November 2009

Preschoolers need opportunties to develop their cutting skills

November 19, 2009

Give your preschoolers opportunities to develop their cutting skills but before you do so consider a few of the following suggestions: Make sure scissors will actually cut. If you can’t cut a piece of paper with the child-sized scissors you select then chances are, your preschoolers wont be able to either. Have left and right [...]

Using straws to create AB patterns

November 15, 2009

Straws are cheap, accessible, and come in all sizes and colors. This is what makes straws such a great resource for creating patterns in the preschool classroom. When first introducing patterns, start with a simple AB pattern. Notice that there are only two colors in this pattern. There is no difference in size – just [...]

Threading yarn with preschoolers

November 11, 2009

This is just a short tip for you to tuck away the next time your preschoolers are threading yarn. Start by taping the end of your string or yarn to the table so it doesn’t slide around. This will keep the items you are threading from sliding off the end! Put a long, thin strip [...]

Water table fun in the preschool classroom

November 10, 2009

A preschooler can enjoy water play as part of a small group or independantly. As a group, children use time at the water table to socialize, communicate, interact, and role play. For the child who enjoys a little alone time, the water table can be a relaxing and soothing experience. Learning Opportunities The water table presents opportunities [...]

Clean-up time in the preschool classroom

November 9, 2009

There is sand all over the floor, paint on the table, and toys scattered about which means your preschoolers are having fun learning and playing but now it is time to clean it all up. What should you do? Give the children a warning and some guidance A few minutes before clean-up time begins, go around to each child or [...]

Science in the preschool classroom

November 7, 2009

The basics of science in the preschool classroom.

Providing preschoolers with structured and unstructured opportunities to write

November 5, 2009

Both structured and unstructured writing opportunities can benefit preschoolers but it is important to understand the difference and to know what is age appropriate. Unstructured Writing Opportunties Providing a writing center or writing tools on a table that preschoolers are free to explore are examples of unstructured writing opportunities. As very young preschoolers are developing their [...]

Give preschoolers opportunties to write and color

November 4, 2009

Here are some ideas to consider when giving your preschool students opportunities to color or write. Offer Choices Provide your preschoolers with a variety of writing tools to choose from. Add crayons, markers, pencils, pens, colored pencils, and chalk of different sizes and shapes. Provide access to different types of paper as well such as [...]

Five reasons to encourage preschoolers to color

November 3, 2009

Set out a piece of paper and some crayons and see the growth and development that is taking place. Fine motor skills are being strenthened as preschoolers grasp the crayons and hold on tight enough to make the color show up on their paper. Eye-hand coordination is challenged as preschoolers learn to use the [...]