Reading Tracker

My daughters school has literacy nights where they ask us to bring in a list of all the books they have read over the last month. Well anyone who knows me knows I don't like boring when I can have cute, so I made this reading tracker for her and wanted to share with everyone.

I printed the pages, punched them and placed them in a 3 ring binder. It's the perfect size to keep on the book shelf next to her books so we always remember to fill it in.

Each month has a pretty header and room for 100 books (that's over THREE each day). On the last page each month is this:

The special prize is up to you, for my daughter it's a full "Mommy/Daughter Day" where she gets to pick everything from the foods all 3 meals, to where we go and what we do.

To download the Reading Tracker click here. 

Enjoy and happy reading!!

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.

Coloring Books are EXPENSIVE (this is how you can REUSE them hundreds of times)

My daughter may only be 23 months old but she LOVES to color, and can go through an entire coloring book in one afternoon, and she only likes to color "name brand" ones (Umizoomi, Bubble Guppies, Spongebob, etc) which can range from $2-$8 each (and even if you print coloring pages, once you take into account the cost of ink and paper it can get up there as well). Well I discovered a way to save A LOT of money by buying one of each of her favorites and reusing them hundreds of times and all you need is:

3-ring binder

Page Protectors

Dry Erase Markers/Crayons

It's super simple. Break down the coloring book into individual pages or print off your favorite online coloring pages and place them in page protectors in a 3-ring binder. If you get one with the cover plastic you can place the cover of the coloring book in there and have a separate binder for each book (you can get 3-ring binders for $0.97 at Walmart, or $1 at Dollar Tree). VOILA!! You have a completely reusable coloring book. 

This also works great for those activity books because the kids can do the activities over and over again. It also allows for erasing mistakes. 

If your child is super proud of a picture you can just take it out of the binder and display it on the fridge in the page protector, and even take a picture of it to keep longer. 

Doing it this way will allow one coloring book to last years and even through multiple children. 

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all. 

Toddler Learning Binder: Animal Matching

I'm so excited to share these sheets I've made with you, and they are completely FREE to download. The instructions are SUPER simple, but will bring TONS of educational fun to your little one. 

Instructions:

1. Print 2 copies of each Matching game you want to create. One will be for your board the other for the cards. 

2. Cut one sheet to create cards.

3. Laminate the cards and the "board" (heat laminating works best)

4. Use adhesive velcro dots to attach the cards to the sheets, try not to cover the pictures as this will make it difficult for your little one to match them up. 

5. Allow to set for about an hour (full adhesiveness will not take effect for 24 hours)

6. 3-hole punch the sheet at the top (if you're going to put them in a 3 ring binder) 

7. Allow your little one to play. 

While playing identify each animal, make the sound and try to get them to mimic it as well. Some of the sheets that will be coming out later will also have the words incorporated to help them begin to identify the word with the animal, and then later still we will have just the words to match the animal. The great thing is you will only need to create new cards as the board can be reused with each set. To download the worksheet, click the link below the picture.

**UPDATE: I have built the pages below to now include the picture, the pictures with the words, and then a final sheet with just the words. 

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all. 

Animal Matching Page 1

Animal Matching Page 2

 Animal Matching Page 3

Animal Matching Page 4

Toddler Learning Binder Series Introduction

I am beginning a wonderful series entitled "Toddler Learning Binder" that those of you with babies, toddlers, or those that are teachers won't want to miss. Today's will be just a short entry to prepare you for what is to come. 

Just a few things I have lined up are:

Simple Matching Pages
Advanced Matching
Letter Matching
Number Matching
Play Dough Play mats
Letter Writing
Number Writing
Shape Drawing 
And MORE... 

The binder will be set up to be able to be used over and over again with the same sheets, by using things like laminating sheets, page protectors, dry-erase markers/crayons, etc. 

Things to have ready:
1-2" 3-ring Binder
3-hole punch
Page protectors (light weight work, heavy weight are better)
Laminating sheets (and laminating machine if you choose heat)
Scissors
Self-adhesive Velcro dots (can be found in the sewing section)
Printer (and colored ink for the best outcomes)

For a sneak peak of what's to come check out this link:

Animal Matching

Lots more to come. I will continue to post a fun, new, addition to our Toddler Learning binders each time I come up with one. Make sure you're rotating out the items so that your child doesn't become bored with the activities and they stay fun and interesting. 

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all. 

Coupon Binder

I am addicted to the show "Extreme Couponers" though as I've found out through internet research, nearly all the episodes are staged, and they let people misuse coupons, ignore store policies and more.  It amazed me how organized and diligent these couponers were and I wanted that and (prior to knowing most were fake) I wanted those savings. So I started my own coupon binder and started clipping coupons and hunting for deals. Despite the fraud that is perpetrated on the show I have had some AMAZING hauls couponing the legal way.

Krazy Coupon Lady is an amazing site that can keep you up to date on most of the deals out there and even tell you what coupons to use and how to stack them for the best deals possible. I originally started my binder with her coupon dividers, but eventually realized they didn't really fit my needs or style so I created my own that were just as pretty. You can download them for free here. 

You can get s super cute binder from Target or Costco but I just wanted cheap, I mean after all that's the point of couponing right, so I got a basic 2" pink binder, though have since had to move up to a 4" white one. 

Since starting my binder I have bought 4 packages of baseball card holders (I tried one of those "Coupon Packs" and hated it). I also purchased 2 packages of sheet protectors to hold my divider sheets as well as my store policies. (You would hope each stores employees would be up to date on the stores policies but one trip to the store will quickly teach you different.) I highly recommend printing each stores policy and bringing it with you, so storing it in your binder is the best option. The major chain stores can be found here. 

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.  

My Coupon Binder

So Adam & I decided to give this couponing thing a try... I have my binder built and ready to fill... I got my glossary & cover pages here at KrazyCouponingLady.com