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Creating a Parent Donation List that gets noticed!
Whether I need specific materials for a class project or there are items that I always need for the classroom (Kleenex anyone?!) Parents and families are always the first people that I ask for help. Over the years I’ve come up with some tips for putting together donation lists that get results. First and foremost you need parents to notice that you are asking for something. Let them know where they can look for these kinds of messages, and make sure that you always put them in the same spot so that family members don’t have to search for them. Use bright colors and graphics that will grab their attention.…
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Sourcing Recycled Scraps for the Classroom
Some of my favorite materials to use in the classroom are recyclable materials. They are easy to get and they fit right into my budget – free! The problem is that I usually have to know what I want in advance and spend a good deal of time tracking down enough materials for the entire class to use. I always ask parents, coworkers, and my own family members to help me collect materials, but they aren’t always as invested in the collecting process as I am. All of my collection also tend to take up a lot of storage space, storage space that is already at a premium in the…
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DIY Mother’s Day Gift Idea
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Using your local Child Care Resource and Referral
I promised posts this week that will help you save money and find resources for your preschool and child care programs. In my opinion, there is no greater resource than your local Child Care Resource and Referral. According to Child Care Aware there are over 400 Child Care Resource and Referral offices across the US, and while they all offer slightly different services, many of their offerings are similar. For example, at my local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) they help families locate child care programs that meet their needs, offer professional development trainings and technical assistance to child care providers, provide programming for parents and families, and run…
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Free books for the classroom
I am so excited about the series of posts that I have planned for this week, they are all about ways to save money or find inexpensive resources for preschool and child care programs – who doesn’t love that! Let’s start with how you can get free books for your classroom – yup, free! Books are a necessity in any preschool room, a great way to share new information, encourage classroom communities, and instill a love of reading at a very early age. But books aren’t always the most durable items in a classroom. So whether you need some more to replace your favorite worn out copies, or you’re just…
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Friday Freebie – Valentine Movement
Happy Friday! This week has been all about movement activities, so it’s only fitting that this freebie goes with that theme. These Valentine-themed movement cards are from Play Learn Teach and there are a ton of ways that you could use them. Download your set and get a couple days of fun out of them before February is over, then stash them away for next year! Have a wonderful weekend!
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Alphabet Practice with Balloons
The easiest, most simple activities tend to be the ones that always fascinate my students. So it should come as no surprise that this alphabet activity is one of their all-time favorites. The concept is ridiculously simple, I just blow up a bunch of balloons (ideally at least one per child) and use a permanent marker to write a different letter on each balloon. Then I turn on some music and we hit the balloons around, trying to keep them from touching the floor. When the music stops each child has to catch a balloon, and tell me what letter is on their balloon. We repeat this until they…
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Easy Alphabet Match Activity
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Movement Math Activity
Since I’ve been sharing movement activities this week I wanted to remind you about this one; This Movement Math set requires very little prep and is the perfect activity for circle time or small groups. It includes two sets of cards, one with numbers and the other with simple motions. Children get to draw one card from each pile and lead the group in completing the motion the correct number of times. If you’re looking for something different to get the wiggles out or a movement activity that you feel good about putting on your lesson plan, then this one is perfect! Download your copy HERE.
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Easy Snowball Pompoms
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DIY Ribbon Rings
I have a hard time believing that I’ve never shared this easy DIY – It’s my all time favorite indoor movement activity, and I’ve been known to gift Toddlers and preschoolers on my shopping list with some favorite music and their very own sets of DIY ribbon rings. I’ve seen a number of varieties of ribbon wands over the years, but I’m partial to the rings because they are easier for little hands to hold onto, and they pose fewer opportunities for accidental injuries when the dancing gets wild. Rings also require no glue or tape at all because you can tie the ribbon right around the ring itself, so…
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Movement Art
I planned an entire series of posts for this week thinking “It’s February, everyone’s been cooped up inside all winter and we need to MOVE.” Ha, clearly the joke is on me because it’s supposed to be 60 degrees all week here where I am so, all the little ones I know will get plenty of outside time. If the same can’t be said of your home, then this week is for you! If you’re lucky like me and getting some warm weather then be sure to stash these activities away for cold rainy days that are sure to come your way before spring officially gets here. This particular activity…
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Friday Freebie – Visual Social Stories
Happy Friday! This felt like an extra long week, I think holidays have a way of making the rest of the week stretch out. I know that Valentine’s Day is over, but I wanted to share this so that you can save it for next year. This awesome freebie is a set of Visual Social Stories all about Valentine’s day. This would be amazing for helping your students prepare for your party and have a better understanding of how the day will go. Go download your copy from Creating and Teaching, and have a wonderful weekend!
