{LOVE DAY} Freebies!

 

 

 

 

Click on the pics above to get some Valentine’s day freebies!

 

Preschool Workstations

Happy Monday to all!  Today has been quite the busy day!  Did anyone watch the Bachelor??  I keep telling myself, no more Bachelor…but, I can’t stay away from the drama!  Plus, I gotta know what Kristin from A Teeny Tiny Teacher is referring to when she writes about the Bachelor!  Boy, tonight was full of drama!  Anyhow… the real reason for this post: Preschool Workstations!!!

 

I recently rearranged my preschool room (check that post out here) and found the perfect place for our new workstations.  I have an almost 4 and an almost 5 year old working with these.  I was finding the need to organize learning activities for them to do {semi} independently. So…here is what I came up with!

 

Each girl has 6 pull out drawers. All are labeled with their names.  Each drawer is also color coded (see the different colored squares with snowmen?).

    

 

  The girls can take out the drawer and take it to the table to work.  After they have completed the drawer they turn in their “Hard Work Money” to the elephant jar.  When all 6 colors of hard work money is turned in they get to pick out of the treasure box!  I found that having a motivational piece (the hard work money) helped the girls try activities they normally might have given the cold shoulder to!

So…What is in the workboxes???

I try to place a good variety activities in the workboxes. Puzzles, art, workpages, learning games, file folder games, easy readers, math manipulatives, fine motor activities and ANYTHING else I can find to make learning fun!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Love to Joplin!!!

As a fellow Missourian, I was SO excited to see Deedee's post about helping out teachers in Joplin.

When the tornado first hit, many from my area were heading to Joplin to help out and to bring donated supplies.

Here is what little C and I were up to...

We packed lots of bags for our local community center's collection!  Now, months later I am so happy to be able to help again!

If you haven't read Mrs. Wills post, please do!  Thank you to Deedee for sharing this opportunity to help out a fellow teacher...and most importantly, lots of children!

Pics of our preschool room

Last fall we took the leap and moved to a new home!  We love all the space we now have, including a preschool room for my kiddos and the kids I watch during the day.  When we first moved in, the preschool room was kinda put together quickly.  But, over break I got a chance to make it more of what I had envisioned.

Here is  half of the room.  The little wood table and chair set was made by my late grandpa.  I love having it as a part of everyday routines!  That door you see walks out to the backyard with a swingset :)

Our circle time area is over in the corner.  I tried my best to break up this large space into several different smaller areas.

A view from the circle time area.  The area with the foam mats is the baby area.  We also have a storage closet and a bathroom.

 

 Pretend Play Center

This center changes often- right now it has dress up clothes and tea table along side the kitchen.

 

 Blocks Center

Lots of different blocks & balls found in the colored tubs.

 

 Library & Sensory Centers

I love this book holder (found at Target several years back).  Our sensory tub is just a regular tub.  My hubby built it up off the ground with PVC pipe (more on that later) so the little ones couldn't access it.

 Art Center (at the easel)

I will exchange different mediums and material at the easel throughout the year.  The other side of the easel is a chalkboard.  I bought special pencil pouches to put crayons, markers, scissors and chalk in.  This keeps it from getting in the hands of the babies (who are now crawling)!! 

 Tub Toys & Music Centers

Our tub toys are just tubs with lots of different toys to choose from.  All tubs have labels with pictures of what goes in the tub.  Makes clean up time a dream!!

 Workstations (pull out drawers on top)

My three year old and the four year old in my care will be participating in workstations (more on that to come).

 Baby Area

Here is an area just for the sweet little ones.  We hung a mirror that they can pull up to and see themselves.  They have three baskets of various toys and books as well.  The babies are crawling their way out of this area, but it is great to have a place to have baby story and song time (since our circle time area is just a haven for pulling and yanking learning materials off the wall)

 

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!  I am very excited about our new space!