Young children have a difficult time managing their own behavior because of immature Executive Skills. These skills aren’t fully develop until the age of about 24. Adults constantly have to come alongside children and guide them as they develop these critical skills. One time in our preschool day that was often difficult for children was […] Read more…
I have the privilege of presenting at the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children Conference tomorrow! I will be sharing some of the highlights of Dr. Becky Bailey’s program, Conscious Discipline. If you would like to learn more just follow this link to the handout! Read more…
You have to admit, Frozen was quite a hit in 2014!!!! It is now one of my all time favorite Disney movies! I absolutely love the theme of the movie and how it demonstrates the impact that fear has on our lives! The more we separate ourselves and rely on fear to govern our lives […] Read more…
Pop Quiz: You take a four year old to the zoo and he begins to have a complete meltdown. Do you: a. Take him to the bathroom and spank him? b. Tell him that if he calms down you will let him play in the water park? c. Distract him with food or looking […] Read more…
This quote from Stephen Covey goes along with our post from yesterday. If you don’t know where you’re going how are you going to get there? Read more…
I am such a geek when it comes to professional development!!! I absolutely LOVE TO LEARN!!! Something really BIG happened for me last week!!! I reached a BIG goal!!! It has been a life dream of mine to be able to share my passion for teaching and learning on the national platform. Last week that […] Read more…
I visit a lot of early childhood programs. One of the most difficult environments in many programs is the playground. The wide open spaces, less structure, and excitement can lead to conflict. Let’s face it! Teachers are just as excited about getting outside as the children are!!! Many teachers see this as a time […] Read more…
Who’s ready to go back to school? Maybe I can help you get ready for school with another one of my favorite children’s books! If you haven’t already discovered the Pete the Cat books by Eric Litwin and James Dean you definitely need to check them out! The adorable cat, predictable language, and rockin’ […] Read more…
The brain loves contrast. Contrast helps the brain pick up patterns and focus attention. At the beginning of the school year I spend about six weeks helping my students learn the patterns/routines and expectations of our classroom. This enhances feelings of safety. One of my favorite teaching tools during this time is the book How Do Dinosaurs […] Read more…
I LOVE really good children’s books! In fact, I might just have a little bit of an obsession! I am one happy girl when I find a book that can help me teach self-regulation skills to children! One of my favorites is Shubert is a S.T.A.R. In this adorable story, Shubert comes to school in […] Read more…