early learning standards

  • Joy in Everyday – Standards

    This week’s posts (here and here) have been all about my experience focusing on joy, and how that can be incorporated in the classroom. Here are some of the standards that are being explored when you help your students focus on joy: Social Emotional Awareness and Expression of Emotions Self-Regulation Attachment Approaches Toward Learning Planning, Action, and Reflection Attention Cognition and General Knowledge Memory Reasoning and Problem Solving Historical Thinking Language and Literacy Receptive Language and Comprehension  Expressive Language Social Communication Writing For more information about the Early Learning Development standards check out this document.  

  • Shape art

    Both of my posts this week have been all about understanding shapes, but when you’re introducing a new concept to preschoolers it’s important to have fun with it too.  Here are some great ideas for shape art projects that will inspire exploration and creativity! Shape Collages – from Nurture Store Create a city out of shapes Make pictures with shape blocks Recreate shape pictures What other shape art activities do you do? Share them in the comments!

  • Comparing and Contrasting Shapes

    All of yesterday’s shape talk got me thinking – thinking so much that I had to create something new! I put together this Comparing Shapes set to help you work on some shape comparisons.  Each poster is designed to encourage students to look at the number of sides and corners (also new great vocabulary to introduce!) each shape has.  Once they can isolate these details and use them to focus on the differences and similarities of each shape, they will have a better understanding of what makes each shape. This set also includes a chart so that after you’ve explored each shape, you can put all of the information for…

  • Shape Scavenger Hunt

    I know it was a little quiet around her last week, but I am back and I have some fun activities to share with you this week! One of my favorite math concepts to explore with preschoolers is always shapes.  Understanding and recognizing shapes is necessary for more than just basic geometry, we need to understand shapes in order to build spatial awareness.  Shapes also invite comparisons and attention to detail, as well as encouraging children to pay attention to the world around them. I like to introduce the shape discussion by going on a scavenger hunt for shapes .  This is the perfect intro activity because it is something…

  • Standards related to MLK day experiences

    It’s been a while since I’ve talked standards here (but if you want to go back and read all of those posts, they’re right here).  There are a number of holidays over the next few months, and sometimes it can be hard to justify celebrating them, or spending time exploring related concepts.  I’ve become quite skilled at aligning just about any activity to related standards, so I wanted to share with you in order to help your lesson planning. Here are some preschool standards related to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Recognize and identify own emotions and emotions of others – when discussing how being treated differently makes us feel. …

  • 3 Things that have changed the way I teach preschool

    After teaching toddlers and preschoolers for nearly 10 years, I finally took the time to put all of the things I had learned into 3 different products.  These products incorporate all that I have learned from great mentors, as well as lessons that I had to learn myself.  Teaching is a journey, and all of us who’ve experienced it have something to share.  That’s why it was so important for me to share my insights with all of you. Here are the three products that have given my teaching purpose and direction: Preschool Portfolio Pack: I’ve used similar portfolios and checklists for years, but they’ve never been designed to work…

  • Activities to practice syllable recognition

    It’s Wednesday, and here at Preschool Ponderings, that means time to focus on the standards.  Every Wednesday I choose an Early Learning Standard and share a number of activities that can be aligned with that particular standard.  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: Language and LiteracyStrand: ReadingTopic: Phonological AwarenessPhonological awareness is all about recognizing the different sounds that make up words, and all of the…

  • Early Learning Standards by State

    I am constantly referencing my state’s Early Learning Development Standards online because it is so convenient, so I put together a PDF with links to each state’s Early Learning Standards so that you can explore your state’s standards and other related resources.  This document is also really helpful if you want to view another state’s standards, I’ve done all of the searching for you, so you can just click the link! Download your copy here! As you explore the links please remember that these documents are regularly updated by state departments of education.  If you find a link that is no longer correct please let me know so that I…