back to school

  • Friday Freebie – Open House Signs

    Happy Friday! I’m all about natural decor for the classroom, I’ve shared this preference often! There’s one popular material that has made it’s way into my room in more ways that I ever could’ve imagined is burlap. It’s versatile, it’s pretty cheap (especially if you can find it at the home improvement store), and it holds up really well to children who are not always gentle. If you love burlap, and general rustic loveliness, this freebie is for you! These beautiful Open House Signs are from Allyson Sutton.  It looks like she’s given you everything you need to organize your welcome back night.  Even if you’ve already started school, make…

  • Psst!

    Did you hear?! Teachers Pay Teachers is doing it again – they’re having a second back to school sale! Today you can get special discounts on any of those items that you need to start the school year (or those things that you wish you’d had when you started a couple of weeks ago). Make sure to head over to TPT and make some of those purchases that have been sitting in your wishlist – if you are in need of inspiration, here are some of the posts that I’ve done about items on my own wishlist: Back to School Wish List 2016Back to School Wish List 2015Back to School Wish…

  • Friday Freebie – Back to School Teacher Gift

    Happy Friday! The week really flies by when I’m as busy as I have been lately, if this whole back to school season has snuck up on you just a little too quickly I have the perfect freebie for you today. The very first product that I ever purchased on Teachers Pay Teachers was an editable planner from A Modern Teacher (it was completely worth it, and if you’re in the market hers are beautiful!), and to this day I still turn to her when I really want to up my game.  This gift tag freebie is beautiful, and comes with an easy idea for a teacher gift that is…

  • Sanity Savers

    This time of year is stressful, so I wanted to take a minute to share a tip that has saved my sanity time after time.  It’s really simple, I keep a list on my phone of all of the things that I love to do when I need some “me time.” Things are all things that help me unwind and relax a little. I pull out the list on tough days and pick one of those activities to help myself unwind. The key to this particular list is that I’m very specific about including activities that help me unwind that my budget can handle. I also make sure to include…

  • Tips for the first day of Preschool

    Whether you’ve already started the school year, or you’re still gearing up to it here are some tips for helping your first few days go a little more smoothly; Stick to your regular schedule: Following your regular schedule right from the start will help the children get used to it more quickly. It will also help them begin to feel a little more comfortable because they will always know what is coming next. For help planning your daily schedule take a look at these posts on the topic. Make time for each child: Build those relationships now.  Take time out of your day to talk to each child on-on-one.  This…

  • Friday Freebie – A gift for new kindergarten families

    Happy Friday! These last few weeks of summer are flying by – a little too fast.  If you’re thinking about heading back to school this freebie is perfect for you! I designed this First Day of Kindergarten gift to give to my preschoolers and their families when they head to Kindergarten for the first time, but it is also perfect for Kindergarten teachers to share with families at back to school night, or on the morning of the very first day. The freebie includes notes to families in a variety of colors, a list of things to include in the treat bag (which correspond with the note), and a template…

  • Back to School Wish List

    Image from Glitter Meets Glue It’s that time again – time for the massive Back to School Sale on Teachers Pay Teachers!!!! As is my tradition, I’m sharing what’s on my wishlist to help you add to your wishlist. Here’s what will be going in my cart: The dramatic play sets from Play to Learn Preschool are my favorite, and this Library set is adorable, and perfect for getting children excited about reading! Fire drills can be terrifying for little ones who are new to school. I love this Fire Drill set from Pocket of Preschool because it gives children the opportunity to explore the routines without the actual alarm.…

  • Start your portfolios now!

    It’s not conference time yet, but it will be soon enough.  Start putting together your student portfolios now, if you do it little by little you won’t have nearly as much prepping to do when it is time for conferences.  Here are some of my previous posts on putting together student portfolios; Preparing for Preschool Conferences What’s in my Student Portfolios Space Saving Portfolios Check these out as you start compiling your student portfolios!

  • Using a picture schedule

    A picture schedule is a great way to help all of your students anticipate what is coming next, which makes transitions from activity to activity a lot easier.  I created a set of schedule cards that include pictures.  These cards are designed for the preschool classroom, but they also include common activities for elementary school classrooms, so they are great for inclusion classrooms and students who need a little extra support when it comes to the daily schedule. My favorite thing about this set is that it also includes smaller schedule cards that you can put on a ring for students to carry with them.  They can match the pictures…

  • Scheduling your preschool day

    As a preschool teacher, one of the most important things that I had to consider each year was my daily schedule. I am the kind of person who follows a schedule closely – there are always exceptions, but most days the schedule kept the day from dragging o, and ensured that I was able to get everything done.  My kiddos needed that schedule too.  After the first couple of weeks they were able to anticipate what was coming next, and when certain important activities (like lunch, nap, and outside time) were.   While preschool teachers everywhere recognize that having a schedule is important, making your schedule is not necessarily easy.…