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During the first five years of a child’s life, their brains are rapidly developing. In fact, 90% of a child’s brain develops during this time. As your preschool students are building the skills they’ll need for school and beyond, it’s important to realize how the interactions they have with adults influence how they develop and learn.  Here are 5 ways you can promote the language and communication skills of your students: 1. Be a CommentatorAs your students’ teacher, you can…

Many of our age-related expectations for children, such as when they will read, write, sit at a desk, or even pay attention at circle time, are rather arbitrary. While these things are important, we ought to think of them as branches of a developmental tree and first be sure there's a sturdy trunk providing support.Read More: Scholastic

Circle time, also called group time, refers to any time that a group of children are together for an activity. It’s a special time to share fingerplays, chants, and rhymes; sing songs; play rhythm instruments; read a story; and participate in movement games and relaxation activities. Circle time is also a wonderful time to develop listening skills and attention spans, promote oral communication, teach new concepts and skills, and have FUN. The following tips will help you make your group…

When children join a new class, they may be nervous and unsure about what to expect. Families want to know if they will be welcome and if the teachers will value their suggestions and appreciate their child. Use these tips to help ease transitions year-round and to get a new year off to a great start.Read More: NAEYC 

Every day your preschool students learn skills that will help them become good readers. As their teacher, you play an important role in supporting these skills and helping them build a solid foundation for literacy. Here are 5 ways you can help support your students as they begin to read:1. Incorporate Reading into PlayPlaytime provides young children with countless opportunities to learn! Try putting menus with the other toys for when children pretend they’re at a restaurant or making road…

Five-year-old Maria goes to the music center, chooses a CD, inserts it into the player, adjusts her headphones, and listens. In the library corner, Will searches for his favorite book. He looks, but the book isn’t in its usual place. Instead of asking an adult for help, he hides his face and cries.Read More: Early Childhood News 

From the rhythm of the lines to the joy of playing with words, poetry weaves a special kind of magic. Children love the playfulness of poetry and are natural poets, putting words together in new and unusual ways every day. Whether they hear a poem read aloud or write their own, children are learning about language — and about themselves and others.Read More: Scholastic

As a child care provider, you soon discover that parents and children are a two-for-one deal: Developing positive relationships with parents is critical to providing the best care possible to their children. Read More: ZERO TO THREE

Practicing learned content in the context of play allows students to internalize new ideas and skills and incorporate those skills into their daily lives. Active play also triggers students’ interests and enthusiasm for learning while helping them further develop the physical skills they need to stay healthy and fit. Here are a few ways you can incorporate active play into your math and literacy lesson plans.Read More: Kaplan Early Learning Company

Teachers and caregivers play a critical role in preparing young children for school and life success. In addition to a warm and nurturing environment, the adults in children’s lives should also focus on the building blocks of reading and writing.Read More: Reading Rockets