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Starting Classroom Interventions
After conferences, the next step is implementing any interventions that you’ve discussed with families. Some interventions are simple and make an immediate difference, others can be a bit more complicated. So how do you go about all of this? One small step at a time! The most important thing to know about classroom interventions is that you can tweak them any time. No intervention is set in stone, and if something isn’t working it’s always ok to make a change. This mindset can make interventions helpful and supportive instead of one more classroom task. Give yourself and the children grace. Some days these will work really well, and other days…
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Preparing for Conference Conversations
Some people have a real skill for making challenging conversations feel comfortable and productive – I am not one of those people. I will worry about these kinds of conversations for weeks and avoid them at all costs, but I have found a few tricks for making them feel more natural and truly helpful. Here’s what works for me: Shifting mindset. I really work to look at these types of conversations as an opportunity to HELP. It’s my job to support children’s development. If I don’t share what I’m observing and offer resources, interventions, and support then I’m not doing my job. I’m not trying to make families lives more…
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Preschool Conference Resources
It’s conference time – can you believe it?! I’ve been a part of parent/teacher conferences as both a teacher and a parent, and I can confidently say that I don’t particularly enjoy it from either role. Conferences can be so tricky, the conversations themselves can be intimidating – especially if you don’t know the families well at this point in the school year. There are also opportunities for really positive conversations! The number one tip that I have when having heading into conference season is to take the time to be prepared. Here are all of the resources that I use to help make sure that I’m prepared before sitting…
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Hello November!
We’ve made it to November! There seems to be a tendency to forget about this particular month and jump straight to all of the December Christmas content, but I find so much value in all of the great November themes and topics, especially for the youngest children. Here’s what we’ll be exploring on the blog this month: Those are the main themes that are on my mind this month, and we’ll deep dive into them. I’m especially excited about sharing my favorite gift ideas for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and teachers. These are always my favorite posts of the year! I also have some thoughts to share on supporting parents through…
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After Halloween Plans for the Classroom
This year Halloween is on a Thursday, which means we all have to come back in to school for Friday before we can really crash. The day after Halloween can be ROUGH in the classroom. Honestly, it makes perfect sense – the routine has been totally off, most kids were up way later than usual for trick or treating, and we’ve all had more sugar over the last few days than are bodies are used to processing. It’s completely normal for everyone to be super cranky the next day. Knowing this, there are some things that you can do to make the day go a little more smoothly. In planning…
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Tips for Planning a Class Halloween Party
Whether you are planning a Halloween party or a Harvest Party, it’s time to start thinking about it! I know some people dread party days, but I love them. Parties are the perfect time to build classroom communities. They give the children a common event to look forward too and opportunities to bond over their anticipation, and throughout the actual party. Over the years I’ve come up with quite a few tips for making those crazy party days run just a little more smoothly. The planning makes all the difference, so consider your party details as I run through some of the questions you might want to ask yourself.
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Teacher Costumes from your Closet
I love Halloween, but I’m not a huge fan of dressing up – it’s the introvert in me that doesn’t want any extra attention! I also don’t love the idea of spending a ton of money on something that I’m only going to wear once. I’ve gotten really good at creating fun, comfortable costumes from my own closet. The fact that they’re made from clothes I already own means that they’re also very school-appropriate. Here are some of the ideas that I’ve used in the past, just in case you’re looking for a last minute teacher costume that won’t break the budget. Gardener – Pull out a pear of jeans or…
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Preschool Activities for Halloween
October is such a fun month in the classroom, and there are no shortage of activities to explore with your students. If you’re planning for the holiday week, then this post will save you some time an effort so that you can get back to the fun! The Preschool Ponderings Shop is full of great Halloween resources for you to check out. Click the photos below to download – and make sure to scroll to the bottom to see my absolute favorite Halloween activity! Ok, you made it this far – here’s my absolute favorite Halloween activity for the preschool classroom: This shape practice set includes three activities to do…
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Halloween Safety
I’ve shared this same Halloween safety book every year because I love the way that it makes the conversation easy for very young children to understand. This amazing freebie is from Miss Kindergarten Love, and it’s a wonderful way to help children consider their surroundings while enjoying the holiday. Go download a copy to use with your class this month!
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Halloween Costume Anxiety
Many children LOVE the opportunity to wear costumes on Halloween. They jump at the opportunity to dress up like someone else and truly enjoy the process of choosing a costume. There are some children who do not share this joy and really struggle with Halloween because of their feeling about costumes. Children may not like the way that a costume feels when they wear it. If this is the case then getting creative and identifying costumes that can be created with the types of clothing that a child already enjoys wearing. Other children struggle with the idea of dressing like someone else. They may not want to be anyone or…
