Learning & Teaching with Preschoolers
  • Home
  • Blog
    • Store
    • TpT Store

8 Things You Must Do at the End of the School Year

4/29/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture

The end of the school year is rapidly approaching and we are already making our must do bucket list for the summer,

But…

There are 8 things you can do before you close the doors behind you, that will allow you to rest and enjoy your summer and come back to school refreshed and ready to go.

Are you ready to hear about that list?

​Here are my 8 “Must-Do” tips for the end of the school year.
​

Picture

​Reflect
Once assessments are finished I like to find a peaceful place to reflect on all the successes and all the flops that occurred throughout the year.  I begin by just writing about all the thing that I loved about the school year and all those funny moments that make you love to do what you do.  Next I make two different list procedures and routines, I make note of which ones worked and ones that need to be reworked or put in the don’t do again pile. The last list I make is what the children were interested in over the last year.  This process helps me develop a meaningful plan for the follow year. 
​
Picture

Yearlong Planning
Use the reflect notes to help guide you through the yearlong planning process. Start with your list of procedures that you want to teach, then move onto lessons based on children’s interest.  If your district already has the new calendar for when things are due like assessments, progress reports and parent teacher conferences put those dates in your planning calendar to help you with the planning process. There is no better feeling than walking out on the last day knowing that you already have a road map for the new year.
​
Picture

Communication Folders
Communication folders throughout the year can sometime be a little overwhelming, but if you prepare them before the end of the year it will take some of that pressure off.  Make copies of your first few weeks of communications folders.  Fill each folder with the first week of communications, then all you will need to do when you return is add your student’s names to each folder.
Send home your communication folders one last time with summer activity calendars.  
​

Picture

Assessment Binder
Assessments begin the minute children walk through the doors.  Be prepared by having your assessment binder ready to go.
I like to set up my assessment binder with sheet protectors and small group tabs.
Now all I will need to do is add names and away I go.
​
Picture

Portfolios
As part of the assessment process collecting sample work is the best practice.  If you have ever collected work samples before you know that they can start piling up fast.  Begging prepared right from the start at the beginning of the year will help you keep those piles at a minimum.  As your bulletin boards come down and the last of the sample work goes into the children’s portfolios to take home at the end of the school year.  Restock your portfolio supplies at the end of the year and prepare your new portfolios for the new year.
​

Picture

Parent Orientation Packets
Parent orientation on or before the first day of school, so why wait tell then to prepare your packets.  Have them ready to go before you even leave.  That will be one less thing that you will need to worry about over summer break.

Picture

Copies
Make one last trip to the copy machine, you will be glad you did.  If you are hesitant to make those copies now remember what the line of teachers at copy machine looks like during the back to school rush.  Here is a list of what you can copy to make back to school a breeze.
Assessment Data Sheets
August Communication Folders
Summer Activity Calendars
Parent Orientation Packets
August and September Draw Person
By doing this one simple task before school ends, you will shave off hours during your classroom set up.
​
Picture

Supply List
One last thing before you close your doors and walk off into the sunset.  Make an inventory list of all the classroom supplies that you already have, this way when the back to school sale happen you know exactly what you need.  The best thing about doing this is that you will be able to close the door on your supply cabinet next year.   
​

When doing these 8-simple ends of the year tips you will be less stressed at the beginning of the new school year.  You will walk out the door for summer break ready to relax and enjoy some much need time off.
​
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

What's in the Garden?

4/19/2017

0 Comments

 
This unit is one of my original TpT products that I have always loved using in my classroom

But…

It needed a makeover in time for us to use this summer.


Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

What's in the Garden?

Picture
Updated April 2017

This Garden Theme Pack includes 157 pages of engaging, hands-on activities that are sure to spark the interest of all children in your classroom. In this lesson, you will find literacy and math activities that can be incorporated into your daily classroom activities and meet all learning standards.

​Teachers Pay Teachers
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

3 Mother’s Day Celebrations for the Preschool Classroom

4/6/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture

If you have been following me for a while then you know that I like to give our moms a special day for Mother’s Day and I like for my little learners to help plan and make things for that day.
​

In this post, I would like to give three ideas to help you with planning your own special day for all your special moms. 
​
 

Muffins for Moms

Picture
My go to is usually Muffins for Moms which I have always enjoyed doing with the children and they have enjoyed planning it for their moms.
​
The first thing we like to do is make our moms an invitation for their special day.
​
Picture
Picture

​Next, we like to reread the book If You Give a Mouse a Muffin, which is always one of the class favorites.
​

Picture
After reading the book we have a group discussion about the different kinds of muffins we could make for our moms.
​
Picture
Picture

​Then we work together to make the muffins for our moms
Picture
We make baskets for the muffins.
​
Picture
Picture
Picture

Grab your FREEBIE here.

we_could_use_your_help.pptx
File Size: 969 kb
File Type: pptx
Download File

Picture
A Mothers day celebration that moms will remember for years to come. This card/invitation will represent their child and will also include a writing activity about their mom.

You will get card template and writing activity along with detailed step by step instructions and photo tutorial.

Decorations for the event are included for that special lady in every child's life.
​Teachers Pay Teachers

The Mommy Spa

Picture

Katie from Little Warriors wanted to give her Mommies and students a day that they would remember forever.  That's when she designed the Mommy Spa Day.
Picture
Picture
You can find Katie’s The Mommy Spa and Mommy Spa Craft in her Teachers Pay Teachers Store.  
​

Mother's Day Tea Party

Picture

​Maria from Kinder Craze creates a Mother’s Day Tea Party to make her students day special with their Mommies.
​

Picture

Find everything you need in Maria’s Teachers Pay Teachers Store.
​Mother's Day Tea Party



I hope these ideas will help you create a special day for your preschool students and their Mommies, that they will not forget.
 
Leave a comment and let us know how you make Mother’s Day special for your students.
​
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture
    Picture

    Welcome!

    I'm Tami Sanders creator of Learning and Teaching with Preschoolers, a blog to help teachers create magical moments for the young.

    Follow Me

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Circle Time Activities

    Picture
    Picture

    Become a Member

    Picture

    Archives

    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    September 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013

Connect with Me

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Blog
    • Store
    • TpT Store