Make It Your Own

I have two tips for my BLFs...

One, I look through the million Oriental Trading catalogs I receive and I copy the craft ideas! So, instead of purchasing their craft kits, I take their idea and use supplies I have in the library to make it myself! Their kits are costly for large groups because they usually contain enough for maybe a dozen kids. If they use craft foam, I just use construction paper! I tweak it to work for my program, budget and supplies. I have used so many holiday ideas from their catalogs! Most people probably don't know that!

Second, I look through educational catalogs like Lakeshore, Learning Resources, Hatch, Learning Shop, Child Craft, Kaplan, etc. and I look at their educational items and make it myself. I LOVE all the educational resources that are out there, but they are just plain expensive! Here is a simple example, (but if you use your imagination and creativity, the possibilities are limitless) a early math skills manipulative - the Smart Snacks Counting Cookies from Learning Resources for $17.00.

I will be making this by taking a big plastic container that I got from Sam's Club that used to have pretzels inside and decorating it to look like a cookie jar. Then I will make the cookies with the numbers on one side and chips on the other. I will laminate these and I will use it in my next program. BLFs- you can easily do this at home! So much fun to be had learning at home!

Two Gems I Share with My BLFs

My oldest brother gave me two bits of advice when I was young which have remained with me my entire life.

First, he told me to never rely on just one source,  like the textbook for a class. So, in school, no matter what subject matter I was learning about, I always sought out other resources. I went to the library and got other books, videos, etc. He told me that we all learn in different ways and one book might just illustrate a concept in a way that clicks for you.

When I had my daughter, I took this to a another level. If we visited the zoo, I would stop at the library and check out books on zoos or animals. If we went to the art museum, I would bring home books about artists and art. If she asked me a question about a rainbow, I would check out books about rainbows. If an ant crawled over her foot when we were outside, I made sure I had books about ants in the house. As she grew, whatever she was learning in school, I would always make sure I had books in the house about that subject for her to enjoy. I never forced her to read them, but simply made them available. She generally picked them up on her own out of her own interest.

By having books around the house about a variety of subjects, I was encouraging and supporting her interests while indirectly telling her that this 'stuff' isn't something you just do in school. It isn't boring and it isn't work. It's exciting and interesting to learn new things and books can quench your thirst for more knowledge.

Second bit of advice my brother told me...always carry a book with you wherever you  go.