Pipe cleaner counting

When my husband and I decided to keep our daughter home and not send her to preschool it wasn't just because I was a SAHM.  Even though that was a HUGE part of it, that wasn't the only reason.  In my mind, I felt like it would benefit her more to stay home for preschool rather than send her.  The preschool I would have to send her to is ALL day and EVERY day!  I was a little scared to put her on that bus!  I also wanted more time with her at home. Before long she will be getting on that bus and heading down the road and that will be it.  Trying to hold back the tears...  So, I decided to try my hand at homeschooling her.  Well....easier said than done.  There are days where she is so wound up that I can't get her to sit down for 5 minutes and listen.  I found this neat idea on Pinterest and she really likes it.  All I did was buy beads, pipe cleaners, and I already had index cards.

Cut the pipe cleaners in half. Cut the index cards and put numbers on them.  I went from 1 to 15 for now.

Then, there you go.  An easy way to teach your child to count.  Whatever number the pipe cleaner has on it is how many beads she puts on the designated pipe cleaner!

You know that chaotic time in your house?  Ours is right around dinner time!  The baby is crying, Peter is getting home from school, and she is wanting to be right where I am in the kitchen.  I brought this out and let her work on it and it kept her busy while I could finish getting dinner ready!  She loved it!  

'S' says sssss....

Today, we started learning the letter 'S'!  We normally do one letter per week so I can make sure she knows the sound it makes and has practice writing the letter as well.  I found this writing board downstairs.  I forgot we had that so it came in handy today!  

 I have no idea why she decided to look like this.  I ask her to smile and this is what she gives me!  

 Maison is doing shapes for school today.  I don't think he has decided which shape tastes the best, but he did take a break and give me a cute smile (probably showing off his 1st tooth that finally came in too)!  Too bad he couldn't smile like this for his 9 month pictures last week.  I guess his gums were hurting.

 Abigail discovered the other side took chalk!  We have PLENTY of chalk!  Hint to family members - we do NOT need any more chalk for birthday presents!  NONE!!

I am not quite sure what this was, but isn't she still cute?

We ended the lesson reading the book and studying the 'S' sounds.  I don't know if any of you have ever heard of this book, but I found it on ebay.

M & M Counting (and eating)

Ok, so I love doing fun things with Abigail that also teaches her in the process!  I don't know if any of you have ever heard of this book before, but it is really awesome!  I got it from the library and I have had it for awhile.  I better get it back before I get a late fee!  Anyway, all you need is this book by Barbara McGrath and M & M's!  Yep, I said M & M's!  They are not only good for eating, but learning AND eating!  How great is that!!  

The book tells you to find 1 blue, 2 green, 3 orange, 4 yellow, 5 red, and 6 brown!

I have to keep a close eye on her!  She is pretty sneaky!  She likes to give herself rewards for finding them!  I reward myself too for helping!  Hee, hee, hee!!  

Every time I ask her if she wants to count M & M's she gets so excited!  Look how how serious she looks here!  Now if I could only get a Snickers counting book, I would be happy!!

Before the book tells you to EAT the candies, it tells you to put them in a square,

a circle,

and a triangle!!

Now, it's time to eat them.  Basically, the book tells you to take away the red one, then count how many you have.  Next, the blue one, and so on and so on!  When the books tells you to take away the 6 brown, that's when I get to help eat them!  

Well, that's all for today!  It's time to do some more M & M counting!  Well, maybe we should wait til AFTER lunch!