RuthAnn Lane

Loving these mini squirrels in our sensory bin this season. 🐿️

Practicing our ten frame with part of an egg carton and sensory items to sort. 🥚

Today, we were sorting the squirrels out and counting them in our ten frame. 🧮

We love play based learning that integrates sensory and math concepts. 🤓

How do you utilize sensory bins?

Project Based Learning isn't an easy classroom methodology to begin with.

But with all of the craziness in the world right now, PBL units can feel like a struggle.

As PBL facilitators, there are some great strategies for trying to flip you PBL unit flop.

Check out the full article on my website linked in my bio.

Sometimes your 2.5 year old is sick while you are homeschooling. 😫

So... you wear him and teach the other two. 🤪

I have never felt so seen by a children's picture book. 😂

Here's to the Mamas with the quivering Jell-O molds falling to the floor on their imperfect Thanksgivings. 🥂

I loved how this book teaches a deeper concept of comparison during the holidays but from a kiddo's perspective. ❤️

I laughed so hard and my preschooler asked a lot of great questions. 🤔

Definitely a morning basket win! 📚

12 years my junior, this Aunt's "cool" factor is WAY better than mine lol. And her energy level is much closer to that of my tinies. ☺️

Today, I am grateful not only for Aunt Sophia, but for all of the amazing people who emotionally give of themselves to my kiddos.

Thank you Lord for our village! 🙏

We're off to see the Wizard! 🧙‍♂️

Happy Halloween!!! 🎃

As a twin mom, I love when I can do an activity I see online for both my boys at once. 👶👶

This noodle strainer and pipe cleaners lasted almost half an hour! They pulled and pushed the pipe cleaners in and out of the holes.

Building curiosity is one of my passions as an educator! ❤️

This "I wonder" board is from two classes that I teach for our homeschool co-op. One is for ages 5 to 8 and the other is 9+.

I utilize the "I wonders" to help me design STEAM challenges for them.

Do you use that I wonder board? How do you use "I wonders" in your class?

Check out the link in my bio for how to blog post.

Preschool pumpkin lesson tip!🎃

Drop your pumpkin to crack it then wait 5 to 6 days so that it is soft and easy to investigate! 🤦‍♀️

Today's inquiry based lesson kicked off our pumpkin unit. 🧐

I brought a pumpkin in that we had dropped that was soft and easy to cut and pull apart. 🍴

My preschooler and I asked questions about pumpkins to research later as she investigated it. 🔍

We used tools and collected parts in specimen jars to take closer looks at. Then she used her science journal to sketch what she noticed. 🥼

This was so much fun! 🎃

I love activities that all three of them can do at the same time. ❤️

Magnetic tent boards with picture and magnetic letters are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. 🧲

My littles love to use the pictures and practicing new words. 🥑

My preschooler loves to use the letters and match upper and lower cases. 🅰️

This activity usually lasts us about half an hour to 45 minutes. ⏳

Do you have any magnet ideas? I would love to hear them in the comments!

Unpopular opinion: Store bought seasonal crafts are the best way to craft with little kids.

I know I should say how much I love to get creative and research and gather for them to make something super unique.

But the truth is they love the store bought crafts just as much as I do.

And bonus...

I'm not super stressed out from all the gathering and research to make something elaborate and unique thing. Which means I enjoy this time with them WAY more.

Our favorite places for store bought crafts include...
🎃 Dollar Tree
❤️.Dollar General
🍁 Hobby Lobby
🍂 Michael's
🚜 Jo-Ann's

We always hit those dollar stores first and have found some REALLY cute wood crafts.

What is your preferred crafting method? Any tips to share?

It's that time again! is where we live this time of year. 🚜🎃🍂

This year we have a new sensory holder that makes sensory play with all three kids so much easier. 🥳

We made two bins and filled them with lots of things from the dollar store and Hobby Lobby. 🍁

Our fillers are oats and an oat/bean mixture. As October progresses, we will add a dash of pumpkin spice mixture in to give it a scent. 👃

This mama of three littles finally got wise and started putting a tablecloth under our sensory play. Makes clean up so much easier! 🧹