Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars – Perfect Snack!

These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars are the perfect back-to-school snack! Each bar is loaded with protein to boost brain power for school!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars
(submitted by Michelle James)

Ingredients:
1 c rolled oats, ground in a food processor
2 scoops of your favorite protein powder
2 T peanut butter {can be omitted if there are allergies, or use a different nut butter}
3 eggs
2 medium bananas, mashed
1 T honey
1/2 c whole milk
1 t cinnamon
1/2 c chocolate chips, ground in a food processor

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and place in a greased 9×9″ pan. Bake at 350*F for 15-20 minutes. Let cool  and cut into 2 inch squares. Individually wrap and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Serves: 16
Category: Breakfast/Snack

Nutritional Information
Calories: 97.4
Fat: 40.4 g
Fiber: 1.3 g
Protein: 4.5 g

Create Puppets and Explore Uniqueness!

Materials Needed:
Colorations® Acrylic Yarn – Set of 12
Colorations® Fabric Markers – Set of 24
400 Feet of Satin Ribbon – 16 Spools

Let’s Begin:
1. Lay out all of the materials and encourage the children to select the pieces they want to create their puppets. Allow them to be creative – there are no rules!

2. Create your own puppet alongside the children and show it to them as an example.

3. This is a great opportunity to talk about differences that make each of us unique. Encourage discussion among the children about eye color, hair color, and favorite features.

Back to School – Welcome to Preschool!

This article by Mary Jane Tenerelli will give you a few ideas to help ease the transition for preschoolers coming into your classes from their eventful summers!

Summer’s over, and your classroom will soon be filled with children who are eager to learn, but a little unsure of the new classroom environment and their place in it. Ease the transition and set the tone for a school year full of fun and learning with the following activities….

Read more here!

Check Out This Month’s Featured Blog!

Topics in ECE: 10 Tips for Setting Up a Classroom

Here it is August and many teachers begin to consider what things they need to do prior to the beginning of school. Since most school systems begin during the month of August, teachers will reach the point of rushing to get ready for that first day. After teaching for 25+ years and supervising pre-service teachers for the last seven years, there are a few things I think should be considered when setting up a classroom for the school year. Although this list could be endless, I have narrowed it down to 10 things I think are essential.

Read more….

Create a Back to School Silhouette!

Break the ice on the first day of school by having your students create their silhouettes with this fun craft!

Materials Needed:
Colorations® Heavyweight Construction Paper – 50 sheets (12CP)
Colorations® #2 Pencils – set of 12 (PCNO2)
Colorations® Marker & Crayon Combo Pack – 400 pieces (MARCRAY)
Colorations® Black Permanent Markers – set of 12 (PERMBLK)
White Sentence Strips – 100 strips (WSE)
Colorations® Extra-Safe Plastic Glitter – 1 lb (GL)
Colorations® Washable Glue Sticks (PSGSTK)
Pom Poms – 300 pieces (300P)
Black Regular Wiggly Eyes – pack of 100 (100B)

Get the instructions here!

4 Back to School Tips for Parents

Pauline O’Keeffe gives parents some tips for helping children adjust to the new school year quickly and easily.

She writes:

Forgetting one’s lunch or not being able to find the bathroom in time can be quite traumatic for preschoolers and can lead to temper tantrums and stomachaches. However, parents can set the tone for a successful transition into a new classroom by addressing their children’s concerns and actively participating in school activities.  

To read more, click here!