A delightful preschool experience
We love any art project that is process-based, and can be transformed into something fridge-worthy that we can send home. This Rain & Wind Process Art project is the perfect example. The kids made so many observations about the paint as they worked, so it turned out to be a good science experiment and oral…
One of the main goals of preschool literacy instruction is to teach young children the alphabet. For some children, this comes very easily and naturally but for many others, it takes a lot of time, energy, and practice. It is tempting to think that sit-down practice with paper and pencil is the best way for our…
Preschoolers love reading fairy tales! There’s something so exciting to a 4-year-old about having a “bad guy” in the story and they just can’t seem to get enough of it. We love to do an entire fairy tale unit where we study 1 fairy tale each week. I introduce it during circle time, and then…
Starting preschool is such an exciting and momentous occasion! When children are 3-years-old, they are no longer toddlers. They are “big kids” ready to start preschool. As parents, we can help our children prepare for this next big step. As a preschool teacher and mom, I’ve had the advantage of seeing hundreds of kids start…
Concerns about a child’s development are an inevitable part of teaching. As teachers care for their students and only want the best for them, this is natural. Sharing those concerns with parents, however, can be an intimidating, yet vital, conversation to have. First things First: Acclimate At the beginning of the year, it is so…
Help!! My preschoolers are so selfish. They’re always snatching, grabbing, and they never seem to listen when other people are talking. Is this normal? Let’s take a closer look… Egocentrism – What is it? The stages of development are extremely necessary to consider when teaching preschool-aged children. Egocentrism refers to the child’s inability to see a…
“OOPS!” Probably the most common phrase uttered by every preschooler, it can induce sweaty palms, racing heart, and rising blood pressure. But it doesn’t need to be this way. Mistakes happen. That’s just part of life. The most important lesson any person can have is how to clean up a mistake that they have made. Taking…
Teachers hear it constantly. Parents hear it every day. “I’m thirsty.” “He took my toy.” “I have to go to the bathroom.” “My pencil’s broken.” “I can’t find my socks.” “She won’t play with me.” Children constantly state their problems. From an early age, they are wired to notice things around them. It is SO tempting…
Through music, we learn to listen carefully and to pay attention. We practice cause and effect and trial and error. We compare instruments and sounds. We feel the music in our ears, on our hands, and through our bodies. Music makes us smarter. Feel the Vibe Introduce children to the guitar. Allow them to touch…
The dramatic play center is the perfect place for young children to “play to learn”. Our basic home living center is a kitchen, with play food, dishes, babies, dress-up clothes, and a phone. For a week or two each month we transform it into something extra special. This Sandwich Shop is a great one to…