Blog

The What Works Clearinghouse reviewed the research on two practices used in center-based settings with 3- to 5-year-old preK children, as well as a number of specific curricula. Positive results are shown for (1) Phonological awareness training and (2) Interactive and dialogic reading.Read More: Reading Rockets 

Burton White of the Harvard Preschool Project said, "If play is the best way children learn, then why not make all their work their play." Math is one of those areas.Read More: Early Childhood News 

According to the National Institute for Literacy (2001), phonemic awareness is the ability to think about and work with individual sounds in spoken languages. Before children learn to read, they need to be aware of how sounds work. Teachers should integrate phonemic awareness instruction in the curriculum to help children learn to read and spell. The instruction can start with having children categorize the first phonemes — the smallest functional unit of speech — in words and then progress to…

You can build parents’ confidence in being their child’s reading partner at home by teaching them how to read aloud expressively and ask their child open-ended and child-friendly questions. It’s best to never assume that families already know how to help children read at home. The graphic below provides you with some examples you can give parents of how they can help their child learn to read. Read More: Kaplan Early Learning 

If art is all about process, why limit creativity by limiting the tools? Add an innovative twist to your next painting project by omitting the store-bought paintbrushes.Read More: Community Play Things 

Whether they're learning to read, write or exploring their creative abilities, preschoolers need encouragement to realize their accomplishments are worth celebrating.

A thematic unit on families is a great way to begin the year with a new class of preschoolers. A family unit supports children in countless ways, including easing their transitions, helping them learn about the other boys and girls in the class, and strengthening their self-awareness. Teachers can draw on these books to explore the rich diversity of families with preschoolers.Read more: NAEYC

Skill Based, Phonemic* Approach to Literacy How to Use Art to Enhance a Skills Based, Phonemics Approach to Literacy Verbalize frequently as you demonstrate materials. Engage children in art process by using a rich vocabulary as you describe it. Talk about directionality, or left to right, as you demonstrate materials. Talk about position, or top to bottom, as you demonstrate materials. Demonstrate specific skills in using art materials and art tools – teach technique. Show steps and progression in use…

In the history of human development, oral language—conversation, poetry, story-telling, and song—arose long before written language. In children we see the same pattern of language development. Children first learn to listen, to speak, to sing, to enjoy rhymes, stories, and books before they can read or write. What we often forget is that this foundation in oral language is a critical step in developing literacy.Read more: Community Play Things

Any one of these family activity ideas will welcome children and families into your program and set the stage for family involvement. Teachers can also adapt these activities to keep families engaged throughout the year.Read more: NAEYC