That magical season has begun! It is my absolute favourite time of the year. The tree is decorated, the garlands are hung, those little eyes are sparkling, and imaginations are running wild. I love to use the magic of the season to encourage my little ones in their learning. Sam this year is beginning to…
A Space to Write
I decided it was time for a space to write. The littlest ones of mine have been busy lately sending secret messages via post-it notes, cards, and scrap paper (or paper deemed ‘scrap’ by them). With all that wonderful writing going on, I thought it best to really nurture this interest. Nothing fancy, really just…
Mail Play! Matching Uppercase and Lowercase Letters
Alphabet learning is something that is near and dear to me. Having taught Kindergarten I have worked with many little people and helped them learn the alphabet through play. Some little ones I have worked with learn the alphabet really quickly, and for others, it takes more time. My preschooler falls in the latter group….
Learn to Write with a Scavenger Hunt
We are in the middle of an exciting adventure right now – Sammy is completely taken with learning to write. He loves it! As you may know, I am a proponent for waiting to have little ones learn to write. There are SO many other things for those little hands to do! Playing in many…
Why Read Fairy Tales?
Today I am excited to bring you a post on a topic I love! Fairy Tales – and specifically: why should we read Fairy Tales to children? I am in the middle of taking my final additional qualification course to becoming a reading specialist. A big focus with this course is becoming a leader in…
Storytelling Social Stories
I have quite taken to this idea of storytelling. I have done it at home with my own little ones for quite some time, but since September I have bravely taken it outside my home and into the Kindergarten classroom. Storytelling captivates little ones like nothing else (Well, Quiet Bins are a very close second)….
Making Letters
A photo on Friday, because sometimes all you need is the picture. (Well, and I need internet – but it’s working now, sorry it’s a little late friends) Sam is right in that sweet spot of learning his letters. He is super excited, asking how to spell everything and anything, and eager as can be…
45 Awesome Name Activities for Preschoolers!
If there is one thing I know (besides how to knit hats for chickens), it is name activities for preschoolers! Whether in the classroom as a Kindergarten teacher, or in my home with my own children, I have had plenty of experience teaching little ones their name letters. Why name letters? Well, when children start…
The Art of Reading Aloud to Kids
When I started teaching Kindergarten, I was given this book called Reading Magic by Mem Fox. I read it before stepping foot in my classroom, thought it was good, and went about teaching Kindergarten with those skills in my teacher’s toolbox. It wasn’t until many years later that I truly and completely saw the value in that…
The Cow and Bear Rhyme Game {A Photo on Friday}
A photo on Friday. Did you know that a child’s ability to rhyme in Kindergarten is a direct correlation with his reading success in Grade one? It’s true. So if you are looking to give your little one a leg up on reading, have fun with a rhyme or two. We practice rhyming mostly through…
