ABC's and 123's
Colors
Shapes
I don't really know what to call the "stuff" that I have made for my daughter. I heard from a friend that taught 1st graders that they needed to recognize words like shapes (circle, triangle, etc), colors, (red, green, etc). So I have taken that information to the extreme.
1. I first cut out with my cricut and by hand different shapes. I just used regular colored printer paper, I think that construction paper or cardstock would work perfectly as well. I did a circle, rectangle, square, oval, diamond, star, and triangle. I should have also done a hexagon and a heart and there are probably more that I should have done, but you get the gist.
2. I then wrote the name of the shape and did a border around the edge. I did it with a regular black marker.
3. Then I took them to a copy shop (after I called 10 different places to get quotes on how much it would cost me) and had them laminated. I would definately call around if you are going to have a professional do the laminating because it could save you a lot of money.
4. I repeated this process with the crayons ( in the picture you can see that I did the black crayon with white out, I know there is a better way, I just didnt have it available to me at the moment).
5. When I got them back from the laminator I cut them out again and put a small magnet on the back of each paper. The magnets that I used were in a 10 ft rolls of 1/2 inch magnets that are like stickers so they can stick to the paper. I cut the magnets into 1/2 - 1/4 inch magnets and then took the paper off the back of the magnets and stuck them to the papers.
ABC's and Numbers
1. For the ABC's and numbers that you see that are really small I cut the letters and the numbers out using the Keystone cartridge (size 1 1/2) and then I glued them to 2 inch squares in a different color.
2. Laminate and add a magnet to the back. ABC's and numbers (they measured 2 inches square)
Word Strips
1. I did word strips that measured 3 inches by however long the word was. I don't have a picture of this but if you would like a pic let me know and I will post it. The words had things like different types of clothing, different everyday objects, food, body parts, and important sight words (and, the, in, above, etc) and spanish words. The spanish words also have a matching color of paper that has the english word on it.
2. I cut the papers down to size after writing the words on them
3. Take to the laminator and follow the above directions.
Spanish Words and English Words
Gracias-Thank You
Porro0-Dog
Gato-Cat
Por Favor-Please
Leche-Milk
Aqua-Water
Vaca-Cow
Chango-Monkey
Pollo-Chicken
Serpiente-Serpent
Oso-Bear
Leon-Lion
Padre-Daddy
Madre-Mommy
Hermana-Sister
Hermano-Brother
Mas-More
Un Poco-A Little
Jugo-Juice
Hola-Hi/Hello
Adios-Bye
Animals
1. On the cricut cartridges that I own that have animals on them, I cut out the different animals and layered different colors on them to make them funner for the kids.
2. I made sure that I had word strips to match the animals that were cut out. I think that using any picture that you have found on the internet or in magazines or even old books would work. The one thing to keep in mind is that if it is a magazine picture you might need to reinforce it on some other paper or cardstock. I think that I might do this so that I have more pictures to choose from. Continue as above to finish.
Body Parts
1. I did word strips of the different body parts and I was going to do a face and body, I did nt know how to go about doing it, but now I have the dress up cartrige that I purchased yesterday and I will be making the body for my daughter to match up the words with.
Frame:
My father in law is going to get me a scrap piece of tin from his work that I will have my dad frame for me. That way my daughter will have her own little work station. Until that is finished we will keep using the front door (that is metal) and the fridge to work on our colors and such. I have seen at Roberts and Micheals blackboards and metal boards that have a cute wood frame around them that you could cover or paint so that it is really cute. That is what I am working towards. When I get that done I will definately post it for you.
My daughter is only 2 1/2 but I think that it is never to late (or early) to start teaching your children.
