Teaching Tip Tuesday: Calendars, Calendars, Calendars!
It seems like every business has a calendar to give away for the new year.
I love it! I get enough for each kiddo in my classroom!
The calendar is used to teach math concepts,it can help teach, extend, and reinforce a multitude of skills in other areas of the curriculum: time concepts and sequencing, language arts,social studies, and science,
What I like best...I don't have to copy it and it has cool pictures and sometimes I make copies of the kiddos to add to the the picture landscape!
Some of the endless activities are...
Mark the first days of each season
The day’s weather. Draw a sun, dark cloud, cloud and raindrops, snow, etc. on
the day’s date.
Moon phases
Record the day’s temperature early in the morning and afternoon
Birthdays of classmates
Dates of special events and observances on the calendar.
I often use stickers to help
Start out your new year with a new calendar for each kiddo!
Here I am again talking about Free Play in the classroom, but I believe it is so important. Free play develops social skills, cooperation, sharing, listening and getting along with others. It develops imagination, creativity, and learning skills. I feel strongly it needs to be a part of every day in pre-school through 2nd grade. How it is run in 1st and 2nd grade will look different, but kids need the brain breaks and I'm sure you will see more productive kiddos in the classroom.
One of the most fun free play times in my kindergarten is Santa's Workshop- Free Play. It includes art projects, games, ideas for sensory table,and gifts for others. The kiddos are the elves helping Santa. It's a perfect time to read the book The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett. In fact this is the perfect month to read all Jan Brett's Books as Author of the month.
If you want a fun free play for December, look at Santa's Workshop- Free Play.
