Sharing Time

Once a week, we have sharing time in our class. This week, the children were asked to bring something GREEN into class.





During circle time, each child is given a chance to sit in the "sharing chair."




I ask each child three questions to get the ball rolling:

1. What did you bring to share with us?
2. Why do you like it?
3. Where did it come from?





Sharing time is great for building vocabulary, social skills, and confidence. Try it! You'll like it!!

Jobs

If you are running a day care, or teach a preschool class, one of the best things you can do for your class is to give each child a job each day. My kids LOVE picking their jobs each day. This process is so good in so many ways. The children learn to identifty their name in letters, and their friends names. They learn to take turns. They to patience. And, they learn some basic skills like turning off the lights when they leave a room, to walk in a line, to pass out snack and wait to eat until everyone has been served, and to care for each other.

The jobs board in my class room is as follows:

Mat helper - puts back the sitting mats after circle time

Snack helper - I have two. One to pass out the snack and one to pass out drink

Art helper

Animal helper - I have a small dog that gets a treat each day and needs to be put on and taken off her leash

Lights helper - turns off lights when we leave and turns them back on when we return to the classroom

Line leader

Calendar helper - puts the date on the calendar each and leads the children in counting while pointing to each number. We do this in English and in Spanish.

Playdough saves the day... again

Children love play dough. Its a fact. Any crazy, chaotic day that seems otherwise uncontrollable, can always be rescued with a good batch of play dough. Here is the best recipe ever:






Best Playdough (I usually triple or quadruple this recipe and cook it in a large deep frying pan)

Combine in saucepan: 1 cup flour 1/4 cup salt 1 tsp. cream of tartar

Add and whisk until smooth: 1 cup water 1 Tbsp oil Food coloring (Cake decorators paste or liquid makes great colors)

Cook over medium heat until nearly playdough is nearly set. Add: 1 Tbsp. imitation vanilla extract

Stir until vanilla is blended, then remove and knead when cool. Store in Ziploc bag or air tight container.

Note: The vanilla extract seems improve the texture and adds a nice scent as well.

I found this recipe a few years ago at perpetualpreschool.com. Smells good, feels great, and lasts forever.

What my day looks like:

This is a typical day at my preschool. Keep in my mind, that I am a part-time program. Children come to my class three times a week from 9:00 am until noon. We have an optional lunch bunch each day until 1:00 pm.

9:00 am -

Arrival and Free Play.
I like to have a table activity like coloring play dough, scissors, or stickers during this time. I also have a special toy out.
These include Geo Traxx, building blocks, and our airport toys among others.

9:30 am -

Circle Time
Focus is on our Monthly Theme (January - Winter and Bears)
We also sing our welcome song, do calendar and assign jobs

9:45 -

Outside Play

10:15 -

Wash Hands and prepare for Snack

10:30 -

Snack

10:50 -

Quiet Time - Puzzles and Books only. Children can also spend time at the science and writing tables during this time.
My assisant ends this time with reading a story to the children. I am preparing the tables for art.

11:10 -

Art

11:30 -

Free Play and art clean up

11:45 -

Music and Movement and Closing Circle Time. This circle time focuses on our story of the month. (January, "The Three
Bears."