The 'Back from Holiday Break' struggles are REAL - am I right?

To be honest I kinda dread it each year. Am I super excited to see those faces I've missed over break?  Yes.  Do I want to go back and have to re-teach procedures and expectations? No, not particularly.  

...

In need of a last-minute Christmas activity that packs a big educational punch?

Look no further, because I am sharing with you one of my favorite Literacy activities for the Holiday Season.

The Sweet Smell of Christmas by Patricia Scarry is a wonderful book that focuses on using the sense of...

This time of year is one of my favorites!  And I especially love that I teach in a faith-based setting where I can teach my littles all about the Reason for the Season!

I always start the conversation by asking my children whose birthday they think it is on December 25th,...

DECEMBER is rough.  Granted, a relief comes with winter or holiday break.  But, boy oh boy, December sure wipes me out.

I guess it is all the things.  Shopping, cooking, lesson planning, making parent gifts, planning parties, baking....

I love and loath it all at the same...

Assessments... I don't know about you, but that word makes me a little ho-hum...

Assessments drive instruction.  So, are they necessary in an early education program? Of course.  Even though assessments help me see a bigger picture... data has just never been my thang.  

Helping children to learn to write their names is one of the biggest topics I see questions on.

We want to make sure our students are prepared to enter Kindergarten knowing how to write their name, because let's face it - many kindergarten classroom don't work on that skill much anymore.

So, if...

There is one classroom management strategy that I can NOT live without.

When I was in college we had a lab school on site. I both trained and worked in the early childhood program there.  It was an amazing experience and I learned SO much.

It was such a serene place.  No one was yelling...

Does lesson planning make you feel  or  ?

You are not alone my friend.

You plan activities and lessons but if you don't have your year mapped out, you don't know which skills you are covering and not covering.

I had this problem.  Had great activities and lessons but I didn't feel...