Down by the Pre-k Classroom

Check out this informative Ted Talk about rethinking children's challenging behaviors. J. Stuart Ablon discusses the idea that children do well if they can and that children don't lack the will to do well, but the skills. 

Super Core Word Power Communication Books - ever heard of or used one in your classroom? In my classroom, we use and implement these communication books with students who need more support in communicating their wants, needs, and preferences. The children can flip from one page to the next. Each page has tabs with pictures and core vocabulary words. The child points to the picture to communicate with others. This is a great option for classrooms that have many children with speech and language communication needs that can't afford high-tech devices. You can comb bind them as seen in the photo or put the pages in a binder.  Follow this link:  https://thinksmartbox.com/product/super-core-new/  to learn more about Super Core. There are also many free resources available online where you can create and individualize core boards for your students:  https://www.picto4.me/    https://www.cboard.io/

As preschool teachers, we see our students spill and drop a lot! And that's okay, right? Children spill and/or drop things. It happens. The children in my class know it's ok to spill. But the expectation is that when you do, you clean it up. Children are free to spill, because they know that if they do spill, they have the skills and tools to clean it up. This is a picture of our "Spill Station" where students go to access the tools and materials they need, at their level, to clean up their spills or messes. Our students also use this area to help teachers clean up after art. 

The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel Siegel and Tina Bryson "When children feel a big emotion like anger, anxiety, or excitement their prefrontal cortex, which is the rational part of the brain, takes a break and their left to deal with the amygdala. When a child’s brain is hijacked by the amygdala, a chemical reaction of adrenaline, cortisol, and other hormones takes place. This triggers a flight or fight response. In these circumstances, asking a child to complete a task may not be met with compliance." The Whole-Brain Child is an amazing resource for families and educators. Check it out!

One project we take on year-round in our preschool classroom is our discussion of the change of seasons. One way we do this is through our interpretation paintings of a Dogwood tree outside our classroom window through Fall, Winter, and Spring. This is a photo of our Fall Trees displayed in our classroom throughout the Fall season. What are some meaningful and developmentally appropriate ways you teach seasons in your classroom?