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Homemade Play Doh

There are several benefits to making your own play doh. It doesn’t dry out as quickly as store bought and it doesn’t become the crumbly

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discoverystationlearners

I’m sure most of you have a tub of unused craft

I’m sure most of you have a tub of unused craft gems that are too small to really use with little hands. But all you need is a crayon and they have new life! We use large crayons with the preschoolers but they think it is so cool to be able to pick the gems up themselves and put them onto glue all on their own. Set these out with some foam cutouts from Hobby Lobby and you have a super engaging center - or craft at home!
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#preschoolteacher #preschoolideas #preschoolart #preschoolcenters #prekteacher #prekideas #prekart #homeschoolpreschool #homeschoolprek #homeschooldays #kidart #kidartists

We collect fake pumpkins of all different sizes fr

We collect fake pumpkins of all different sizes from so many different places - craft stores, thrift shops, etc. We add the fake fall leaves from Hobby Lobby and some donated Halloween buckets and the kids love it! They scoop into the buckets, pretend to trick or treat, line the pumpkins up by size, and so many other made up games or activities. An easy way to start? Send an email to parents or your neighborhood offering to take any pumpkins or buckets that anyone is going to get rid of this season. You’ll be surprised how many you can have donated to your classroom!
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#preschoolideas #preschoolteacher #prekideas #prekteacher #homeschoolpreschool #preschooldramaticplay #toddlerfuntime

This was a hit - with the kids and the teachers an

This was a hit - with the kids and the teachers and the parents. Everyone was giggling. @tableshoppeco gave us the idea to do ghost photos on the students. We sent home a Polaroid with each student and we are putting up a copy in the classroom too for all of October. I’m also going to be doing this with my own kids at home!
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#preschoolideas #preschoolteacher #preschoolathome #preschoolactivities #preschoolart #preschoolcrafts #prekteacher #prekideas #prekactivities #preklife #prekclassroom #homeschoolfun #preschoolholidays #preschoolhalloween

Parents love when you send home adorable projects

Parents love when you send home adorable projects like this, or you could save it in their portfolios. Because you’ll want to clean off their feet (baby wet wipes work great) we’re having our students do this during centers so they can be more one on one with the teacher. They’ll do 2 footprints and then we will help them add on their eyes and such when they dry. Metallic sharpies and paint sticks work great on showing up on the black paper! If you try this with your own kids or students please tag me - I’d love to see it!
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#kidart #kidhalloweenactivity #toddlerhalloween #halloweencrafts #preschoolart #preschoolideas #preschoolactivity #preschoolteacher #prekteacher #prekinder #prekactivities #kindergartenart

There is nothing sweeter to me than little kid art

There is nothing sweeter to me than little kid artwork. It can show so much of their personality in a snapshot of time! I wanted a special place to display their work.. so we got 12 inch square cardstock papers as a special paper to use when they make an artwork creation. Then we put 12 inch square frames on the gallery wall. When the kids make a masterpiece we put it in one of the frames, but keep the old papers behind it. That way we can see how their artwork progresses. And they always work harder and longer when they get to color or paint on their “special” paper that they know will be displayed. It’s honestly my favorite wall of the house!
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#kidart #preschoolart #preschoolideas #preschoolteacher #prekideas #prekteacher #homeschoolpreschool #homeschoolmama

One of the hardest things as a kindergarten teache

One of the hardest things as a kindergarten teacher is having the kids find their names on name tags, coat hooks, etc., at the beginning of the year. Because there are so many other names next to it! If you practice this at home (or in a preschool class) this will help save your child so much time and frustration in kindergarten! Write many names on index cards and lay them out and have your child find their own name a couple times a week. That’s it! They’ll be pros by the time kindergarten starts. Send this to someone that has a preschooler and wants to know things they should be practicing!
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#preschoolideas #preschoolteacher #preschoolactivities #toddleractivities #toddleractivity #toddlermom #prekideas #prekteacher #prekactivities #preklife #homeschoolpreschool #homeschoolfun #homeschoolmama

We discovered quickly that the MOST important part

We discovered quickly that the MOST important part of centers is that it gives the students a chance to play with each other, talk about things, and choose their own activities. We always start the day with free choice centers - we’ve found this helps the students want to run in and start playing (tear free!). So we always focus on putting out centers that are going to encourage the kids to be creative, pretend, and are self explanatory. These are our centers this week and next week we will switch them out. We’re putting links to some of our favorite items in our stories!
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#preschoolideas #preschoolteacher #preschoolcenters #preschooldramaticplay #prekideas #prekteacher #totschool #totschooling #homeschoolpreschool #toddlertoys #preschoolclassroom #preschoolsupplies #afflink

At the beginning of the year we have each family g

At the beginning of the year we have each family get a ziploc bag and write their child’s name on the outside. In the bag they put an extra set of underwear and shorts. That way, if there is an accident, we just give the dry clothes to the students and send home the wet clothes in their ziploc bags in their backpacks. The families know that they need to return it with new dry clothes if this happens. We keep them in a tub in our preschool closet all year and then send them home in May. This way parents don’t have to come to school, the student hardly misses any class time, and we are prepared and not frantic if something happens! Does anybody else already do this in your classroom?
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#preschoolideas #preschoolteacher #preschoolproblems #preschoolhomeschool #prekideas #prekteacher #prekproblems #pottytrainingtips #pottytrainingproblems

Truly nothing will be better for you to use to han

Truly nothing will be better for you to use to hang things on your walls. Nothing works as well. We use these for posters, name tags, labels, artwork, student work, seasonal decor, etc. I promise if you use them you will be hooked! You can find the link in my stories (saved to the products bubble as well). It is an affiliate link but I promise you that this is one of my most loved classroom items!
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#preschoolideas #preschoolclassroom #preschoolclass #preschoolteacher #prekideas #prekteacher #prekclassroom #preklife #homeschoolmom #homeschoolideas #homeschoolpreschool #homeschoolprek #afflink

We use our letter monster every single day in clas

We use our letter monster every single day in class! He only eats the letter of the day or will even help us with colors or numbers or really anything we’re learning that day. He’s a hit with the kids and make the lessons funnier when he’s there! And all it took was a tissue box, classroom supplies I already had, and a small strip of faux fur from Hobby Lobby! Do you use a letter monster? I’d love to see yours!
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#preschoolideas #preschoolteachers #preschoolclass #preschoolclassroom #prekideas #prekactivities #prekteacher #preklife #kindergartenclassroom #kindergartenideas #homeschoolpreschool #homeschoolprek #homeschoolprep

Every day in class we start with free choice cente

Every day in class we start with free choice centers. During this time we always have some smaller activities set out along with all our bigger activities. These are easy materials you can use that will be fun and engaging and strengthen those fine motor skills! If you’re looking to add any to your classroom I’m going to put links to these ones in our stories for today!
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#preschoolteachers #preschoolideas #preschoolplay #preschoolathome #prekteacher #prekactivities #prekideas #finemotoractivity #preschoolcenters #homeschoolpreschool #toddlertoys

You will always use wayyy more glue sticks than yo

You will always use wayyy more glue sticks than you think you will! And make sure in preschool you only use the disappearing purple. It makes a huge difference as they’re learning this classroom skill! I always stock up on a ton of them when they’re 50 cents at Walmart!
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#preschoolteacher #preschoolideas #homeschoolpreschool #prekideas #prekclassroom #preschoolclassroom

If you run a private preschool you may know the pa

If you run a private preschool you may know the pain of helping a full class put their shoes back on at the end of class or for outside time. One of the best preschool hacks we have implemented this year is RUBBER BOOTS! We told all the parents at the beginning of the year to send the students in rubber boots to school each day. These can be picked up pretty inexpensively at stores like Walmart and Target. And they have made a WORLD of a difference! The kids slip them on easily themselves and we have no worries of getting adorable shoes messy when they’re playing in the mud kitchen, garden, or digging with excavators. I even use this with my own kids - they slip on their boots and run outside to play. Then leave them in the mudroom when they’re done. Does anybody else use this system??
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#preschoolteacher #prekteacher #teachpreschool #homeschoolcollective #homeschoolideas #homeschoolpreschool #preschoolideas #privatepreschool #inhomepreschool #preschoolplay #natureschooling #naturepreschool

These food service trays on Amazon are hands down

These food service trays on Amazon are hands down our most used and necessary items in our preschool classroom! The students can carry them to a drying area after painting, crafts, glitter, etc. It creates independence and helps with clean up time or transitions to a new activity! If paint or shaving cream or anything gets on them you just spray them off in a sink. And if you have a drying rack, they slide right into the shelves and nothing falls through while drying! I promise you’ll love them.
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#preschool #preschoolideas #preschoolteacher #prek #prekideas #prekteachers #kidart #kidartist #preschoolhomeschool #preschoolhack #homeschoolmom #kinderart

We keep a basket of black socks in the classroom.

We keep a basket of black socks in the classroom. When we use whiteboards, the kids grab a board, a marker, and a sock. They are super cheap to get a whole classroom set, take up way less space, and fun for the kids to use. We wash them monthly!
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#kinderteacher #prekteacher #prekteachers #preschoolteacher #preschoolclassroom #homeschoolmom #homeschoolfun #prekideas #preschoolideas #inhomepreschool #preschoolteachers

Shaving cream puff paint can be used so many diffe

Shaving cream puff paint can be used so many different ways. We made it smell like peppermint “snow” here but you could turn it scented with any extract you have on hand. Lemon? Orange? Vanilla? Mix it up and let them paint. The kids will love it! Save this for a time you need a fun project for class or home!
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#prekteacher #preschoolteacher #kinderteacher #sensoryplay #sensoryactivity #sensoryplayideas #preschoolideas #preschoolathome #homeschoolmom #homeschoolfun #homeschoolcurriculum #prekideas #prekteachers #kinderteachers #kinderart #preschoolart #prekart

We change our sensory bin in the classroom every w

We change our sensory bin in the classroom every week. For my toddlers at home we keep a sensory bin for 2-3 weeks before changing it. They’ll add their own animals or trucks at times but sensory bins keep their attention for SO LONG! They are amazing practice for sorting, scooping, pouring, and having a true “sensory” experience - something young kids need. Save this so you can reference back on the simple way to throw one together. I want to see what you use!
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#sensoryplay #sensoryplayideas #handsonpreschool #preschoolplay #preschoolteacher #prekteacher #preschoolideas #prekideas #kindergartenteacher #kindergartenactivities #homeschoolpreschool #homeschoolfun #homeschoolmama #preschoolactivities

This ornament has always been adored by the parent

This ornament has always been adored by the parents when we’ve made them as gifts. They’re easy to make and their little handprints make the perfect keepsakes. This can easily be done in the classroom or even just at home as a fun activity. Tag us if you make one this week. We want to see it!
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#prekteacher #preschoolteacher #prekideas #preschoolideas #preschoolathome #preschoolchristmas #diyornaments #kidart #preschoolactivities #kindergartenactivities #kindergartenclassroom #kindergartenchristmas #preschool #prek #kindergartenteacher #kidartists

Homemade play doh is a game changer … less messy

Homemade play doh is a game changer … less messy, better to play with, way cheaper, non toxic, and lasts forever. Keep it in plastic wrap or zip loc bags to keep the air off it and it can be stored in the fridge if it’s not going to be used for long periods of time. Leave a comment if you want the full (super easy) recipe and I’ll DM it to you!
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#sensoryplay #sensorybins #sensoryactivity #kindergarten #preschool #preschoolteacher #preschoolathome #homeschoolpreschool #prek #prekactivities #preschoolcenters #preklife #prekclassroom #prekteacher #kidfun #kidactivities

Use this activity for the whole month with your st

Use this activity for the whole month with your students or kids at home. Every day you can talk about and decide on something they’re thankful for and add that feather to their turkey. There are different color and size options and it’s all FREE for you! Just use the link in our bio to get yours! I’d love to see how yours turn out. Tag us so we can share their adorable answers!
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#preschool #prek #prekteacher #kindergartenteacher #preschoolart #prekathome #preschoolathome #preschoolideas #prekideas #kinderart #kidart #kidartist #kidsgratitude #showgratitude #bethankful #bethankfuleveryday #givethankseveryday

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