Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, problem-solving skills, and social interaction. This type of play aids in developing and enhancing memory. It is great for calming an anxious or frustrated child. Make these (cheap) squishy sensory bags to place on the light table and reap the benefits of all these. This…
Planning
The #1 Important Sign of a High Quality Classroom
What is the most important sign of a high quality classroom? Is it the books? The art supplies? The cleanliness? How about the methodology? Lesson plans? Organic home-made snacks? I’ll tell you a secret: It’s not any of those things. But it is something that will not cost you a single penny. You won’t have…
Our Half-Day Preschool Schedule
One of the questions that I receive from other teachers, more than another other question is, “What does your preschool schedule look like?” This is a tough question to answer because although our routine is the same every day, the schedule is a bit flexible and it’s very much personalized to suit the needs of…
Plan Themes for the Year
Lesson planning can be so overwhelming, can’t it? I feel like I could work on my plans 8 hours a day and still find more to do! It doesn’t have to be like that, though. One of the most effective ways to complete lesson plans is to break them down into 4 easy steps. Step…
Preschool Mother’s Day Celebration
We celebrate Mother’s Day at preschool every year with a little party. I’m going to be honest; it is such a stressful ordeal for me! Pinterest has completely upped the game with food and crafts and decorations and everything, and I absolutely cannot compete. Here are a few tips for hosting a perfect Mother’s Day…
Play is the Way
Play is essential to a young child’s brain development. Children learn about language, math, literacy, science in addition to essential social skills through play. Unfortunately some people believe that play is frivolous, and that young children need more “rigorous” academic work. Research shows that isn’t the best way. In fact, “PLAY is the WAY” that…
A Look inside my Plan Book
I recently led a workshop on how to simplify preschool lesson planning. It was well-received, so I thought that I would share a few of the ideas here with you. Everyone has a different method for planning. This is what works for me. Lesson planning is a 4-step process for me. It begins long before…