How to use this blog

Welcome to I Teach Preschool. I have created this site to collect and share the wonderful early childhood educational resources available on the web!

I will try to label each post to make finding resources that fit your needs easier. To save time, posts about sites/products/items/ideas will generally be in bullet format with just a few notes about the site/product/item/idea to quickly and easily help you find what you are looking for!

I am available for product and curriculum review. Please contact me via e-mail for more details. Please note, products and curriculum materials will NOT be returned following review.

I encourage comments on posts and would welcome contributors to the site. Please e-mail me with your favorite site links, creative teaching ideas, art projects and tips!

Want to share this blog with a friend, fellow teacher or homeschooler? Just send me their e-mail address and I will invite them to join the site so they can view it too!

Be sure to look for the E-mail subscription box on the right side of the page. By signing up for E-mail subscriptions you will get the posts delivered right to your e-mail inbox!


Copyright advice

I do my best to link to as many sites as possible and keep this site organized and useful for early childhood educators.

When visiting sites I have listed, please make sure you check the copyright policies for downloads and printed material.

Some sites specifically state the items available are for personal or home use and some also include classroom use.

I recommend contact a site if you are unsure of their use policy.

Also, remember you can use ideas you see on sites to create your own resources!

E-mail me link

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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Child care land

I want to thank Ms. Calvart at Holy Spirit Catholic Preschool for e-mailing me with the following site:
"One of my favorite sites is Childcareland.com. I get a daily email from her. You have to copy what she sends that day or you usually can’t get to it again. She does sell her printouts, etc. periodically but I just try to save everything to my computer. She also has videos on how to do certain projects or using various products and now has added reading books. The daily emails have a Daily Art Project, a Daily Printable, and a Daily Learning Sheet. She includes the patterns and you usually can choose if you want to print in color or black and white."

Site Link:
http://childcareland.com


Below is some additional information from the Childcareland.com creator regarding access to her printables, permission, etc.

Hi... I just wanted to remind everyone how to access my free printables. You can do so by receiving them in an email (you must be set to individual email to receive these). There are also printables in the groups file section ... but that has become full so now I put the newer printables on my free page at childcareland.com. If you want the printables directly in you email you must be set at individual mail.

This is the address for my free printables:
http://www.childcareland.com/free.html

This is the address for our Group Page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shelleylovettsecprintables/

This is the the address for the Files Section:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shelleylovettsecprintables/files/

Terms Of Use:

My free printables may be used for both classroom and home use. They may not be redistributed or altered in any way.

Some Basic Instructions:

I recommend printing on index or cardstock paper for durability. Lamanation is also recommended. If you would like to save on ink set you printer settings to "draft" instead of "normal". The black and white pattens will come out the same... the color will come out lighter than what the original is.

This message will be sent every two weeks as a reminder.

Thank you... and I hope you enjoy the printables!!

Shelley A. Lovett

http://www.childcareland.com
Early Learning Activities For Pre-K and Kindergarten

http://www.earlychildhoodprintables.com
Free and membership printables

Bubbles

We are preparing to study the letter B in our preschool next week. I am searching for Bubble activities/ideas and have compiled a list of the following bubble site that I wanted to share:

http://www.tooter4kids.com/Bubbles/Activities_Recipes.htm

http://stepbystepcc.com/bubbles3.html

http://www.123child.com/UBB/showthread.php?t=6331

http://www.brighthub.com/education/early-childhood/articles/69082.aspx

http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/bubbles/bubble_art.htm

http://www.effective-preschool-activities-and-games.com/art-activities-bubble-paint.html

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Color Word boards

Below is a picture of one of my color boards in action! I simple found pictures of objects in a certain color and glued them onto a piece of poster board. Then, I used the school's die cut machine to cut out letters that spell the color. I traced around the letters on the poster board in black marker to form a blank outline of the color word. Then I laminated the board and construction paper letters. A little velcro on each letter and inside each letter outline and I am able to have my students "help" me spell each color word!







Trifold Board Calendar

Below is a photo of my trifold board calendar. I used Velcro on ALL parts of this calendar. It took A LOT of Velcro, but it makes the calendar so very interactive! I can take the months of the year off, pass them out and let the kiddos help me place them in order (same with the days of the week. On the back of each "flap" of the trifold board, I have used velcro to secure zip lock baggies that hold the calendar #'s. To hold the larger month headings, I used velcro to secure a large manila envelope.

The best part about this calendar is it works well in a small room, can be stored away quickly and neatly, can be used at children's level (especially during circle time where children are seated on the floor) and can be moved around and used in various locations of the classroom!



Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Line Up Song

To remind students how to "Line up Quietly" use this song set to the tune of

Where is Thumbkin:
Line up quiet ly
Line up quiet ly
Fac ing front
Fac ing frontHands and feet are sti ll
Hands and feet are sti ll
Voi ces off
Voi ces off

Before I start my song, I tell the students that when I am done singing the song I should see them facing front with hands at their sides and voices off ready to walk in line! Gives the students a moment to situate and prepare themselves before we walk anywhere!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Count down to go home

Have any little ones who are anxious in school and need to "count down" until they are picked up? Draw a flower in black marker on poster board making sure you put enough petals for each 30 minutes your students will be in school (in our case 6), then cut out "petals" using pretty construction paper. Laminate to make it sturdy then place velcro on the back of your construction paper petals and on the outlines of the petals on the poster board. Place a petal on the flower for each 30 minutes you are in school. Tell the students that they will go home when the entire flower is complete!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Kindergarten prayer, motivation

Check out this post from Ramblings of a crazy woman for a neat back to school kit and prayer for Kindergarteners!

Site Link:
http://jennwa.blogspot.com/2010/08/kindergarten-survival-kit-and-back-to.html

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Steve Spangler Science

Steve Spangler Science has neat science has classroom kits other neat science related kits to purchase.

Site Link:
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com

Friday, August 20, 2010

Artists Helping Children

Visit Artists Helping Children for printables, craft ideas and more!

Site Link:
http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org

Just preschool themes

Visit just preschool themes for theme ideas!

Site Link:
http://justpreschoolthemes.com/

Action Alphabet

Action Alphabet is a members only site that offers lots of various preschool lesson plans and printables for about $15 a month.

Site Link:
http://www.actionalphabet.com/Home.html

Ziggity Zoom

Visit Ziggity Zoom for educational printables and more!

Site Link:
http://www.ziggityzoom.com/index.php

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Teacher week

Check out Teacher week at Babbling Abby!

Site Link:
http://babblingabby.blogspot.com/

Make some I Spy jars!

Check out this tutorial for I Spy Jars from Quirky Momma!

Site Link:
http://quirkymomma.com/2009/i-spy-jar/

Story + Art

Check out the great Story + Art Activities and ideas from A Mommy's Adventure.

Site Link:
http://www.amommysadventures.com/2009/08/start.html

Three pigs playset

Here is a tutorial for a three pigs playset!

Site Link:
http://www.funwithmama.com/2009/09/three-little-pigs-play-set/

Clipping activity tutorial

Here is an idea and tutorial to make your own clipping practice!

Site Link:
http://quirkymomma.com/2010/clip-toy-for-toddlers/

Monday, August 9, 2010

TES

Sign up for TES and you can search their database of FREE teacher lessons and ideas! There are printables and downloads.

Site Link:
http://www.tes.co.uk/home.aspx

Pizza Activity from All Join In

Here is a neat pizza themed activity from the site All Join In

Site Link:
http://alljoinin.blogspot.com/2010/05/pizza-parlor.html

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Bulletin Board ideas continued

Little Illuminations just posted some photos and information for bulletin boards for this year!

Site Link:
http://littleilluminations.blogspot.com/2010/08/bulletin-boards-for-new-school-year.html

Whole group games...

Visit Heidisongs Resources for some great whole group games/circle time fun!

Site Link:
http://heidisongs.blogspot.com/2010/08/whole-group-games-and-activities-entry.html

Graduation ideas

Although it is a little early in the year to think about graduation, these are some great ideas to file away for the future! The year will go fast.


Site Link:
http://www.pre-kpages.com/endofyear/

Friday, August 6, 2010

Preschool worksheets

A link to free printable preschool worksheets!

Site Link:
http://www.freeprintable.com/free-printable-preschool-worksheets

KidzClub

Kidzclub has loads of free printables for you to use in the classroom!

Site Link:
http://www.kizclub.com

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Songs for Teaching

Not a good singer, but have "lyrics" that are set to traditional Children's songs? Can't remember the beat of a song?

Check out Songs for Teaching to find instrumental versions of songs! You can download individual instrumental songs for $1 and up! You can also find LOTS of neat songs and albums and use in your classroom.

Site Link:
http://www.songsforteaching.com/

Curious George

Doing a Monkey or Curious George theme? Don't forget to visit Curious George.com for LOTs of coloring pages and some worksheet/acitivty pages to print.

Site Link:
http://www.curiousgeorge.com

AIMS Educational Foundation

For Acitivites Integrating Math and Science visit AIMS!

Site Link:
http://www.aimsedu.org

Learning Zone Express

Learning Zone Express has nutrition education and life education products for sale.

Site Link:
http://www.learningzonexpress.com

School Expres.com

School Express.com has 16000 free worksheets for teachers. Worksheets are classified by age/grade level. They also have Eworkbooks to print!

Site Link:
http://schoolexpress.com

Preschool Post.com

Preschool Post.com has free Christian curriculum resources for preschool!

Site Link:
http://preschoolpost.com/

Chez Beeper Bebe

Check out Chez Beeper Bebe for some printables and interesting crafts for your classroom!

Site Link:
http://chezbeeperbebe.blogspot.com

Teacher Blogs

Check out these blogs written by fellow teachers!

Teacher blogs are a great place to find new links, get tips, ideas, etc.

Site links
Caffeinated Teacher
Teacher Stuff
Confessions From The Desk of A Future Teacher

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Miss Mary's Preschool Ideas

Visit Miss Mary's Preschool Ideas for quick and easy ideas to use in your preschool classroom!

Site Link:
http://www.preschool-activities.com/index.php?id=180

Monday, August 2, 2010

Bible Kids fun Zone

Bible Kids Fun Zone offers an online subscription based Sunday School lesson program for preschool aged children.

Site Link:
http://biblekidsfunzone.com

Kids Matter

Visit Kids matter for new posts almost daily! Ideas, Printables and more!


Site Link
Kids Matter

Teaching Heart Mom

Check out Teaching Heart Mom and her other site Teaching Heart for some neat ideas and printables.

Site Links
Teaching Heart Mom
Teaching Heart.net

Sunday, August 1, 2010

A magical Childhood

The blog a magical childhood has some great inspiration! AND for parents out there it provides a wonderful reminder to SLOW DOWN (something I need to remember) and help make these fleeting moments for our children MAGICAL.

Site Link:
http://magicalchildhood.wordpress.com/

Need Help!

I am putting a request out for bulletin board ideas! Combining my classroom has resulted in my having about 6 bulletin boards (some large and some small) to cover!!!! I am wanting to keep the boards "fresh" and "new" as often as possible and am in need of inspiration. Unfortunately I have a small (almost invisible) personal budget to purchase pre-made sets for ALL these boards each month, so I must get CREATIVE and do some crafting for these boards! :) Please leave a comment with any bulletin board ideas you might have for preschool.

Thanks
Jen

Mrs. Meach Emergent Readers

I have mentioned Mrs. Meachum's Site before, but wanted to share a specific link to some great ideas and downloads!

Visit the following link to get some great emergent reader downloads!

Site Link:
http://www.jmeacham.com/emergent.readers.htm#shapes.colors