Preschool For Rookies

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Setting up a preschool classroom

This is an area that I am still trying to figure out. Over the past few years I have moved and rearranged my room trying to find the most beneficial layout. Every classroom is different, but where you place your centers is crucial to your student's success.

I wouldn't suggest having your reading corner/nook next to blocks or cars; this may distract your children from thoroughly enjoying the book exploration process.

Teachers are always trying to find the perfect balance in their classroom, so that not all of the children are on one side of the classroom. I've tried to strategically place my centers in the best area, according to my classroom layout.

Here are some pictures of my classroom this year.

In Progress...

Dramatic Play area

Bananas for Books

Art Center

Birthday Board: I am going to post pictures of my kids holding their b-day date

Please share ideas on what has worked for you or suggestions for making my classroom more functional. I'm always striving to improve my classroom.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

This years themes

This year I had to drop a few themes, due to an early summer break. These are the themes I decided to teacher for 2013-2014.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

First day of preschool checklist

This is a draft of my first day of preschool checklist. I have never made a checklist for my kids/parents, so it's still in the making. I want to make sure that I don't miss anything important.

Starting a blog: Newbie

I'm a newbie to blogging, but decided that my personal experience would hopefully be helpful to rookie preschool teachers or stay at home educators. I've been now teaching for 4 years in an academic preschool. When I graduated from Cal State Fullerton, I immediately was hired at a private school in Orange County. I was very fortunate to get a job that I am passionate about, but the downside was that I was hired a week before school started with no pre-set curriculum.

My first year was very rewarding, but a bit challenging. Being a rookie teacher with no real experience in curriculum development, I spent my free time preparing for the following week. Now I am proud to say that at the age of 25 with only 4 years under my belt, I am training our preschool teachers. My hard work has paid off and I would love to share some ideas in making academic learning fun.

I hope my site inspires and helps you with your teaching experience.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Preschool Teacher: I'm a newbie

I'm a newbie to blogging, but decided that my personal experience would possibly be helpful to rookie preschool teachers. I've been now teaching for 4 years in an academic preschool. When I graduated from Cal State Fullerton, I immediately was hired at a private school in Orange County. I was very fortunate to get a job that I am passionate about, but the downside was that I was hired a week before school started with no pre-set curriculum.
My first year was very rewarding, but a bit challenging. Being a rookie teacher with no real experience in curriculum development, I spent my free time preparing for the following week. Now I am proud to say that at the age of 25 with only 4 years under my belt, I am training our preschool teachers. My hard work has paid off and I would love to share some ideas in making academic learning fun.

I hope my site inspires and helps you with your teaching experience.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Talent Show Preschool

Evolution of Dance

My Rock Stars did Fabulous!

Click here to view this video

One of my parents captured this precious dance routine. Unfortunately, it's not the best quality, it's off her phone.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Planting a Garden

Science

Planting a garden

Before

After

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Craft & Writing Activity: Rainbow Pot of Gold

ART/LANGUAGE ARTS

My lucky pot of gold

The kids cut their own coins and their own rainbow strips.

They practiced using the tape dispenser and taped their rainbow onto their pot.

They glued their lucky coins

and wrote numbers 1-5. For my more advance group, I had them write numbers 1-10.

WRITING

If I found a pot of gold I would...

I have a few different levels in my class. I had one group respond to the prompt with little help, sounding out words, the other group trace their response ( I used a highlighter) and the last group only trace a small portion and I wrote their reply for them.

I found this template on http://www.theteacherwife.blogspot.com

Friday, March 15, 2013

St. Patrick's Day- Shamrocks

Science

Looking for shamrocks and 4 leaf clovers

Craft

Shamrock Necklace

fine-motor activity

http://printables.atozteacherstuff.com/2230/printable-shamrock-patterns/

Phonics

Sorting words that begin with "Sh"

http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/StPatricksDayShamrock-sh-sort.htm

Math

Color by numbers + cutting

http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/StColoraShamrock.htm

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

St. Patrick's- Exploring Rainbows

Language Arts
printing color names on the rainbow
Click HERE for template

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

SCIENCE: Acting out the Butterfly life cycle.

Music and Movement
Making learning fun!!

I lay my eggs on a big green leaf.

My butterfly larva begin to eat their way out of their egg shell. Of course my hungry caterpillars pretend to eat and eat and eat.

Then they get ready, by hanging upside down "hanging J" and shed one last time. They are now in their chrysalis. When I give them the cue the begin to slowly move and make their way out flapping their wet small wings (chicken wings). after a while their wings are "dry" and full size. I let them fly around looking for flowers to drink some nectar.

This is such a fun way to review the butterfly cycle. I've done this inside the classroom as well as outdoors. They love it!