So I just finished the first two full weeks and I have only completed one bulletin board that is in the hall. This week we talked about feelings and class rules briefly. We have a "Question of the Day" that often feels too abstract such as "Have you ever felt scared?" or "What makes you happy?" I need to print visuals because I get staring faces. Then choice time, I was supposed to introduce 3 centers as listed. How do I not allow a class to play in certain areas until week 2? Centers are long and twice a day! Also, how do I teach procedures to an entire class and get them to practice without it being boring? I bought the chick/procedure activities but never introduced it other than we have a chick! With the one child that needs constant attention, I get distracted and am trying to make all the other kids happy and engaged while staying safe. The kids attention span is very short and they wander around the room. Thanks!
Hi! First off...who cares about bulletin boards? get your routine down first. For free choice centers, why are you only introducing 3? What curriculum are you following? I have a lot of freedom at my school, I have tried following a published curriculum, but those are written by PHD's who haven't been in a real classroom that they have to run by themselves with one aide...if you are lucky. They set these curriculum's up at university lab schools with almost unlimited materials and LOTS of teachers and students running the classroom. I figured out really fast that I had to deal with reality and start adding my own stuff to the bones of the curriculum and toss out the things that were not working. This is how my little company began...I created what I needed and passed it on. My feelings on questions of the day are as follows...yes/no questions only with a visual yes and a visual no that make sense to the kids. or 2 options such as Pizza or Popcorn using a visual for the kids to place their name under and create your graph. Think simple...then make it even simpler than you are thinking. As far as practicing procedures...you practice them every day as you do them. If lining up is a nightmare...think of a reason to line up to add extra time to practice. Just review the high points every time you line up, every time you go to the rug, clean up, go to free choice centers, etc...that's where the practice comes in. Little by little you will be able to use less prompts and just say things like "When I call your name you can use your quiet walking fee to go to the line". I have some kids that need nearly constant attention too...sometimes you just need to be there redirecting them while you are doing what needs to be done at the time...it is a juggling act, and it is not easy! I use Little Chick here and there. If we had a problem at he sensory bin...I would bring out little chick and say, "our friend Little chick noticed a mess at the sensory bin yesterday. Let's read about what happened to little Chick at the sensory bin and how he learned the right way to play". Then I'd read just that one little part and we would talk about how we will be better at the sensory bin like Little Chick today. Don't be afraid to close a center when kids are being chaotic. It's ok. 2 weeks ago I took all the rainbow rice out of the sensory bin because one little girl was literally dumping handfuls on the floor. I told the kids why I took it out...I just said that they showed me they were not ready to have the rice in there. I didn't put the rice back in the rest of the week...they were great last week with the sand. I can't imagine not opening all of my free centers...especially if you have centers twice a day. It makes no sense. You have to have enough places open for play so that centers don't become overcrowded chaotic play areas...but what do I know I don't have a PHD...LOL! Give yourself grace. Take a breath and concentrate on one thing to work on this week. Get where you feel good about that one thing, then...keep doing what you're there and find another thing to work on. Rome was not built in a day. I have lots of days where I feel like I was run over by a truck...thats teaching early childhood. It's HARD! People think we just play with kids all day...nope! We have the hardest job in education outside of special ed. I hope I was helpful. Please email me at teachprek101@gmail.com if you want to continue the conversation or if you need more help.
Hmmmm....I'll put it here and try to fix it. Thank you for letting me know www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Week-of-Preschool-PreK-How-to-Use-school-Supplies-Procedures-10043910?st=0296944d04bac404f6e03d83ff1bb31a
What I like to do is read the first one “Little Chick Goes to School to introduce Little Chick. Then I read the others as needed. Like maybe before we use markers for the first time…I’d use that one in small group. The free choice center books I’ve read before we introduce the center in small group, or if there’s been a rough day at a center as a review.
You are Amazing Thank You!!!!!!
you are so welcome! I hope you love them! I've been deepinto Little Chick for two weeks now!
Such a great set of books!! I need these. 💜
They are really helpful at the beginning of the year and for reviewing behaviors! Thanks for commenying!
First year teacher here and will be in Pre-K. Your videos have been a blessing helping me feel more prepared/confident to start the year
I'm so glad! You got this! Go slow, give yourself lots of space and grace. Best of luck!
You've earned a new subscriber. I've decided to do a career change into early childhood education, and your videos have been so inspiring!
Thank you so much! I love teaching preschool so much and I am so happy to share what I know and how I do things with other teachers!
So I just finished the first two full weeks and I have only completed one bulletin board that is in the hall. This week we talked about feelings and class rules briefly. We have a "Question of the Day" that often feels too abstract such as "Have you ever felt scared?" or "What makes you happy?" I need to print visuals because I get staring faces. Then choice time, I was supposed to introduce 3 centers as listed. How do I not allow a class to play in certain areas until week 2? Centers are long and twice a day! Also, how do I teach procedures to an entire class and get them to practice without it being boring? I bought the chick/procedure activities but never introduced it other than we have a chick! With the one child that needs constant attention, I get distracted and am trying to make all the other kids happy and engaged while staying safe. The kids attention span is very short and they wander around the room. Thanks!
Hi! First off...who cares about bulletin boards? get your routine down first. For free choice centers, why are you only introducing 3? What curriculum are you following? I have a lot of freedom at my school, I have tried following a published curriculum, but those are written by PHD's who haven't been in a real classroom that they have to run by themselves with one aide...if you are lucky. They set these curriculum's up at university lab schools with almost unlimited materials and LOTS of teachers and students running the classroom. I figured out really fast that I had to deal with reality and start adding my own stuff to the bones of the curriculum and toss out the things that were not working. This is how my little company began...I created what I needed and passed it on.
My feelings on questions of the day are as follows...yes/no questions only with a visual yes and a visual no that make sense to the kids. or 2 options such as Pizza or Popcorn using a visual for the kids to place their name under and create your graph. Think simple...then make it even simpler than you are thinking.
As far as practicing procedures...you practice them every day as you do them. If lining up is a nightmare...think of a reason to line up to add extra time to practice. Just review the high points every time you line up, every time you go to the rug, clean up, go to free choice centers, etc...that's where the practice comes in. Little by little you will be able to use less prompts and just say things like "When I call your name you can use your quiet walking fee to go to the line".
I have some kids that need nearly constant attention too...sometimes you just need to be there redirecting them while you are doing what needs to be done at the time...it is a juggling act, and it is not easy! I use Little Chick here and there. If we had a problem at he sensory bin...I would bring out little chick and say, "our friend Little chick noticed a mess at the sensory bin yesterday. Let's read about what happened to little Chick at the sensory bin and how he learned the right way to play". Then I'd read just that one little part and we would talk about how we will be better at the sensory bin like Little Chick today.
Don't be afraid to close a center when kids are being chaotic. It's ok. 2 weeks ago I took all the rainbow rice out of the sensory bin because one little girl was literally dumping handfuls on the floor. I told the kids why I took it out...I just said that they showed me they were not ready to have the rice in there. I didn't put the rice back in the rest of the week...they were great last week with the sand.
I can't imagine not opening all of my free centers...especially if you have centers twice a day. It makes no sense. You have to have enough places open for play so that centers don't become overcrowded chaotic play areas...but what do I know I don't have a PHD...LOL!
Give yourself grace. Take a breath and concentrate on one thing to work on this week. Get where you feel good about that one thing, then...keep doing what you're there and find another thing to work on. Rome was not built in a day. I have lots of days where I feel like I was run over by a truck...thats teaching early childhood. It's HARD! People think we just play with kids all day...nope! We have the hardest job in education outside of special ed.
I hope I was helpful. Please email me at teachprek101@gmail.com if you want to continue the conversation or if you need more help.
Hello, great video. I couldn't get the link to work.
Hmmmm....I'll put it here and try to fix it. Thank you for letting me know
www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Week-of-Preschool-PreK-How-to-Use-school-Supplies-Procedures-10043910?st=0296944d04bac404f6e03d83ff1bb31a
@@teachpre-k101 thank you! Got it.
@@debraholmes3299 no…thank YOU! Enjoy!
I can access the link to purchase your "Little Chick" activities but where do you buy the chick?!
There is a link in the resource. I'll see if I can find it for you....
amzn.to/3T0DmZC
Would you read one of these a day? Or multiple in a day?
What I like to do is read the first one “Little Chick Goes to School to introduce Little Chick. Then I read the others as needed. Like maybe before we use markers for the first time…I’d use that one in small group. The free choice center books I’ve read before we introduce the center in small group, or if there’s been a rough day at a center as a review.