Take learning to the next level this spring with our favorite preschool read aloud lesson plans.

It is time to embrace repetition! Check out our three-step framework to reading aloud with a purpose!

Let's embrace playful exploration of the alphabet with 2-year-olds!

Nation's Report Card Scores Prove That Preschool Matters—Now More Than Ever   When I taught kindergarten in Greenville, SC, at a high-needs Title 1 school, I saw something incredible. This school had a public preschool program, a lottery-based system that prioritized children from low-income families and those with special needs.   And let me tell you—it changed everything.   These preschoolers entered my kindergarten classroom ready. They understood routines, they had exposu

This week, we are gearing up for Read Across America and preparing Dr. Seuss activities for preschoolers. Teaching literacy enrichment classes across all preschool age levels is one of the most rewarding parts of my job . It’s incredible to see my research in action— watching key science-focused literacy activities come to life before my eye s. Each lesson reinforces how children’s literacy development unfolds in phases, even within the same classroom. And as the year progr

How Teaching Letter Sounds Impacts Children I didn’t grow up in the South. I was born and raised in a small town in Central Illinois, spent time near Chicago, and then moved to North Carolina for my senior year of high school. It was a big shift, but I loved it! The clothes were a bit different, the popular sports shifted a bit, but one thing truly stuck out.   The accent.   At UNC-Chapel Hill, I was surrounded by friends from all over the country, each with their own way of

Children need  movement to learn—it’s how they explore, connect, and thrive. There’s incredible learning power in preschool movement activities. When I was brainstorming the name for my business, one word rose above all others: movement . It’s the heartbeat of early learning and the foundation of everything I teach. As a former kindergarten teacher, I quickly learned how powerful movement could be in education. Entering the rigidity of elementary school, where we were being

In the winter, the days can feel longer as a preschool teacher—especially when those chilly temperatures keep you and your little learners stuck indoors.  But don’t worry, the days don’t have to drag on!  With these exciting winter-themed literacy activities, you can keep your class engaged and learning while having fun. These literacy activities for preschoolers are designed to not only bring fun to your classroom but also build essential literacy skills through intentional

As 2024 has come to a close, I find myself reflecting on the preschool lessons I’ve learned this year about early literacy. One topic that truly stood out to me was the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of preschool ( check out my blog post here ). Is preschool effective? Honestly, I’m baffled that this is even a question.   Preschool offers so much more than just academics—children learn to share, explore new toys, sing, dance, tell stories, and, yes, begin their journe

When it comes to teaching the alphabet, the goal is simple: make learning fun, engaging, and EFFECTIVE. In this post, I’m sharing the top 8 preschool alphabet activities and tools that I use regularly in my preschool literacy classes. These tools are the backbone of my teaching and help me build an environment that is both fun and supported by science-back practices. Learn how I both TEACH and PLAY with each tool, helping you transform your alphabet instruction for the bette

Family Engagement Activities Empowering Parents as Partners in Literacy   As preschool teachers and directors, we understand that literacy development begins long before children enter our classrooms.  Parents are their child’s first and most influential teachers, setting the foundation for language, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.  In today’s busy world, many parents may not fully recognize the powerful impact they have on their child’s learning—or may feel uncer

Keeping Learning Alive During the Holidays: 10 Christmas Literacy Learning Activities for Preschool and Toddler Classrooms   The holiday season can feel like a whirlwind in the classroom.  As preschool teachers, we are often facing the challenge of balancing meaningful instruction with festive activities, all while managing high-energy children and fatigue (from both parties)!   It’s easy to fall down the Pinterest rabbit hole, feeling like you have to keep up with others by

As preschool teachers, one of our most rewarding—and sometimes challenging—roles is to nurture social and emotional learning. Children come into the classroom with varying levels of both academic skills and emotional awareness, and a big part of our job is helping to strengthen these skills in a supportive way. The top part of the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex, is responsible for critical thinking, problem-solving, and empathy, skills that form the foundation for succ

If you’ve ever taught a class full of preschoolers, you know firsthand the wide range of skills and developmental stages they bring. Each child enters the classroom with their own set of strengths, challenges, experiences, and background knowledge, creating a rainbow of unique learning profiles. This makes our roles as preschool teachers especially exciting (glass half full?)! Through engagement, observation, and assessment, we can begin to learn to unique learning profile of

At this time of the year, many teachers often find themselves asking, “What can I do to help a child showing extreme behaviors?”  This question has been popping up all over social media. You’ve tried everything—rules, modeling, consequences—but nothing seems to be working. You might feel discouraged and even helpless. Trust me, I have been there myself.  And...I am here to share a simple intervention that has worked for me time and time again called Check-In, Check-Out.  

Learning the Alphabet Letters How Many Should Preschoolers Know? How Many Letters Should Children Know by the End of Preschool? As a preschool literacy teacher, one question I often get is, “How many letters should children actually know?” It’s an important question, and one we often hear different answers to, especially since we know that children develop at their own unique pace and in various ways. But what does the research actually reveal? Is there a magic number for s

How DO You Teach the Alphabet to Preschoolers? The Alphabet is HARD! One of my favorite quotes to share when training parents and teachers is this: The brain is wired for language, but the alphabet is a human invention.  It’s a set of symbols that we have to figure out.   When children are born, their brains are naturally wired to learn language, which is why people often say it’s best to learn a second language from birth. However, the same isn’t true for the alphabet. We ha

Preschool Circle Time - Troubleshooting Tips! Whether you are a parent or a teacher, we have all experienced the hardships that have come with young children adjusting to a new environment.  Change and transition can be HARD, especially with little ones.  When my son was 20 months, our family moved across the country from Charlotte, NC to Arkansas. WOW is all that I can say. The transition was brutal. Tears, troubles, and BITING...on his first day of preschool. Nothing li

What is a Student Centered Learning Environment? It is the beginning of the year. The time of year as a preschool teacher that is both exciting and sometimes stressful. A new class of sweet littles ones brings a new sense of joy, but also comes with a period of adjustment . Teaching the rules and routines of the classroom takes time, dedication and consistency. New children bring new personalities, interests, and strengths and needs. This period of adjustment is our time as t

Why Name Games Rock for Preschoolers! It is the beginning of the year, and you are scratching your head about exactly WHAT to do with you preschoolers. We know that we want to keep our students engaged, build community, play and learn, but we don't exactly know how to start. Well, we have you covered! My favorite beginning of the year activities are name games for circle time! Let's dive into WHY! Playing name games at the beginning of the school year during ciricle time