How to teach phonological awareness skills in your preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten classroom. Hands-on activities to make learning fun.
Tips and advice for preschool and kindergarten teachers about how to handle a disruptive child during circle time.
Emergency drills (fire drills especially) can be terrifying for preschoolers and many children. It’s loud, sometimes crazy if it’s unannounced, interrupts their routine, and there can be students everywhere. They are...
It seems like every day there is an endless stream of students reporting behaviors or incidents that happen in the classroom. On one hand, we want to help our students feel heard and validated so they know we are a safe person for them to talk to. On the other hand, we certainly don't want to feed into the tattle machine. It's a fine line to walk. So how do we handle tattling in our classrooms?
Classroom management is one of the most important things a teacher can master. Here are 2 kindergarten classroom management ideas that work!
Using positive classroom management is important in establishing a safe environment in which students can learn, collaborate, and create.
Education is not the filling of a pail, But the lighting of a fire. -Yeats Science Math Language Arts History & Geography Homeschool Preschool All the Latest Meet Karyn Hi there! Welcome! I am a
Have a chatty class? Do your talkative students get louder and louder during small groups until it feels like chaos? Do they talk when you'r...
A collaborative blog by Pre K and Kindergarten specialists. Child growth and development, information, free printables.
Have a chatty class? Do your talkative students get louder and louder during small groups until it feels like chaos? Do they talk when you'r...
Discover a bunch of mind-blowing preschool science experiments that you can carry out both in the classroom and at home! Perfect for upcoming science fairs!
Happy November, teacher friends! I love this season so much in the classroom! You can really feel that the breaks are so close and Christmas is in the air! Sometimes, along with that comes the need for more redirection because students can sense it, too. That's when I pull out a classroom behavior management game to get us back on track. The goal of these games is to take students from being extrinsically motivated to intrinsically motivated. I want them to make the right choice because it's the right thing to do and not just for a prize. How you, as the teacher, approach that makes all the difference and sets the tone. They need a good amount of positive feedback when playing these games for them to be successful, such as, "I noticed how quickly and quietly you transitioned from the carpet to your seat." You can then ask a student to add a game piece to the board. If you have strong routines and a classroom management system in place, I promise that you will see a noticeable difference in the way your classroom runs with my Classroom Management Games. I wanted to make the prizes simple and free, so I always post this list as a reminder for me. I will pick maybe three and have students vote on what they want to work towards. This gives them a goal to strive for. We also go over expectations for the game and the specific ways they can earn a game piece. Each game will focus on a specific behavior. Once we get that behavior or routine down, we move onto a different game. Transitions are something I am always working on, so I made this one, Transitions are as Easy as Pie. When students exhibit a quick, quiet, and smooth transition, they get to add a piece of pie to the game board. Once the pie is built, they earn the reward. Some groups tattle more than others, so it's up to you on whether or not you use this game. The group from this year tattled fairly frequently, so I would have definitely used this game! Students can earn a piece by effectively solving problems amongst themselves. I earn a piece for tic tac toe if someone tattles. Be sure to go over what is a tattle and what needs to be brought to the teacher. Good manners is so important to me. I want my students to display good manners throughout the building and to be models for others. When they get a compliment for having good manners, such as in the cafeteria, they earn a dish for the Thanksgiving table. This game really gets them thinking about how they act inside and outside of the classroom. Your definition of goodness might be different than mine, but for me, I am looking for students showing acts of kindness to other students and to adults at school. When they are caught showing goodness or kindness, they get to add a piece to the BUMP board. If they are exhibiting a less desirable behavior, I get to add a piece. You can bump each other's piece off the board; I don't bump them but they do bump me quite frequently. The goal is to get four in a row. I also let students tell me if someone is kind to them for a piece for the class. The turkey challenge is just a classic game of students vs. teacher. Choose the focus you need for your class, such as raising their hand or being engaged. Students are the turkeys and are trying to earn pieces for their side. If they are not exhibiting the desired behavior, the teacher earns a piece. Whoever has the most at the end of the lesson or day wins. I print each of these games on cardstock and laminate them. I use round Velcro dots from Amazon to attach the pieces to the game board. I display the game at the front of the room, so that students can have that visual of what they are working on and for. You can even ask your students what they think the class needs to work on to give them more ownership over the game. You can find the link to the games HERE or by clicking on any of the photos. An update to the December games is on the way, so be on the lookout for that! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi everyone! It has been a busy few weeks in my classroom and it is finally ready! I plan to post a video on my IG soon! Here is my mirror wall. It is by our classroom sink area. There are positive affirmations above each mirror. Find Mirrors Here This is a decorative area above one of my student work tables. It was a blank wall that just needed a little something added to it! Stripe Border I also updated my teacher tool kits! The first one I made to go along with my classroom theme (shiplap & floral). You can find it in my TpT Store! I updated this one with a cute school theme. This is the back wall of my classroom. I love how simple but comfortable it helps to make the room. The quotes are from Maniacs in the Middle. This year I am adding a Calming Corner to my room! When needed, students can use this area of the room to identify their emotions and find ways to calm down and refocus so that they are ready to learn. The wall set is from The Social Emotional Teacher. This is where the calming activities are stored. Each drawer has different activities or fidgets that the students can use. Find Fidgets Here I think this is my favorite part of my classroom: the library! I used contact paper on the walls and then added shelves to display books. The bistro table & chairs are from Michaels. What Should Danny Do What Should Danny Do at School Shiplap Paper Turquoise Wave Border I seriously love how this area turned out! I hope my students are inspired by it and want to spend time in the classroom library. Lastly, my hallway display. Each year my school has a different theme. This year, we have a superhero theme! Color Dotted Swirl Border Black Gingham Border I made the superheroes using butcher paper. I rolled the paper and stuffed it with paper towels. Then I sectioned them off using rubber bands. I printed the faces, hands, and chest symbols. The capes are from my son's costumes at home! Super Hero Board Accents So there it is! I'm so excited about the look of the classroom and I hope that the students are excited to get started learning when they come in on Monday!
Defiance, disrespectfulness, kids yelling “NO!” – this is what a teacher’s classroom management nightmares are made of! These days, most teachers may have had one or two defiant children in their class at some point, even all the way … Continue reading →
Classroom management chatty class materials to help get a talkative class quiet and under control in fun, positive ways! Blurt beans, voice level chart and posters, blurt alerts, quiet turtles, and more! Have a chatty class? Do your talkative students get louder and louder during small groups until it feels like chaos? Do they talk when you're talking then ask you what the directions were as soon as you finish? Don't worry. This is totally normal. And completely fixable. Really! These are the materials I show in my: 25 Chatty Class Classroom Management Strategies for Overly Talkative Students blog post! Please READ THE BLOG POST BEFORE BUYING this to make sure you want the materials! :) There are no student worksheets or activities in this pack - it is JUST the labels, forms, etc. that I show in that blog post (that are listed below). This pack includes: - Blurt Alert forms - Blurt Dessert cards - Blurt Beans Jar Label - Animal Voice Level Chart (perfect to use with Quiet Turtles strategy!) - Animal Voice Level Posters (Full page) that match the chart - Students vs. Teacher display materials - Blurts Hurt Poster (Helps kids understand why blurting out isn't allowed) - How to Whisper Poster (Helps teach kids to be whispering whales & understand what it means to whisper) Again, please READ THE BLOG POST BEFORE BUYING this to make sure you want the materials! There are no student worksheets or centers in this pack - it is JUST the labels, wall decor, forms, etc. mentioned above that I show in that blog post. They're awesome materials to manage behavior but I don't want anyone to get this thinking there are worksheets or centers included and be disappointed. My goal always is to make you happy & save you time... happy teacher and happy kids! These materials are great for getting a chatty class under control! I wrote a ton of tips on that blog post (25 tricks to be exact!) including how to use blurt cubes and the above mentioned materials to get a quiet class under control - I hope they can help if you're struggling with getting a talkative class to quiet down. :) You may also like: Tattling vs. Reporting Pack - Miss Giraffe
This visual directory of non-food sensory bin ideas for preschoolers will help teachers plan the bin filler, accessories, and learning objectives.
It's about time that we're all either back at school already, or we're certainly counting down the last few days until we are! I have be...
It’s a myth that blindly memorizing every letter in a sight word is the only way to learn it.
In my play based classroom there are 10 essential learning areas. I cannot do without them. The provocations and resources offered in these areas change throughout the year dependent on children's interests and the curriculum intent. The placement of these 10 areas within the classroom is thoughtf
14 Brilliant Ways to Quiet a Noisy Class! Check out these behavior management strategies for classroom management!
Do you have helpers in your classroom? Many teachers have asked over the years about how classroom helpers work in our classes. Here are the top three questions: "Why do you have classroom helpers?" "How do you organize our helpers?" "Can you help me get mine started?" Here are our answers: 1. It helps build a community. 2. The children take on a responsibility/leadership role. 3. Helps the classroom run smoothly. 4. Reduces the teacher's workload. 5. Children LOVE taking responsibility for our room! Each Monday the children look forward to their new jobs! We rotate the jobs because more that one child usually enjoys a job. We like to give every child an opportunity to try each job. Sometimes they find they really enjoy a job that they thought they wouldn't like. Every classroom has a different plan for changing helpers and you have to find what works for you! *Alison loves to change her helpers Friday before she leaves for the day. It is just part of her routine and she feels great about getting it done early! *I love to change mine with the kids on Monday morning as part of my "Monday Morning Routine." It helps us ease back into our week! *Another friend of mine changes her helpers every two weeks because one was too fast. Once the helpers are assigned and posted on our "Helpers" chart the week starts. I never forget who has a job because the chart is there to refer to and the kids know their jobs and take pride in having them. My answer is "YES!" We have several helpers to match what you might need in your room. They are also editable and you can change the job titles & add your students names. You can even add your own cards to match on the "blank" card pages. Once you choose the theme/style that matches your classroom, putting it together is easy peasy! Here is the set I used last year: I backed my cards after I printed them with yellow cardstock to match my color scheme. There are so many ways to display your helpers, here are a few of the ideas we have used: We have attached them on ribbons and used clothespins for the names. We have placed them in a pocket chart and just tucked the children name card next to the job. We have placed them on a magnetic surface, too! These are just some of the jobs in the pack! Best thing, they are EDITABLE! You decide what the names of the jobs are. Here is our selection in a variety of themes: (You can click on any picture below to see it in our store.) Don't see what you need? Contact us at [email protected] to get your request on our list of projects now! Have other ideas for jobs, we would LOVE to hear them. Please comment below or send us an email. Happy Teaching!
Encourage language development, while fostering fine motor skills, following directions and other functional life skills. Cooking in the classroom with visual recipes, step by step recipes to foster those super important life skills, and work on those IEP goals and objectives... all at the same time!
Behavior Management Tips for New Teachers! Behavior Management is a challenge that every new teacher faces. Unfortunately, teachers cannot be 100% prepared on how to effectively manage an entire classroom in their credential program alone. It is something that we have to put into practice and figure out as we go! It involves
At this point in the school year, I am sure you are in survival mode by now... Just trying to make it to Christmas break! I wanted to share one of my favorite lessons with you that is perfect for using at the start of a school year or anytime throughout when students need a lesson on the difference between tattling and reporting. This lesson can come in handy when the classroom becomes more chaotic in anticipation for a break as well. Have you read the story Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal by Jeanie Franz Ranson? You can find it on Amazon (affiliate link) by clicking the picture. This is an adorable story that helps children understand when they need to talk to each other to work out a problem and when they need to call for a grown-up to help. I love this story so much that I created a Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal Unit in my shop that can be used after reading the story. First up, is a scenario sort. Students will sort different situations based on whether they are a "squeal" or a "big deal". After discussing "Squeals" and "Big Deals" as a whole group. I have students respond through a craft and writing activity. Students cut and paste a simple pig craft and then draw and/or write an example of a Squeal and a Big Deal. There are 4 different levels of writing pages included. After your students finish the craft and writing activity, I am sure you will want to display their work! So I included letters for your bulletin board that read, Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal! If you want to see more about what is included in this resource, click here.
How cool is this? Kids of all ages will be impressed with this fun Plastic Milk Science Experiment. What will you make first?
The new Behavior Calendars are out and ready for the 2015-2016 school year! I figured there are teachers as crazy as me that want to start ...
Cheap, easy, done.
Get your kids up and moving with positional words activities! This unit is full of activities from mini lessons to a quick assessment!
Amazon is a teacher's best friend! Each year my list of must haves for the classroom grows so I'm here to share more of my Amazon classroom finds!
Classroom hacks that actually work in a special education classroom setting. Tried and true methods from actual teachers. Read to learn more.
Resources, tips, and materials to help you, help children with autism
Learn about science curriculum created for self-contained special education classrooms by a real special education teacher!
A fun way to get your little ones more comfortable with writing, this Sensory Writing Tray is perfect if you want to familiarise young children with letters and numbers. Kids love this sensory experience so much that they will be begging to do some handwriting practice!
Kinesthetic Learning Ideas - over 20 ideas!
Follow these five steps to teach a child to read. Helpful for parents, homeschoolers, and teachers that are teaching beginning readers.
How to Make Fake Snow - 3 ways with only 2 ingredients! We'll show you how to make snow for a sensory bin, puffy painting and instant snow.
These "quiet critters" are amazingly effective!
This free Alphabet Magnet Beginning Sounds Activity is great for Pre-K, Kindergarten, or early 1st graders who are working on letter sounds!
Today's blog post will be a quickie. I was just so excited about my latest Target find, I had to share it with my teaching friends! So let's get started with our build a sight word fun! I knew it was going to be a good trip because this was the first thing I saw when...
Social Emotional Workshop offers practical tools for social emotional learning and counseling.
This post includes the following reading points. Hey-ho! I just love all things literacy and specifically working with words. I want to delve deeper into phonological development, because.. well.. I just love it! I’m a bit of a nerd that way! Are you too? You know that phonological and phonemic awareness skills are important and also […]
Every teacher needs a few fun, fast, easy, tricks up his/her sleeve. Here are a few easy classroom management tricks I've picked up over the years. Need a Second to Get Ready for the Next
Grab their attention, keep it, and have a great day!
Here we are, at the end of the school year, and my kiddos have gotten lazy! They are writing fast and messy, with letters flying all over the page. It is time to slow down and remember how to form letters correctly and how to get them to use the lines appropriately. How can we do this with only 2 weeks left? Practice, Practice, Practice! You could even bribe them! I will be telling my kiddos that they will get a special prize if they can show me their best handwriting. And to do this I will keep track of it in their end of the year handwriting packet. Check it out: Click here to get your handwriting freebie!
Math Morning Work simplifies your hectic morning classroom entry. Grab a FREE set of engaging, paperless tasks for your bins, and read more here!
You are currently reading our archived blog. While these older posts may not reflect our current vision and direction, we encourage you to visit our new website at wunderled.com to explore our latest, updated content. There, you'll find a wealth of valuable articles, resources, and insights that align with our current focus and over 60+ Free […]
