Ewa from Wczesnaedukacjanntkaikuby shared on Monday that she has a current giveaway for Karen Tyler’s Online Montessori Training Course (for 2-6).

I’ve heard a lot of great things about this course and hope to take it someday (hopefully soon!).

The giveaway includes a set of 12 downloadable teacher training albums, manuals, full curriculum, lectures etc, starting on March the 1st, 2012.

So, head on over to learn more about the training course and enter the giveaway!

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Do you have a fun tradition for Valentine’s Day?

Growing up I always looked forward to Valentine’s Day. It wasn’t the school parties or exchanging Valentine cards with friends. My mom made the day special. Each of us would get a card with a small present and in the evening we’d have a fancy dinner as a family.

The table would be set with the nice linens, my Mom’s china, and the silver. We’d even use glass goblets and ate by candlelight. The meal, however, was a mismatch of our favorite foods. (I always remember having shrimp with cocktail sauce.) Then we’d finish the evening off with dessert.

This is one tradition I’m continuing with our family and I’m already planning next week’s dinner.

Even though Valentine’s Day is an overly commercialized holiday, I think there’s value in setting aside a special day to celebrate your family and friends and showing your love in a not everyday way.

Not quite sure what to do for Valentine’s Day?

Here’s a few ideas from Pinterest:

Decorate

Free Printable Sweetheart Valentine’s Banner via Sandy Toes & Popsicles

Valentine’s Tree via Alderberry Hill

Valentine’s Chalkboard Printables via Nest of Posises

‘All You Need Is Love’ Printable via Love From the Oven

Valentine’s Mantle via The Shabby Creek Cottage

Keep Calm & Love On Poster via The Hands-On Housewife

Eat

Heart Pancakes via Gatorade Military

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies via Two Peas in Their Pod

Chocolate Chip Cookie Pops via Glorious Treats

Spiral Cookies via Sprinkle Bakes

Cards

Valentine’s Cards via Amy is the Party

Printable Valentines via One Charming Party

Vintage Valentine’s Cards via Vintage Holiday Cards

Crafts & Games

Paper Flower Tutorial via Dozi Design

Printable Jokes via Capturing Joy

Tic Tac Toe Hearts via Alpha Mom

Valentine’s Bingo via Crazy Little Projects

Paper Airplane Valentine via No Biggie

Hole-Punch Valentine Hearts via No Time for Flashcards

What Valentine’s plans or traditions do you have?

Our first week getting back into routine was pretty well. We managed to do “school” most mornings with a lot of practical life Valentine’s inspired activities.

Counting Conversation Hearts

Pin poking has been a favorite activity of Joey’s this week.

Transferring with wooden balls.

Practicing in and out with a homemade imbucare box.

What are you up to this week? 

I’m planning to start our poem a week with Longfellow’s “The Arrow and the Song” and work on sensorial extensions with Joey.

Linking up with

Just a few fun links from the week:

Play Create Explore – Activities for Ages 1 – 3 

Fun Family Crafts – Tic Tac Toe Hearts

I started making a smaller version of this a few years ago, but never finished. Maybe it’s time to pull it out and finish.

Livable Learning –  Practical Life Tackle Boxes – Cutting

 This would be super easy to make and Montessori Print Shop has a cutting set you might use. 

Gutenberg –  Poems Every Child Should Know

 One thing I want to begin to incorporate in our school week is to have a poem a week that we read every day, so that the boys become accustomed to poetry, lyric, and rhyme. This looks like a good place to start.

Mousehouse –  Picture Books on YouTube

 This is a fun thing to do on rainy days or when you can’t get to the library. 

Harvesting Kale – Homemade Texture Boards

 I made my own homemade texture boards (sometimes called rough and smooth boards) a few years ago, but these look a lot more polished than mine. 

If you’re watching the Super Bowl tomorrow and wondering how to keep the kids entertained, then you might want to check out this printable football unit from 2 Teaching Mommies. I think I’ll be printing some of these!

Yesterday, I asked on Facebook ,

What’s your favorite children’s book that not everyone knows?

Mine is Princess Furball.

A lot of readers chimed in and shared their favorites, we’d love to hear yours. Hope on over and share!