The Resourceful Apple

Home Connection Learning Activities for Preschool, Pre-K and Kindergarten

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 00:39:00 +0000

Are you looking for activities for young learners who are not in school for an extended amount of time due to illness, vacation or school closure? Have you thought about how you are going to get your activities to your student (s) during this time?

I have put together a FREE packet for teachers and parents to help children practice these skills over the break from school. The good news... you do NOT need to print anything. This packet is set up with picture files called JPEGS so a selected page(s) can easily be attached to an email or even an app such as Class Dojo!

Sign up above to receive your FREE packet that will be emailed to you! You will then be on my mailing list to receive updates, activities and future freebies!

Learning Centers with Accountability

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 00:35:00 +0000

Learning centers are a favorite time of the day. My kids love the hands on activities and I am thrilled they they are engaged in skills based practice.

Teachers are often asked my administrators about student accountability. Many choose to use a recording sheet to check student work. I have to say, at time I have used a recodring sheet but I truly believe it placed the accountability of student learning on the teacher and not the students.
Not to mention, 1-copies are always an issue, 2- I dislike checking excessive papers and 3- students need instant feedback so their practice has meaning.

So then what is a teacher to do? I searched long and hard for engaging centers that promoted student acountability. Children WANT to complete the work with accuracy but usually have no instant FEEDBACK for their answers.

Drum Roll Please....Swingables!! Say what??? Yes, you heard me right, Swingables!
English translation: Center Activities that focus on a particular skill with a Swingable piece (connected with a brad) that reveals the answer!

YES! Students can now self check their answers! Y'all, they LOVE having the power of the teacher!!
Students LOVE being accountable for their work and more importantly, they get INSTANT feedback on their work so there are no misconceptions.

Are you looking for a particular skill that you would like a Swingable for? Chances are if there is one you need, someone else needs it too! Leave a comment here on the blog or email me at theresourcefulapple@gmail.com. If I use your idea, I will send you a FREE copy when the Swingable is completed like the teacher who asked about Making a Ten Snowmen!

To check out all the Swingables available, head on over to The Resourceful Apple on TpT and check out the custom categories on the sidebar where you can click on SWINGABLES for the latest and the greatest or you could grab the Swingable Growing Bundle now to SAVE big!

Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for monthly inspiration!

Classroom Organization

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Sat, 27 Jul 2019 01:50:00 +0000

Are you an organizer by heart or does the term ORGANIZE make you twitch? Well either way, organization can help keep teachers one step ahead of the students so let's see what we can do to make our school year run just a little smoother!

ORGANIZATIONAL TIP #1

Have curriculum prepped and ready to go ahead of time.

I try to make it a point to prep as much as I can in the summer and organize it in a way to make it easy to find when I need it! Parent volunteers can also be a great resource to help you prep materials ahead of time and stay at home parents love the option of prepping from home for the classroom too. The 12x12 bins are ideal for centers and games that I can pull in a moments notice like Math Activities for the Year.

ORGANIZATIONAL TIP #2

Organize your classroom supplies.

I print labels with matching pictures to that not only does each material have a home, but my youngest learners can identify what is on the label for easy clean up! Pocket Labels are my go to and I stock up as soon as I see the clear, plastic, adhesive pockets at Target!

ORGANIZATIONAL TIP #3

Teach your students how to stay organized.

Our students already know that all the classroom supplies have a place to be stored, so why not teach them how to store their own belongings? At the beginning of every year, I use Picture Name Tags so every student is given a picture symbol that is associated with his/her name throughout the classroom. You can read more about Picture Name Tags HERE. This is a quick and easy way to take the guess work out of "Where do I put my ....".

ORGANIZATIONAL TIP #4

Keep Families Informed

There are so many options we have with keeping parents informed. There are monthly newsletters, weekly newsletters, school wide agendas and even online apps such as Class Dojo. I use A Peek at My Week half page newsletters along with Class Dojo for daily messages/pictures. There are so many ways to Make Meaning Connections with parents and the children are the ones who are the winners here!

ORGANIZATIONAL TIP #5

Utilize a Planner

Teacher planners are amazing and can help keep you organized in a BIG way! I use my planner for yearly planning, monthly calendars, weekly lesson plans, to do lists, student checklists, grades and the list goes on and on! The key is TO USE IT! Summer is the perfect time to find a planner that works for you and set it up so you are organized and ready to go from day one of planning!

And... I am so glad you are still with me here!

Drum roll please........

All you have to do is enter the Rafflecoptor below for a chance to win the Erin Condren Planner pictured above! The planner even comes with an interchangable cover!!

Winner MUST be in the contenential United States for shipping purposes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! A winner will be selected on Tuesday, July 30th at 12:00am.

Pin It!

Getting More Use from Your Alphabet Posters

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 21:28:00 +0000

Its so exciting to select the perfect alphabet as we set up our classrooms, but how much use does it actually get?

Alphabet Posters are a a great visual for students to use throughout the day as the posters hang above your board in the front of the classroom. That being said, students need to be exposed to the alphabet in a variety of ways!

Alphabet Posters can be be used as large flashcards during circle time. I print them 2 to a page so they are large enough for all students to see from any place on the carpet! Depending on the size of the classroom, the smaller size can also be used above the board in the front of the classroom if the larger posters won't fit!

Are you looking for center ideas? Print the Alphabet Cards with six to a page and they are the perfect size for students! Students can alphabetize the cards, use them for letter or word writing at the writing center with dry erase boards or Magic Boards, or they can be used for a matching game when you print two sets of cards !

I print out a few additional sets with sixteen to a page. I use one set for alphabet headers on the word wall. I laminate and cut the additional sets and add them to a ring for alphabet practice. You can leave the cards in alphabetical order or differentiate and mix them up.

Are you looking for alphabet charts for writing time? You can cuttomize the pages per sheet with six by five for alphabet charts for your students! There is no need to purchase an additional product.

The best news it students will be more likely to use the Alphabet Posters when they work with the letters and pictures in a variety of forms. Children will be confident and fluent with alphabet order and recognition as engage in these alphabet activities!

Would you like to grab the Alphabet Posters to use in your classroom? They are my gift to you for signing up for The Resourceful Apple Newsletter. I am looking forward to connecting with you!

Small Group Literacy Activities in Pre-K

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 04:12:00 +0000

Small group rotations is one of my favorite times of the day! It is the time of our day for explicit instruction in literacy and math with students... YES, even in pre-k! The best part is, with the careful planning for hands on activities and games, students grow and thrive while playing!

Small group literacy includes activities that focus on name recognition, phonological awareness, letters and sounds, writing and prereading skills!

Note: This post contains affaliate links to products I love using in the classroom!

Most children come into pre-k at the age of 4. There is nothing more important to them as themselves! That also makes their names important to them so this is the perfect introduction to letters and sounds! Not only are they interested in their own names, but soon they become interested in their new friends' names as well!

Bottle Cap Letters are a FREE resource in my store! It is an easy way to personalize each child's name with mats and letters. I also trace each letter with with glue and let it dry to add a tactile experience with letter tracing! Start saving your water bottle caps and encourage your students and families to help out too.

Picture Name Cards are perfect from little learners. Once children learn their symbols and the symbols for their friends, they recognize the names and the possibilities are endless: salt trays, playdough names, writing their name, stamps, stringing letter beads and just about any letter manipulative is ideal for name practice!

Letter stamps are perfect for name practice. At the beginning of the year, we stamp the letters into playdough. As the year goes on, we move onto stamping with inkpads and paper. Either way, it works on letter discrimination and the kids love it and collaborate throughout the activity! That's a win-win!

Am I the only one who collects magnet letters? I have the traditional ones for the beginning of the year, but then we add in letters with faces, animal printed letters, bottle cap letters and pretty much any letters I can find! I do this for two reasons... 1- Novelty is key in pre-k! If I can keep their attention and interest, they are more likely to learn! 2- Letters always look different in the world around us! There are so many fonts that children need exposure to in a variety of print. Magnetic letters help them recognize letters in a variety of forms.

Check out this post on The Name Book! It was so much fun to make it and honestly, it is a book my kids race to get to ALL YEAR LONG! Why? Because it is a book that EVERY CHILD CAN READ!

I introduce letters and sounds simutaneously. I have read the book, No More Letter of the Week, and with that we work on letters and sounds in all that we do... like morning message, introducing stories, names, games, hands on activities and Poems with Rebus Pictures,

Alphabet Letter Mats provide fun and fine motor practice with the most bag for your dollar! The materials can be inexpensively changed out to include playdough, pom poms, gems, and mini erasers to name a few. Just about any small manipulative can be used on Alphabet Letter Mats!

I love finding materials that can be introduced during small group instruction but then moved to other areas to integrate literacy during center time! These Alphabet Blocks are perfect for letter and name practice and are the perfect stacking addition to the block center after they have been introduced.

Interactice Alphabet Activities are always fun as the letters are interchangable for what we need to target during a given lesson. We have used them as file folder activities with velcro and as magnetic pieces on the cookie tine. When we are done with small group, I then add them on our classroom door (which is magnetic) or the dry erase board so students can play with them a center time. They love playing teacher with these!

Shaving cream is perfect for small group time. It can get messy real quick so supervision is advised! I started putting it out on tables, but soon figured out the trays keep the shaving cream contained and make for easy clean up! Our rule is "pointing finger only". They love this sensory activity! Gel bags are a great substitute if you have any friends who don't like touching messy things!

Commercial and teacher made Alphabet Puzzles are great once children start recognizing some letters. I add a letter at a time at a time into pencil boxes for easy storage and organization. This is perfect for my kiddos as it doesn't overwhelm them. Alphabet Puzzles comes with three puzzles for each letter so I have three different pencil boxes to keep each set stored separately. Clear as mud?

Phonological Awareness is the ability to identify and manipulate units of language such as sounds, syllables. These activities are oral and the written print does not come into play. In most the the activities we use, I include pictures for student interest and engagement. These pictures are NOT needed to practice these skills.

Swingables are introduced during small group and include a "swinging" componant that reveals the answer. The Compound Word Swingables are used to self check syllable addition with compound words.

Alphabet Swingables start with two pictures that begin with the same sound and students need to identify the beginning sound/letter and then self check. These are fun to introduce during small group and then move to centers or an independent or partner activity.

Teacher Task Cards for Phonological Awareness are an auditory activity where chldren listen to the teacher's prompt and then answer. Again, pictures are added for our visual learners, but it is an auditory activity. These cards include counting words in a sentence, counting syllables, syllable blending, syllabledeletion and rhyming words. They are a go to after we have practiced during whole group but they group needs additional practice or I need to assess.

Writing as a skill includes name writing, letter formation, beginning sounds, storytelling and stringing letters together to make words. We introduce these activities during small group and integrate them with authentic writing activities.

Magic Boards provide a medium that allows me to scaffold writing for young writers. Some children need to trace as they develop their fine motor muscles as they trace letters or their name before writing independently! This helps them with a model and then provides the confidence when the sheet is removed! When they are ready to write independently, this will still be a go to activity!

Write the Room with Pictures is ideal for young learners as it provides choice and movement all while practiving letters, sounds and writing. Sudents can "read" the words with the help of picture clues on the words hanging around the room. The matching pictures on the recording sheets allow children to "read" back what they have written!

Authenic writing, such as thank you notes for our Donors Choose sponsors or making cards for holidays or birthdays, has the most meaning for our friends! This is REAL writing, just like the adults in their lives do. This is meaningful work!

Journal writing also has to be real and meaningful to beginning writers. I encourage students to draw a picture, tell me about it and then label the picture. We start journal writing after Christmas vacation at the beginning of the second half of the year. In order to give their best, students need to have a say in what they are writing and drawing about. When they are ready, students will begin to string those sounds together to make words...and then sentences! It might not happen this year, but we are laying the foundation for all that is to come.

Sight words can be one of those controversial topics in pre-kindergarten. In the county I teach in, we introduce 15 sight words to help in preparation for kindergarten. Many students will master these and excited to learn more, and some children are not ready and this is merely for exposure,

Sight Words For Pre-K is a FREE download that contains fifteen word cards, a parent note and an assessment that can be used. I print several sets of these cards and use them with differnt activities such as salt trays or magic board writing. The trays are from the Target Dollar Section and came with lacing beads in them.

Sight Words Activities for Pre-K come in Winter and Spring Editions. They include sight word mats, word building cards and write the room cards.

All the activities can be enhanced with a variety of manipulatives as with the Alpahbet activities. Bottle cap letters can me made and color coded for easy organization!

These Write the Room cards can also be used as a word building activity with alphabet manipulatives. Alphabet Cookies are a new favorite in our room!

Small group activities have been a game changer for instruction in our pre-k room. It is a time that allows me to specifically target skills while differentiating between groups. The small group setting allows students to better concentrate and practice the skills introduced in whole group lessons.

Make sure to pin this post for easy reference for small group literacy planning

and follow me on Pinterest for more classroom ideas!

Happy Teaching!

The Name Book

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 00:34:00 +0000

Back to school learning begins with student names. After all, what is more important to them than their own name? Be sure to stay with us until the end of this post for a free download to make this book!

We start this project with a little fine motor practice at the art table. Students learn how to hold scissors and cut on a line. We then take cutting a step further and students learn to snip the strips of paper they just cut.

Glue sponges are next on the list of early lessons. Glue sponges are a life saver in my pre-k classroom! You can google glue sponges for your pick of how to videos and posts. Students then put one piece of paper at a time on the glue sponges, tap it lightly and add it to their letter that has been written on a quarter sheet of construction paper prior to the activity.

We, as in my para or I, then take the letter after it dries and cut around the letter leaving a small border of the colored construction paper. We add the letter to the sentence frame and laminate the pages along with a cover and back page. I also added a picture name tag so my students have a little extra help reading the names at the beginning of the year! You can read more about picture name tags when you are done HERE.

If you have are still hanging here be sure to grab this FREE download so you can make your own Name Book HERE. I have added another cover option that has the title, The Name Book. I think next year that is what I will go with!

Be sure to pin this post for easy reference to this freebie! You can follow me on Social Media too! Check out the links at the top of this post!

My Pre-K Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 00:05:00 +0000

Wecome to my Pre-K Cottage! I teach pre-k in a public elementary school in a portable classroom aka cottage. With that being said, we prefer cozy over small and we love our space!

Our classroom is set up in centers, with several areas having dual purposes! Our cottage was origionally set up as an elementary classroom, so you will see some not so typical pre-k furniture, and we have made it work. Each center has a center sign above it and we teach the center names at the beginning of the year to help students identify which center they would like to explore. You can read more about our the ins and outs of our centers here.

The circle area is the main hub of the classroom. It is where LOTS of learning and playing take place! We start off with morning meeting to connect with each other and our day, come visit again for story time and all things literacy, music and movement activities take place here and our math and science circle wrap up our day here! This area also serves as the library center during small group rotations and the block area during center time!

The art center is located near the sink for easy clean up. We have two 45 minute center times-one in the morning and one in the afternoon. We preselect activities to be used during these times and have the materials ready and waiting for the children. In an ideal world, we would have low, open shelving that the children could access and use materials of choice, but we rotate materials frequently. We are super excited to add the art easel to our art area this year!

The dramatic play/pretend area is a favorite of both girls and boys! We start the year with home living for two weeks and then introduce a new set up. We continue to rotate two weeks of home living with two weeks of a dramatic play theme throughout the year. This keeps their interest high as it provides additional opportunities to extend learning and build new vocabulary.

The math center includes an assortment of manipulatives along with puzzles and games. We are lucky enough to have a manipulative shelf here that is ideal for pre-k. The key to this is labeling the bins and the shelves to foster indepencdence in this area. We use picture and work labels as the children use the picture to help identify each manipulative as they make connections to the print. My teacher hack is to use the adhesive pocket labels found several times a year in the Target dollar spot so labels can be easily changed out.

The science center is a work in progress. We are continually working to build the materials and I often turn to Donors Choose to make this happen. This is definately a perk to teaching pre-k in a public school. The materials are changed out weekly and it is dedinately a well loved center now.

All things reading and writing can be found in the alphabet center. Some of our favorite activities include magic writng boards, alphabet fishing and several kids of letter manipulatives like bottle cap letters that can be used for name building and thematic word cards. The light table and the puppet theater also work well here and truth be told, our room is small and it was the only corner left!

The block area doubles with our circle time area to give plenty of room to spread out and create! This area includes the transitional wooden blocks, Legos, Magna Tiles, Melissa and Doug Small Wooden Blocks and Little People. I reorganized my block area this year and added bins for easy storage and clean up with the large wooden blocks. Labels still need to be added but that is on my to do list for now! Additional materials are exchanged in and out every few weeks to compliment a theme, add a STEM project or to create additional interest. Children LOVE novelty and are excited to play and create when new items are added.

The library area also shares our circle time area which sounds crazy when you know blocks are also stationed there! The library area is typically used during our small group rotations. If they want to visit during centers, they are more than welcome of course! I have a collection of board books that are favorite stories for pre-k friends. We then rotate in and our themed books and other favorite stories. A collection of alphabet books can be found here along with a class set of name books. A chart with our weekly poem is also housed here.

Our students sometimes spend more ours a day in our classrooms that they do awake at home. It is my hope that I have created a joyful atmosphere in my classroom that fosters a love of learning in my students as they explore and create in pre-k!

I would love you to follow The Resourceful Apple on Facebook to stay connected with alll going on here in my pre-k class!

Tieks and TpT Back to School Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 13:53:00 +0000

Happy Back to School Season! It’s that crazy, exciting time of the year again! Getting your classroom ready, organizing a million papers, and preparing for a new group of kiddos to love on for the year is exhilarating, but can exhausting if you don't practice self-care.

As teacher-authors, we are so grateful that you allow us to be a part of your classrooms and lives and want to give you a big virtual hug in the form of a giveaway. We know that teachers can use a little bit of extra love this time of year, and I have teamed up with some amazing teacher-authors to show one lucky teacher LOTS of love with a pair of the brightest and most comfy teacher shoes ever, a pair of Tieks! AND a 2 $175 gift cards (one to Teachers Pay Teachers and one to Amazon!!!!)!!! Whoop!

You can enter the giveaway up to 66 times!!! I'm not kidding! Enter now in the Rafflecopter below! Best of luck!

Prize: One winner will receive a $200.00 Tieks Gift Card, a $175 TPT Gift Card, and a $175 Amazon Gift Card.

Entry: Use the Rafflecopter below to enter! The giveaway runs August 3rd-August 11th. The winner will be announced and contacted on August 12th.

You may enter the Rafflecopter HERE!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Co-Hosts: A special thank you to Southern Drawl, Color Me Kinder, Real Life in First Grade, History at Home, Sugar Cube Learning, Wild Child Designs, Lindsey's Classroom Creations, Learning and Loving It - Andrea Rodriguez, Elementary Island, Tried and True Teaching Tools, Thinking Outside the Lines, Lory Evans, Coast 2 Coast Teacher, Kim Heuer, PrintablePrompts, Tara Hardink - My First Grade Zoo, Contemporary Teaching, Teaching Superkids, There's No Crying in Teaching, Krejci Creations, Julie Davis - Big Ideas for Little Hands, Bethany McClure - Teaching for Fun, Teach Without Tears, Emilee Ray - For the Teacher, Stefbub, Teaching in My Flip Flops, A Library and Garden, Literacy and Lattes, Teach Me T, Reading is My Jam, The Beezy Teacher, Memoirs of an Educator, Bailey's Corner, Savvy Teaching Tips, Krafty Teacher, The Marvelous Middle, Teacher Gameroom, Mentoring in the Middle, Laura Kelly Classroom, Teaching Tidbits and More with Jamie, Rainbow City Learning, Saved by a Bell, The Happy Bilingual Classroom, Tina Peyerk, Primary Fairy Tales, Sparkle in Second, Kinderbrations, Setting the Standard, Priscilla Woodard - Tasked 2 Teach, Catch My Products, Learned Lessons, Primary Planet by Hilary Gard, My Kinder Garden, The Resourceful Apple, Mrs. Richard EE Resources, A Spot of Curriculum, Teaching is a Gift by Sidney McKay, Pocketful of Centers, Barbara Kilburn, Kindergarten Rocks, Taryn's Unique Learning, Adventures in Room 109, Smith Safari Adventures, for participating in this fabulous teacher giveaway! Be sure to check out their TPT stores! Happy Entering!

Our Full Day Pre-K Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Sun, 22 Jul 2018 16:14:00 +0000

Our full day in pre-k is busy, engaging and full of fun! The key is alternating the quieter activities with ones that involve more movement as well as teacher directed activities and student choice.

Daily Schedule

Here is a quick peek at our daily schedule!

Keep reading and there will be a FREE EDITABLE version just for you!

Arrival and Greetings

Being that we are a state funded pre-k program, parents need to sign each child in and out as they pull up in the car line outside our classroom! I love the daily connection we have with parents! As children arrive, they are greeted as they enter the room, unpack their folder and water bottle and then settle in and eat breakfast.

Morning Circle Time

Morning Meeting is a great way to start your day as it brings us together, fosters a sense of community and learning is optimal as children are attentive and ready to start the day! We always start out with a "Good Morning" song as we make connections with each other. We incorporate a weekly calendar as young children always want to know how many more school days/home days they have and then move onto our morning message. This is the perfect time to sneak in a little mini lesson with a quick game or activity before we move onto small groups. Click HERE to find out How to Make the Most of Morning Meeting.

Small Groups

Children learn though play. Small groups are a fun way to integrate learning though games, activities and exploration all while integrating specific content based on standards. In our classroom, we have 20 children so we have decided to have five groups with four children each. We have found over the years that four in a group work well for games. You can read more about Math small group ideas HERE.

Gross Motor Play

At this point, my pre-kinders have been hard at work (and play) for an hour so physical movement is NEEDED! The majority of the time, this means recess! This means off to the playground we go. Once a week, we head to the courts for tricycles, scooters and gross motor play! In the case of rain, extreme heat (over 95 degrees) or extreme cold (under 50 degrees in Florida), we Go Noodle!

Literacy Circle

Back in the room, my kids are ready to learn during our Literacy Circle Time with stories and poems. We work on a poem a week which is on a large chart with rebus pictures. This helps my students focus and follow along. We work on concepts of print, phonics and phonological awareness. The poem is laminated which allows for the children to interact with it with a dry erase marker during the lesson. It often comes back out during centers with pointers as the kids play teacher!

Morning Center Time

Center time is all about CHOICE! Students LOVE the independence they are given during this time to choose what interests them. We have 45 minutes for centers in the morning and 45 minutes in the afternoon. This is also MY favorite time as bonds are made here with them as they love talking and sharing about EVERYTHING! You can read more about the Ins and Outs of Centers HERE.

Transitional Times and Lunch

Before lunch is a quick story time and/or time for finger plays. We send students to the restroom and to wash hands before lunch. We eat lunch in the cafeteria and my para stays with the class. After lunch, we have music, songs and some movement. I love the Go Noodle and the Yoga songs before rest time.

Afternoon Center Time

After rest time, or cognitive break as our county calls it, we head back to centers for more fun and interaction. This is a great time to focus on skills and pull a child for a few minutes two for some one on one time! Believe it or not, students LOVE this and as we are working, a crowd soon gathers asking, "When is it my turn?"! I love their desire to learn as well as their willingness to stop playing to spend a few minutes with me!

Math Circle

Math Circle is a whole group math time that wraps up our day! We use the Smart Board for YouTube songs. Jack Hartman is a favorite in our room! The Story Bots website is AMAZING, free to teachers and can be personalized with student names! We then follow up with a game or activity to build on a skill we are working on or for spiral review. I am excited that we have printed and prepped Math Activities for the Year. It will make planning so much EASIER!

Thanks for hanging in with me to the end of our pre-k day.

If you would like a FREE EDITABLE copy of our Daily Schedule, click HERE!

Be sure to follow The Resourceful Apple on Facebook for what's going on in our pre-k community!
Be on the lookout for Facebook Friday LIVE with The Resourceful Apple coming in August!

Kindness Matters

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Sun, 20 May 2018 11:11:00 +0000

Kindness can be characterized by a concern towards others and a pleasant disposition. It seems simple and yet we are witnesses in a broken world full of self absorbed, hurtful people in the midst of the "rest" of us. It is up to US to make a difference in the LIVES of our CHILDREN!

What then, my friends, can we do to make a difference? Look around and listen... I mean really listen to conversations, social media posts and yes, even to our youngest students as they play. Then ask yourself, "What can I do to promote kindness in my classroom and in my school?"

First and foremost, we NEED to make connections with our students and we need to provide opportunities for them to make connections with each other. From the minute they walk into the door this needs to happen.

Greetings are a great way to connect with your students. It can be a simple "Good Morning", a high five or a fun handshake. My students LOVE that they have a choice how they want to be greeted! If I get busy in the morning, my students will come and greet me! It is something they look forward to and NEED. They know I am there for them.

I make connections when I put their blanket on each one of them at nap time. Yes, they could put it up themselves, but it lets them know I care.

I encourage connections with my students during story time, centers, recess and any other time the opportunity arises. We sing greeting songs that use their names, incorporate "Turn and Talk" for the students to engage with a partner, and plan class games during recess all while building relationships.

Children role play all the time. This is a great way to have students take a active role in providing examples and non-examples. We use this strategy a LOT at the beginning of the year when introducing class and school rules. It is a powerful strategy to use to help children work through problem solving strategies throughout the year.

In pre-k, I love to hang out in the dramatic play center with them as role playing is an everyday occurrence. This provides the opportunity to role play WITH them. Its a win-win!

Children NEED problem solving strategies and sometimes just KIND words that do not always come natural to them. Perhaps someone pushes in line. Instead of yelling to the teacher, "HE PUSHED ME" in their loudest voice, we MODEL ways to problem solve. "I feel _____ when you ____." and then offer a solution. " If you _____, then I ______." For example, I feel SAD, when you PUSH ME. If you BACK UP, then I will have my space." We use this frame for a visual reminder to help us identify the problem and to offer a solution.

We also model manners throughout the day. It is more than please and thank you. It is also learning how to compliment our classmates, even when they may not be our best friend. We need to model these conversations so they will become hopefully become part of our students conversations.

There are amazing children's books that provide storylines about showing kindness, having good manners, emotions and about making a difference. I am including some of my favorite books below and have attached Amazon links for you as sometimes it is difficult to find the book you are looking for. (These are affiliate links.)

The Feeling Book by Todd Parr is hands down one of our favorites.

His colorful illustrations and simple text is perfect for my pre-kindergarteners.

So many children come do not know how to express that they feel.

Anger is a normal, healthy emotion that often comes out in tantrums with little ones.

They can certainly relate to Sophie in When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry

and it can lead to great discussions in class.

Our children want to have friends and get along. This book, Talk and Work it Out is amazing as it showcases situations our students can relate to.There is a whole series of these books called, Learning to Get Along.

There are so many great books to choose from on this topic. Be sure to check out your local library and book store too!

Children notice everything! Let's work hard at being the role model they deserve. That includes leaving our personal lives at home, being PRESENT in the classroom ALL DAY and making an effort to show KINDNESS to students, teachers and staff at the school.

After nap one day, one of my students said, "Here comes the trash man." as the custodian was unlocking the door to come into our room at the end of the day. After he left, we talked about how his job title is "custodian" and he is so important at the school. He keeps our classroom nice and clean and without him, we would be sitting in a room full of trash unable to learn or play. It hit home for them. So next week, I have a little gift for our custodian and I am encouraging my kids to draw a picture or finish the sentence, I am thankful for you because _______" to show him how thankful we are for him.

In the spirit of spreading kindness, I am sharing these KINDNESS MATTERS printables as my gift to you! Just head on over to my TpT store and you can grab these for FREE!

You can also pin this post so you for easy reference!

Hands On Sight Word Practice For Beginning Readers

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 21:59:00 +0000

Sight Words can be a hot topic for pre-kindergarten teachers. In my pre-k experience, I have found that some children are really ready for sight words and for others, it will be exposure.

That being said, I teach pre-kindergarten in a public school and we are required to teach 15 predetermined sight words. So, what's a good teacher to do? I do what I always do...I introduce sight words in several ways and always try to keep it fun and engaging.

The sight words are imbedded in our morning message each day. My little detectives LOVE finding their sight words there.Then for good measure (insert wink!), we use a little gross motor and chant our sight words!

Disclaimer: Most of our children are identifying all their letters and sounds. We have been working with blending and segmenting words.

Monthly Poems with Rebus Pictures are integrated into our story time. We look for sight words in our large poems during that time andthen again in our poetry notebooks on Fridays.

The students' poetry notebooks provide review and are a terrific home connection that gives the children a time to share what they have learned.

Later in the morning, we work on reading our sight words through play based activities. Children love novelty so we try and keep our games the same while changing out seasonal or thematic pieces.

Sight word mats with play-dough or seasonal mini erasers from Target or Amazon are always a hit!

Salt trays provide tactile practice. We keep it fresh by changing out the salt or rice as well as the word cards.

Balloons provide INSTANT engagement for sight words. Note: Be sure to use a permanent marker with close supervision!

Sight word mats are color coded and include three words per page. Letter cards and bottle cap letter included and are color coded to match each page. Bottle cap letters are a great way to recycle water bottle caps as you provide a tactile letter manipulative for little hands.

Seasonal sight word cards are perfect for write the room and include matching picture icons on the recording sheets. These cards can also be used for letter matching with other letter manipulatives.

Cookie letters are fun and provide additional interest in our winter themed cards.

Magnetic letters are great for alphabet practice, name building and sight word review.

A set or two of my Super Reader in Pre-K flash cards are added to our library bins. These include our 15 sight words and 11 color words. You can download a set of these for FREE in my TpT store!

I cut them apart and add a metal ring to them for easy organization. My pre-kinders LOVE reading these words and have pride in becoming a reader.

These include our 15 sight words and 11 color words. You can download a set of these for FREE in my TpT store!

Check out these other sight word resources for Pre-K at The Resourceful Apple.

Winter Edition

Spring Edition

You can also pin this post for future reference or follow me on Pinterest HERE!

Small Group Math Activities in Pre-K

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 01:24:00 +0000

If you are new to The Resourceful Apple...

Let me introduce myself!

I am a pre-k teacher in a Florida public school. We have a FREE, voluntary program open to four and five year olds. I have taught both full and half day programs depending on the funding. Being a public pre-k, we are given a scope and sequence to follow. This means the order of standards are preset in all academic areas.

Small group is the perfect time to work on standards. We have five rotations that include math, literacy, technology, exploration and listening and library. Each small group rotation lasts from 8-10 minutes.My para and I rotate teaching math and literacy each day.This post contains affiliate links to support this blog.

Bubble gum tens frames and bottle cap counters from Pre-K Math Unit 1: Counting to 10 are a must have as they can be used year round for a variety of activities.

Apple counting with red pom poms add novelty to the concept of counting from Pre-K Math Unit 1: Counting to 10. Bottle cap apple templates are also included. Numeral cards can ne added for differentiation for those students who have mastered counting to ten.

One to one correspondence can be introduced using recycled marker caps and Colored Pom Poms. I introduce this activity during small group and then move it over to our sensory table during centers.

Fine motor muscles along with hang/eye coordination also benefit from this activity.

The Dollar Tree always has fun seasonal ice cube trays and mini erasers. Novelty is key and this concept can be changed during any time of the year with new seasonal materials so your students will be excited and think it is a new activity!

Identifying numerals is often goes along with counting during small group time. Numeral cards (taped on cups) and beans are easy to set up and add fine motor practice as well.

Lakeshore Peg Number Boards are great for little fingers as children identify the number and then count that many pegs as they put them in the holes. It is self checking and for those who are learning to identify numerals, they can count the peg holes first in order to identify the numeral!

Farm: Early Literacy and Math Skillsprovide tens frames up to 20 and again contain the templates for farm animal bottle caps. These are a good resource for when you start comparing numbers with greater and less than. In addition, the tens frames come blank as shown and a second set comes with matching animals in the tens frame to work on one to one correspondence.

Tangrams and Tangram Mats are an ideal activity as children explores shapes. Vocabulary such as turn and flip can also be introduced in context while children play.

Kinetic Sand and Shape Cookie Cutters are a favorite and can be changed out with numbers, shapes and seasonal cookie cutters. It also provides a sensory activity with very little mess!

Fall Table Scatter and Light Table along with a clear transparency provided a new activity for the light table after we worked on patterning during the week and after the children were allowed to play independently with the table scatter on the light table. We introduced the concept of patter unit (pre-k standard) during our math small group and then left it at the light table during centers.

Candy Corn and Pumpkins are not only a manipulative, but a delicious treat and incentive to follow along during small group math! This can be done throughout the year with candy, goldfish crackers, or even fruit during our unit on nutrition!

Seriation is a new standard in pre-k and involved ordering objects by size. Snap Cubes were given I a bowl and students were asked to snap together like colors and then put the towers in order from smallest to largest. This took modeling for some and others saw the pattern right away! To foster independence, child received a bowl where the towers were different from their other friends. For example, one student had two yellow cubes and the other had two red cubes.

We also sorted our Frog Street Press Frog Counters by small, medium and large frogs. This activity also lent itself to sorting bear counters on another day that week.

We introduced the balance during small group math so the students could hypothesize and problem solve which pumpkin or gourd was the heaviest and which was the lightest. One they understood how it worked, this was moved to the science center for exploration during the week.

We then added teddy bear counters so the students could compare the size and weight of the bears.

Yes, sometimes they just dumped them in, but that was a teachable moment and we soon realized

that having a teacher sit with them to follow up to guide the conversations was key.

Larger graphs where students use actual objects are great to make in small group and then discuss during circle time. We leave them up for a few weeks and refer to them as the situation arises. You can grab FREE Graph Titles for bulletin boards and read more about class graphs HERE.

After we have worked on several class graphs, children are given the opportunity to make an individual graph. Using concrete objects is key as most four year old children are not able to think abstractly.

I use Lakeshore Magnetic Numbers and Counters as I provide each child with a cookie sheet, addition problem and a bowl of magnetic counters to work out an addition problem. This activity comes after a great deal of modeling and guided practice.

For those students who are ready, dry erase boards, Expo markers and seasonal erasers or manipulatives and used during small group math. We work with a variety of erasers and create word problems to help tell the story that goes along with the number sentence.

10 Little Rubber Ducks Books is our go to book when introducing ordinal numbers.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears is read to introduce the concept of sorting by size, We provide an opportunity for children to act out the story with props and then compare the bowls, chairs and beds. A sorting activity in Pre-K Math Unit 2: Sorting unit is a great way for me to assess the children.

Reading and comparing fairy tales was part of our scope and sequence. You can compare any books, have the students illustrate their favorite store and then graph the results.

You can read more about how I run small group time HERE.

Make sure to pin this post for easy reference for planning small group math activities!

Making Meaningful Family Connections

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 20:31:00 +0000

Making meaningful family connections is such an important part of teaching, but can often be put on the back burner due to the increasing workload put on teachers.

One of the reasons I LOVE teaching pre-k is the connection with the families during drop off and pick up. Parents love to hear a little snippet about their child's day! It might be where they played, what they learned or something sweet that they said or did. And yes, sometimes we need to let a parent know that their child had a difficult day, but we are sure tomorrow will be much better! Always leaving on a positive note makes the parent know you are all in for their child!

We send a monthly newsletter as part of our school initiative to keep parents in the know. This year, I decided to send a weekly "Peek at My Week" which is a half page weekly newsletter that quickly lets parent know what we are learning, important dates and a brief note from the teacher. I have had several parents share that they LOVE this as they are able to connect to the classroom and SUPPORT the learning that is going on. I have made a 52 EDITABLE Weekly Newsletter Templates pack that is available on Teachers Pay Teachers to make it that much easier to connect with families!

Hosting events is a fun way to connect with families on a more personal level. Our school hosts Family Math and Literacy nights, a Fall Festival and The Pro-Kids Show which promotes social skills in a FUN and ENGAGING way. In pre-k, we offer a 3 day science time though a grant with our local Orlando Science Center as well as our VPK Spring Fling which includes an egg hunt with HUNDREDS of eggs and rotating stations outside.

Pre-Kinders LOVE to sing! We have worked hard this year leaning a new song, poem or nursery rhyme each week. The teacher in me not only adores when they sing, but appreciates all the pre-reading skills they are learning through this! You can find the monthly poems with rebus pictures HERE. My kids love to interact with the large charts and "play teacher" during the week.

On Fridays, they get a small copy of the poem to put in their poetry journal and practice "reading" and illustrating it. The REAL MAGIC happens once a month when they take their poetry journals home and SHARE their favorite songs, rhymes and illustrations with their families. The parents OFTEN share how much their children LOVE these songs!

Sharing pictures of their kids is definitely a go-to way to connect with families. In this digital age, it makes it that much easier to share a little piece of their child's day with them. There are apps like CLASS DOJO where the parents can sign up for texts from the teachers. You can send pictures through Class Dojo. You can read more about what Class Dojo has to offer over at A Primary Owl. One of the easiest way to build connections is by making someone feel appreciated. Thank You notes are the PERFECT way to show parents you are part of a TEAM! When I receive a gift, I try to write a personal note to each family. However, families do TONS of things to help out the classroom every month. In order to stay on top of it, I print out THANK YOU NOTES with messages already included that I use in a moment's notice. Parents TRULY appreciate this!

So those are my top 5 ways to build meaningful relationships with parents. You can use the image below to pin this for future reference!

Classroom Helpers Made Easy

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 06:53:00 +0000

Note: This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.
Classroom helpers tend to be a hot topic in early childhood classrooms during back to school! Is there a job chart to match your classroom decor? Should you have a job for each child in the classroom each day? How are you going to keep track of it all?

I am here to tell you throw away the job chart! If you struggle to keep track of all twenty jobs on any given day, LOOK NO FURTHER!
Let me introduce you to... My Little Helper. Its as simple as TYPE your children's name (YES, it is EDITABLE!), print on Astrobrights colored paper, cut out squares and add them to your Monthly Calendar Pocket Chart!

My Little Helper does it all! He/she is the line leader, calendar helper, Go Noodle song picker and just about any other job you can think of! EXCEPT... the door holder.
So what is one to do? The door holder is always the second child in line. When the class line passes, that door holder stays at the END of the line. And then the child that is NOW second in line is the next door holder.

Each month My Little Helper changes to a seasonal helper that compliment our monthly Monthly Calendar for the Year with Pattern Cards like My Little Snowman or My Little Starfish.

My students love when the month changes and the new calendar goes up! They see immediately when its their turn and they are just as excited for their friend's turn each day.

As My Little Helper leads the calendar, we take off the Little Helper tag and the child gets to wear it for the day and then bring it home. You can tape it right to the child's shirt or slide it in a badge holder necklace. Some of my sweet friends have even dressed up for their BIG day!

I have made these editable and am excited to share these with you. You can head on over to my Teachers Pay Teachers store to download September's My Little Superstar under the preview of the whole pack HERE. Be sure to click FOLLOW ME on TpT to receive updates on new and coming activities! My Little Helper AND Monthly Calendar Cards are on SALE through JUNE!

Feel free to use the image below to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board!

The Ins and Outs of Center Time

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 02:06:00 +0000

Center time in a pre-k classroom can be as varied as the children in our rooms! I am going to share how centers work in our classroom. This is what works in our classroom, but there are so many DIFFERENT approaches so PLEASE continue to use what works for you and take any ideas you think might enhance your program.
QUESTION and answers...

HOW LONG IS YOUR CENTER TIME?
Our center time is one hour each day.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CHILDREN DURING CENTERS?
We start on the carpet at circle and the child vocalize where they want to go. At the beginning of the year, we work on naming each center. "Math"

By midyear, the children are answering in a complete sentence.

"I want to play at the block center."

Towards the end of the year, I model (a lot) and encourage students

to share where they are going and what they want to do.

"I am going to art to watercolor paint."

DO YOU LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN AT A CENTER WITH NECKLACES OR A CENTER BOARD?

Yes and No!

I do limit the number of children at each center,

but they do not wear necklaces or move their card on a choice board.

Based on the size of our room,

I limit dramatic play and blocks to four children each.

Most other centers limit themselves by the number of chairs at a table.

The children are able to move around freely as long as there is space in the center they want to go to. I honestly can not keep track of those necklaces or boards. They stress me out! My students learn quickly the expectations and limitations during centers.

Do they still sometimes ask if they can move to the ____ center? YES! But we always ask them, "What to do think?" or "What do you need to do?"
ARE THE CHILDREN ABLE TO SELECT WHAT THEY WANT TO PLAY WITH AT EACH CENTER?
Yes and No!
Art, Math, and the Alphabet tables change daily. I plan a different activity for the table top centers each day to keep their interest as I rotate toys and activities through as well as integrate any themed activities.
If a child asks for a different activity and there is room at the table, they are able to take it out and they are also responsible to put it away before moving on.

Science, Sensory, Blocks, Dramatic Play and the Light Table change weekly or bi-weekly depending on the theme or interest in the room.

CAN THE CHILDREN MOVE FREELY THOUGH THE ROOM?
Yes! They are responsible for cleaning up their spot and are then able to select a new center where there is space.

ARE THERE ANY "MUST DO" CENTERS?
Sometimes...
I like balance and I believe children can benefit form a variety of activities. So sometimes, I have them complete an art project or a science experiment.
We might be preparing for a holiday or even a science unit so I call them over to the activity and they are able to return to their center of choice when they are done.
We "hold" their space there and let others know they are returning when they finish the "must do" activity.

We try to limit this during center time and complete these activities during our Small Group time. For more information on Small Group time click HERE.
WHAT ARE THE TEACHERS DOING DURING CENTERS?

Modeling, playing, listening, sharing, observing, problem solving,

assessing, leading activities, and working with students.

WHAT ARE SOME FAVORITE CENTER ACTIVITIES? Here are some of our favorite activities during center time. Some of these are affiliate links . Just click on the picture of the item you are interested in checking out!

Here is a pinnable post image for your convenience!

Teaching Diversity Through Children's Literature

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 18:31:00 +0000

Teaching diversity in our classrooms is one of the most important things we can do! Children's literature can often be the bridge for making connections for our young students. Integrating these stories throughout the school year is key.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links in which I make a small commission to support this blog.
We often start the year off with an All About Me unit. This is the perfect gateway into taking about how we are all alike and we are all different! Here some of my favorite picks to share with my students in August and September.

February lends itself to talking about friendships. I love that so many children see their friends for who they are inside and out! These are two of my favorite stories that celebrate friendship despite our differences.

Integrating multicultural literature throughout the year is essential if we want to build a community of acceptance, compassion and tolerance. I believe sharing these stories helps our students make connections to different types of people who may or may not look like them. Then when you have truly made these connections, children can then develop empathy for others.

I hope you'll join me in teaching diversity through children's literature! Feel free to pin this post for easy reference.

Somewhere in the Middle

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 02:49:00 +0000

The pendulum swings in the education every twenty years or so they say. They, the POLICY MAKERS, tell us, the EDUCATORS, what is the best thing for our students and we comply. Yes, sometimes dragging our heels, spitting nails, or just complain to our colleagues about the changes.

I don't always love change, but I understand it is necessary. I am more than happy to listen and try something new IF I believe it will benefit my students. However, I won't throw out what I know works! Just like the old saying goes, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water!" I believe you need to balance the two extremes for optimal results with your students.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK...

Teachers have debated teaching "letter of the week" for years! One side argues that it is ineffective to teach letters this way as children learn letters that are meaningful to them such as the letters in their names and they won't retain letters taught in a week by week basis. The other side of the pendulum believes in this systematic approach as they are sure to cover all the letters through thematic teaching incorporating the letter through the majority of activities during the week.
Truth be told, I am somewhere in the middle! I introduce a new letter each week based on the scope and sequence that my county puts out for our Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program. I introduce the letter and the sound through Interactive Alphabet Activities. We practice writing it and we even make an alphabet flip book that my pre-kinders read and then take home to practice. However, every book we read does not begin with that particular letter and I do not make a craft to go along with each letter. Does this make sense?

Teachers are so passionate about this topic. Process art gives children the freedom to create and express themselves through a variety or art mediums. The materials are available as children use their imaginations to design their art. Product art consists of teacher led projects where children follow a set of directions or patterns to make a similar product.
So I am here to ask, what is wrong with a little of both? I give children ample opportunities at the art center daily to create. Some days it is process driven projects where children need to cut and glue pieces to make a something in particular like a snowman and other days I put out a variety of materials and my pre-kinders are free to create what ever their little hearts desire! Just as children have different learning styles, some children love the process where they can express their creativity while others want direction and want it to look like a particular object when completed. Its a win-win as children are able to practice lots of fine motor activities such as cutting, tearing, drawing and gluing all while engaging in the art process.

I have been reading the book, Play: The Foundation that Supports the House of Higher Learning by Lisa Murphy and agree with a LOT of what Lisa has to say. I agree that children in preschool, pre-kindergarten and even kindergarten need ample time to play as they build social skills, language and have time to manipulate their environment. That being said, I am intentional about the skills and standards I need to teach. The blending of play and skills needs to be done with hands on, engaging manipulatives, games and activities to create optimal engagement with these little people! In my classroom, we accomplish this through small group activities as well as during center time.

There are many different ways to structure our programs, but we as the educators need to know what the current research says, meet the children where they are and then incorporate the social and academic skills that will prepare these children for life as well as school! So please, won't you meet me Somewhere in the Middle?

Peek into Pre-K {December}

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 14:45:00 +0000

As with all kiddos right now, my pre-kinders are over the top with excitement! Christmas is right around the corner:) So we have tried to embrace the craziness and roll with it this month!!

Circle time is where we start our day and come back to through out our day for stories, songs, games and other fun activities. As one of our pre-k standards, we are working on counting words in a sentence. Drawing boxes around the words gives students a visual to understand that letters make words and words make sentences. My little helper of the day gets to lead our morning calendar time. I love watching their confidence grow during this time. Our poems and songs build rhythm and rhyme as we work on phonological awareness.

December Poetry Notebooks can be found HERE

They are a super collection of original poems and favorite nursery rhymes.

Small group is the time we introduce new concepts, provide practice for prior skills taught and work together in fun, meaningful ways. We have five rotations consisting of Listening/Library Center, Math, Literacy, Computer and the Independent Learning Table. The Math and Literacy tables are teacher and para led while the Independent Learning table is usually manipulative based and builds on out literacy and math concepts. Class books, glitter number rubbings, games and poetry notebooks are favorites again and again.

Alphabet Mats cane be found here Alphabet Mats are perfect for play dough,

small manipulatives for fine motor engagement and letter formation.

Center time provides students the opportunity to choose what they want to do and where they want to go. It includes the dramatic play area, blocks, the alphabet center, the math center, the science center, the sensory table, the puppet theater, computers and the art center. Children start this time by verbalizing where they want to start playing. For example, "I want to go to blocks today." This helps develop language with my students and helps them develop a plan for where to start.

Here is the pin where this adorable project can be found.

Thanks for stopping by for a Peek Into Pre-k {December}.

Feel free to follow me on Facebook for daily updates and peeks into our day.

You can pin this image for easy reference and follow me on Pinterest.

Happy December Friends!

Play Based Learning with Centers

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 13:44:00 +0000

Center time is every preschoolers favorite time of the day. I am going to share with you a peek into my classroom center time. We try to incorporate a lot of open ended centers for my pre-kinders to engage in along with a sprinkling of games. Students learn to take turns, share, build vocabulary as well as practice skills taught during small groups in an open ended way!

The alphabet center consists of all things language. We play games like Roll and Cover, write on the magic boards and use LOTS of alphabet manipulatives! Some days there is an adult stationed there to help facilitate a game and other days the children work and play independently with alphabet materials and writing instruments.

Roll and Cover

Magic Boards and Picture Name Tags

Alphabet Matches

In the Sensory Tub, there are a variety of materials throughout the year. Our rule of thumb is to change it out every two weeks and it can revolve around our theme at times. There is often fine motor and science activities incorporated into this center.

Pom Poms and Tweezers

Water Table

Water Marbles from Lakeshore

The Art Center has a balanced approach of process and product driven activities. We try to offer both types of projects and some projects have a combination of the two. Watercolor paints, mosaic art, and collage projects are a few of our process driven activities. The children are able to be creative as they like. Some projects are product driven like the patterning plates that will be the frame for our Turkey Handprints. Some students thrive with explicit directions and others with the freedom to create.

Feather Painting

Felt Pattern Frame

The Math Center offers a variety of maniplatives that are often open ended and games that might need some teacher direction. Some days students ask us to leave the materials out from our Small Groups (read more HERE) to explore further. I do have a plan for what materials will be set out each day, but the students often take the lead and embrace our choice or change it quickly.

Snap Cubes

Linking People

Turkey Clothes Pins

The Block Area is limited to four students as it makes sense for the amount of blocks available. There are several types of blocks such as Legos, colored blocks and Bristle Blocks in addition to the large wooden blocks so more than one type of block is allowed out if there is enough space on the large carpet. Manipulatives such as cars and animals are often added after building structures and roads.

Making connections from our math lesson

Princesses and Super Heros added during October

Colored blocks and animals

Dramatic Play is a favorite with my boys and girls. We change it out every two weeks onto something other than home living area and then return to the home living center for two weeks. The key of any area is to label it and model activities as you visit this area during transitions to new areas. Many of my ELL (English Language Learners) students look for this direction as they build their vocabulary as well as all students as some of the areas are new experiences for all of them.

Home Living Center

The Vet

The Pumpkin Patch

I will be doing a follow up post on the ins and outs of center time

and I would love to hear your thoughts.

Please comment below with any questions you have about center time!

Feel free to pin this post and follow me on Pinterest.

The following are affiliate links for your convenience if you are looking

for products shown in this blog post.

Incorporating Fine Motor Activities

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 18:09:00 +0000

So many preschoolers and kindergarten friends come to school with little fine motor practice. The first thought when fine motor comes up is pencil, paper activities, but the reality is there are so many ways to build fine motor BEFORE children are ready for pencil, paper activities.

Clothes pins and larger tweezers offer children practice with the pincer grasp. We practice using pop poms and small objects as they are grabbed and moved from one place to another. Alphabet Mats and sensory tables provide a place for integration with these skills.

Art activities provide fine motor experiences such as paper tearing,

painting and gluing. While painting, we remind our friends

to use their "pinching" fingers as they hold the brush.

Twirling the paint brush is a circular motion

also takes practice at the beginning of the year.

Paper tearing also provides additional experiences

and the scraps are saved for the art center.

Fine motor experience can also be incorporated while teaching math concepts.

We use pony beads for counting and patterning.

Play dough is always a go to with counting and tens frames.

Rolling the dough in itself takes a LOT of practice!

One to one correspondence can be modeled and practiced

using pom poms and recycled marker caps.

The end of the school year is the perfect time to collect

old marker caps from students and teachers alike!

There so so many commercial games and materials for sale

that lend themselves to fine motor practice

like Gumball Grab and Magic Boards.

Scissor practice is another fine motor skill that takes a great deal of practice.

We cut paper and play dough as they offer different resistances.

Last week I added straws and scissors to our sensory table

for additional fine motor practice.

We were then going to add string for threading once the straws were all cut.

BUT..

This was found under the table at the end of day one.

No one claimed it, no parent complained.

LESSON LEARNED!

Scissors will be at the art table with supervision!

Affiliate links are included for your convenience.

Feel free to pin the image below onto your Pinterest boards for easy reference.

For more fine motor inspiration, follow my Fine Motor Pinterest Board.

5 Fun and Engaging Alphabet Activities

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 02:00:00 +0000

Learning the alphabet in pre-k is front and center in our classrooms. The KEY is making it fun and meaningful for our kids!

Children learn better when they have connections to things. What better way to learn the alphabet than to start with students' names? The excitement becomes contagious and as they learn their own names they want to learn to learn their friends names too! Bottle Cap Letters is a FREE download on TpT.

My pre-kinders love anything with texture. Salt trays are a busy place in our room. Learning is at an optimum when I set up one tray and call students over for some one on one time to practice writing their name. EVERYONE wants a turn! When we do set it up as a center, a teacher is sure to be sitting at that table to supervise.

Alphabet Mats are a FUN way to practice letters and sounds with some fine motor practice! We roll play dough to form the letters, use tweezers and small objects like pom poms to cover the letters as well as just picking up objects like glass gems with our little fingers too. The alphabet mats that I use have two matching pictures for sound and vocabulary development. This is especially important for my English Language Learners.

Alphabet games and puzzles are sure to be a crowd pleaser! A few of our favorites include alphabet fishing, matching spoons and puzzles. I found several versions of alphabet spoons on Pinterst and then made my own with Target Dollar Spot stickers. You can follow me on Pinterest HERE. We offer lots of practice in small group before moving these activities to the alphabet center for independent play.

We use LOTS of songs, nursery rhymes and poems to build on oral language, vocabulary and phonological awareness. One of our daily activities during story time is to learn a new poem. The rebus pictures help my pre-kinders connect to the text and build vocabulary. We are working on beginning letters and sounds now, will move onto medial sounds and ending sounds as well as sight words later in the year.

On Fridays, my students add the poem to their Poetry Journal and we work on

letters and vocabulary during small groups.

Starting in October, we will send home the Poetry Journals once a month

for students to share with their families.

It becomes one additional way to build that home-school connection.

October Poetry Journals with Rebus Pictures is available HERE.

Back to School Organization with Picture Name Tags

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 01:19:00 +0000

The first week of pre-k and kinder is all about establishing routine. So many of my little friends come in and have no connection to their written name. I have started using picture symbols with student names to help all students identify their names, places and spaces in the classroom. This works with all children including non-English speakers and our ESE students as pictures are universal!

The most obvious use of symbols and pictures is with student name tags. I actually put our name tags in a pocket chart so my pre-kinders are able to use this card during small groups and center time- no matter where they are sitting in the classroom.

Cubby tags are another great place to use symbols and names together... unless you don't have cubbies! You guessed it, I don't have cubbies in my classroom, so we put our backpacks over out chairs sideways so they don't fall off. I used the cubby tags on the back of their chairs so everyone has a home base in the classroom and a place to park their bags!

I then printed the cubby tags with several on a sheet to reduce their size

and make them more versatile in the classroom.

These are the perfect size for folder labels, lanyard necklaces, graphing cards, and even cafeteria cards with bar codes to scan on the back!

And last but certainly not least, I use the symbol cards on colored bins for easy water bottle storage! These would also be great for storing individual supplies at tables!

The picture name tags help my kiddos connect to their names in a meaningful way while helping me organize our room and develop routines especially during the first few weeks of school. The possibilities are endless with Picture Name Tags! You can find them HERE in TpT. Be sure to pin this post for easy, back to school organization!

5 Ways to Practice Student Names

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 14:05:00 +0000

With back to school right around the corner,

preschool and kindergarten teachers are looking for

engaging ways for students to practice their names!

"Why?" you ask.

Students have a strong will to learn their name and

it makes learning letters more personal to each student.

When my students come to Meet the Teacher the week before school starts, pictures of various objects are out on a board and each student is allowed to pick one "symbol" to be attached to their name.
This practice allows children to identify their name and space easily. Students quickly learn each others' symbols and names as well and they LOVE this!

The Pre-K Name Tags set includes 40 stand alone symbols, Set A and Set B class lists for am and pm classes, EDITABLE name tags and EDITABLE cubby labels. Students quickly learn their name as it is always connected to their symbol!

At the beginning of the year, my pre-kinders may have no idea what their name looks like or even that it has letters.
Our focus in August is to introduce the FIRST letter of their names! We start by introducing the first letter of their name with some fine motor fun. Later in September, we use it for a model for some dry erase board practice.

Providing multiple opportunities for name writing is key! Provide a model for the student with his or her name and model rainbow writing (writing name several times with a different color each time), tracing the name with bingo dabbers or watercolor paints, or even model paper tearing to cover the child's full name similar to the letter J above.

Bottle Cap Letters or other letter manipulatives let children manipulate the letters in his or her name to order them correctly.
By using Bottle Cap Letters, you are able to customize each child's name, use different colors for each child so they don't mix up their letters and teachers can send an extra set home for additional practice.
Parents always ask what they can do and Bottle Cap Letters provide an activity that is easy to use. This is an inexpensive way to provide a home-school connection!

If you are interested in Bottle Cap Letters,

you can download it from my TpT store for FREE!

Salt trays and shaving cream are a go to sensory activity for name practice. It works best one on one at the beginning of the year and then small group. Both activities have a dual purpose as they help with letter formation as well as letter/sound identification when working with a teacher.

Children have different learning styles and this activity will help your tactile learners connect with letters.
Don't forget to grab your FREE copy of Bottle Cap Letters if you have not already done so and for future products, be sure to follow my Teachers Pay Teachers store HERE.

Making the Most of Morning Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 01:55:00 +0000

Morning Meeting is one of my favorite times of the day.

I have a captive audience so it is crucial to get their little brains engaged in learning

because I only have their attention for a short amount of time.

The MOST important reason to come to the carpet according to my students was to see who the Apple of My Eye is going to be! The WHO you say? The Apple of My Eye of course! In my apple themed classroom, that's the helper of the day.

You might call it your Star Student or even your Top Dog, Either way that child does EVERYTHING all day so I only have to keep track of one helper. This is the BEST classroom management change that I have made to save my sanity. The child's name is on The Apple of My Eye chart every day until December and I reveal one letter at a time

We them move onto to our calendar. In pre-k, we start the year off with our weekly calendar. We count the number of days at home and the number of days at school. Dr. Jean's Days of the Week song is a favorite. This is the first step in counting and number recognition which gets us well on our way to counting up to ten.

You can find my weekly calendar HERE along with seasonal pictures for each month and the numbers 1-7 for counting each day.

When we return from Christmas vacation in January, I switch the weekly calendar to a monthly calendar. On the back of each calendar piece, I have the child's name that will be the Apple of My Eye. (I had a morning and afternoon pre-k class last year so there are two names on each card-one red and one blue.)

My pre-kinders would be excited to see what the new cards would be each month, but I soon realized we needed a little bit more. I made a set of monthly calendar cards to include a pattern each month. Upon looking back, I realized that I needed to review the patterns as we moved on so I also built that in. My new calendar schedule looks like this:

We move onto reviewing our schedule for the day. I have a daily schedule with pictures and words and within a few weeks of school, the kids know the typical schedule. It does have to be changed from time to time, and if I forget to turn it back they really let me know!

And to wrap up our quickly moving morning meeting, we incorporate a little literacy. We work on a poem or nursery rhyme each week together. While we practice the poems, we work on letters, sounds, rhyming words, vocabulary and concepts of print. There is so much packed into this short period it amazes me.

The rebus pictures that are used with the poem allow for students to reread it independently after a few days of practicing it chorally. We add it later in the week to their Poetry Journal to practice reciting it, tracking print, illustrating it and connecting it to our language skill.

That about wraps up our morning meeting time. There are always extra activities that are substituted in throughout the year like out weekly journal starting in January, but by that time my pre-kinders are able to sit for a little longer!

5 Ways to Keep our Children Safe in the Face of Danger

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Wathen) — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 01:12:00 +0000

I have been glued to the television and computer all day long. There was ANOTHER mass shooting with FIFTY victims dead and FIFTY THREE injured. My prayers go out to all the injured as well as friends and family of all the victims. My heart is so sad, filled with worry. Worry for my husband who is there working the scene. Worry for my community, who has dealt with two shootings in two days. Worry for our children and the world they are growing up in. In this past decade there have been numerous school shootings as well. So what can we do to protect our children, both personal and students?

We, as adults, need to show our children that life goes on. God conquers evil. So what can we do in the face of danger? Here are five ways to keep our children safe in the face of danger.

Look around for anyone and anything out of place. It is so easy to let a parent walk down the hallway with their child, but did they stop in the office first to sign in. What is the protocol at your school? Make sure it is followed at ALL times, even if it is not convenient.

What is your school plan? Is there a county plan? I had to take an active assailant training to prepare myself in case of an intruder on campus and then take a test. We, as teachers, never think things like this will happen to them, but I am here to tell you this shooting was too close to home for me. PLEASE take the time to make a plan or review the one you have.

Just like we, as adults, need to have a plan,

we need to practice the scenarios with our children.

Will it be scary for them? ABSOLUTELY!

However, if it can save their lives, it is well worth it.

Just like a fire drill, an active intruder drill needs to be practiced.

Teachers and parents need to have these hard conversations with our children.

I can't even imagine what would go through my head and I hope I never have to test this.

The children in our care are counting on us.

Do we hide? Try to get out of the building?

We are their first defense and these kids are counting on us.

The more prepared we are, the more likely we will be able to keep a clear head.

What can you do on a daily basis to keep you and your students safe?

I teach out in a portable and I ALWAYS keep my door LOCKED.

Can this be inconvenient? You betcha!

BUT, it keeps us safely inside the room.

When someone knocks, my students know not to open the door

if it isn't someone they know and at that point my para professional or I check.

Most importantly, SPEAK OUT, if something isn't part of your norm.

So my friends, please pray for those who lost loved ones,

the city of Orlando and the people of the USA!

We need to grieve and then move forward...with a plan.