Fine motor skills are crucial for children's overall development, influencing their ability to perform everyday tasks such as writing, buttoning clothes, and using utensils. Fostering fine motor skills is a cornerstone of development for preschool and kindergarten students. By integrating engaging tools and activities into the classroom, educators can enhance motor proficiency while making learning enjoyable.  In this blog post, we'll explore 5 creative ways to implement fine motor skills in the classroom. 5 Fine Motor Tools to Use in the Classroom 1. Tongs Tongs are versatile tools th ..read more

Welcome to the exciting world of student-teaching partnerships! As a mentor teacher, fostering a positive and effective relationship is key to creating a dynamic learning environment. Discover essential tips to enhance the student-teacher experience, promoting growth and success for both parties involved. Getting Started Before the first day, meet with the student teacher. Give them a tour of the school. introduce them to all of the people they may need to work with, such as your grade-level teammates, the office staff, the principal, the custodian, and the librarian. Show them where the ..read more

Fostering active participation is a crucial aspect of effective teaching. However, as teachers, we often encounter situations where young learners hesitate to raise their hands. There are several reasons as to why a student may not want to participate. Shyness and Social Anxiety Language Development Challenges Fear of Making Mistakes Lack of Understanding Overstimulation or distractions Shyness and Social Anxiety For many children, kindergarten is the beginning of a child's formal education journey, and for many, it's their first exposure to a structured classroom setting. Shyness and soc ..read more

English Language Development (ELD) is a crucial aspect of early education, and story-retelling activities provide a rich and effective avenue for fostering language skills among young learners.  Whether you are working with students who are learning English as a second language or native English speakers, story retelling can be a very powerful tool. It is a dynamic strategy that promotes language development on various fronts: Below are six important benefits to incorporating story-retelling into the classroom and creative activities that not only make learning enjoyable but also e ..read more

The winter break is a joyous time for our little ones filled with festivities, family, and fun. However, as the break concludes, the return to the classroom can be both exciting and challenging for young learners. Here are a few key strategies and activities to make the transition back to school after winter break a seamless and enjoyable experience. Ease into Routine with Fun Activities: Gently reintroduce daily routines by incorporating engaging and enjoyable activities. Whether it's a circle time sing-along or a creative arts and crafts session, these activities help little learners ease ..read more

Spread some kindness in your classroom this holiday season with the 12 Days of Kindness. The holiday season is here, and we have a great idea to bring kindness and positivity into your classroom. using the "12 Days of Kindness"! These activities are planned to help your students develop compassion, teamwork, and joy. These daily kindness prompts can have a meaningful impact in your classroom, and in your school and create lasting memories for you and your students. This kindness activity is a December favorite in my classroom. It is simple to prep and requires very little set-up time. How to ..read more

October can be a super crazy month. The weather is changing and kids are excited about Halloween. Make October fun and engaging with science, math, writing, and art activities.  Pumpkin Exploration Ask families to donate pumpkins, and let students explore the pumpkins using math manipulatives. Then cut them open for students to experience the insides of a pumpkin. Halloween Themed Centers Add some engaging Halloween-themed centers. With just a few Halloween decorations your centers become magical. Grab some fruit snacks and the Free Fruit Snack Sorting Activity. Halloween Ar ..read more

As a teacher, our classroom often becomes our home away from home. It is important that we make sure to keep a stash of certain items at school in case of an emergency. When I say emergency, I don't mean emergencies like a flood or tornado, I talking about personal emergencies. 15 Must Have Items to Keep in Your Classroom Cell phone charger-Having a backup cell phone charger is a must. Many times I have forgotten to charge my phone at home. Extra pair of glasses/sunglasses- I can't tell you how many times I have broken my sunglasses over the years or misplaced my reading glasses. Now I ..read more

Being a brand new teacher can get overwhelming really quick. With Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest you can quickly spiral into the what do I do mode and I want to do it all mode rather quickly. this article contains affiliate links Starting your career as a kindergarten teacher can be both exciting and overwhelming. As you embark on this rewarding journey, it's crucial to equip yourself with the necessary tools and knowledge to ensure a successful and enjoyable classroom experience for your students.  These ten essential tips will help you navigate the challenges and make the most of yo ..read more

Do you use phonics toolkits in your classroom? With more teachers learning about SOR (the science of reading), many teachers are now implementing Phonics Toolkits into their daily instruction. Phonics toolkits add interaction and engagement to your daily phonics lessons. 4 Benefits of Using Phonics Manipulatives Using phonics manipulatives can offer several benefits for learners. Here are four advantages of incorporating phonics manipulatives into your daily instruction: Hands-on Learning: Phonics manipulatives provide a tangible and interactive way for students to engage with letter sounds ..read more