As the weather turns colder, we must work with it so that children don’t miss out on all the proven benefits of being outdoors, particularly in winter when crisp, frosty days can be full of sparkling winter magic. Just imagine…. There’s so much learning out there. Don’t let the weather dictate how the outdoors is …
Are you looking for inspiration to teach your students how to write their best, most brilliant stories? Look no further! I have some great ideas for you to motivate your students and have them engaged in writing stories like they’ve never been before. Where to Start? Character, setting, problem, and solution are the basic story …
What is an Open-Ended Question? In a nutshell, an open-ended question is a question that has no right or wrong answer. There are as many different answers to an open-ended question as there are individual children. What is a Closed-Ended Question? Just the opposite, a closed-ended question is a question that is set up so …
Firstly, What is a Schema? Put simply, a schema is a pattern of repeated behavior, usually seen in children up to five or six years old. Recent research suggests that some schemas may even continue a lot longer, possibly into adulthood. Generally, though, we associate schemas with typical childhood development in the early years. The …
Baby classes are a growing trend, especially after the last few years of lockdowns. It’s amazing to think that so many new babies are starting with opportunities for brilliant social interactions. Parachute games are so much fun! They’re a popular feature of many baby classes, as they can be used with even the youngest babies. …
This article will show you how to use a simple whiteboard and marker pen to play a drawing game that can be developed and extended to use at any level or any age to practice and improve your maths skills. I developed this game when I taught year 2 so the children I was working …
Why is Heuristic Play Important? When I was a little girl, my grandmother sometimes used to care for me. She didn’t have a great deal of money and she certainly couldn’t afford expensive toys, but what she did have was a very resourceful nature and an innate understanding of what all children need to learn …
After children have mastered blending individual sounds (the alphabet), it is time to extend their knowledge to more complex sounds such as digraphs and trigraphs. Having taught Phonics for many years in different schools, I have discovered amazing strategies to help kids improve their phonics skills as long as they practice blending every day. Young …
It’s been well-documented that modern life can be quite toxic for our children. Sue Palmer wrote brilliantly about this prior to the pandemic and the last few years have escalated many of the barriers to learning that she raised in her book, Toxic Childhood. An increase in screen time, poor diet and sleep patterns, and …
I often get asked by parents if I think their child has got autism or autism spectrum disorder. And the first thing I always say is that, as a teacher, I am not qualified to make that diagnosis. An autism assessment should always be made by a qualified health practitioner. However, I do have thirty …
Introduction I’m super excited to write this article on “Preschool Books About Taking Turns and Sharing.” The reason is, I love books, and when it comes to teaching essential life skills like taking turns and sharing, they’re absolute gems! Talking about our young kids too, you know as well as I do how vital it …