Live Love Learn Gracefully » Page 4 of 19 » Just a mom trying to make sense of this crazy, beautiful, and messy life.

When the Wind Blew and Other Picture Books about Weather

As a former reading teacher and lover of all books, I absolutely love when I can find great books to use in our preschool units and of course to share with all of you. We recently studied weather, you can see my post on Journaling here, which can be very scientific. My kids aren't quite at the stage where they will sit through long nonfiction books even with super cool pictures. So I always try to find fun picture books that we can use as well. Boy did I hit the jackpot this week! There … [Read more...]

How to Use Journaling to Learn about Weather with Preschoolers

It's March in Delaware which means that one day you are playing outside in shorts and the next you are preparing for snow. This week is the perfect example. We have seen a rainy day, a cloudy day, two somewhat sunny but very windy days, and they are calling for two inches of snow before the week is over. What a perfect week to study weather! Other than reading our usual stack of weather related books, we also took advantage of the sunny days to venture outside. There is no better way to … [Read more...]

Hands On Activities for Preschoolers: Dilly’s Tree House

This is a review of Dilly's Tree House, but the opinions are 100% honest and my own! As a stay at home mom to three preschool ages girls, plus two preschool aged boys that I watch during the week, I am always on the look out for fun hands-on activities. Preschool is such a fun age and the sky is the limit on the incredible things you can explore with your preschoolers. Which can actually make it very daunting. I love activities that revolve around a book or multiple books. Activities that … [Read more...]

The Quiet Game and Other Letter Q Activities

One week you are teaching the Letter A and have a plethora of amazing activities. You have the kids marching like ants, eating apples, reading about Aunt Alice's Airplane, making apple pie, and more. Then, you move on to Letter Q and your creativity comes to a crashing halt. Let's face it, some letters are harder to teach than others. Our letter this week was Q! Other than quilts, queens, and quail there isn't a whole lot you can do with this letter. At least I struggle! In order to … [Read more...]

Ways You Can Save by Using Coupons by Groupon

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. Picture this... you just took your kids Spring shopping. You found some good deals, shopped around. Way to go, you are one smart mama! You get home, proud of your loot, only to discover a 15% off coupon for one store and a 50% off for another. Total Bummer. I love a good deal and I especially love finding the right coupons. Now you can do both with Groupon. My husband and I have used Groupon for years! … [Read more...]

Binoculars, Shovels, and More: Nature Walk Series

You set out on an amazing adventure. A new park that you've been eyeing but just haven't had to chance to check out. The kids have all had a snack, and they all have on proper shoes. Everyone went potty before you left the house. Everything should be perfect. Should be perfect. Does this sound familiar? Five minutes in to your amazing adventure it all falls apart. Someone has to go potty and there isn't one in sight. Someone's shoe won't stay one. Someone is too hot or too cold. Does … [Read more...]

Modern Day Historical Fiction Unit: Towers Falling

Sometimes teaching History isn't comfortable. It isn't easy! Some aspects of History hit too close to home, and for a variety of reasons. Which is the very reason why we have to teach it. The newest Literature Unit here at Live Love Learn Gracefully covers a more modern part of history. Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes is a fantastic novel about a young, homeless girl living in New York City. This novel discusses the events of 9/11, the aftermath, the idea of community, and homelessness … [Read more...]

What do you miss by constantly going full throttle? It’s time to take pause.

When the twins were a little older than a year old we began to work with a Speech Therapist. During an initial meeting with our speech therapist, she began asking me all kinds of background questions. Most of which I answered with ease, some I fumbled through, and one in particular I sat dumbfounded. It's time to take pause. As a mom, I will never forget that meeting. I will never forget not being able to answer questions about my own child. Things that I should easily have known or been … [Read more...]