Rhythm sticks are a must-have for a preschool program! As long as you have enough dexterity to get your two hands to come together in the same general area (a fantastic feat for very young ones) you can play this instrument! Use them as part of a percussion band, or for specific rhythm stick activities. They magically [...]
Entries from August 2009
August 27, 2009
Welcome, Children! Get Your Children Ready by Following the 5 I’s.
Making a strong, positive connection with each child is a fundamental part of preparing for a great new year. When children know first that they are loved by you, it is much easier for them to learn from you! Building that kind of relationship takes time, but a positive first meeting is a huge step [...]
August 26, 2009
Art in the Preschool Classroom: Finding Reality and Fantasy
One of the classes I’ve been taking this summer is “The Arts in Every Classroom” (you can view the same class here). The arts seem easily incorporated into preschool, as the children are very naturally using music, movement, and visual art as a means of expressing themselves, almost constantly! This class gave me a few new [...]
August 25, 2009
Meeting with the Taller Half
Before you begin a new school year, it’s always a good idea to invite the taller half of your class, the parents, for a little orientation. This gets them on board with you as co-educators of their children, and can clarify a lot of issues that could otherwise cause problems later on. Start now to [...]
August 24, 2009
Terrific Transitions at Preschool Arrival and Departure
Arrival and departure are two inevitable parts of the preschool day. The preschoolers will come, and eventually, they will leave. Just because these are absolutes, doesn’t mean they don’t require some planning. The children’s arrival will set the tone for their entire day, and their departure will indelibly shade the way they remember their day. Take some [...]
August 22, 2009
No More Lost Notes!
There is a reason why the US Postal Service does not employ pre-schoolers. And yet, we teachers keep trying to use their services as a reliable way to transfer papers between home and school. We rummage through the 12 pockets in their backpacks, trying to find the book order they thought they brought, and we [...]
August 21, 2009
Unlock the Potential Within Your Room and Your Children With Learning Centers
Montessori, Piaget, and Martha Stewart all have one thing in common. All three would agree that a room should be a thoughtfully prepared environment, one that creates an invitation to those that enter. Martha’s rooms may invite you to sit down and sip mint julep, but the other two postulated more about environments that invite children to learn.
Children are born [...]
August 20, 2009
A Culture of Literacy: Teaching Preschoolers the ABC’s and More
Ask your average parents what they hope their child will learn in preschool, and most have learning the ABC’s somewhere in their tops 5 goals. Many preschool teachers respond to this by implementing a “letter-of-the-week” curriculum. One week may be the letter “M”, so we eat marshmallows, draw maps, read books about monkeys, and write [...]
