Teaching young children the procedures and routines of the classroom is important for a safe and (less) chaotic environment.  The benefits of implementing visual procedure cards are huge.

To get the most out of visual procedure cards, first...

 * Learn why they are important, then...

 * How to implement them.

Now, get some A+ tips for implementing visual classroom procedure cards.

You can use pre-made procedure cards or create your own by taking pictures of the steps in each routine. Either way, these tips will help you make the most of the cards you created.

TIP 1: Print your procedure cards at 25% or 4 pages to a sheet.  This will make small cards that you can make into procedure strips for individual students.  These work great to carry around too.  Attach them to a retractable lanyard or put them in a teacher apron pouch.  That way you can pull out the procedure you need no matter where you are.

TIP 2: Use velcro pieces. Add velcro...

Our young learners aren't yet readers. Therefore, posters of written rules, schedules and procedures are null and void.  To young children, these posters are just visual noise.

But, pictures are a different story.  Young children can 'read' pictures.

So when it comes to helping young children learn about routines in the classroom- visuals are the way to go.

I found a need for visual procedure cards in my classroom several years ago, so I created them, implemented them and I am so happy I did.

The benefits to visual procedure cards are huge. And I saw all of those benefits when I implemented them myself. Plus, the visuals have kept me from having to say a routine procedure over and over and over and over and... you get it!

So, how are these magical procedure cards used? Let's walk through it.

1. Decide the places/times in your classroom that need procedures cards. Some ideas might include: arrival, bathroom, line-up, walking in the hall, art easel, sitting at...

Whether you love or loathe organization, the act of being organized in our classrooms make us more effective teachers.  When we don't have to spend time and frustration looking for materials or lesson plans- we feel better. And when we feel better- we teach better.

This is no different when doing small groups in your preschool classroom.  The organization piece is what keeps all the ducks in a row. << Cause we all hate the feeling of squirrels at a rave!

Organizing small group can be broken down into three buckets: 1. Organizing Activities 2. Organizing Data 3. Organizing Materials

I love to plan (what I can) ahead time... before the year even starts.

So, I put together notebooks for myself of skills that I would most likely teach in small group and store my activities within them.

I have 10 activities per notebook/skill and I can just pull a notebook out and have an activity ready in no time flat.

By front-loading these small group activities I have saved myself so...

Here are THE 3 THINGS that have helped me have successful small group time again and again.  These top tips may seem small- but they are mighty!

TOP TIP #1: Have a Plan

 Plan for what you can control.  Many things may be out of your hands until your students are in your class and assessments/observations have been made.  But, that doesn't mean you can't plan anything small group related.

Start by planning...

• what skills might need to be practiced during small group (use prior experiences to help you decide) and come up with activities you could do in relation to those skills.
• how you want to monitor student progress. What is does your data collection look like?
• how students move in and out of groups. Which missing skills receive the highest priority when grouping students?
• how you will handle students that don't want to come to small group.
• how you will handle students who aren't in the skill group, but want to play too.

TOP TIP #2 : Be Flexible...

Welcome to the Preschool Small Group 5-Day Series! It's Day 3!

If you haven't already, check out Days 1 and 2:

Day 1: Five Reasons to Have Preschool Small Group

Day 2: How to Effectively Group Preschoolers for Small Group

Now, let's get started!

You know the benefits of having small group time {check}

You've got your groups all grouped up {check}

Now it's time to figure out what to do when you call those groups to meet together!

First and foremost- decide on what skills you will focus on. These should be skills that you have assessed and want mastery.

For an example, I have used the following focus skills in the past:

• 2D Shapes
• Colors
• Name Recognition
• Name Writing
• Counting
• Sorting
• Patterning
• Numeral Identification
• Letter Identification
• Number Sense

But, you could have any skill that you see a need for with your current group of students.

During Small Group

It is extremely important to keep your small group time engaging and fun.  No one is going to want to come join you...

Welcome to the Preschool Small Group 5-Day Series! It's Day 4!

If you haven't already, check out Days 1, 2 and 3:

Day 1: Five Reasons to Have Preschool Small Group

Day 2: How to Effectively Group Preschoolers for Small Group

Day 3: Preschool Small Group Activity Ideas

Let's chat scheduling.  No, I don't just mean when on your schedule you do small group (we will get into that too).... having an effective small group schedule is more than that!

Let's dive in!

>>> When in the school year should I start small group?

This totally depends on you and the class you have... but- you should NOT start at the beginning of the school year.

Here's why... children who are not coming to your small group are playing in play centers.  Before you can release them into the wild of play centers, you have to teach them how to properly use each center.  This takes time and a lot of your attention.  You can't just be trying to have small group and expect four year olds...