How to make a musical shaker, and toddler games with musical shakers for speech and language development
Learn how to make a xylophone that actually plays in tune! This colorful musical instrument DIY is a perfect project for families to make together.
20+ Indoor Energy Burners for Kids. Gross motor activities for toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy inside on a rainy day. #grossmotor #toddlers #preschool #kindergarten
Centre Parcs with toddlers is brilliant, It offers everything swimming, music and art classes soft plays, playgrounds, to name a few.
Two Points: This is MY method, and not necessarily right for you, your teaching or care philosophy, your set-up, or your students. Curriculum participation by my students is VOLUNTARY. I invite them to participate, but if they choose not to, then that is fine. I usually offer them a choice of a few of the activities and let them decide where we start and where we go. An engaged child learns, a dis-engaged child rebels. The 3-year rotating curriculum is theme based. Some times we stick to the plan, but usually I observe what they are interested in learning about, what they are asking questions about, and suggest up to three different themes they can choose from for us to study. I make my own 3-year rotating curriculum for many reasons: Packaged curriculum is often only one year. Since I teach for 3 years, this would be redundant. Most packaged curriculum focuses on skills my students master early. My 2s count to 20, know 11 colors, know most of their phonics, uppercase and lowercase letters, 10 shapes and some of their numbers and I still have 3 years of curriculum to teach them. They often are worksheet intensive. My students usually are cognitively advanced from their fine motor skills. I have 4 year olds that still can't write well. If I had relied on worksheets for the last 2 years, there is no way they would have the skill sets they have. Worksheets are also not considered Developmentally Appropriate Practice [DAP] for children under the age of 8. We use them here for writing practice starting at age 4. [Yes, worksheet-intensive public schools are not using DAP for kindy through 3rd grade!] They can be expensive. If you are purchasing worksheets, why would you spend even $1 a week/$52 a year when you can purchase a 400 page Scholastic preschool workbook from Sam's Club for $8 that covers probably more material, is most likely aligned with the public school expectations, and is colorful. Colored copies are NOT affordable to make from packaged curriculum. Most [ALL!] preschool learning should be interactive. Pinterest is a better source for ideas. My students change every time I do a theme. I have to be able to tweak it to the interests and capabilities of those currently in my care. Plus, I'll find more interesting activities on Pinterest, have an idea for a new game, etc. It's a constant evolution to keep my curriculum relevant to our current group, situation and resources. However, curriculum planning and creation is very time consuming. Even with older curriculum I spend several hours going over it prior to teaching - updating, creating new materials, purchasing and setting new classroom decorations. While I have had my 3 year curriculum, this year I found myself wanting a more specific schedule to focus on specific skill sets for this particular group of children. Most of these skills can be incorporated into our themed curriculum, or they take 5 minute sessions to pop into our day. I have two groups, the younger preschoolers are 2-3 years old and the older ones are 4-5 years old, all at the same developmental and skill set level within their group. This makes it easier, as I can tailor everything to just 2 groups. If I were to have additional levels of children, then it would be tailored to each level. Children here are taught at their developmental level, not age. Asychronastic development is normal, so I may be teaching a child at various levels depending upon the subject matter. For the younger preschoolers, I came up with this structure. For the older pre-k students, I came up with this one. For instance, both of them have Measurement & Comparison on Friday for Reasoning. However, for the younger students, this would be a more/less, longer/shorter, big/little, etc. activity, while the older students would be measuring with rulers, yardsticks, tape measures, measuring cups, unit blocks, foot steps or themed units, and graphing the measurements to compare. Same skill set, differentiated at vastly different levels. Even this needs conditional tweaking. All the pre-k's know how to spell their last names now, so that is no longer a relevant skill activity for music and will be changed out. In another post I'll get into the curriculum components and the importance of each. For instance, how counting on Friday teaches 1-to-1 correspondence and creating method processes for counting groups of objects. CLICK PICTURES TO VIEW LARGER I use this MS Word template, available for FREE on TPT, for curriculum planning. Often, the daily skill sets above are either already incorporated, or can easily be incorporated, into the theme planning. For an example of a completed curriculum unit, check out our Owls Theme. Each monthly theme is broken down into 4 sub-themes. For instance: SPACE Astronauts & Rockets The Universe Our Solar System Aliens & Robots We also have a musical component, often classical, and an art component, often a master, and Spanish vocabulary component that we incorporate. This planning form may not include all games, file folder games, manipulatives, room-set up, etc. that I utilize. For those of you trained in curriculum creation, I do NOT do a full curriculum development for each activity. With having these children usually from infant to school-age, I keep an internal evaluation of progression and plan out only weekly learning objectives. Since I am creating the activities for my personal use, I do not need to create written procedures and evaluations. My curriculum is stored currently in file folders in a large office bookcase unit. I would like to get it into boxes so that I could have EVERY theme-related item, including dress-up, room set-up, manipulatives, etc. together for an easy pull. File boxes will most likely be the easiest, but they do take up a lot of space. In each file some of the things I probably have: Completed planning sheets All the books I own for that theme Flannel board Sentence and word walls File folder games Samples of previous crafts DVDs CDs Coloring pages Mini-book(s) Build-a-[theme item] game Curriculum creation is one of my great joys. I love the research and compilation, the creativity and excitement of bringing something fun and educational to my students. Learning is rarely linear. Children take developmental leaps, sometimes in odd directions. As a teacher, it is important that I keep each one challenged without pushing or inhibiting their growth, and that takes constant evaluation and a good eye for when those leaps happen so that we can move on to a higher level of instruction. When we do an activity, I constantly question if they WANT to do another round, another activity, and I usually cut them off while they are still engaged. I want them wanting more, and they will usually ask if they can continue. One of the most important desires and abilities I can instill in them is that of self-directed learning. So as they choose to go off with their rulers after we've spent several minutes doing a measuring activity, conferring between themselves as to procedures and what to measure next, I step back and let them. They know I am here as a resource, rather than an intrusive director. It is my job to ensure that when I invite my students to learn, they glow with excitement and anticipation of a fun, interactive, playful time. The results, so far, have been astounding. A few of my complete curriculum units are available through my TPT store. Apples Dental Ice Cream Penguins Rainbows St. Patrick's Day Valentine's Follow Connie -'s board Classroom on Pinterest. Tags: preschool, child care, pre-k, curriculum, development, teaching, education, homeschooling, homeschool, home, school, preschool curriculum development, planning
10+ music and movement activities for toddlers and preschoolers that get them up and moving their bodies, strengthening their fine and large motor muscles.
Snippety Gibbet shares these houses made from paper bags. This is a fun paper craft and a good way to use up odd bits of scraps.
Yoga today was filled with group activities. We started with a foot massage - we each grabbed both our feet and started massaging our big to...
I’m sharing the best creative mindfulness activities for kids that they will love and will encourage self awareness! Creative mindfulness...
11 Circle Songs for Stretchy Band Music and Movement Activities A little over a year ago I was privileged to witness Harry Becket, MT-BC faciliate a group
This non-standard measurement activity is an interactive math activity for students to explore measurement on Google Slides or Seesaw.
Silent or Loud Sound Game helps child with their sense of hearing but the game also help children to listen more carefully and pay attention.
People who recognize their own strengths tend to be happier and have greater self-esteem. However, when a person uses their strengths every day, they can...
At the end of our instruments unit, 4th graders will be playing review games! I created an instrument version of Battleship that is played the exact same way as the original version. Each player places their instruments on their hidden grid. There is also a tracking sheet that I laminated for each player to keep track of the hits and misses that they have called for their opponent's grid. The players call out locations on the grid and the opponent replies with hit or miss. The player then records (with an expo marker) that information on their tracking grid. This is how the player can figure out where their opponent's instruments are placed. If the opponent calls a location on the grid where the player has an instrument, the player must reply hit and place a hit marker on their grid, over the instrument on that square. The game is over when one player has figured our where their opponent's instruments are place. The tracking sheet and the player's grid must match. To make 1 game (2 folders), you will need: 2 manilla folders, 2 cover pages, 4 grids (2 glued in the folders and 2 laminated) 2 expo markers, Instrument pieces and hit covers, cut out, The printable is here. We are also going to play a trivia game. I have used this template before to create trivia games for other topics and the kids love it. I set up two stools with 2 tone bells and a mallet on each. When a student is up to answer a question, they use the bell to buzz in.The bells are two different pitches so I can tell who buzzed in first. Here is a link to the Jeopardy game I created for the instruments of the orchestra. Here is the link to a previous post on an instrument scavenger hunt. I placed these clues around the school and the students loved hunting for them and answering the riddles!
Please read the Terms of Use. Thank you. Some of the files below are Microsoft PowerPoint files. If you are unable to download, please right-click on the
Help children and adolescents process their grief using the Goodbye Letter writing exercise. Your client will be asked to describe who they are grieving,...
Looking for a science activity that will mesmerize kids (and grownups!) of all ages? This M&M science rainbow is just the activity you need!
Learn how to make a xylophone that actually plays in tune! This colorful musical instrument DIY is a perfect project for families to make together.
I have created another themed center unit. This time it’s all about spring!! There are 17 centers that will get your kids in the mood for nicer weather 🙂 I have also included 29 quick and easy printable worksheets that go along with each center in the unit. If you choose to purchase my product, …
Create a very inexpensive workstation to practice pitch names on the treble clef staff with a dip tray and this free download. FUN for your elementary music classroom.
“No!” my five-year-old declared, “Cleaning up toys is boring.” He’s usually pretty helpful cleaning up his room and enjoys helping around the house, but sometimes he gets in a mood. When that happens, it can be tempting to turn his defiance into a power struggle. Should I force him into cleaning his room, using my … Continue reading "How to Respond to Defiant Behavior the Montessori Way"
Whether you want to start your day with a hot coffee, enjoy a soothing tea or indulge in a delicious cocoa - this mug is the ideal companion. Made from high-quality ceramic, it is known for its durability and resilience. The smooth surface ensures a pleasant drinking experience, while the ergonomic handle fits perfectly in the hand. The mug is both dishwasher and microwave safe. This makes cleaning and everyday use child's play. Looking for the perfect gift for friends, family or colleagues? This mug is an excellent choice! Simply ideal for birthdays, holidays, anniversaries or just as a little something in between. The careful packaging and secure shipping ensure that the mug arrives safe and sound. The motifs are printed in the center on both sides of the mug. Key features: - Ceramic mug - Volume: 325 mL / 11 oz - Height: 9.6 cm / 3.78 inch - Diameter: 8.2 cm / 3.23 inch - Vibrant colors (state-of-the-art printing techniques ensure bright and sharp colors) - Dishwasher and microwave safe - C-shaped, easy to grip handle - Glossy surface - ORCA coating (brighter color transfer and a harder coating quality) - Lead and BPA free Your satisfaction is important to us. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our friendly and competent customer service team is always on hand to help you. We are only satisfied when you are! Please note that colors may vary slightly due to different screen settings. Each mug is made individually, so slight variations in shape and design may occur. The design was created with the help of AI, carefully selected and lovingly reworked. Immerse yourself in our world of mugs and find your new favorite piece! You can also take a look at all our other designs. Thank you for visiting our Etsy store and sharing our passion for high-quality, harmonious mugs.
I love the early language development area of my classroom! There is a lot of foundational work that comes before children are introduced to letters. Today’s post is about the kinds of activities we have on our pre-literacy or early language Montessori shelves. The Language Area This is a photo of the Language area […]
Andrea Swift is Taylor Swift's mother. She's been diagnosed with cancer. She married Taylor's dad, Scott, in 1988.
This musical shamrock game is similar to the game musical chairs -- but with a variation. Instead of removing chairs, kids have to do a simple activity.
This template is used for parents to provide an overview of their child. The All About My Child template is to be used to gain feedback from families...
Eight circle time songs that children will love and learn from!
All about teaching preschool! Great ideas for preschool activities, standards-based curriculum, preschool assessments, and documentation.
I already wrote about this new product but I wanted to share how important it is for students to sing in order to improve literacy skills. This fun collection of songs can help diverse learners improve reading skills because it has music, drama, and actions that will help kids connect to the material. It will […]
