• Classroom Valentine Boxes

    EASY Preschool Valentine Boxes

    Over the years I’ve tried ALL of the different ways to make valentine boxes in the classroom – from the brown paper bag to over the top crafty cut-outs. There are pros and cons to all of these, so let’s talk through those as we work towards the absolute easiest option if you’re making preschool valentine boxes in the classroom. First, I like to use this as a class activity because families are busy! They don’t always have the time or supplies that they might need, and if I put out supplies for all of the children then they start with a level playing field. Making Valentine boxes also meets…

  • Teacher Valentine's day

    Valentine’s Day Must Haves!

    My love for holidays runs DEEP and when it comes to Valentine’s Day I have no problem talking myself into cute “must haves” because hearts work all year round! These are the things that I’ve been drooling over lately – just in case you need a little inspiration (all are affiliate links). Heart Zip Pouch – I never have enough little pouches, I swear they just disappear. This one is absolutely adorable, and would be perfect for tossing in the little heart caddy that’s coming up lower on the list. I also love that this is waterproof and wipe-able! Heart Pendant Necklace – This is exactly the kind of necklace…

  • preschool february

    February Month of Preschool Activities

    I shared the list of everything included in my January Month of Preschool set a couple of weeks ago and wanted to make sure that I did the same with the February set so that you can make next month’s prep a little easier on yourself! Here’s EVERYTHING that’s included in the February Month of Preschool set: Wow! There are so many materials in this set! At 290 pages, these activities should keep your class busy, and learning a ton during the month of February. You can purchase the set here, and learn more about each monthly set (and the 12 month bundle) here.

  • Valentine planner stickers

    DIY Planner Stickers

    I’m back with another video today! I started making my own clipart a couple of years ago specifically because I was struggling to find the kinds of stickers that I wanted for my planner – and that’s how I work, if I can’t find it then I make it myself! It took some trial and error to figure out, so I wanted to share how I do it so that you don’t have to work through the same challenges. The video that I’m sharing today walks through how I add images to Cricut design space and format these, cut them, and use them in my planner. It showcases my latest…

  • valentine activities

    Valentine’s Day Language Activities

    Valentine’s Day has a special place in my heart (see what I did there). January can be a long, dreary month and having something fun to look forward to can really change the mood. If you’re like me – looking forward to a holiday that’s all about warmth and love – and you’re planning what this will look like in your classroom, then I have some materials that might be just what you need! Here’s my Valentine writing center: I want children to get excited about using these materials, and I do that by making them inviting – adding decorations, related textiles, and touches that create a homey and comforting…

  • valentine math center

    Printable Valentine’s Day Math Activities

    I’m back with some more Valentine’s day ideas! Math centers can be tricky because we want children to enjoy the activities and WANT to do them, while also being able to use the materials independently. Here’s what’s in my Valentine’s Day math center: It doesn’t get more exciting than chocolate! This game is one that your students will definitely want to play – although you might have to monitor the game pieces or they’ll disappear. To play, children pick a candy and match the number on the bottom to the number on their mat. It can be done individually or you can print two sets and have a partner game. The…

  • Preschool Diversity

    Using Martin Luther King Junior’s Words in the Classroom

    The “I Have a Dream” speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is iconic, and with great reason – but I can bet that many of us haven’t actually read or listened to the entire speech. There are of course the stand-out quotes, but to be able to hear the passion and heart behind the words adds humanism and connection that can’t be paralleled. The “I Have a Dream” book is a wonderful way to incorporate this speech into the classroom, and to help children identify with the power of the spoken word. I’m linking it here (and this link is an affiliate) because this particular copy actually comes…

  • diversity for preschool

    Activities for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

    I’m re-sharing a post today that is full of amazing ideas for exploring diversity in the classroom – hopefully these will fill in your lesson plans for next week! We’re working on social studies standards, and the timing worked out particularly well because today’s standard lends itself to Martin Luther King Day. Remember, the Standards that I use every day, and am most comfortable with are Ohio’s Early Learning Development Standards – you can review them here, however I’ve found that even if your State’s standards differ, many of these activities can still be aligned similarly. I’ve rounded up some great ideas today! Domain: Social StudiesStrand: GeographyTopic: Human Systems Preschool standards are…

  • preschool teacher organization

    Making teacher tasks easier and more efficient

    It feels kind of laughable to share efficiency tips at the moment because I’m definitely still trying to get back in the swing of things after an extended holiday break – I feel anything but organized and efficient! That being said, there are definitely some tools that I use to help make life easier even when I’m not feeling like I’ve got it all together. I consider myself to be a very organized person, so these resources are things that I’ve created to make my planning process a little more streamlined and to help save time. These are all available in my TPT store, so make sure to click the…