DIY Classroom Reading Corner with Cuddle® Fabric and Fairfield World

Every elementary school classroom needs somewhere comfortable to curl up with a good book.  Of all the reading areas we've helped with (and there have been a lot), this DIY Reading Corner is definitely my favorite.  HUGE thanks to Fairfield World for donating all the "insides" supplies for this project and another HUGE thanks to Shannon Fabrics for donating all of colorful chevron cuddle fabrics.  Both companies jumped into action when I requested materials and we got this project finished just in time for the first day of school.  Fairfield World has compensated me for writing this post, but all ideas, opinions, and enthusiasm are 100% my own.  This post also contains affiliate links.

My daughter's first grade teacher last year was brand-new to our school, and this year, she got to move in to a larger room with space for a reading corner.  She wanted a really large bench with lots of pillows for relaxing.  She's decorated her room with bright bulletin boards surrounded with chevron trim, so we decided to keep with that theme for the reading corner too.

We used mostly solid Embossed Chevron Cuddle® for the larger pillows and then made some smaller accent pillows using the Easiest Ever Cuddle® Pillow Instructions on Shannon Fabrics blog.

We also knew that it was a MUST that the reading bench cover and pillow covers come off for easy washing.  I NEVER donate any fabric goods to the school that can't be washed.

Two Cents

I thought for the last day of our Read-Along I'd do a few more general posts about preschool and reading...besides...a few days ago, I promised to tell you my advice for doing some home pre-schooling the way we do home pre-schooling.  For those of you that may have missed that post, an email got me thinking I should write this.  A mom, trained in Montessori, of a 12-18 month old girl emailed to ask me for advice in using Montessori methods with a child that young.  She'd been frustrated that her daughter didn't seem interested in many of the activities.  Even though I was super flattered she was asking me, I had to tell her that I really don't know much at all about Montessori...but I did give her what advice I could in how I've taught my kids.   So...let me remind you, that I am NOT an early childhood education expert and really have no training in this whatsoever...except the training that my own kids have given me.  And as any parent of more than one child will tell you...kids are DIFFERENT, so what works for me and my kids, may or may not work in your family.  Feel free to contribute your own suggestions and ideas in the comments.

This is just my two cents...

For really young kids (before 2 years especially if they're your first)...

• My main advice is to get your child and you out of the house.  While I believe there is a lot your child is learning at this stage, they don't have much of an attention span for structured activities. 

(Little Farm, Berkeley, CA {free activity})
• We bought the premium membership to one children's museum and the local zoo so that we could always invite a friend and their children to come with us for free.  By buying a membership, you'll go more because you want to get your money's worth...and if you buy one that allows you to bring a friend it's a lot more fun for mom, which means you'll want to go more.  This gives your child rich, age appropriate experiences and gives you a chance to get out of the house and chat with a friend.  (Where we live now, we're a lot farther away from these sorts of resources, but we take advantage of them when we can.)

(Bay Area Discovery Museum and the Oakland Zoo)
• Find a couple of other young moms with kids your kids' age and just hang out.  When your child is driving you nuts, just give them a call and say, "Hey...want to come over {or can I come over}?  My kid is driving me CRAZY!"  Chances are their kid is driving them crazy too.  The kids will entertain each other and the moms can chat.
• Go for lots of walks.  It's good exercise, and every young child I know loves to be outside.  A walk can turn a cranky morning into a pleasant one.  It's even better if you call up a friend and go together.

(Me and my friend Lisa taking our kids for a walk...5 years ago...she's taking the pic.)
• If you have an older child, let your younger one participate in their pre-school activities when they show an interest.  They'll love some of the things you do with your older child...and sometimes they just won't be interested.

For older toddlers/preschool age (2-3 years)

• Find one or two basic pre-school type materials that you think will work for you.  Don't go crazy trying out every program.  Get recommendations from friends with kids 1-2 years older than yours.  We've mostly stuck with the Bob Books and Happy Phonics and been happy with them.
• Choose a picture book...any picture book...it doesn't always have to be one of the great works of children's literature, and then do an activity that goes with the book.  The activity doesn't need to be anything fancy.  In fact it's better if it's not a fancy activity, because you need to be...

(Seeing Red Preschool Activity)
• Prepared for some of your activities to flop.  Even some of the activities you're most excited about and "just know they'll LOVE" will flop.  With a 2 year old, be prepared for only 50% or so of your activities to really engage them.  (Although sometimes they don't seem to show interest, but then will talk about the activity the next day when they see the book.)  The closer they get to 3 years and beyond, the more likely your activities will meet with the kind of success you've envisioned.

(Counting Cockatoos - Sweet Pea was not interested...but she loved the bird I helped her make and the book after the fact.)
• When you're not feeling particularly inspired, head to the library and look through the children's books.  You'll find at least a few that you can easily think of activities for.  Take your kids with you.  They like choosing out some of their own books.
• The more you get into a book-activity routine with your child, the more they'll ask for it and the easier it will be for you to think of activities.
• Do it as often as you can.  For us that is usually about 3 times a week.   Sometimes we really get on a roll and do one everyday...and sometimes we have a really busy week, and we don't do it at all.
• Some of my best activities didn't come to me until we were already reading the book.

(Colorful Chameleons - This was a favorite...and completely easy and last minute idea.)
• Work with your child's strengths.  I've been lucky that my kids seem to have been ready to pick up reading early, but some kids just develop that ability later.

For older preschoolers (3-5 years)

• When your child has progressed enough that they can sound out words, have some books at a very easy level, like the Bob Books, and have them read for 5-10 minutes a day. 

• Have them work on reading 1-3 books (so they have a little choice) until they can read them without stumbling over the words.  Once they've "passed off" one book, then add another book so that they always have a couple of books to choose from.
• We've had great success using reading rewards charts.  Each time our kids read a book, they get to mark off a square and after every 5 squares or so, there's some kind of reward.  If it's an extra hard book or something, you can let them cross out extra squares.

The Pay-Offs

• My kids love books...they've gotten used to the idea that they're fun.

• My kids ask to "do preschool" all the time.  Sometimes I feel guilty if I have to tell them that I'm too busy.  This one is a huge pay-off for me, and I try to remember it on the days when my activity doesn't go as well as I'd like.
• Firecracker and now Little Brother are both early readers, and it gives them something to be proud of. 

• My kids start thinking of their own activities to do with books they read.
• It's just plain great "quality time" with my kids. 

• I enjoy reading the children's books and look forward to going to the library as much as they do.

Now, I know of parents who put a lot more effort than we have into teaching their children to read, but their kids had dyslexia or other learning disabilities.  If your child has learning disabilities, you're not likely to know that when they're pre-school age.  It may make some pre-school activities more difficult, but it's all the more important to engage them with books in whatever way you can.  By helping them enjoy books at a very young age will give them an attitude that books are something they want in their lives. 

Read-Along Wrap-Up and Link-Up

Wow!!  THANK YOU so much too all of you who have joined in our Read-Along. 

When I first thought up this idea, I was thinking maybe I'd get 10 or 15 people, so that I'd only have to do about half the posts to have a full month of book activities.  When all was said and done we had 40 other bloggers participating and you all contributed some fabulous ideas.  I've loved becoming familiar with so many new books...and so many new friends.

 

I've got a couple more posts coming up later today about reading activities and preschooling in general, but I thought the perfect way to wrap things would be a bit of a PARTY!!

First, leave a comment and tell me what your favorite children's book is and/or what your favorite Read-Along post was.

Second, be sure to check out my children's book archives.  During the month of the Read-Along I've gotten them totally up-to-date and easily browsable with pictures.

Third, link up your own posts.  Let's see any book posts you'd like to share.  I'll do a Round-Up with some of my favorites in a few days...or a week...sometime...

• No need to add my button to your post (because I know it's a pain to go back and add buttons after the fact...).
• Link-Up as many as you'd like.
• It's not required...but don't you want to become a follower?  Oh...you already are...or you wouldn't be reading this...okay...

I can't wait to see what you come up with...and tomorrow we'll get back to the regular random mix of crafty stuff.

Dirt on my Shirt - Read Along with Me

We'd all forgotten about Little Brother's love affair with dirt until we started getting the yard ready for gardening this last week.  I don't know how we could have forgotten, when we have pictures like this from last summer.

The Rainy Day - Read Along with My Own Road

Wow!  Can you believe it's the end of March?!?  This read-along has been a blast.  I've got a couple more book themed posts for you tomorrow, but I'd like to present Jen from My Own Road as our last Read-Along Guest Post!

Little Cloud - Read Along with Feels Like Home

I used to think I was familiar with most of the Eric Carle books, but I keep discovering new ones...to the point where I thought I knew about all of them...but Tara from Feels Like Home as proved me wrong again.

{Disappearing Cat Cake} - Where's the Cat? - Read Along with Me

Prepare to laugh with me (not at me...because I know you all are too polite) when you see this cake.  If you've ever had a cake not turn out quite the way you'd planned...well...know you're not alone.

Meet the disappearing cat...

When I sent this picture to my sister Katie, she thought I'd decorated a big pile of Chex Party Mix...so here's a close-up view where you can see him better...

I know I mentioned Where's the Cat by Stella Blackstone back before our Read-Along started...but it goes SO perfectly with how Sweet Pea's birthday cake turned out...I had to mention it again.  Besides it's one of Sweet Pea's favorite books.

So before you think that I planned to have the cake turn out this way...let me explain.  My original thought was to have a light colored cat, outlined with Nutella to see it's features  (because I was too lazy to make dark frosting and you all know Sweet Pea loves Nutella). We don't really like the typical buttercream all that much, though, so I thought I'd try out a Rocky Road frosting recipe instead...afterall the different ingredients would give some varied colors like cat fur and the melted marshmallows would lighten it up a bit right?  Not quite.

Then it turns out that Rocky Road Frosting doens't spread all that well...especially if you've added some coconut and mini chocolate chips in addition to the called for marshmallows and chopped walnuts.  So the sides of the cake were bare.

That's okay, though...it's all the easier to take bits out of it if your parents aren't fast enough serving it up.

And even though the cake looked ridiculous...the only person I really needed to impress was this adorable new 2-year-old.

And she's pretty easily pleased by anything sweet with frosting...and even though the frosting looks a bit funny...it did taste delicious. 

Sweet Pea had a pretty good birthday overall.  She loved the faux embroidery Firecracker made for her...

...and Nana and Granddad (my grandparents) unknowingly matched the theme with a cat coloring book.

...and Sweet Pea loved the scrapbook I made for her...even though I'd only gotten about 6 pages of pictures (and hadn't even added captions yet.)

The Tiny Tadpole - Read Along with Impress Your Kids

I've been keeping an eye out in blog land for different puppet ideas, since I'm hoping to make more puppets with the kids this summer...so I was super excited to see what Amanda from Impress Your Kids came up with for our read-along.

Amanda and her kids made these fun tadpole and frog puppets to go with The Tiny Tadpole by by Judith Nicholls and help her kids learn about life cycles.  Head on over for the directions.

Tacky the Penguin - Read Along with Craftiness is Not Optional

I'm so happy to have Jess from Craftiness is Not Optional here to share a book today. 

Just look at these adorable finger puppets she came up with to go with Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester.

One of the things I'm hoping to do with Firecracker over the summer is a lot more puppet theater and acting out the stories we read.  This will be perfect!

Jess even includes the instructions and the free printable pattern.

And if you're not already familiar with Craftiness is not Optional, prepare to spend an hour or two looking through all Jess's great ideas.  She's got some seriously amazing sewing skills...and then writes tutorials about them, so you can have some amazing sewing skills too.  You can start by checking out her tutorials archive here.


If you're just now joining us, be sure to visit our Read-Along Archives to see the books we've already read.

The Big Green Pocketbook - Read Along with The Adventures of Bear

Sometimes the very best book activities are the ones that are the simplest!  My kids are so used to doing activities that go with a book that they think of their own sometimes.

And I love that that's just how this activity was born!

The Girl Who Painted Trees read The Big Green Pocketbook by Candice Ransom with her daugther...who went and made this cute pocketbook on her own!



If you're just now joining us, be sure to visit our Read-Along Archives to see the books we've already read.

Spaghetti and Scriptures - Read Along with Me

This is something I do to get me and the little ones through lunch time.  Lunch can be a struggle for us because the kiddos are tired and almost ready for their naps.  That often makes them hyper and forget their table manners.

So I distract them.  We have a set of scripture story prints, and I just pull a few out, put them on the table and we discuss the stories.  (Do you like my high tech picture holder...maybe someday I'll come up with something crafty and cute...but not anytime soon.)

You might not be able to tell by the pictures...

...but it does improve their table manners, and helps them become more familiar with the scripture stories.

I couldn't find the link to our set online anymore, but it's very similar to The Gospel Art Book available here.  It's only a few dollars.  Totally worth the money.

My set has the scripture stories written on the back, or you can pull out your regular scriptures and read to the kiddos.


If you're just now joining us, be sure to visit our Read-Along Archives to see the books we've already read.

Surprise Soup - Read Along with Front Porch Beauty

Jess of Front Porch Beauty is here to share Surprise Soup by Mary Ann Rodman. 

And I love that they used all the soup ingredients to make such awesome art!  What a great way to let kids play with their food!!

Head on over and read more about this truly delightly sibling story.



If you're just now joining us, be sure to visit our Read-Along Archives to see the books we've already read.

The Doorbell Rang - Read Along with The Polka Dot Umbrella

Wouldn't Saturday be the perfect day to make some Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies...and read The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins?!?

Emily of The Polka Dot Umbrella is here to share of her favorite books, and a delicious cookie recipe. 

I'm a little ashamed to say that we brought this book home from Goodwill a while ago, but since we haven't read it yet (I keep our thrift store books in reserve so we can pull a few "new" ones out each week.).

I had no idea it was such a great math book...and such a good excuse to make cookies.  You know we LOVE math books around here.

Emily has a lot of great ideas, so be sure to check out past posts.  We're getting the gardening bug around here, so I'm super impressed with all the starts Emily shows here.



If you're just now joining us, be sure to visit our Read-Along Archives to see the books we've already read.