Preschool and Pre-K Teacher Tips: Basic Lesson Planning Step-by-Step

In this video, we're getting down to basics with lesson planning from circle time to centers. I'll show you how to find FREE resources to fill your days and meet your standards!
Circle Time Mastery:
Learn how to create an engaging and inclusive environment for your little learners. From fun icebreakers to educational songs and games, we've got ideas that will keep your students excited and ready to learn.
Choosing the Perfect Books:
Selecting the right books is a crucial part of fostering a love for reading in young minds. Start by choosing age-appropriate books, and find both fiction and nonfiction books to fit your theme, and make storytime a cherished part of your daily routine.
Free Printable Resources Galore:
Budget-friendly teaching doesn't mean sacrificing quality. I'll walk you through Teachers Pay Teachers to find free printable math, literacy, and circle time resources online. Enhance your lesson plans with engaging materials without breaking the bank!
Over-Planning for Success:
The key to a successful day in the classroom? Over-plan! We'll discuss the importance of planning more activities than you think you'll have time for. This strategy not only keeps your class dynamic and exciting but also allows for unexpected teachable moments. Embrace the flexibility and create a learning-rich environment for your little ones!
Teaching Tips and Tricks:**
Uncover additional lesson planning strategies and tips to make your job easier and more enjoyable.
Remember, the journey of educating young minds is an incredible adventure, and we're here to support you every step of the way. Hit play and let's make learning unforgettable for our littlest learners!
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this video with your fellow educators. Happy teaching! 🍏✏️ #PreschoolTeaching #PreKEducation #TeacherTips #earlychildhoodeducation
Link to templates!
dry-snow-7998.ck.page/708092830e
Circle Time kit coming soon!

[@itsadrie7461]

Do you have a video on how you do name recognition in the morning upon entry in the classroom?

[@teachpre-k101]

Ummm...I don't think I do, but I can do one. Right now I've had to take a break due to the end of the year craziness and my daughter's wedding being 3 days after my last contract day...I'm drowning in things to do! Thank you for the suggestion...just added it to my list

[@chasitygrantham8597]

This is my first year teaching. Where I teach in our kindergarten building most of the teachers let their kids play for about an hour-1.5 hours, drop off starts really early at 7:30 for some. We have toys in our room such as wooden blocks, lego blocks, dinosaurs, baby dolls. Just recently I had to tell my parents they weren’t allowed to bring toys from home anymore because it causes a lot of fights and big emotions. I’m truthfully not a fan of this free for all playing. I’ve tried to organize it, and make it more structured, but I have failed. They get bored I think, so they start running, throwing things, fighting. I repeat myself everyday. Blocks stay at the block table. Next thing I know I turn around and blocks are all over my room. This is super embarrassing for me to post because it looks like I have no classroom management, but I follow your tips for classroom management. It just feels like these kids don’t care 😵‍💫 Long story short, do you think it would be best for me to put the “free play toys” away, and do mini centers in the mornings vs. the free play. And if so, how do I implement that now that we are this far into the school year.

[@teachpre-k101]

Wow...I have been there. I know exactly what this feels like. I love "free play", but even so-called free play needs some kind of structure. You need a reset! First, I ONLY let the kids play with what is on the 3 tables, they are not allowed to go anywhere else or take any other toys off the shelves. I start this at the beginning of the year, and it is tough...but I am not undoing months of habit. but I think I can help One thing I suggest is that you find a way to make the other toys out of reach or disappear during the morning free play. Box them up, put them in the faculty room if you have to...don't give them the option. Avoid toys like cars and dinosaurs...they make kids a little crazy. stick to building toys with maybe some manipulatives like counting bears thrown in every once in a while. I will have a building toy table where I switch out building toys each day of the week. One day legos, one day bristle blocks, one day magnatiles...etc. I don't put out so many that I create chaos, but enough for about 6 kids to build things and not get into too many squabbles. (little legos need to be on trays!) I always have a table with either play dough and playdough toys...always on trays. Enough for 6 kids.They can only play there when a spot opens up. Again, I limit the amount of toys to reduce chaos. I also make sure each tray has similar tools and cookie cutters. I change this table each day to other craft or fine motor activities like watercolor trays, coloring sheets and markers, scissors, with scrap paper and glue, tracing lines and markers, etc. They cannot get any new things out.They can ask me...and I have the option (not them) to add materials or not. Another table I will have things like alphabet beads, letter builders, magnet letters with cookie sheets, small puzzles, etc.I rotate what I put on that table each day as well. I limit the amount of toys on that table as well. I get creative with that table and put out fisher price little people play sets some days, and magnet wands with magnetic manipulatives the next...whatever I feel they can handle without going nuts. An hour and a half is a very long time, but if the kids come at 7:30, I get it! I would start this new routine with telling them "we are doing something different with our mornings now," Explain your rules with as few words as possible and a few little phrases like "toys on the table", "tables only" etc. Also, have some sort of sign in procedure for the kids as they come in...question of the day, name tracers, lined sheets where they have to write their names-make sure to have more than one so you don't create chaos at the sign in table for peak arrival times. This is not going to be easy...but be firm, fun, and kind and they will eventually get it. Classroom management is honed over time...the first year or so is always so hard! give yourself grace. also watch my video about my especially hard class...nothing mattered to them and every day was a battle...I was in my 14th or 15th year...I'm great at classroom management...nothing worked and I just had to do my best each day and fall into bed at 7:30drained and exhausted. I cried a lot too...it's normal an sometimes you just have a really hard group. You will learn so much and you will thank them for all they have taught you...but you will be grateful the school year is only 9 months! email me at [e-mail] and let me know how is going and I can see how I can help you more

[@gingersnap3684]

When your kids come in, do they pick which table activity they want to do or are they assigned a table? Can they change tables or do they stay at one activity until cleanup time?

[@teachpre-k101]

They can go to whichever table they want and change anytime. its totally free choice

[@KEITH5KIDS]

Love this. It was so helpful

[@happiestperez]

Can you link the Name of the Week video, please?

[@teachpre-k101]

Sure! here you go...kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGTQk4Rjp7Vkf9k