• Whats Happening?

    I know that it has been August for over a week now, but this month always seems to get away from me – Here’s what I’ve been up to: Current Favorite: Amazon has saved me so many times  in the past week! I can’t get enough of Prime two-day shipping – I ruined a pair of black sandals, the one pair that I wear to work at least three times a week, and I had a new pair in two days, even though I had no time to go shopping. I also may have started my Christmas shopping with the help of Amazon last week. Current Project: Last month I…

  • Friday Freebie – A gift for new kindergarten families

    Happy Friday! These last few weeks of summer are flying by – a little too fast.  If you’re thinking about heading back to school this freebie is perfect for you! I designed this First Day of Kindergarten gift to give to my preschoolers and their families when they head to Kindergarten for the first time, but it is also perfect for Kindergarten teachers to share with families at back to school night, or on the morning of the very first day. The freebie includes notes to families in a variety of colors, a list of things to include in the treat bag (which correspond with the note), and a template…

  • What’s in my desk

    When I got the job that I have right now and realized that I would have a desk for the first time in my working life I was excited to fill it up with stuff! I read tons of blog posts about great things to keep in your desk, some of which were helpful, and some of which were a little weird.  Since I’ve been using many of these items regularly for the last year I thought I would share what I’ve love having at my fingertips.  One of the first things that I did was to find an organizer that would fit really well in my desk drawer. I…

  • Back to School Wish List

    Image from Glitter Meets Glue It’s that time again – time for the massive Back to School Sale on Teachers Pay Teachers!!!! As is my tradition, I’m sharing what’s on my wishlist to help you add to your wishlist. Here’s what will be going in my cart: The dramatic play sets from Play to Learn Preschool are my favorite, and this Library set is adorable, and perfect for getting children excited about reading! Fire drills can be terrifying for little ones who are new to school. I love this Fire Drill set from Pocket of Preschool because it gives children the opportunity to explore the routines without the actual alarm.…

  • My favorite teaching products

    I’ve done a number of posts on products that I absolutely love and use everyday in the classroom (like this one, this one, and this one) but I love a lot of stuff, so here’s one that’s specifically geared towards back to school! (All links are affiliates) I’m never without a legal pad – meetings, professional development, planning, I always have one with me.  A padfolio like this one is a great way to look professional without taking myself too seriously! Flair pens are my favorite because they make color coding easier and my notes so much more fun to review. I just restocked my collection with a new pack of…

  • Friday Freebie – Reflection Checklist

    Happy Friday! I’ve shared a lot of information and ideas relating to documentation this week, and today’s freebie fits right in. This Reflection Checklist is one of my favorite products that I’ve ever made for the classroom.  It has been helpful in so many ways.  It makes it easy to collect your thoughts at the end of the day, while continuing to track any patterns and make sure that you are taking note of important events.  Not only does it help you document what happened that day, but it gives you a couple of minutes dedicated to really reflecting on what all of it means.  Download your copy and print a…

  • Documentation round up

    Are you planning for next year yet?! Here are some great posts on documentation – if you start planning for it now and get all of your systems in place it will take a lot less time to create when you sit down to get down to it; Documentation in the preschool classroom  Types of documentation Classroom documentation – know your audience How to create a documentation panel  Creative ways to display work Enjoy your prep time and check back tomorrow for a documentation freebie!

  • Creative ways to display work

    Preschoolers are prolific – they create a ton of work and every single piece is the most important! This is great for making sure that there is always enough work to display in the classroom, but when you don’t have a ton of wall space it can make life really difficult.  So what do you do with all of that work that you want to display and just can’t find room for? It’s time to get creative. Some of my favorite solutions include hanging work from the ceiling, using it to create suncatchers in the windows, and stands made from unexpected items.  Here are some inspiring photos that I’ve collected…

  • Reggio Classroom Decor

    My favorite thing about back to school is drooling over all of the amazing classroom decor that I see in all of the best teacher blogs.  This fun stuff doesn’t really fit in my Reggio-inspired room, which is probably a good thing because I would spend way too much money on all of it! But that doesn’t mean that a Reggio classroom has to be boring – far from it in fact.   I have a ton of great tips for decorating a Reggio-inspired classroom;  1, Have the children help you create artwork for the room.  These masterpieces can be incredibly artistic and meaningful at the same time.  The act…

  • Friday Freebie – Anecdotal Notes

    Happy Friday! I’ve noticed that summer weeks seem to fly by a lot faster than the rest of the weeks throughout the year. Today’s freebie is for those of you who’ve already begun to think about next year’s assessment systems.  I’ve been talking about this subject all week so I wanted to  share my anecdotal notes freebie with you.  This is an easy way to track and organize your anecdotal notes and other important information.  Check it out before enjoying your weekend!