Week 1: All About Me!

The first week of preschool was great.  The kids and I spent time getting to know each other and the classroom routine.  We focused a lot on our similarities and differences.  We played games to help us get to know each others' names, and worked on recognizing our own names.

This was a game in which the kids could choose from an assortment of face shapes, eyes, noses, and mouths to make different people.  We did this on a day when we talked about our features, and they had a lot of fun with it.

Making creations with "terrific trash"

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Busy using fine motor skills, which will help them write in the future.

Lots of social interaction going on, which is one of the most important things kids learn in preschool.

My own little girl thinks she is a part of the class!

So proud of her play-dough creation!

This little guy is the only boy in the class, but it doesn't seem to bother him.  I think his favorite color is black.  It's what he always chooses!

This group of kids LOVES sensory activities like play-dough and painting.  They also enjoy making crafts with "terrific trash"; egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, packing peanuts, etc.  They get so creative!  Not only does this help them use thier creativity, but also practice fine motor skills that will be vital for when they start writing.   They are a great group of kids, and I look forward to getting to know them even better!

Morning Class Schedule

Below you will find a basic daily schedule for my morning class.  Each week will focus on a different theme such as colors, texture, senses, letters, and numbers, etc.  Class size is kept small to allow for plenty of one-on-one time with the teacher.

Schedule:

9:30 kids arrive

        circle time

9:50 self-selected activities

          sensory table

          dramatic play area

          reading corner

          art center

          writing center

10:20 snack time

10:35 outside play

10:50 continue self-selected activities

11:10 circle time

11:30 children leave for home

CIRCLE TIME
During circle time the class will gather as a group for a short lesson concerning the week's theme, followed by games, activities, stories, and songs.  This is a time when children will be learning and practicing social skills such as taking turns and conversing with others.  Some activities will include math concepts such as  sorting, counting, and identifying numbers.  Other circle time activities will focus on early literacy skills such as letter recognition, storytelling, and concepts about print.

SELF-SELECTED ACTIVITIES
During this time the children will be free to choose from a variety of activities.  The sensory table will be filled with water, sand, dry beans, slime, or other substances that encourage scientific exploration.  Dress-ups and props will be available in the dramatic play area to encourage make-believe and imaginative play.  Art supplies at the easel will provide a chance for children to experiment with cause and effect, use thier creativity, and develop both large and fine motor skills.  The writing center will house paper, books, pencils, rubber letter stamps, and other supplies to allow for early writing skills.  A quiet corner of the room furnished with soft pillows and books will allow for early reading skills to develop.  During this time, I will be working closely with the children to guide thier exploration and learning.

SNACK
Each day the children will be offered a nutritious, low-sugar or no-sugar snack, such as crackers, cheese, fruits, and vegetables.  This time will help the children develop thier social skills, as well as talk about nutrition and health.

My Philosophy on Early Childhood Education

If you visit my classroom, you will not find neat rows of desks with children working quietly on their worksheets.  In fact, you will likely see no worksheets at all.  You will, however, see children playing.  You will see children creating.  You will hear children talking and laughing and singing.  You will likely see some big messes being made.  It may even look and sound chaotic at first glance.  There is a reason for all of this.  Children learn through play.  Children learn by doing and exploring.  They are most attentive to activities they choose, and remember best what they have discovered themselves.  Children learn by using all of their senses, and through process-oriented rather than product-oriented activities. 
As a preschool teacher, my job is not to teach the children as much as it is to guide them in their discoveries.  My job is to create an environment that is rich in things to discover, ways to create, and opportunities to explore.  I then let the children lead and I act as a guide in this wonderful thing called learning.