Gameplay and young children can be so much fun and full of so many great benefits. But if you have some children who struggle with the winning and losing aspect of a game, a cooperative game is just what you need. Don't get me wrong, because playing cooperative games is important for all of...
Have you ever heard of tray tasking? If not, don't worry, it is not as fancy as it sounds, but it does hold some serious magic when paired with centers. So, we're going to talk about the what, why, where and how of using tray tasking.
What Is Tray Tasking?
For me, tray tasking is placing an...
Teaching preschool in a play-based way can sometimes leave those outside of it wondering when the academic learning pieces come in. But, those of us who practice and love play-based learning know that we use other times to bring in academic skill practice - such as small group.
And...
Raise your hand if you do a pet theme during the year!
Using the theme of pets in your preschool lesson plans is so relatable to kids. Many families have pets at home or children know of someone in their family or neighborhood with a pet. So many pets now-a-days are...
Ooo! I'm so excited! I just finished my first set of Fine Motor Task Boxes.
Fine Motor skills are focused on in every preschool classroom. Children need strong small muscles in fingers and eyes to do all kinds of work when they get to 'big' school.
While we all know fine motor skills...
Over the summer I shared my thoughts and ideas on small group learning in a 5-Day Preschool Small Group Series. I shared 5 reasons WHY you should be doing small group, how to effectively group your small groups, creating a small group schedule, activities to do in your small group and tips...
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...
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...