I meant to write over the past couple days, but my family kept me busy for Mothers day weekend.

Last week kids in our programs were busy making mothers day gifts and finding ways to thank their mom’s and the special ladies in their lives.

Last week we also were busy thanking Mother Nature and finding ways to take care of the natural resources around us.

We finished our eARTh ART projects and began our transition to Water World activities.  Starting with the importance of water – for drinking, washing, growing flowers…

ALL of our programs last week started planting projects.  We planted during provider trainings, parent workshops, tot to teen classes…

Even my own kids started our garden at our home-based location.  They picked seeds, researched soil, learned about garden critters…

We learned about the importance of some critters being in the garden and keeping some, like bunnies, out of the garden.

We reused some past Mother Goose Time curriculum supplies in our home and school projects, to help us transition themes.

Last month MGT’s Bees and Butterflies is currently transitioning to this months “Bubbles, Boats, and Floats” theme.

After learning how bees help the flowers and flowers help the earth – we learned other ways to help flowers, such as watering them.

We also learned ways to help the earth by reusing old supplies and materials in new ways. We talked about reusing, reducing, recycling – and conserving resources.

We talked about ways to conserve water and why rainy days are good for the earth.  We also talked about looking for rainbows on rainy days.

Often before doing projects in classrooms I enlist help from my own kids to help with lesson planning and try out proposed crafts.

My 2 1/2 year old LOVED making the rainbow from our MGT supplies.  She loves any reason to practice her cutting and gluing skills.

After cutting the pieces she glued them into place and got her hands reallllllly sticky! She decided she doesn’t like cotton stuck to her hands.

She loved the final project through and will help teach the other preschoolers how to assemble it in our PLAYschool class later this week.

In PLAYschool, Art Smart, and other classes and tutoring programs – we use MGT and other top rated curriculums in various ways.

We often do crafts, play outside, and explore sensory tables in our programs so please dress accordingly for our “education through recreation” activities.

If you would like to learn more about our activities and programs please visit www.MiFamilies com or email me at Christi@MiFamilies.com

This week we’ll continue learning about the wonderful world of water  –  as we make bubbles washing while we do our spring cleaning – and transition into other water activities and water life (Using the MGT curriculum).

If you’d like to learn more about the Mother Goose Time curriculum in video/photos CLICK HERE!

Our littlest learners have been loving learning about the littlest of creatures!

Throughout April we learned all about butterflies, bees, and other bugs!

From thematic classes to individualized tutoring programs –

Tots to teens report loving our “education through recreation” learning approach.

Parents and providers report loving our hands on trainings.

We often get asked for more “make and take” workshops.

All our programs include take-home resources.

Mi Families “reaches out with resources” for families – and those who work with families.

One resource we provide is curriculum reviews.

Our littlest learners have been using Mother Goose Time’s curriculum

Last months MGT bug activities are transitioning to May’s water-world activities.

We learned how critters help save the earth, and learned how we can help the earth too – through Earth Day lessons! Now it’s time to learn how to save our waters!

Our Earth Day supplies were reused from past MGT theme supplies! Next week we’ll transition from saving the earth to planting and learning about the importance of water for all living things…

After our water transition we’ll start our spring/summer programs off with Bubbles, Boats, and Floats! If you know a little one who’d like to join in the wet&wild fun email Christi@MiFamilies.com.  If you would like to learn more about the fun we have in our other programs visit www.MiFamilies.com … and if you’d like to learn more about curriculums, such as Mother Goose Time CLICK HERE!

Mi Families facilities programs for families and those who work with families.

This week Mi Families (“my families”) didn’t host any programs for the first half of the week,

because my family was busy celebrating Easter!

Easter is a wonderful time for celebrating with family and friends.

Easter is a wonderful time for teaching children to love others and love the world.

Easter gives opportunity to teach children about life…

Easter gives opportunity to teach about life that comes from eggs.

Egg’s don’t come from bunnies! Eggs come from birds, frogs, butterflies…

This month we’ve been learning about the amazing transformation about butterflies.

This month we’ve been learning about butterflies and bees using Mother Goose Time.

Mother Goose Time is a preschool curriculum that can be expanded to teach the littlest learners new concepts,

while encouraging older students to expand on thematic studies.

As the snow finally melts in northern Michigan all our programs have had a spring theme.

In our education through recreation programs we’ve been learning about the importance of spring weather.

As we learn through play and exploration we discover how the spring weather helps all living things.

Through our learning adventures we learn how to care for all living things, even the smallest creatures.

Learning about bees and bugs transitioned into our next holiday lessons…

Many don’t consider Earth Day a holiday, but taking time to teach children about this special day is important.

Teaching children how to save the earth, the land, the animals – especially those in danger – is important.

This weeks challenge to all of Mi Families members / team is discover ways to “Save the Earth”

and take time to play outside!

Take time to play outside, inside … play anywhere and everywhere!

Take time as a family to celebrate even if it’s not a holiday.

Take time to celebrate and take mini vacations and learning adventures with your family.

If you need ideas for family adventures or would like to know more about Mi Families learning adventures –

Visit www.MiFamilies.com or email Christi@MiFamilies.com.

To learn more about the learning supplies pictured – visit www.MotherGooseTime.com

It’s Easter week! Which means our week has been cut short for Easter festivities.

Our snow has been falling then melting then falling then melting,

so no idea if we’ll be hiding eggs in snowbanks!

BUT however we celebrate we’ll have fun.

If you celebrate Easter – happy Easter!

If you don’t I hope you still enjoy your weekend.

I hope you enjoy Easter / Spring filled adventures.

This week in our learning adventures we used old Mother Goose Time supplies.

Mother Goose Time is a curriculum that provides theme based crafts, manipulatives, music, etc…

Sometimes I have left over materials, or save certain supplies for holiday fun!

Materials that can be reused I often laminate to use over and over.

Sometimes we re used materials to remember old lessons and transition to new topics.

Easter transitions nice to or from stories like “the Tortoise and the Hare.”

This week we learned about different types of rabbits, turtles, birds…

We also learned about life that hatches out of eggs like turtles, birds, frogs, caterpillars…

Next week we’ll finish up our Butterfly learning activities and transition into learning about bees!

Next week we’ll also go on bug hunts and explore spring activities like BBQ’s and bike riding…

Many of our learning adventures use “education through recreation” curriculums.

Mi Families programs will often be outdoors so dress appropriately for Michigan’s weather.

Michigan’s weather is always changing and so are Mi Families programs!

Mi Families continues to provide programs for families and those who work with families.  Learn more about our Provider trainings, parent workshops, and youth services by visiting www.MiFamilies.com or networking with our team and members on LinkedIN, Facebook, YouTube,etc… Learn more about the curriculum our littlest learners use by visiting www.MotherGooseTime.com !

Email Christi@MiFamilies.com with any questions you have about curriculums or specific programs… Click image above to view some of our youth service programs available ( OR CLICK HERE for even more info ).

It’s snowing again, but we’re excited … 

When the snow melts it will help flowers grow and and spring will finally find Northern Michigan!

Mi Families (“my families”) plans many outdoor activities during spring.

When it’s too cold and wet however we find ways to keep active indoors!

Mi Families can help your family find deals for local activities and events,

… as well as discounts for fieldtrips state wide to museums, zoo’s, butterfly houses …

Last week we visited a zoo and butterfly house…

Lots of adventures are planned for later this spring and throughout summer vacation.

Mi Families facilitates adventurous activities and learning adventures.

If you’d like more information about our adventures or our “education through recreation” programs –

Email Christi@MiFamilies.com or network with our other team/members on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube…

Mi Families facilitates programs for families and those who work with families.

Mi Families facilitates provider trainings, parent workshops, youth services…

Our youth services include tutoring and homeschool classes for tots thru teens.

Our littlest learners love the lessons we offer using Mother Goose Time.

Mother Goose Time provides a preschool curriculum that can be adapted for different ages/stages.

Through MGT themes tots are introduced to new concepts while early elementary students expand on their unit studies.

As we wait for our area to look like spring – we decorate indoors with our thematic art projects.

As we learn about caterpillars turning to butterflies – we make many crafts, explore manipulatives…

Caterpillars turning into butterflies lead into learning about tadpoles turning into frogs.

Tadpoles turning into frogs lead into learning about other animals that hatch from eggs.

From butterflies to birds it’s been a week of learning about spring…

Next week is a shortened week for services – due to the Easter holiday!

Next week we’ll enjoy Easter activities and more spring adventures…

inside and outdoors!

For more information about our adventures visit www.MiFamilies.com

For more information about the curriculum mentioned (and pictured above) visit www.MotherGooseTime.com

CLICK for larger images.

It’s April! That means it’s autism awareness month.

My kids and many kiddos I work with are on the autism spectrum.

Autism means you interpret the world differently and learn differently about the world.

One helpful way to teach spectrum students is through theme studies.

Mother Goose Time is a theme based curriculum designed for preschoolers, but it can be modified for different stages.

In multi age/stage programs I find Mother Goose Time to be a great resource for teaching little learners basic concepts.

Older students enjoy expanding on the topics, researching deeper, and developing their own projects around the themes.

Mother Goose Time comes with all the supplies you need to teach a unit and provides ideas for expanding on lessons.

Through hands on activities, manipulatives, crafts, music, etc – students love learning about the world around them.

The world around us is currently melting as April means spring finally is arriving in Michigan.

We still have snow in our yard, but students are encouraged to hunt for signs of spring.

Students this week used their spring senses and started learning about spring changes.

One of our favorite spring changes is watching for caterpillars that will morph into butterflies!

We rolled red and yellow playdoh to make orange caterpillars.

We did critter math, shape math, art smart shapes and colors…

We will continue learning about spring changes during the weeks ahead.

Our child development class is learning how to teach little ones about spring and about how kids grow more during spring!

We facilitate lots of different classes for all ages: tot to teen homeschool groups and tutoring sessions continue year round.

This spring we’re changing up some programs to meet requests for more parent and provider classes as well.

From bonding with baby playgroups, youth services, family events, parent workshops, and provider trainings – we’re growing!

Our littlest learners have been enjoying learning how they, the flowers, and animals are growing.

We took a field trip to see animals in action over spring break!

Other field trips and programs are already being planned for spring and summer!

For more information about our learning adventures visit www.MiFamilies.com or email Christi@MiFamilies.com

To network with my family or Mi Families members/team find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest…

You can explore our educational resources and adventure ideas on Pinterest.

You can learn more about Mother Goose Time resources at www.MotherGooseTime.com

We’re having a stay-cation for spring break.  We had a vacation planned, but our whole family got sick!

So, we’re trying to use the time for spring cleaning and making new messes building stuff.

I’m not sure if birds will be building homes near us anytime soon, but I did hear some singing this morning!

During the few programs we’ve had over break students talked about signs of spring, and homes…

Students talked about preparing for spring and helping take care of their homes.

We talked about building and painting homes and used shapes and colors to learn about houses around the world.

We learned about places that have different seasons and weather then we have in Northern Michigan.

We pretended to pack for trips and finished up our Desert Discovery curriculum.

Desert Discovery is a Mother Goose Time theme filled with warm thoughts and activities!

Mother Goose Time provides monthly themes for preschoolers packed with manipulatives, music, crafts, books…

Our library areas and activities are constantly transitioning.

We’re currently transitioning from learning about the desert to learning about other warm places.

We’re hoping to be warm and play at our local sandy beaches soon.

Outside and indoors we fill our days with learning through hands on activities.

Outside and indoors we learn through our senses and through observations.

Mi Families focuses on “education through recreation” learning adventures.

From tots to teens we use diverse curriculums and activities that build a love for learning.

As the snow begins to melt in our yard I sit here planning our spring and even summer programs!

Youth programs include one on one tutoring sessions, small group classes, and large group events.

Mi Families also hosts family events, parent workshops, provider trainings…

Please visit www.MiFamilies.com to learn more about my family and the families we work with. Network with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube to learn more about our programs and programs we support – such as Mother Goose Time! Visit www.MotherGooseTime.com for more about this hand’s on preschool program!

This week we finished up learning about the desert and talked about how the weather is changing …

Soon it’ll be spring in Northern Michigan. Soon – first the snow has to melt!

As I type this it’s snowing hard, because the weather is not based on the calendar up here!

To make us feel warmer we learn about warm places, like the desert, and bring in a sandbox!

This week our sandbox and sensory tables had a theme transitioning from Desert Discoveries to st. Patricks day.

From hunting for treasure, to mixing blues and yellows to make green, we had some festive fun.

Tots to tweens explored materials from various curriculums, such as Mother Goose Time during our programs.

Mother Goose Time is a preschool based curriculum that provides a different topic each month.

This month was “Desert Discoveries.”  We’ll transition to next months “Bees & Butterflies” unit using old MGT st Patricks/spring activities…

As we continue learn about holidays and weather around the world – we discover we’re pretty lucky to have all 4 seasons in our area.

We also discover we’re pretty lucky to have access to great curriculums like MGT – where we can learn about places far away!

If you’d like more information on Mother Goose Time CLICK HERE.  If you’d like information on other curriculums and products we use please email Christi@MiFamilies.com

If you’d like to learn more about our other programs feel free to email me or visit www.MiFamilies.com.  Mi Families (“my families”) facilitates programs for families and those who work with families.  Programs include provider trainings, parent workshops, family events, youth services (such as homeschool classes and tutoring…)… You can network with our team/members on LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.  I’m so thankful for the support our programs have had and feel pretty lucky to be a part of Mi Families!

Although my yard is still covered in snow – the calendar says that spring is on the way – which means it’s time to start planning our spring and even summer programs!

Mi Families (“my families”) facilitates programs for families and those who work with families.  From provider trainings, to parent workshops, and youth services – we facilitate activities for all ages.

Our littlest learners love our theme based learning programs.  This months theme is Desert Discoveries from Mother Goose Time – which is helping us think of warm places, while Michigan is still cold!

We incorporate all subject matters through themes such as “the Desert.”  Using supplies from the pre-packaged Mother Goose Time curriculum we’re able to work on our reading, math, science, etc…

Mi Families has access to top rated curriculums and materials for our large group classes, small group experiences, and one-on-one tutoring and developmental services.

For more information on curriculums such as Mother Goose Time CLICK HERE.  For more information on Mi Families programs CLICK HERE.  Also feel free to email any questions to Christi@MiFamilies.com

…We’re also on LinkedIN, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube…

We’re still in the first quarter of 2019, but it’s already been the year of changes for my family – and Mi Families.

Mi Families (“my families”) continues to add new programs to our list for families and those who work with families.

Mi Families continues to add programs for providers, parents, and youth.

All programs are uniquely designed and use top rated curriculums.

Our littlest learners love using our theme based kits through Mother Goose Time.

This month our theme has been health and fitness.

As we start a new month we transition to Desert Discoveries.

Transitions are changes made slowly, so this week we reviewed “healthy me” lessons.

We talked about ways to stay healthy by eating our fruits and veggies, washing our hands, and getting exercise.

Sometimes it’s hard to get exercise in Northern Michigan winters – where people spend too much time indoors.

In all our classes we make sure to work out both our large and small motor skills.

In tot to tween classes we move our bodies and minds pretending to be animals and explorers.

Just as we work out our bodies, we work out our brains to make them stronger and smarter.

Thinking up ways to stay active – we played a lot of pretend while exploring the world around us.

We explored the world of art and talked about what we know – and what we want to know.

This week students wanted to learn more about animals that live in different places.

For exercise we did a lot of animal and transportation charade games.

We had animal Olympic events – indoors and outside.

We even pretended we were not living in a snow-covered-land and had a day at the water-park.

It’s still winter in our area so it’s fun to pretend and learn more about warm places.

We designed transportation systems to visit warm places around the world.

We talked about how animals use their super senses for migration, adaptation, and hibernation in the winter.

We talked about animals and people that live in places that are warm and never have any snow…

We time traveled back to deserts during ancient times…

We pretended to ride camels to the great pyramids and explored hieroglyphics.

We explored large and small creatures that would have lived long ago and those that still live in the desert today.

While exploring desert animals we created our own –

We made up stories of desert animals living in the north pole – and penguins living in the desert.

We learned about desert animals that sleep during the hot sunny days and play at night.

We made post cards pretending to visit the desert and adventures we’d have with the nocturnal animals.

Tots to tweens love learning about other places.

We’ll continue learning about other places as we transition out of our winter activities and into our spring themes.

From tutor time to homeschool classes Mi Families is lesson planning for some fun spring activities.

To join in the activities email Christi@MiFamilies.com

To learn more about Mi Families visit www.MiFamilies.com or network with our team and members on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest…

To network and learn more about the Mother Goose Time curriculum (pictured) visit www.MotherGooseTime.com