here to read each level’s scope and sequence broken down for easy to digest decision making.  
• And some of my favorite news – Kinderbach Level 1 is now compatible for iPad-ing!      

 

 

 

 

So maybe you’re less interested in the details and more interested in our experience?

 

 

Our Test Drive

 

Right from the first lesson my two youngest were totally engrossed! 

 

 

Apologies for Trevy in his skivvies.  It’s a potty training thing!   They must have watched this “Hi-Lo” video a gazillion times! 

 

 

Both of my Littles fell in love with the characters!  And loved the coordinating coloring sheets. 

 

 

I love that the program is iPad friendly (this is NEW) because having the iPad right at the piano works perfectly for us!  I know the company is looking into developing an app.  For me…this can’t happen soon enough!  

 

 

(colored letters are from a different Special Needs music curriculum Grams is working on with Trevy)

 

 

I really really really love everything about Kinderbach!  It’s just so wonderful on so many levels.  I would highly recommend it to any one!  Especially, to my fellow Special Needs mommies and daddies out there.  It is SO musically rich and visual that it’s the perfect fit for families who can’t afford traditional music therapy or classes for their kiddos! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were really only two things that I would critique.  

 

 

1)  The voice over was often drowned out by the piano.  We had trouble hearing the words at times.  Of course, you can download or purchase the song book to help.  But in a perfect world, you wouldn’t have to.  

 

and

 

2)  The very first time we used our account we were locked out.  I emailed support and received a response immediately.  Evidently, there is a limit to the number of IP addresses allowed per account.  I believe they did open the restriction because it prevented me from being able to use my PC and my iPad.  That was a little annoying.  And while I do understand their desire for account users to not share info with 30 of their closest friends (which would be stealing!), at the same time, part of the beauty of online curriculums is being able to access them anywhere we go or from any of our devices.  Most homes today have multiple devices (PC, iPad, iPod, laptop, etc).  And most homeschoolers will go to Grams’ house every now and then and might want to Kinderbach for her too! 

 

 

But even with my two critiques…I am still in love with Kinderbach!  And so thankful that we were given a chance to review this program!

 

 

 

…danielle

 

 

**This is my little place to disclaim, as part of the TOS Crew, I was given a sample of Kinderbach’s online curriculum in exchange for my honest and timely review.  All thoughts expressed are my own.  I received no other compensation.**

you might be a homeschooler if…

 

 

You have the kids help you with your at home hair coloring kit because…

 

A) you don’t have time or money to get it done in the salon

 

and

 

B) it’s a really cool Science experiment!

 

 

**********

 

 

You declare it LifeSkills Class…

 

while handing each child two baskets of laundry to fold and put away!

 

 

 

…danielle

her 1st Grade workboxes

 

 

     

  The portable file box has been working SO great for her big brother, that I decided to get her one too!  In pink, of course.  I’m now using the IKEA Trofast for Trevy’s Trays (aka workboxes)

 

 

I bought my file totes at Walmart for just five buckaroos. 

I *heart* everything about them. 

But especially how it makes taking our school work with us (you know…to Grams’ house) SO easy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In her boxes…

Math is Abeka 1.  She’s learning fractions.  We’re loving our felt fractions, made for us by a crafty friend!

 

 

Language is Abeka 1, along with Spelling and Phonics. 

 

We’re also using the Abeka for Reading.  I did move her from the middle group down to the Tigers.  I was the best thing I could have done!  She’s reading with more success.  More success equals less stress!  Hooray for less stress!

 

She practices Piano daily.  My mom gives the kids lessons for now.

And spends looooots of time playing with her favorite Christmas gift!  I LOVE the iPod!  SO many ways to use it. 

 

 

Extra work includes:  Abeka’s 1st Grade History & Health one day a week.  I have her big brother read several pages to her.  This way he’s getting a refresher course, read aloud practice and some sibling bonding.  Ice Skating…ahem…PE once a week.  She also is involved in our town’s basketball program.  She may not be a fan but she sure does look cute on the court!   We’re using Apologia’s Exploring Astronomy M,W,F.  We do this together.  She’s our trampoline peer model for Special Olympics – which I like to think of as Character Training.    And attends a Bible Club at my parent’s church (my hubby is a pastor too) once a week.

 

 

I know that sounds like gobs of stuff.  And some days it feels like it.  On those days, we just focus on Reading, Writing and Math.  The rest is cake. 

 

 

…danielle