Preschool Teacher's Resource

February 2012 Preschool Calendar

2012-02-01T06:41:00.001-06:00

Review your animal sounds with your class this month. There is nothing more exciting then "finding" a puppy! This song is set to the "Found a Peanut" song and the kids will find it easy as they bark it out . I put suggestions in for other animals and kids love to add their own.

Go to Printable Page of This Calendar

Listen to "Found a Peanut" at Kididdles

Free February Preschool Newsletter Template

2012-01-24T08:31:00.001-06:00

If you send home a monthly newsletter here is a free template to download from 1-2-3 Curriculum listed over at Teachers Pay Teachers. If you are unfamiliar with Teachers Pay Teachers this is a website where teachers can upload and SELL their original lesson plans, worksheets, unit studies, etc. You can sell for free and pay a larger commission to Teachers Pay Teachers or pay a yearly fee to make more off of each product. If you sell a lot, then paying the fee is a good idea.
I have several curriculum guides at Teachers Pay Teachers so check them out too while you're visiting!

Free Winter Word Matching Cards

2012-01-18T06:51:00.000-06:00

These matching cards are free for a limited time only.

Description

Boost new words by playing these ready to print and use vocabulary games! From traditional board games to guessing pockets and tic-tac-toes, you will find educational games to practice and reinforce vocabulary with your children.
You can use the games to play daily with your children at school or home.
You can adapt the vocabulary in the games using the blank cards to meet your children's needs.
You can also expand the vocabulary connecting the words and concepts to other activities seen in class.
Children can play the games individually, in pair work or in groups.
Besides using a variety of games promotes the acquisition of new words and concepts as well as the use of different games.
Components:
9 cards upper case letters
9 cards lower case letters
They are ready to print and use!

Winter Words Matching Cards

January 2012 Calendar Time!

2012-01-01T09:23:00.000-06:00

Cold January's mean hot soup so here is a song to add some nutrition in to your kid's diets. Sing this to "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain" . Have your students add in soup ingredients and get ready for a chicken nugget, chocolate chip cookie soup that could get suggested. The last line of the song can be said with each "stir" going faster and faster. You might want to end each verse with an invisible spoon to taste and a big "Yum!".

Go to Printable Page of This Calendar

Time for our December Calendar

2011-12-01T15:42:00.000-06:00

Haven't you ever wondered just what happens to Santa's feet after coming down millions of chimneys? Your students probably have too. Sing this song to the old tune "Three Blind Mice" and make sure you make big sound effects with the words "Owwwww" and "Splash". That's what makes this song fun!

Print Out This Calendar

Free Santa Express ABC Train Printout

2011-11-22T11:04:00.000-06:00

This printable includes three adorable Christmas themed trains to promote early learning.
Alphabet Trains ~ Teaches children matching and alphabetical sequencing with upper and lower case trains.
Number Train ~ Teaches children matching and numerical sequencing from 1-20.

This is for a limited time only so head over to Curr Click and grab one!

Leaves Are Falling: Crafts and Books

2011-11-16T06:13:00.000-06:00

Leaves are falling! Here are some books and crafts for you to put together your own little leaf unit in your classroom.

Review From School Library Journal

With a body made of fallen leaves and acorns for eyes, Leaf Man takes off from a backyard and flutters away on the breeze, meandering past animals, over fields of fall vegetables, above waterways, and across prairie meadows.

Craft: Foliage Friends. You may want to draw a little man on a piece of paper and copy it off. Then have the kids glue fall leaves to make their own leaf man.
Here is a project from Family Fun that would go along nicely with Leaf Man.

Review From School Library Journal

It is autumn and Mouse, accompanied by Minka, a larger rodent wearing a pink jacket, go out to play. As they enjoy the day, Mouse learns about leaves, their colors and shapes, and the fun that comes from piling them up and jumping in them.

Craft: Make Your Own Mouse Picture

Here is a mouse coloring page to print out. from ColoringCastle.com
He is already jumping around so add a few colorful leaves to the picture to go along with Mouse's First Fall.

Free Thanksgiving Printable Pack from Homeschool Creations

2011-11-08T08:09:00.005-06:00

Here's a goodie! Homeschool Creations has put together a free pack of printables with a Thanksgiving theme. Very cute stuff!
Here is their description:
The Thanksgiving Unit Printables include two separate downloads, one geared toward younger Preschoolers and another for Kindergarten. You’ll find word and letter tracer sheets, early writing strips, find the different object, and beginning sound cards along with a few other fun pieces ~ the Clip & Learn Wheel, syllable counting, label the turkey and more.
Click Here to Get your Free Printables

Crafts With Oatmeal Containers

2011-11-07T08:07:00.000-06:00

Have kids who need craft projects but very little money to spend on them? Artists Helping Children has a great page full of craft ideas to use with cylindrical oatmeal containers. Here are some of the ideas they have for economical craft projects.

Toy Fish Tank
Marching Drum
Knitting Yarn Holder
Flower Garden
Wind Sock
Valentine's Box
Rolling Noise Toy
Babydoll Cradle
Toy Tote
Bird Bank
Bug Hotel
Easter Basket
Crayon Box
Pinata
And more
Click Here to see the page of oatmeal container projects

Time for our November Calendar

2011-10-31T07:24:00.000-05:00

Spend your month practicing counting with ten little turkeys. Sing this song to the Ten Little Indians song (and you can be counting down the days from the sugar highs of Halloween to the blessed rest of Thanksgiving!).

Print Out This Calendar

Preschool Song Archive

2011-10-23T16:01:00.000-05:00

Someone wrote and asked me for a song I had written for Halloween years ago, called the
Not So Itsy Spider.
It is sung to the tune of The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider
Went out one day in Fall
He found some candy
And had to eat it all
He got a tummy ache
And couldn't climb up the wall
So the itsy bitsy spider rolled off in a ball!

After years of writing little songs for my calendars, I have finally organized them into a song archive. They are organized by month. These links are also on Printable Pre-K.

Song Archive From Past Calendars

Free Six Scary Scarecrows File Folder Set

2011-10-11T10:47:00.000-05:00

Click Here to Get Your Free PDF Download

This is for a limited time only.

"English builders" is a new series of games based on early literacy skills. Their colourful illustrations and original activities ensure that children have fun while learning. English builders not only provide multiple and varied skilled building language experiences, but also they will strengthen school-home bounds. They are suitable for both independent and collaborative work. For fun and enrichment you can connect the themes to other skill areas.

Components
Cover
Instructions
Labels and cards
Envelopes
Game mats and pieces
Blank cards

Click Here to Get Your Free PDF Download
This link will take you to the Currclick Website where you will put the Six Scary Scarecrows File Folder Games in your basket. It is free for a limited time!

Time for our October Calendar

2011-10-01T07:11:00.000-05:00

With all the class portraits being taken in the fall, this song is a fun way to acknowledge that and teach kids how to sit for a picture. It is sung to the old tune "Shortnin' Bread" . Have your kids pretend to click their camera. You can also work on facial expressions-sad, happy, goofy, etc.

Hear the song Shortnin' Bread

Print Out This Calendar

Free Classroom Song Download

2011-09-08T14:25:00.000-05:00

"Play and Do This" is a great song about following directions and available as a free mp3 download at Songs for Teaching. Make paper plate shakers as "instruments" if you do not have a classroom set. This would be a great rainy day activity! You can print out the words from their webpage .

Read this first before clicking on my link to Songs For Teaching:

Downloading Instructions Once You Get to Songs for Teaching

PC/Windows Explorer Users:
Right-Click the red text link and choose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." to save the file to your computer.
Mac Users:
Use Option + Click and the "Save to Disk" command to save the file to your computer.

Click Here to Go to This Song at Songs For Teaching

Download available for a limited time.

Time for our September 2011 Calendar

2011-09-01T07:03:00.000-05:00

This month's song is sung to the old Oscar Meyer Weiner jingle.
Oh I wish I were an Oscar Meyer Weiner
That is what I'd truly like to be
Cause if I were an Oscar Meyer Weiner
Everybody'd be in love with me!

This song works well if you have one child be the traffic cop and all of the other kids "driving" around in circles making all the appropriate car noises. The traffic cop yells STOP! and all the children freeze.

Click Here to Print Out This Calendar

Free 2011-2012 Baby Animal Calendar Workbook

2011-08-17T08:02:00.000-05:00

Here is a great free download from Currclick. This is a 2011-2012 Baby Animals Calendar and Workbook.
Add this adorable organization tool to your day while you give your little one activities to delight them. You will find whimsical and sweet baby animals adorning each month. Put a smile on your and your young learner's face as you go about the year. Calendar pages in the front and matching type worksheets in the back.
Free from Teacher Book Bag!
Happy Learning!

Free "Happy Place" Poster

2011-08-12T11:20:00.000-05:00

Here is the latest downloadable freebie from Currclick. This little poster can be downloaded, laminated and put on your door to greet your new school year! It comes in English and Spanish.

Free Downloadable Kididdle Song Book

2011-08-04T11:32:00.000-05:00

I received this in the Kididdle's August Newsletter and wanted to pass it on. This is a free download to make a classroom notebook of children's songs. Here is the description from the newsletter:

There are 70 pages in the songbook. File them in a three ring
binder for easy reference.
Click Here to Download

Visit Kididdles.com

These are the some of the songs in the songbook:

The Farmer in the Dell,

Old MacDonald,

Eensy Weensy Spider,

The Ants Go Marching,
Rain, Rain, Go Away,

It's Raining, It's Pouring,

This Old Man,

Dry Bones,
Frere Jacques,

Lullaby and Goodnight,

Hush Little Baby,

She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain.

Time for our August Calendar

2011-07-31T08:35:00.000-05:00

This month's calendar song is sung to the old children's tune "1,2,3,4,5, went to catch a fish alive...". As many children return to the classroom or are assigned to a new teacher, it is good to establish attention getting routines like this song. As you begin your week teach this song and then repeat it several times a day as you need the children to focus.

Click Here to Print Out This Calendar

Free Clothespin Counting Cards

2011-07-28T09:37:00.000-05:00

Here is a simple idea that could make a good math center for your students. The download is free. You print out the cards and laminate. Have your students count the dots covering them all with the clothes pin and uncover a dot on each count.
Click Here to Go to the Free Download

Free Phonics Games to Download

2011-07-22T09:15:00.000-05:00

Want a quick and great way to re-inforce the phonics you have been teaching in class? Download this colorful game. Fun, creative games are great ways to "bring-home" the concepts and supplement lessons. Instructions included. These items from Currclick are an easy download to your computer. They are often only available for "FREE" for a limited time.

Click Here to Get This Free Download

Free Flannel Board Set

2011-07-11T08:32:00.000-05:00

Click Here to Get This Free Downloadable Flannel Board Set

Flannel board sets are great teaching tools that will provide children (and teachers too!) with many opportunities of hands-on learning and fun.
Flannel board sets make your teaching easier! They are ready to print and use. You can either add a piece of Velcro or a small magnet at the back of the pieces.
Using this set you will
Promote the imagination and learning skills of children
Increase the use of fine motor skills
Hold the attention of children
Help children remember songs, rhymes,stories
Add creativity and visualization
Present or reinforce vocabulary items
Re-tell rhymes and stories

Components

Instructions
Song or poem sheet
Envelope for storage
Labels and cards
Pieces

Click Here to Get This Free Downloadable Flannel Board Set

Free Preschool Unit to Download

2011-07-07T07:27:00.000-05:00

This unit is from the Currclick Website . From time to time they offer curriculum for FREE and this is their latest offer. To go directly to the unit click here. This unit contains printables for developing early learning (66 pages) and is created by Angela Bergman. Here are all the great teaching tools you'll get.
-Alphabet Match
-Size Sort
-Word Cards
-Number Match
-Cloths Pin Clip Cards
-Missing Numbers
-Number Puzzle
-Patterns
-Match the Picture
-Number Sequence Puzzles
-Pre-Writing Skills
-Scissor Skills
-Puzzle Match
-Lacing Card
-Magnet Page
-Uppercase and Lowercase Sort
-Small, Medium, Large Sort
-Word Trace

Time for our July Calendar

2011-07-05T08:03:00.001-05:00

This month's song is all about bubbles, something you may doing on the playground with your kids this summer. Be sure at the end to make a loud POP! You can amplify this sound by clapping your hands or tapping your knees. This song is sung to the tune "This Old Man".

Click Here to Print Out This Calendar

Here is a bubble craft to do with this from Disney Family Fun

Here is a page of Crafts for Bubble Guppies on NickJr

Create a Summer Reading Club

2011-06-14T10:17:00.000-05:00

Get your kids to read 10 books this summer and hole punch each sun off of this FREE printable bookmark. Either they can read the book themselves or for pre-readers you can read the book to them. Give prizes for completing the bookmark!