-
Valentine’s Day Math Center 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.…
-
Valentine’s Language Center
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…
-
Leaning into what brings me joy
I got a little vulnerable with you on Monday – this time of year is tough. The pressure to jump back into a routine after the holidays, when I’m not really ready for that, causes some friction. Add the dreary weather and joy can be a little hard for me to come by. I’m working through it by leaning into the things that I know bring me joy – a “Joy List” if you will! Whenever I’m feeling a little down – whether it’s because I’m burnt out at work, clouds and cold are impacting my mood, or I’m just in need of a pick me up – I like…
-
Finding the Joy
This is the time of the year that’s the most difficult for me – the happiness of the holiday season is over and I feel like I’ve been thrown back into work without actually getting the rest and relaxation that I’d been so looking forward to. It’s burnout at it’s finest. Plus the weather is gray and dreary, which never helps. This is the month when I have to be truly intentional about finding my purpose in the work that I do so that I can enjoy it. The real question is, how do I do that??? There’s not an exact science to it – I’ve tried a variety of…
-
My favorite things – 2022 Edition
I can’t say goodbye to 2022 without sharing my favorite Amazon purchases! I love to review these because they say so much about the things that were on my mind throughout the year. It’s like a little time capsule right there in my order history. Here are the items that I’d definitely recommend: Printable vinyl sticker paper – I taught myself how to make stickers with my Cricut, and I’ve gone through so much of this printable vinyl! It’s really easy to use and prints really well. Instant Frother – I’ve really been trying to kick the Starbucks habit (or at least reign it in a little), and this has…
-
It’s a New Year! But what does that actually mean?
The New Year can be such an exciting time – it’s easy to get caught up in the idea of a fresh start and making plans. For preschoolers though, it can be really confusing. They don’t have a great understanding of such an abstract concept – what is a year, and why are we starting a new one? Teaching units of time with visuals that make them a little more concrete can be so helpful! I put together this set a few years ago for my preschoolers and I got to use it over break with my daughter too. I’m a visual learner, so being able to see what things…
-
One Little Word for 2023
The holidays have been a whirlwind this year – we started our break a little early after getting the flu, and once we recovered it was full steam ahead for the last week of the year. Right now I’m exhausted, but also ready to take a deep breath and embrace the opportunity for a fresh start that comes with the beginning of a new year. One of my favorite ways to set a focus for the year is to identify one little word to keep me grounded. My one little word for 2023 is BELIEVE. This year will be a big leap for me – the first year that I’m…
-
Using Christmas Clearance Finds in the Classroom
Christmas clearance sales are some of the best of the year – and they can really help you head into the rest of the winter with a good plan for your classroom! On Monday I shared a list of some of my favorite items to pick up for preschool while you’re shopping these sales. Today, let’s talk about some ways to use your Christmas clearance finds in the classroom. The sensory bin is a great place to start – fake snow with little animal figurines, cutting different kinds of ribbon, a bag of bows and little boxes – you get the idea. The great thing about Christmas clearance items is…
-
Christmas Clearance for the Classroom
I love a good sale – who doesn’t?! When it comes to after-Christmas clearance sales, there are so many things that can be used in the classroom. Check out some of the materials that I love to scoop up on Christmas clearance for preschool! Anything that doesn’t scream Christmas can be a great supply for the rest of the year. This includes: Ornaments can be repurposed as figurines for play areas and sensory bins. look for: There are so many different options for sensory play, like: After Christmas, there’s still the rest of the winter season – so anything that supports exploring snow and winter themes is fair game: I…
-
Merry Christmas!
I wanted to pop in before the holiday and send you all the best wishes for a joyful Christmas day. Thank you for your support this year and the incredible work that you do every day – there is truly nothing more important than setting our children up for success!
