It’s summer and a great time to use the resources of your local library.  However, if you’re anything like me (and several others I’ve read about online) you tend to forget to return some library books and fines start accruing.  Here’s some simple ideas to help you avoid paying library fines.  Use one or use them all.  Do you have a different system?  Leave a comment to tell us about it.

• The Library Shelf — all of our library books live on the Library Shelf.  This is 1 section of our shelves dedicated to library books.  When not being read no books are allowed in kid’s bedrooms, or laying all over the house (too many lost).  This way we always know where the books are.
• The Library Bag — when we’re done reading a book it goes in the Library Bag.  This bag goes with us to the library.  We currently use a heavy duty Old Navy fabric bag like this one.  When it’s time to go to the library, just grab the bag and go.  No need to scrounge around the house and look  for the books to return.  This also helps with library runs on a whim.  I just take the bag and go.
• Write it Down — write down your due dates.  Many libraries offer you a printed receipt with due dates.  Place it on your fridge so you can see it every day.  Or, note the due date on you calendar.
• Check the website — does your library offer online access  to your account?  If so, check it out and see when your books are due.    Also, use this feature to renew books that you want to keep past their due date.  Doing so lets you keep the book longer and avoids fines.

Wondering what others do with their library books?  Check out some other blogs:

Marcia at Organising Queen about Library Fines

The Happy Housewife’s Book Basket

Happy Summer Reading!

Circo Jeans from Target

FYI…..I ran into Target today and found their Girl’s Circo jeans clearanced for $5!  Sizes and styles will vary by store, but if you’re in the market for some kid jeans (sizes 4-16), head on over to your local Target.

Happy Savings!

Are you a school employee or even a Book Fair Volunteer?  If so, you can shop at the Scholastic Warehouse Sale.  Look for a location near you.  Then register online and print out your coupon for $10 off $50 or $25 off $100+. This is a higher percentage off than past sales.

Most sales are the 2nd and 3rd week in May.  Stock up for summer reading, gifts, etc.  Many books and Scholastic branded items can be found for up to 80% off publisher price.

Locally, Scholastic sponsors school Book Fairs and many teachers offer monthly book orders through Scholastic.  So, many of the titles you’ve seen in the flyers will also be available at the warehouse.  Note that hot selling items will probably not be available.  When Harry Potter came out it was not offered at their Warehouse Sale — even though it was published by Scholastic.  But don’t be detered, there’s lots of great books out there.

If you’re in the Greater Cincinnati area, there’s a warehouse in West Chester off I-75 and Union Centre Blvd (not far from IKEA and the Frontgate Outlet). (Note the change in hours from past sales.)

Our sale is Wed., 5/5/10 – Wed., 5/19/10
Weekdays 11 AM – 7 PM
Saturdays 10 AM – 3 PM
closed Sundays

Here’s a PDF flyer from Scholastic about the sale.

The Tri-County Half Price Books is relocating.  New store opening in the Shoppes of Indian Springs near Bridgewater Falls.  Check your newspaper for opening days coupons of 20-40% off a single item.

Half Price Books is a great place to go for used and discounted new books.  The selection is always changing so you never know what you’ll find.

Q is for QUACK!

To introduce this letter, put a duck in a box or bag and give the kids 3 clues to what’s inside.

• I’m small
• I’m yellow
• I can swim
• I can fly
• I say ‘quack’

Song

5 Little Ducks

Book

Duck reviewed by Pioneer Woman – I didn’t see this book on my library run, but I sure wish I had it when I was teaching the letter Q.  What a cute book.

I liked sharing non-fiction books about Ducks this week.  Check out the 598.4 area of the non-fiction section of your local library.  Look for books with lots of pictures or drawings of ducks.  We talked about how duck families are the same as ours — their parents love them, take care of them, teach them skills, and travel in a group.

Games/Activities

Perfect day for a game of Duck, Duck, Goose.  I’ve noticed that if children haven’t played this game very much it takes a bit of practice for them to get into the routine of jumping up and running around the circle.  For this age group I just have both kids run and the kid who was ‘it’ sits down while the kid he said ‘goose’ to is the new ‘it’.  In my house there’s tears if a kid gets caught and has to sit in the middle of the circle.

Lucky Duck – This cute preschool game teaches kids colors as they match the sticker on the bottom of a plastic duck to the color on their lily pad.  Warning: this game is loud.  We put duct tape over the speaker to muffle the sound.  While I probably wouldn’t spend $25 on this game, I’ve seen it available used at garage sales, and consignment stores like Once Upon A Child.  Grandma gave us ours (picked up used) and the kids have enjoyed it for years.

Paper Plate Duck from Enchanted Learning – this is a cute little activity for young ones.  Since most at this age don’t have the fine motor skills to use scissors, I suggest you break this craft up into 2 days.  Day 1: trace each kid’s hand (and/or let them try to do each others).  Write the kids names on their hands in pencil.  While you’re helping trace hands, have each kid fold a paper plate in half and color it yellow.  Day 1.5: cut out all the handprints. Day 2: Time to glue.  Assemble the duck as per the directions.

If you’re just joining us you may want to read the “How to set up a co-op preschool” post. Each week I’ll be sharing ideas for introducing your preschoolers to the letters of the alphabet. Not all of these ideas will work for everyone. As the year goes on, you’ll figure out what works for your group of kids. To start the alphabet, check out ideas for the letters A and B or just bookmark this page for all my preschool ideas.

This morning I read on the Happy Housewife blog that this week is National Library Week.  That lady is so smart.  She’s always got great useful and insightful information.  Check her out.  So, she asked what each of us was reading this week and so I decided to write a short review of the library book on my shelf.

I don’t know how I found this book, but I’m sure glad I did.  I’ve been reading Rafe Esquith’s Lighting Their Fires: Raising Extraordinary Children in a Mixed-up, Muddle-up, Shook-up World.  Doesn’t the title just make you want to pick it up and see what it’s about?   Mr. Esquith has taught in Los Angeles for more than 24 years and won awards including the American Teacher Award.  Doing a few google searches I see that there are many references to his non-traditional teaching style and he’s often referred to as one of the best teachers in America.

Mr Esquith uses a trip to a baseball game with some of his students as a backdrop for the book.  As the innings go by he talks about different skills children need in their intellectual backpacks.  These are not just paper, pencil, books, but skills for life.  He reminds us that these are often not easy to learn and master, but they are important.  A few of my favorites include:

• Focus — take away the ipod and TV and listen to a game on the radio.  This requires much concentration to understand what is happening on the field.  When we learn to focus we can accomplish great things.
• Take the TV out — he tells a great story of a teacher who was frustrated with one student who always came to class tired and without her homework.  Upon visiting the home he found the family eating dinner in front of the TV and the mother not willing to make and enforce rules about homework and the TV.  It’s important for us to teach our children to not be roped into mindlessly watching TV, just because it’s available.
• Philanthropy — Mr Esquith notes that selflessness isn’t a one-time act but a way of life.  He teaches his students to be thankful and giving.  One game he plays (I think daily) begins with “I’d like to thank….” and then the students thank others for their kindness and helpfulness that day.”  He encourages us to do things for others every day and not be worried about the praise and honor of men.  We do the right things because they are right, not because someone else will notice.

In reading this book I found that there are many things that our family is already doing, and I found it reassuring to note that we seem to be on the right track.  But Mr Esquith gives a multitude of examples and how they work or don’t work.  I think we’re going to start the “I’d like to thank….” during dinner.  What a great way to learn about the day to day lives of our family and also have some uplifting dinner conversation.

So, if you work with children in any way, I strongly recommend you read this book.  It’s a quick 192 pages, but it’s packed full of great insight.

Disclaimer: I was not paid to write this review.  The author nor the publisher knows I’m writing this blog post.  I am receiving no compensation.  If you do buy this book through my link to Amazon I am paid a small referral fee which is used to offset the costs associated with running this blog.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

This is a cute little kid’s book that’s great for a quick bedtime story.  Everyone is good at something and Sloth is no exception.  He’s very good at sleeping.

Check out this book from you local library, or buy one for your personal library.