tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66623686973455354082024-03-28T20:29:42.235-07:00Preschool EngineeringResources for inspiring mechanically-minded toddlers & preschoolers.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.comBlogger356125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-89452915453565957992018-06-20T12:57:00.003-07:002019-05-28T17:02:49.249-07:00Pursuing Our Interests Beyond PreschoolGreetings Preschool Engineering Fans!
It has been a pleasure working on Preschool Engineering for the past many years. As my children have grown older, our lives have evolved and many of the topics of my writing have shifted focus. If you are curious about where our lives are taking us then you can visit my new business, Boco Learning, where I write to Reveal Everyday Math to Empower Parents.
IJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-9219146829979995642018-06-04T07:31:00.000-07:002018-06-04T07:31:00.304-07:00
To celebrate Independence Day, pick up this Shine-a-Light-On book!
"Readers explore caves and rivers, visit national parks and view historic buildings. Shine a flashlight behind the page or hold it to the light to reveal what is hidden in and around our country. Discover a land of great surprises."
https://m6038.myubam.com/p/6094/shine-a-light-wonders-of-the-usa
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-64812008905450828912018-03-07T09:00:00.001-08:002018-03-07T09:00:50.636-08:00Book Review - How to Survive a Shark
"Ahoy, me mateys! Upset your Mom swam away after you were born? Cry me an ocean. You’ve got ME to show you the ropes! Well, at least until I get a craving for baby shark. Swim along and I’ll teach you how to hunt using all six senses (a whole sense more than a human), why you can NEVER stop moving (blimey, no - not even to sleep!), and what your most dangerous threat is (here’s a hint: those Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-52620641777369354522017-11-02T18:46:00.000-07:002017-11-02T18:46:09.341-07:00Fan Favorites - October 2017
"Suppose you are a parent who accepts the idea that children need freedom in order to be happy and to grow in healthy ways. How can you, despite all of the social forces working against you, become a more trusting parent and allow your children more freedom? Here are six suggestions. The first three have to do with restructuring your own thoughts and habits, and theJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-24628931013374278382017-10-27T09:02:00.001-07:002017-10-27T09:02:11.904-07:00A Radical Solution to IEPs, 504s, ALPs, and the Drudgery of Accountability
Homeschool offers us the opportunity to teach and learn without IEPs, 504s, ALPs, and standardized tests. My children get to be their unique selves without the stigma associated with it. They get to pursue their interests, be curious, make decisions, and be productive members of the community early and often.
So it doesn't matter exactly how my children are different because I don't have to Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-3828501705679194052017-10-27T09:00:00.002-07:002017-10-27T09:00:53.214-07:00Invitation to Learn ArchitectureWe discovered the book "Who Built That?" and it opened a unit of study in architecture!
Beware! There are a LOT of books out there. These are our favorites because they are well-written, beautiful, and interesting. "Iggy Peck" and "The World is Not a Rectangle" can be read in a single sitting and, in my house, they were. The other books we used differently...reading one page or one topic at a Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-55508663142193058792017-10-25T16:27:00.002-07:002017-10-25T16:27:40.340-07:00A Radical SolutionHomeschool offers us the opportunity to teach and learn without IEPs, 504s, ALPs, and standardized tests. My children get to be their unique selves without the stigma associated with it. They get to pursue their interests, be curious, make decisions, and be productive members of the community early and often.
So it doesn't matter exactly how my children are different because I don't have to Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-9958825507676067262017-10-05T06:58:00.000-07:002017-10-05T06:58:02.202-07:00Invitation to Learn Spiders Our study of spiders began with autumn activities from The Artful Year. Using yarn and glue, we made stiff spider webs. Using pipe cleaners, puff balls, and a hot glue gun we made spiders for those webs. Then we found books, videos, and a song about spiders to help us dive a little deeper.
Surf over to Free-Learning to find the treasures we uncovered.
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-15131921206843397212017-10-04T06:08:00.000-07:002017-10-04T06:08:12.419-07:00An apolitical guide to gun safety for familiesAnother mass shooting occurred. As expected, the news feeds filled with conversation about gun safety. It is a heated topic, one that is political and often gets brushed under the rug before anything really informative sees the light of day. I see rants on both sides but very little practical advice for parents who are concerned but don't know what to do.
Here is my attempt at starting a Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-1216236700658024152017-10-02T06:08:00.000-07:002017-10-02T06:08:06.012-07:00Fan Favorites - September 2017
National Book Day September 6
7 Key phrases Montessori teachers use and why we should use them, too
Montessori teachers use language that respects the child and provides consistent expectations. Words are chosen carefully to encourage children to be independent, intrinsically motivated critical thinkers.
Here are seven common phrases you’d probably hear in any Montessori classroom, Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-62993064579872892782017-09-25T18:29:00.003-07:002017-09-25T18:29:40.044-07:00Invitation to Learn about Wetlands
A Learning Lifestyle
My preschoolers are officially not preschoolers any more. As we step into Kindergarten and 2nd grade, and as a family new to "officially" homeschooling, I recently bought writing curriculum from BraveWriter and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The guidance offered essentially advocates for 1) focusing on creating an environment filled with books, music, Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-52545072187752498522017-09-24T18:58:00.000-07:002017-09-24T18:58:50.155-07:00Why sensory processing disorder makes everything so hard and a phrase that will make things easierI have a memory of my son when he was two years old that has stuck with me over the years. He was doing one of his favorite things - pushing a dump truck at top speed back and forth in our cul-de-sac. He had figured out a way to balance perfectly with his hands resting on the bed in a way that did not let the bed flip up while he ran behind it. (A feat that other children did not recognize until Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-89984519878660992052017-09-19T09:36:00.001-07:002017-09-20T08:38:19.456-07:00Invitation to Learn Pirates
A Learning Lifestyle
My preschoolers are officially not preschoolers any more. As we step into Kindergarten and 2nd grade, and as a family new to "officially" homeschooling, I recently bought writing curriculum from BraveWriter and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The guidance offered essentially advocates for 1) focusing on creating an environment filled with books, music, and Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-69470855667943302002017-09-18T08:00:00.000-07:002017-09-18T08:00:06.508-07:00There is No Such Thing as a Reluctant Learner
No Such Thing
There is no such thing as a reluctant learner. There are, however, reluctant students.
Wait a minute! You are probably here to read "Tips for Teaching Reluctant Learners" but before you leave, let me explain how the distinction between "learner" and "student" helps me define my role as a homeschool mom and how it informs my "Tips."
Learners v. Students
For me...
Knowledge Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-58055368126868669362017-09-11T09:56:00.000-07:002017-09-11T10:33:58.401-07:00Invitation to Learn Physics - Projectile Motion & Hooke's Law
A Learning Lifestyle
My preschoolers are officially not preschoolers any more. As we step into Kindergarten and 2nd grade, and as a family new to "officially" homeschooling, I recently bought writing curriculum from BraveWriter and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The guidance offered essentially advocates for 1) focusing on creating an environment filled with books, music, and Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-22682153836563574852017-09-07T13:14:00.000-07:002017-09-07T13:14:54.632-07:00Fan Favorites - July 2017https://www.facebook.com/1435993143140974/videos/1579544665452487/
https://www.facebook.com/Golem13.fr/videos/1736513896382525/
LINK.
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-87663120579839904812017-08-31T14:28:00.003-07:002017-08-31T14:28:51.548-07:00My Picks for Pediatricians by Usborne Books and MoreWe had an impromptu visit to the pediatrician's office today. We thumbed through some of her books she had in the exam room about bodies...and it got me thinking about all the books by Usborne Books and More that would fit in with her library. Then I realized how many parents, doctors, teachers, museums, and others who follow Preschool Engineering and how you might like this collection, too.
YouJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-63133817368569229192017-08-30T18:29:00.000-07:002017-08-30T18:29:08.379-07:00STEAM by Usborne Books and MoreThis one is for you Preschool Engineer fans! I scoured the Usborne Books and More website and chose some nonfiction books for you to enjoy with your young children. Most of these are listed for the older set of preschoolers 5+ or kindergartners but, in my experience, any "Lift the Flap" or "See Inside" books work with young children, too.
There are more STEAM books about science for the older Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-19626987192120651002017-08-29T19:25:00.000-07:002017-08-29T19:33:31.589-07:00An Easy Way to Find 100 Things That Make You Happy
The Weight of a Word
Sometimes semantics get me. More often than not "gratitude" feels heavy to me. It feels serious. And as much as I know that it is the "little things" that count, it is easy for me to miss them. The wide eyes and smile of pride from my daughter when she does something hard.
So when I spotted this book at the library, I felt curious. It looked playful and fun and light and, Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-54949509116697729612017-08-29T18:57:00.001-07:002017-08-29T18:57:31.764-07:00Sensory Books by Usborne Books & MoreJust like the element of surprise in plot is important for older readers, the element of sensory surprise is important for visual and tactile learning.
This list is a selection of what I call "Sensory Books" by Usborne Books and More because, in my opinion, they have the corner on the market on unique kinds of sensory experiences for young readers.
See the entire list here: http://Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-44598123453867104482017-08-29T18:48:00.001-07:002017-08-29T18:48:49.476-07:00Provocations by Usborne Books & MoreIn our experience, these activity books are lovely provocations for children.
Find this list at: http://m6038.myubam.com/wishlist/a7843981-d2f3-4c81-a728-676e4c3dfc48
[By purchasing through this website, you contribute to the book fair for The Patchwork School.]
The Magic Paint Series
Brush water over the gorgeous b/w drawings using the brush or pen provided to see them Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-41838242655421906512017-08-28T08:45:00.000-07:002017-08-28T08:45:00.433-07:00When and Why You Should Clean Up Toys Depends on the Answer to this QuestionI Never Want To Clean
When you spend all day at home you use your home and the stuff inside of it. In preparing three meals and two snacks per day, the kitchen is almost constantly in use. Cutting boards, knives, dishes, and utensils get dirty and then cleaned. Crumbs need to be wiped from the counters and table, and swept up from the floor. Sometimes it seems like I spend just about all my timeJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-23239693183732838962017-08-24T18:33:00.000-07:002017-09-25T12:54:43.476-07:00Invitation to Learn Fairy Tales - Cinderella
A Learning Lifestyle
My preschoolers are officially not preschoolers any more. As we step into Kindergarten and 2nd grade, and as a family new to "officially" homeschooling, I recently bought writing curriculum from BraveWriter and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The guidance offered essentially advocates for 1) focusing on creating an environment filled with books, music, and Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-87712613482111066692017-08-15T11:45:00.000-07:002017-08-15T11:49:29.487-07:00Invitation to Learn Eclipses
A Learning Lifestyle
My preschoolers are officially not preschoolers any more. As we step into Kindergarten and 2nd grade, and as a family new to "officially" homeschooling, I recently bought writing curriculum from BraveWriter and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The guidance offered essentially advocates for 1) focusing on creating an environment filled with books, music, and Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6662368697345535408.post-57235993556325573212017-08-14T08:00:00.000-07:002017-08-14T19:15:40.459-07:00The Secrets of a Happy Life. Homeschooling or Otherwise
It was spring and the days were getting longer. The sunshine seemed to bring with it healing energy - streaming in through our windows to wake us, inviting us outdoors and then warming us when we stepped into the light.
It had been two months since we disenrolled Tigger from public school and we were beginning to see him come back to his normal self. Over the course of six months Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18028281864249625327noreply@blogger.com1