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Welcome to A Mom with a Lesson Plan. I’m Jill (or Jillian depending on who you ask) and this little blog has been my passion for quite some time now. I love showing up here 4-6 days a week. The amount of posts that actually go out depends on how many backyard mud parties, cuddle sessions, or story times I’m invited to. That works for me because my goal has always been to spread the word about playful learning while actually participating in playful learning. A Mom with a Lesson Plan gives me the opportunity to do both. I am a lucky girl!
If you are new here you might enjoy these popular posts.
1. A Better Bedtime
2. Perfect Summer Schedule
3. It Looked Like Spilt Milk
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A little bit about the Mom behind the plan.
1. I would like to start out by saying I’m a lot less planned than you would think. Hubs might read this and make me change that. The truth is I would LIKE to be a lot less planned than I am, I’m constantly working to improve myself (with “be more spontaneous” at the very top of the list).
2. I have always loved to write but until writing for amomwithalessonplan I was never dedicated enough to practice my writing skills on a daily basis. This blog has changed my life. 
3. My Hubby is my best friend and if I can figure out a way to work side by side with him we will happily spend every single second of the rest of our lives together. The thought makes me smile.
4. We have two kids. One boy, one girl and that’s enough for us.
5. Apparently I hate work sheets (and busy work) as much now as I did when I was in school. Now I’m a lot more vocal about it.
6. I love kids play. Storytelling, art, movement… everything. This makes me a very fun Aunt.
7. My entire family lives within 30 miles of my house. (In-laws included). That means I have never hired a “real” babysitter.
8. Since I have become a blogger I am no longer a good TV fan. I miss all my favorite crime shows and won’t even focus on one half hour sitcom. The old me would be shocked and disappointed.
9. I am extremely passionate about integrating learning and creating into everyday life.
10. I can almost check a dream off my life accomplishment list. My very first eBook Raising a Creative Kid will be available next week.
Official Bio
Besides a love for her kids (and well just kids in general) Jillian has a degree in Early Childhood Education and 10 years experience as a preschool teacher. Right now her “students” call her mom. Jillian believes that life offers an abundance of learning opportunities. She loves figuring out what they are and how they can be expanded on.
Thrilled to read your blog… MissJill (which is just permanently your name) what a great resource this will be for mommies with preschoolers.
So blessed my boy was your student.
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Thanks for leaving such lovely comments on my blog. I am not a mum (as yet) but you have great ideas for those with little ones. I shall have to let my twin sis know (she has twins herself so needs something to keep her princesses busy!)
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Jill! I’m so glad I met you through our blogs. Love your site and your ideas!
I am too Rachelle! I have learned so much from your blog. Little M’s art experience will be better because of Tinkerlab!
Wow Jillian! I am going to follow your blog from now on and am so excited you commented on my blog because I absolutely love your site! It’s very resourceful!
I am very impressed with your blog as well! Nice to make a new friend=)
Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day, I am so glad you enjoyed the oatmeal playdough recipe! You have a great site, I am going to have to browse around some more!
Hi,
So glad I found your blog! I am a children’s librarian who recently decided to spend my days at home teaching my children. I will come back often!
Thanks,
Julie
i love your page!! i also have 2 little ones whose names both start with M and we call them M&M all the time!! love it!
Thank you!
Cool blog. My girls are 3 and 5 years old. I also have a home child care and do a preschool/ Kindergarten program (since my 5 year old goes to half day afternoon kindergarten. By the way it is nice because she goes to school while the little ones are napping). The rest of the kids are under 4 years old. We have lots of fun, but it quite a taskt to stay developmentally appropriate and teach 3 different levels of learning. So I look to blogs and websites to help me with the mulitagroups. What better place then homeschool blogs. They are the experts with or without the degree. I have my BA in Child Development, but I lack some in creativity and well one is never to educated to learn more. If I keep the attitude that there is ALWAYS something new to learn I become all the wiser by alwalys being a student and always researching. It is my obsession I guess. Anyway thank you for sharing your experiences. I am thinking of starting a blog, but I am not sure where to begin or what subject or subjects I want to cover.
It was fun learning about the mom behind the blog.
I’m so glad I found your blog, you are very inspiring!
I’m glad you found my blog as well. Keep up the comments…. it’s so nice to hear from you!
Verry Groovy blog–So resourceful . . . for me!!! You have a new follower on Pinterest and Facebook. THANK YOU for sharing all these great ideas!
~♥ Sharilyn
Hooray! Welcome Sharilyn!
I just found your blog and I love it!!! Thank you.
YEAH! Welcome!
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Hi Jill,
Great blog. Our company makes theatre for 4-8 year old. We’re developing a show called The Moons a Balloon, which explores all the things a balloon can be … I’ll recommend your blog to teacher’s who we be encouraging to use balloons in imaginative and engaging ways in their learning environments. Cheers Dave
Check out projectballoooon.wordpress.com
What a wonderful site! My Little M would LOVE it. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Jillian,
I just love your Xmas ideas, and |I wanted to share 2 of our favorites with you.
Advent Scene: each Christmas we would build a nativity scene with our Duplo bricks. We had all the animals we needed already, and a crib/manger, so we just made a few modifications, such as angel’s wings out of gold paper sellotaped behind one figure; we set the scene with Duplo bricks or the inside of a cardboard box with a cutout front and windows; and a star suspended above the manger on a piece of wire taped to the back of the stable, or suspended on string [safer]. I would suggest you don’t put real straw on the floor of the stable like I did, as it blows all over the house whenever you open a door! Outside you could make paper palm trees [roll up several sheets, fringe the top half, slide it apart a little and tape it in place].
Magic Reindeer food: when we leave out some food and drink for Santa on Xmas Eve, we don’t want to forget the reindeer. They used to get a carrot, but then we discovered that birdseed will disappear overnight if you scatter it in the garden! some people and a little glitter to the birdseed, but I suspect that it is not good for the birds.
I love those ideas Elaine. Thank you so much for sharing.