From the moment our little ones pick up that first Cheerio, their fine motor skills start developing. But that first piece of cereal is just the beginning. We have to nurture this important skill by providing tons of opportunities to get those fingers moving! I cannot stress how important this
When it comes to choosing books to read to preschoolers, sometimes there are way too many books to choose from! Other times, like when you are teaching about the United States or the Fourth of July, the choices are limited. Especially when trying to teach such a complicated and vast
Children are naturally creative and curious beings, and they want to explore different shapes, textures, and materials in our world. As teachers, we should encourage our little ones to explore this creativity by providing them with materials and sparks of ideas. I think it’s important to realize that this creativity
The recent election can only emphasize the importance of voting. The votes came in extremely close, which just goes to show that every vote does count! We have the privilege of being able to vote in our country, and that should not be taken for granted. It’s never too early
Believe it or not, my favorite holiday is the Fourth of July. Probably because I just love fireworks so incredibly much (minus the part where my husband tries to blow his head off with mortars). They’re just magical and thrilling and simply beautiful. Now, add in a barbeque, a pool
I had the opportunity to travel with my sister to Washington D.C. a few years ago, and it was life-changing. This incredible city summoned feelings that I didn’t know existed: immense pride, achievement, gratitude, sorrow, and awe, to state a few. It was almost as if I was transported to
The twinkling lights, the carols, the fires, the family. There is just a warm feeling that envelops us when Christmas rolls around. It’s full of memories, love, and cheer. Even as adults, the magic of Santa never goes away, which is why I get so excited to share that warm
As the days get shorter and sunset comes around, oh, 4:30, it seems like our activities become limited. No more riding bikes and scooters in the cul-de-sac until seven o’clock. No more throwing some bags and barbequing out back. No more nightly walks into the sunset. But that’s probably why
Animals grab a toddler’s attention like a pig to slop. Farm animals, zoo animals, jungle animals, ocean animals – every animal captivates and fascinates, even me as an adult. Animals are intriguing to watch and even more fun to pretend to take care of them! This farm dramatic play center
The best way to differentiate learning for all students is to incorporate small group instruction. This enables the teacher to tailor each lesson to meet students at their developmental level. While it does require a little more work, it’s so worth it! I’ve tried to make it a little easier
When I first taught the letters to my oldest daughter, we focused on the letter names. That’s what preschoolers are supposed to learn, right? Well, I’ve come to realize that letter names really don’t matter. When it comes to reading, we only need letter sounds, which is why I think
I used to think that letter formation should come later on – after learning all of the letters. But the more I research it, the more important I find that learning how letters are formed and tracing is such an integral part of learning letters. Tying in the motion of
I am a former elementary school teacher and reading specialist, now stay-at-home-mom to my two beautiful, charismatic girls, Addison and Aria.
I’ve created engaging preschool learning activities grouped into themes to make it easy for you to implement teaching with play with your little learners, too!
