Preschool & Pre-K Classroom Set-up Step 1 - The Essentials

When setting up your Preschool & Pre-K classroom, it is important to have well-defined areas. Well-defined free center areas will help your classroom run smoothly...especially at clean up time.
I have a small classroom in the basement of a School...it is anything but ideal, but my set-up works really well!
Here is a link to my Classroom Center Signs. Center signs are great to use as a visual to help you define your classroom areas for yourself, your aides and your kiddos!
*FREE* Classroom Center Signs in my TPT Store!
www.teacherspayteachers.com/P...

[@shereenanderson7811]

Love it . Thank you

[@teachpre-k101]

I'm so glad! Thank you!

[@mustbherpersonality]

Thank you!! 😊

[@teachpre-k101]

Any time!

[@tibaallami8647]

There’s a new daycare in Allen Texas in rolling kid’s ages 0-12 and hiring staff

[@teachpre-k101]

oh. thats great

[@StephanieChenoweth]

Do you have your rug and classroom rules posters on TPT or anything like that? Would LOVE to have them!

[@teachpre-k101]

sure! Email me at [e-mail] and I will send you the file!

[@michellecherry7179]

Hi Diane! I had a question about your monthly planning download. I've been able to add different details to the days of the month, but when I try to fill in the Theme, Dramatic Play etc. it will only let me type in one week and then it copies those details to the rest of the calendars. If I try to go to a new week and put in a new theme it then replaces the previous theme and copies to all the monthly calendars. I hope that makes sense.? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for all your great videos and content!! You've been a great help! I am a veteran teacher, but it will be my first year in Pre-K this fall. 😊

[@teachpre-k101]

I'm so sorry...I would be happy to send you the powerpoint file...then you would have more freedom to change fonts etc. My email is [e-mail]...email me and I'll send you the file. It will make everything easier to edit

[@AnthonyGarlic-tr9br]

Good 👍 class room 👏

[@teachpre-k101]

Thanks for liking

[@Playing_with_a_Purpose]

Do you do toy/material rotation or do the children help themselves to the activities on the shelves?

[@teachpre-k101]

I do two different things...Each free play center has specific toys out...usually theme-related, for the duration of our theme. (usually a week) I do starter centers that I call "mini centers" at 3 tables each day. One table will have a building toy like magnatiles or legos...one that I am not using on the block table. One table has play-doh or art materials for free-form creation. The third table will have puzzles, literacy games, or fun toys like small dollhouses, people blocks, etc. The kids play at the 3 tables until circle time-usually 20-30 minutes. Those toys change every day. My kiddos learn that they cannot take toys off the shelves unless they ask. They are perfectly fine with it...its crazy, but if I start that way, I never have a problem. It really cuts down on chaos. The kids know we will eventually play with everything, and it gives them a good amount of time to play with one set of toys without getting bored. I change everything at the end of the week...Mondays are so much fun for the kids to come into different things to play with. It really isn't a lot of work if you plan ahead. I'm a planner...I know what I'm doing for the whole year, so it is easy for me to get ready. Check out my planning videos. It isn't the only way, but it is the best way for me.

[@Playing_with_a_Purpose]

@@teachpre-k101 I would say we are similar, only I only have the toys out on the shelves that they can play with. They sure get excited with new toys! What ages do you have?

[@teachpre-k101]

@@Playing_with_a_Purpose I teach 3-4’s Monday thru Thursday mornings…and Pre-K 4-5’s Monday thru Thursday afternoon plus Friday morning.

[@TheMooresDaily]

@@teachpre-k101 thanks for the breakdown on this! Do the kids clean up those mini-centers together? Do they have a special home on a shelf? Thanks!

[@teachpre-k101]

@@TheMooresDaily the kids clean up! They are actually pretty good at it. Circle time is after, so they are motivated. They love circle!

[@glenieshaelliott1750]

Hi Ms.Dianel I having problems with setting my classroom up. Currently I'm teaching mixed aged kids 2,3 and I'm not sure where to begin i only have 6 kids

[@teachpre-k101]

Email me...I will help. [e-mail]