teacher tips
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Preschool lesson plan webs
I use webs ALL OF THE TIME. Seriously, I’m a very visual person so it always helps when I can organize my ideas on a piece of paper. Once I can see it all in writing it seems to make more sense, and I am more likely to remember my ideas and thoughts. There are so many different ways to use brainstorming webs in the classroom; planning for themes or projects brainstorming activities that meet early learning standards planning for IEP or IFSP goals for specific children organizing ideas for classroom centers brainstorming ideas for special events and family activities The best thing about a web is that it can…
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Making time for conscious observation during the day
Preschool teachers spend all day making observations. We do it so regularly that we might not even realize that we’re taking all of those mental notes. We’ve trained our selves to recognize fine motor milestones, social emotional experiences, and scientific inquiry throughout the day, but do you ever take the time to just sit and watch your students as they play? I mean, without considering assessments and portfolios, just to watch the children as they play? There are so many things that you can observe when you remove yourself from their conversations and interactions. Taking time to sit by yourself and just observe is incredibly valuable. It can give you…
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Friday Freebie – Portfolio tags for student selected work
Happy Friday! Even happier Friday to those of you who are celebrating Labor Day weekend! I am ready for a three day weekend, I have a to do list of fun projects that I haven’t had time to do all summer, and I’m looking forward to getting it all done. This week I’ve spent a lot of time talking about assessments and portfolios to help you get some systems in place. Up to this point I’ve talked about the work that you can do to begin preparing portfolio systems, this freebie is something you can use to encourage children to take an active role in compiling their portfolios. Make multiple…
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Taking photos to use in portfolios
A great preschool portfolio includes tons of evidence of growth and development. Some of this evidence should be work samples and artwork, but evidence can also be photos of children participating in learning experiences, interacting with each other, and exploring their environment. Capturing these moments with your camera can take some practice, but once you get the hang of it, it will be like second nature (and the children will eventually forget that you’re taking their picture and stop making those cheesy faces). Here are some tips for taking great portfolio photos; try to get multiple different views of the same thing – close ups and wide shots can both…
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Systems for tracking anecdotal notes
Anecdotal notes are incredibly helpful, they provide evidence that shows which skills children have mastered, and which skills need additional practice. They also give teachers the opportunity to write down direct quotes from children, which can be insightful, hilarious, and adorable. Being able to access all of this information when it comes times for conferences is invaluable, and parents love to hear what their children have been up to. The main issues with anecdotal notes are; storing and organizing all of those random little notes remembering to write them in the first place When it comes to remembering to write them down, I’ve found that it works best if you…
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Planning the Classroom Environment
There are some many things to consider when you think about setting up a preschool classroom. It can be very overwhelming! I’ve found that it helps to break that job into a number of small(ish) tasks. 1. Think about your activity centers. Some centers need specific furniture – a writing center has to be near a table, and a classroom library needs a place to store books. Other centers work best in specific areas of the classroom – you might want to keep your art center near the tile floor. 2. Arrange the furniture. This is my favorite part, I can look at a piece of furniture and know exactly…
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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…
