Tot school set up

A few people have asked about Molly's Tot School that we do each week and how to do one for their little person so I thought I'd post it all in one place for easy reference. 

Tot school set up

1. Pick a theme for each week

2. Print a do-a-dot marker page for each theme or letter. 

       - day 1 use magnets

       - day 2 use puff balls

       - day 3 use dot markers

http://totschool.shannons.org/do-a-dot-letters/

3. Find printables for each theme. I stick to the preschool or totschool ones because the skills are more on her level. 

http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/TotSchoolPrintables.html

Colors, sizes, matching, etc. Skills I try to hit are fine motor, gross motor, matching, colors, sizing, letters, numbers/counting, transferring objects, pouring, colors, shapes, imagination play, and life skill. I don't get all in each week but I try to hit at least 4-5 

-I also pull images at this point if I want to make felt board pieces for the theme

http://mothersniche.com/felt-pieces-diy/

How to make your own felt pieces

 4. Go through our learning toys and pull ones that match the theme (ie: farm animals, flashcards, stickers, puppets, pegboard, foam animals, lacing cards, felt board pieces,  puzzles, etc)

5. Find books in our collection or  Library search for board books (our library has a toddler collection) pull 4-5 books for the book bin

6. Put together a sensory bin. Basically a big Tupperware container with filler (colored rice, soil, beans, corn, oats, cheerios, whatever) and then add lots of different objects that match our theme. 

7. Lastly if I planned any activities that I need to purchase something for I run to dollar tree, family dollar  or dollar general and pick up what I need. (Last week I needed small disposable pots and fake flowers for our gardening sensory bin) 

8. I try to keep our afternoon snack in the theme so we can talk about it while she eats but sometimes that's just too much work :)