So apparently most kids aren’t learning cursive anymore, and I kind of understand that since teachers are busy enough with all the other things that they need to cover. That being said, here’s why I still think cursive is worth learning: kids can’t read letters from Grandma (let alone historical documents!) without it it’s good for the brain … Continue reading
Letter S craft activities: Snake
This little snake is fun to put together, and there is almost no mess! Materials: green colored paper cut into strips (you can make the head from a wider piece like I did in the photo, but it’s easier if you give them the head piece last so it doesn’t get stuck in the middle somewhere.) double-sided … Continue reading
Quick Tip: How to recover from momentary chaos
No matter how talented you are as a teacher, there are those moments when the kids just lose all focus. It’s especially tough when they start trying to make each other laugh! No amount of shushing could ever make a dent in all that hilarity. Here’s what works for me (this is for kids about 3-6 years … Continue reading
How to deal with a disruptive student
We have all had that one student. The one who is bright and enthusiastic, but is so energetic that s/he can’t sit still or stop talking for more than a millisecond at a time. The traditional teacher-fronted classroom is a real challenge for them, and I am sure that they get more than their fair share … Continue reading
ABC Flip Book Freebie!
Toddlers and preschoolers seem to have a natural curiosity that makes a simple set of cards on a ring soooo exciting! I created this set for my 2-3 year olds who just love to look at the letters and pictures, and their moms love to have these on hand for fidgety moments in restaurants or waiting in line. The pictures … Continue reading
Top 5 Self-Regulation Activities: How to Teach a 2 year Old Patience
People often ask me how I can deal with an entire class full of 2 year olds. It seems like it would be complete chaos, but it’s actually easier than taking care of just one 2 year old at home, Trust me, I’ve done both! One thing that makes my job infinitely easier is teaching my … Continue reading
How to Make Flashcard Drills Exciting
(Note: tips for adjusting this activity for a large class is at the end of the post.) Sometimes there is just no way to get around doing flashcard drills, but that is no reason why you can’t inject a little fun into the activity! First of all, if you are not already using the 1-2-3 incentive technique then … Continue reading
Better Than Hot Potato: SWEET Potato
Hot Potato is always a good stand-by game for practicing all kinds of stuff. You know that game, where you pass around a ball until the music stops, and then whoever is holding the ball is out? Hot Potato is great for language learning because you can get the whole group engaged while everyone is hearing … Continue reading
Differentiated Fine Motor Activities: Pom Pom Bottles
I teach a preschool class for kids 2-3 years old, which makes for quite a difference in abilities if I have one student who just turned 2 and one who is about to turn 4. But that doesn’t mean that some kids have to be bored when we are all working together. With enough variations … Continue reading
Using dice as a randomizer
If you’ve been using the classroom management game I wrote about before, then you’ll probably be needing some sort of system to call on students randomly. This will help you avoid disappointing the students when you don’t choose them, and no one will be able to accuse you of favoritism. If you have a smart … Continue reading
Teach English to Kids 