Blog

One of the best parts of teaching pre-K is that we’re not always bound by the rigid assessment requirements that teachers in the older grades must adhere to. We’re free to assess our kids when and how we like. Still, when kids are this young and have such tiny attention spans, getting a good read on what they know can be tough. Here are six easy ways to assess pre-reading skills in an early childhood classroom. Read more: We Are…

Early childhood providers are called upon to do many difficult tasks. One of the most difficult of these is providing our children with diverse, multicultural experiences. Since the beginning of time, young children have been raised by their families, extended families, clans, and communities. Even today, most family child care homes and many early childhood programs tend to be fairly homogeneous and quite similar to the child’s home background. High on the list of criteria parents use to choose child…

Effective preschool teachers engage with and extend children’s learning throughout the entire day. Like other routines, mealtimes provide opportunities to focus on each individual child and use teachable moments to support learning.   Read More: NAEYC 

Much like the activities in an early childhood classroom, what happens during a job interview can be hard to predict. The types of questions asked and the way the administrator shapes the interview varies based on the position you are interviewing for and the school district. As a young teacher, I spent last summer researching interview questions and rehearsing responses in front of the mirror. I reorganized my portfolio at least a dozen times! So many questions raced through my…

The nerves are likely starting to set in as your graduation date approaches and you prepare to step into your first preschool teaching job. It’s perfectly normal to be nervous. No amount of studying can fully prepare you for a classroom full of rambunctious toddlers.Read More: Rasmussen College

It’s never too early to introduce early math and science skills to your children! In fact, you may already be teaching your students these concepts by encouraging them to explore and observe their surroundings and ask questions. Here are four things you can do to introduce more math and science concepts to your preschool class:  1. Point Out How Playground Equipment Works Preschoolers love playing on the playground and this experience can offer more than just a fun time! Activities…

Sharing stories with preschoolers can help stimulate their imagination and make them think more creatively about the world around them. Through storytelling, young children can develop language skills by listening and expand their vocabularies as they hear new words. In honor of World Storytelling Day, here are three tips for good storytelling you can bring to your preschool classroom: 1. Engage Your Class By Asking QuestionsStorytelling doesn’t have to end when you get to the last page! Ask your students questions…

Adults can help children develop strong language skills by incorporating music into everyday routines and activities. Musical activities can help children develop an awareness of sounds that may help with phonological awareness, or awareness of sounds found in speech. Singing and listening to songs can give children an opportunity to practice using and listening to words. Musical activities may also enhance children’s language development since they can provide an opportunity for dialogue between teachers and children. Read more: Frank Porter Graham…

Many kids come to school excited about learning to read, but it can be tricky to maintain that early momentum. We’ve collected 24 of our favorite ideas to keep kids motivated in those early stages of learning to read.Read more: We Are Teachers

Reading books to children is one of the most effective ways to provide children with opportunities to develop their language skills. Books often contain words that children may not commonly hear in everyday conversations, along with pictures that help illustrate their meanings. Adults can use books to start discussions with children about the stories and pictures presented and connect the stories and pictures to children’s lives. - Read more: Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute