Category: #TeacherMom

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When Learning and Fun Collide

When learning and play collide, magic happens. I’ve seen it happen in the classroom, at home, and out in the wild. As a parent and teacher, not much makes me happier than to see children having fun and learning while they do it. 

Last week, we headed out of town for a few days with my husband’s family. We mostly did fun recreational activities— swimming, hiking, playing games, etc.— typical things you might do on a vacation. But lucky for us, there was a children’s museum where we were staying, and we got to spend one of our mornings there. Not only was the museum fun for the kids, it was packed with educational opportunities throughout the entire museum. My kids range in ages from ten years old down to four years old, and all five of them were entertained the entire time we were there. 

Each room in the museum had a different theme, providing a plethora of learning opportunities. There was something there for everyone— even the adults in our family played and learned!

In the construction room, there were different kinds of blocks and things to build with. There was a wall with pipes and tubes you could use to construct a path to send a ball through. There was a 3D printer, actively printing something, and a display next to the printer showing different kinds of printing methods and types. 

In the farm and animal room, you could learn how to milk a cow or plant a garden. You could also become a veterinarian and x-ray different animals— with real x-ray images displayed on the screen. 

In the America room, you could learn all about the constitution and our Founding Fathers. You could also play with an interactive map that showed and taught about different landmarks around the state. 

The science room was my favorite! There, we learned how a tornado was formed, experimented with magnetic force, created frozen shadows, played with light refraction, learned about sound waves, and put together a model of the human body. 

There was a dinosaur room, full of information and experiences about dinosaurs, volcanoes, and earthquakes. The library room had lots of cozy little spots and shelves full of books to read. The mining room taught kids about pulleys and levers as they moved “rocks” from one level of the room to the other. There was a barrel lift exercise that led to a lesson about levers and fulcrums and how changing the pivot point makes a difference in ease of lifting the load. 

In the music room, kids could play on a giant floor piano, play some drums, experiment with different notes and pitches, and learn about different sounds. The art room provided different mediums to experiment with. 

They even had a “gym” where kids could practice basketball, throwing, pull ups, rock climbing, balancing, or test their jump height. Parents could be spectators on the mini bleachers they had in the room. 

There was a theater room, complete with a stage, costumes, and music. The bank was a fun way to learn about money, and the grocery store was a fun place to learn about healthy food choices. The car shop let kids perform maintenance on a (pretend) car, and the airport let kids learn about flying a plane. 

With so many different things for kids to do, it’s no wonder we had a hard time pulling our kids away for lunch, and with so many things for kids to learn about, it’s no wonder the parents were eager to let the kids participate! I’m sure the kids didn’t realize how much knowledge they were taking in while they played— they were having so much fun. But as a parent, I loved letting them run and explore, learn, and experiment as they played, knowing that their minds were working and learning as they figured out how to do things at the museum. 

It made me think about how so much of what we learn comes from daily living, where we are experimenting, problem solving, and figuring it out as we go. Sure, we can sit in a classroom for the duration of the school day, and we really can learn a lot while there, but there is definitely something to be said for the learning that happens outside the classroom. So often, people don’t see learning as fun, but in reality, there are so many opportunities around us that can provide fun, engaging, and educational experiences for kids and adults alike. And the magic that happens when those three things intersect is unlike anything else.

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Homework Isn’t Just Worksheets

We can all agree that there are pros and cons to giving kids homework, and that it really should only be given if it’s meaningful. Reading, for example, is homework I’m never mad about. Building reading skills is crucial for life long success, and the more kids do it, the better they will be at it. Sending home a coloring page, however, doesn’t seem as meaningful to me. Fun? Sure. But a good use of precious after-school time? Not so much. 

I saw a social media post the other day that got me thinking about things that aren’t assigned as homework, but maybe should be. Skills that are important for every day life, people skills, and problem solving skills. Grading them would be subjective, and participation and effort would matter more than the outcome, but what is learned/gained would set kids up for long term success beyond the walls of the classroom. 

How would something like this be assigned and evaluated? I suppose it depends on the skill being practiced. Perhaps teachers can create a “menu” of possible skills for students to choose from. Maybe some teachers would want to assign everyone in the class the same task to work on. Some might even want to create “task groups” where small groups of students are all given a certain task and can help each other and cheer each other on. Evaluation might look like parents signing a log, pictures, written reflection, or some other tangible or observable result of the student’s practice. 

What kinds of things would be assigned? I think this depends on your students’ needs and situations. Obviously, a high school teacher is going to assign some things that are geared more toward older kids, such as learning to balance a bank account, whereas a kindergarten teacher might assign something like learning to tie shoes. 

Here’s a few ideas to get you started:

  • Learning to balance a bank account
  • Learning to make a phone call and set an appointment or order food— not everything has to be done through an app
  • Going to the store to make a purchase— selecting your items, conversing with a cashier, and sticking to a budget are great skills
  • Cooking a simple meal (with adult supervision)
  • Spending time outside— fresh air does wonders for both the body and mind
  • Doing a puzzle or playing a board game with at least one other person— teamwork, cooperation, and good sportsmanship are essential
  • Sitting down to eat a meal as a family— a great chance to have good conversations
  • Helping with household chores— those skills are needed!
  • Helping people
  • Learning how to write a letter, address an envelope, and send it in the mail
  • Go to the library, get a library card, and check out some books
  • Free play— giving kids unstructured play time is SO important for their imaginations
  • If possible, learning how to maintain a yard
  • Learning how to give and receive compliments
  • When it’s an appropriate age, learning to ask someone out on a date, face-to-face
  • Finding a good sleep routine
  • Screen-free time— it’s good for so many reasons
  • Spending time at a retirement or assisted living facility— the older generation can teach us so much
  • Meditation 

Some might argue that parents should be incorporating these skills into their family’s routines and lives, but not all family situations allow for things like this, and unfortunately, not all parents are supportive and involved in their children’s lives. 

And yes, teachers already do so much, using their days to teach core subjects. But I don’t know of a single teacher that wouldn’t mind devoting at least a little bit of time to helping their students build skills that will set them up for life long success. 

Regardless of where you stand regarding these things being assigned as homework, I’m sure we can all agree that the rising generation needs support, guidance, and encouragement as they navigate life and learn essential skills. 

What else would you add to the list above?

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Summer Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

If your kids are like mine, they start to go a little bit stir crazy when they are cooped up in the house for too long. We’re trying to find a balance between structured activities and “use your imagination to entertain yourself” time. Some days are trickier than others. One thing is for certain, though: a daily dose of sunshine and fresh air does wonders for everyone’s moods. Some days, my kids are outside most of the day, and others, we just get a little time outside. 

Whether your kids are all-day-outsiders or just-a-little-outsiders, an outdoor scavenger hunt is a fun activity to do with them! Print off the free printable below, grab a clipboard and something to write with, then take a walk around your neighborhood, searching for the things on the list! If you’re feeling extra ambitious, have your kids make a pair of binoculars before you go— get a couple of empty toiler paper tubes, glue them together, and attach some string to each side for quick and easy binoculars to make your scavenger hunt even more fun! 

You could even laminate the scavenger hunt paper so that you can re-use it multiple times. This activity would be a great option for a small preschool class or daycare group, too! 

An alternative for older kids would be to let them explore on their own, but send them with some way to take pictures, and have them photograph the items as they find them.

However you decide to use it, happy searching!

**PRINTABLE IS FREE, BUT IS ONLY TO BE USED FOR PERSONAL OR CLASSROOM USE. DO NOT SELL, RE-POST, OR CLAIM AS YOUR OWN.** 

Outdoor Scavenger HuntDownload
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Summer How-To List

Summer time tends to provide kids with ample amounts of free time, which can be a blessing and a curse. Some kids do really well with extra time, and are very creative in how they fill their extra hours. Others, however, struggle with imagining up ways to spend their days, which often leads to lots of, “Mom! I’m bored!” 

Many families create a summer bucket list in hopes of finding ways to reduce boredom over the summer months. It’s a great idea, and provides an easy answer to, “What should we do today?” I’m a big proponent of having the kids help create the list. Obviously, adults should over see the list making to ensure that the desired activities are within the financial, time, and logistical limits the family has. 

In addition to a summer bucket list, I’ve also heard of many families instituting a summer “how-to” list. Each family member comes up with a list of a few things they want to learn how to do over the summer break. Lists could include important life skills such as how to do laundry, cook a meal, tie shoes, mow the lawn, place and pick up a food order, and so on. Other skills might include new hobbies, such as learning to sew a pillow, draw, crochet, or code. Again, adults should guide list making to help kids set realistic goals and to ensure that goals are feasible. 

The idea of a “how-to” list is appealing to many, since it provides kids with something to do, but also gives them an opportunity to learn something and keep their minds active. It’s a win-win! 

To help you get started on your own summer “how-to” list, I’ve created a free download you can print off and use with your kids. Even if you don’t have kids, you can use this for yourself– there isn’t an age limit for learning new things!

** As always, this download is free, and should only be used for individual and classroom use. Please do not resell or claim as your own. **

My Summer How-To ListDownload
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How to Stop Spring Break from Breaking You!

It’s Spring Break season! If your kids are anything like mine, the sudden lack of structure has them going a little bit wacky. On top of being out of our normal routine, our Spring Break has felt more like Winter Break, especially with the 2” of snow currently on our lawn. 

Since outdoor activities are a bit limited at the moment, we’ve had to come up with our own fun! I thought I’d share some ideas of things to do in case your Spring Break isn’t going how you had planned. The best part of these activities is that they involve learning or practicing skills in some way, but most of the time your child won’t even notice it’s a learning activity! Win-win!

  • Coloring pages- the internet is full of free printable coloring pages for any interest, age, or skill level. Or, you can click here and download the freebie I posted last week!
  • Easter Egg Match- cut out several plain white egg shapes and decorate them however you’d like. Then, cut them in half using different kinds of cut lines (zig-zag, wavy, scalloped, etc.). Spread them out and have your child match up the halves. 
  • Alphabet Match- On a large piece of paper (even the back side of wrapping paper will work!), write all the letters of the alphabet (choose either lower case or upper case). Next, on 26 different small pieces of paper or sticky notes, write the letters in the case opposite of what you wrote on the large paper. Put each paper inside a plastic Easter egg. Hide the eggs around the house, and as your child finds them, have them open it up, find, and tape the correct letter match on the large paper. Other options for this activity would be to match numbers, shapes, colors, or pictures. It is easily adapted for any age.
  • If weather permits, take a walk around the neighborhood. Before you go, create a simple list of things to find while you are on your walk. Take your list with you and do an outdoor scavenger hunt while you walk. Mark off the items on your list as you find them. 
  • Do some themed days! Have all activities and snacks tie to your theme. Learn about your theme, if applicable. Possible themes might include Disney, insects, colors, letters, or a specific place.
  • Make and deliver a treat and card to someone in your neighborhood who might be lonely or need some cheering up.
  • Create a spring time mosaic— draw a simple spring-themed shape (Easter egg, bunny, flower, etc.) on a plain white piece of paper. Cut up pieces of varying colors of construction paper into small squares. Have your child glue them onto the traced shape, covering the whole space. Cut out the shape and enjoy your child’s masterpiece! 
  • Think of different simple objects that can be built from Legos or other building blocks. Write them on small cards. Have a building competition where you pick one of the cards and everyone has to build whatever is on the card. Have fun seeing the different things your kids (and yourself) come up with! 

Hopefully your Spring Break is less winter-y than ours has been, and hopefully you’re able to find at least a few minutes each day to slow down with your kids and have fun. Use one or more of these ideas to inspire some fun, creative play and watch the magic happen! 

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St. Patrick’s Day Free Printables

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner– time to prepare your leprechaun traps and gather your pots of gold! If fancy traps and extravagant celebrations aren’t your thing, it’s your lucky day! I’ve put together a couple of fun free printable I Spy games you can do with your students or with your kids at home. I’ve included both a color and a black and white version to fit all printing needs and capabilities.

**Free printables are only to be used for home or classroom use and must not be resold, distributed, or used as your own.**

Click on the links below to download and print yours!

St. Patty’s I Spy ColorDownload
St. Patrick’s Day I Spy BWDownload
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Valentine’s I Spy Printables

In continuing with some fun Valentine’s Day themed ideas for the classroom (or home!), I’ve created two different I Spy printables, one in color, and the other in black and white, so you can print whichever version works for you!

Put kids in to teams to find the pictures, have them work independently, or make it a whole class activity. Count each different picture, then add up the numbers to see how many total pictures are on the page. The options are plentiful, and the fun is endless!

Happy Spying!

*Please only use these printables for classroom or home use. Do not sell these files.*

Valentine’s Day I Spy ColorDownload

Valentine I Spy BWDownload