Preschool Schedule

Let's talk about our schedule. First there is a reason and relevancy for everything in our routine. Let's jump right in.

Opening Circle Time

It's important to have some sort of "gathering" or "attention getter" that kick things off. In our circle time we sing a few songs with motions and we get up and dance! This helps us get our wiggles out and our "minds ready to learn." 

Warm-Up/Review

If you saw in my last post, I used a bulletin board to display our "warm-up" and "review" items. When I taught first grade I did this each morning on our red rug. It helped my students turn on their minds and get ready to focus. It was also a time for me to review the previous days' lessons as well as do a quick assessment of what needs to be re-addressed and looked at more closely. I use my preschool warm-up with the same intentions in mind. 

 

This is what the bulletin looks like at the beginning of our week. I have introduced the first letter of the week by displaying a few letter cards. I have introduced our number of the week by showing the numeral and a baggie for Popsicle sticks to show "what it looks like." I have introduced the word of the week "and." Lastly I have introduced the color and shape of the week which are red and a circle. We will address each item on the board each day we have preschool - for us it will be 3 days a week. 

Now the important part of this is to make it FUN. When we look at the letter(s) of the week we say the letter and it's sound while moving our bodies. We may clap each time we say the sound (I like to say it 3 times in a row). Or we may stand up and shake our hips side to side as we make the sound. When we explore the number of the week, we get up and hop or jump or run around the room and find 4 things. Then I let Owen count out four Popsicle sticks to place in our baggie below the number to "show what it looks like." 

Owen is learning to read which is why he is learning a new word each WEEK. I may change it to each day as he improves, we'll see. "And" is a sight word on a Kindergarten level. Sight words are words that almost always DO NOT follow the English language rules (you can't sound them out). And of course "and" does follow the rules but a better example would be "the" or "said." By learning these words, Owen will be better able to read as he continues to learn the sounds of the alphabet. Once again we learn this word through movement and repetition. Sight words are made to be memorized.

Here is where you will find a list of kindergarten sight words

CLICK HERE

Lastly, we review the color of the week with it's name as well as the shape of the week.  And of course make it FUN!!

Story Time

This is as simple as it sounds! Just choose a story you'd like to base your lessons, activities, and games on and you're good to go. My pinterest Preschool Board has tons of options as to where you can find age appropriate PICTURE books and many of these links have ideas for activities to go with it. Like I said before, the internet is a teacher's best friend! I read a different story each day I teach that has a different set of activities and games to go with it.

  Letter or Story Activity/Craft

I love choosing an amazing story that makes my brain burst with fun ideas to create. Find stories like that. It will be much easier to come up with games and crafts and science experiments to create after reading the story. It's important to stay within the same theme and subject with these little ones throughout your preschool day. It helps their little minds make connections with what they know and what they're learning, overall making them that much more successful. Once again my pinterest Preschool Board has some great links to some ideas!

Handwriting

It's important to change up your schedule in a way that allows your preschooler to have movement and wiggle time as well as quiet sitting time. I am all about hands on learning but it is also important to teach your little one how to sit still as they accomplish something as well. Handwriting is a great activity to do after a hands on one. Sit your little one down and help them write the letter(s) of the week. If your child isn't at this point yet you can let them "pretend" to write (such an important step to writing!) or color a picture. I chose to create THESE handwriting pages so we can rewrite all we need/want. I will however be printing off simple handwriting pages for Owen to practice by using a pencil too. 

   Game Time 

I love game time! It's a time where we play a game together to review what we've learned that day. And of course it doesn't hurt to throw in what we've learned previous days and weeks too! This is where it's fun to get creative. But I like SIMPLE creative. Like I've said before, I'm a teacher that appreciates relevancy and fun over showiness. So I choose games that are simple and effective. As I record our journey, I plan on including my simple, effective and fun ways to play learning games with your preschooler. After learning the word "and" we played a simple scavenger hunt game where I taped many index cards around the room that all had the word "and" written on them. Owen took his bug net and explorer's hat and went around the room trying to "catch" the words. Once he came back to me, I had him lay out each index card and read me what each word said. It was simple and effective and he LOVED it. This is also a time where you can assess your little one.

Closing Circle Time

I like to read another story that goes with what we've learned for the day. This is where we can wind down. I let Owen snuggle with me or lay down on the floor or couch and we enjoy one last story together before ending preschool. You of course could do so many things during this time!

**Lastly, I want to mention how important it is to be FLEXIBLE. I don't always just play one game. Some days we play more. I don't always just do a paper craft. Some days we do a science experiment. Also, my crafts and activities aren't always language arts related; I love math activities and games as well and think it's important to include them to help your child build number sense. And if you're teaching your little one alone or in a group, don't FORCE learning. Children can't learn when their frustrated or unhappy. It's okay to take a break or step back every now and again. **

And that's that! Sorry for the long-winded post! Please let me know if you have any questions about my schedule or as you create yours. I sure love doing this!

 Thanks for reading and happy planning!!