Back to school week | I can week!

It won’t be much longer before I have to start getting serious about making sure I am ready to head back to preschool. In fact, many of our elementary schools in the area have changed to a new system and start back to school by August 1st. Each year during our first week of preschool, we focus on the things we CAN do in preschool…

I Can Day by Teach Preschool

To help get preschool off to a positive start, we spend our first week focusing on all the things my students CAN do in preschool. Here are a few examples of the things we can do in our classroom..

I can paint

Whether you decide to include actual tin cans in your I Can week or not, you do want to be sure to invite your preschoolers to come and paint with you. While painting during the first week of preschool, you can use this opportunity to facilitate conversation about where paint smocks are, where to wash hands after painting, and any other guidelines or helpful tips you think your students will need for a successful painting experience…

I Can Paint (Back to school week) by Teach Preschool

I can glue

Introducing the children to glue early on will help them learn to regulate and use the glue all throughout the school year. As much as possible, keep your first week of planning as open ended as possible. Invite the children to explore the materials rather than actually making something with the materials…

I Can Glue (Back to school week) by Teach Preschool

I can cut

Giving the children opportunity to explore cutting with scissors as well as the use of other commonly used tools in your classroom will give you the chance to share a few simple rules for the use of the tools such as where they belong, how to take care of them, and when or where they can be used in your classroom…

I Can Cut (Back to school week) by Teach Preschool

I can play in sand and water

Our sand and water tables are open every day in preschool so during the first week, the children spend time exploring the sand and water table…

I Can Play in Sand  (Back to school week) by Teach Preschool

I can read a book

We also spend time introducing each of our centers to the children and give them time to explore the materials in the centers. Throughout the week, we talk about how to take care of the centers and how to put things away when they are all done playing…

I can read

The goal for planning our first week of preschool is on helping my students know what they can do in our classroom and giving them simple to remember guidelines along the way. Of course, any expectations I share will need to be reminded as we go along but starting of with a positive I CAN experience helps get us all off to a good start! Below are some past posts I have shared about some of our I CAN days in preschool…

Links to Grow On

The things we can do in preschool

Tin Can partner painting

I Can Day (Circletime)

Kick the Can game

Tin Can Magnetic Play

Designing with Glue

The tools we use in preschool

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Deborah J Stewart

Deborah J Stewart

Every time I think I know everything I need to know about teaching young children, God says, "Hold on a minute!" and gives me a new challenge.

Let me tell ya...

With each new challenge that you overcome, you will find yourself better equipped and more passionate about teaching young children.

God didn't call wimps to lead, teach, or care for His children. Nope, he has high expectations, so get ready. You will have to give your very best but after teaching for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is a wonderful and rewarding journey.

Whenever your calling feels hard, just remember, 'He who began a good work in you (and in the children you serve) will be faithful to complete it.'

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