Tot School {Planning March}

Once a month I sit down to do most of my planning and printing.  Over the past few months I've become more aware of what works and what doesn't, so it's become really quick to sit down and get it all done.  Throughout the year I'm always pinning ideas, have you ever noticed that you see some of the best ideas after the holiday or event?  Each month I try to keep things simple and follow a general format.

Each month I love printing a new cover for our notebook.  This one is a toddler version of resurrection eggs from the Happy Home Fairy, which we'll also in our lessons as Easter gets closer.  

Have you seen this idea?  Printing your Pinterest boards as lesson plans.  We'll I love it! I in fact am now making more specific boards because of it.  I can't wait to see how helpful it is this month to actually do my pins! It's so perfect for craft options.

We start out out time of learning by talking about the weather and practicing out ZooPhonics.  Usually I add one each week or two.  I'm not pushing phonics at this point, but she really enjoys them.  If she doesn't pick up on the new letter, then I don't add any more.  It's really cool to see her comprehend this though! One day she was in the bath tub and said, "Mommy, bubbles.  Buh, buh, bubbles." Just like the format of ZooPhonics.

In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday we threw in a week or two of silly Seuss fun! There are lots of fun activities that I've been and can't wait to do, using my printed lesson plan.

Easter Basket Activity

We'll be spending a few weeks talking about Easter.  It's kind of a big deal around here! During Christmas I tried really hard to keep the focus on Jesus birth. Yes, we talked about santa, but we focused on the reason for the celebration.  That's how we want to do Easter too!  There are a lot of fun crafts and other activities I can't wait to do as well as printable sheets.

This is one of the sheets I'm excited to if Addi can do.  Sometimes I think I hold her back because I don't think she can do something (like figuring out which is different) I don't even present it to her.  But this one is a little more obvious, so I'm excited to add it to this month.  

Easter Egg Shape Matching {all others}

Oh the placed you'll go baby girl! 

Tot School {Christmas}

We're been doing various Christmas activities on and off.  

I updated my notebook with Christmas printables so we could quickly pull those out.

Earlier in the month I also made a list of things I wanted to do with the kids:

*See the decorations at the mall

*Decorate cookies

*Go look at Christmas lights

*Candy Cane Hunt

*Christmas play dough

*Lots of Christmas crafts

*Truth in the Tinsel printable ornaments

*Make our own nativity

*Indoor swimming party

*Christmas {snowman & candy cane} pizza

*And anything else along the way

Personally I like having a list of simple ideas that I can quickly do at any time with the kids.

Then when we have a few extra minutes I can pull out my notebook or do a fun activity.

Our quick go to activities are our playdough box and the printable ornaments.

One of our first activities was an indoor swimming party.  

Addi loved it! And she looks too old.

We also have lots of printables in the notebook to pull out and simple crafts ready to go.  

This one is construction paper, glue, and cotton balls. 

All three kids loved it {2 & 4 year olds}.

Tot School {Preparation}

Once a month I do a BIG print sessions to prepare my notebook.

Through out the year I save packets on my computer by seasons so they're easy to find. 

When it's print day I just go through the files, decide which ones will work, and print a ton!

Addi sits right on top of the print and computer waiting to snatch up the papers.

I love it! 

Since I've been trying to simplify how we tot school, printing once a month works really well. 

As everything comes out I put the main packet in a dividers, then if there are supplements or pages I know I will reuse I put them right into a page protector pocket.

Last week we wrapped up previous pages from some fall themes: apples, squirrels and leaves.

This week we will be focusing on Thanksgiving with printables and a few simple crafts. 

Then it's on to winter.  No, I'm not one of those crazy people who loves snow!

I love celebrating my King! 

We'll start off December with woodland creatures and owls.

Then we'll get to the good stuff!

I'm so excited for Christmas this year.  

Addi isn't super into presents yet, she thinks everything is awesome. 

I'm excited to have Christmas printables {gingerbread mean, candy canes, and the nativity.}

  That way during the business of the holidays we'll be able to take our celebration with us.

For advent I have a book about Christmas for her to open each day leading up to it. 

So there will be lots of cuddling up and reading this season too.

Perfect!