Block Area!

Block Area Decor!!!

My awesome block area rug from IKEA! : )

 I like to incorporate geography into my block area!

Anytime a child or staff member goes on vacation I ask them to bring me back a post card to add to our collection! We have so many now that we have started our own travel book where we add in the post card and some interesting facts about that destination. 

I keep a collection of multicultural and construction / transportation books in block area.

   
Don't forget the animals to build zoo's, homes and structures for.

 Easy science with cardboard tubes for ramps!

 

More building ideas!

Stacking cups!!!

  

Puzzles, games and circle time shelf

Puzzles, games and circle time shelf!

 

Crystal light containers really are the best storage sollution I have found for many different games. 

In one we have our popsicle stick puzzles and the other holds our mouse ears paint chip memory game! 

I use the Eric Carle animal alphabet flash cards for review and to introduce our letter of the week.

I love to have a variety of puzzles for the children!

I have found many of them which are based on children's stories at Marshalls and TJMaxx for very affordable prices!

Estimation Station!!! 

We conduct a new estimation at circle time about every two weeks with objects that coinside with our curriculum theme. 

The children love using the pointers at circle time and after to count the days on the calendar or point to the words on the poem / song of the day.

I keep a few different types of memory games on the shelf including handmade felt ones which I make myself. 

Right now it is a fabric patterened matching game. 

Many of these are for sale on my etsy page. : )

For the science area...

Science Center!

Science center equipment.

* Lab coats 

(Men's white dress shirts that I picked up at the Salvation Army for a few dollars)

* Goggles

* Color paddles

* Prism

* Magnets

* Science themed matching game

* Color bear sort manipulatives

* Bug jars

* Plastic insects

* Kaleidoscopes
* Rain stick

* Magnifying glasses

* Scale
* Binoculars 

* Plastic tweezers

* Bead count and string pipe cleaners

* Science related books 
* Journals to sketch findings

* Various natural specimens 

(Pine cones, rocks, birch bark, shells, fossils, petrified wood, snake skin, plants, etc...) 

 

Children learn best through hands on play and investigation! Thats why it is so important to keep relevant materials (and to update them regularly) for  the children to use in a variety of ways in all of the learning centers.

We Love Books!

In my classroom...

We  <3 Books

This is what hangs from the ceiling in the middle of my classroom! We <3 Books.  

Every time we read a story as a group, we write the title and the author on a small piece of paper (in the shape of an open book) and add it to our wall and ceiling. 

It's a great way to show all the reading that goes on during the children's time at school! 

Once it becomes really full I simply take a few down and add them into a classroom book! 

Happy reading friends! : )

For the art area...

Want your child or your class to have more scissor practice to help strengthen their fine motor skills? Here is an easy idea for your art area to get them working and keep things organized! 
 

A Scissor Station!!!

I try my best to keep things easily organized for the children in my class. I jazzed up these tin cans by adding some scrapbook paper to the outside!

So cute and inexpensive! : ) 

Classroom Decor!

My home away from home, 

my classroom! : )

Reach for the Stars!!!

I am a huge fan of Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault's classic book, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! I made this tree above my library corner in my classroom as a simple way to bring in both an upper and lower case alphabet in a fun and attractive way.

 Art gallery and writing wall! I think having the black and colored paper as frames behind some of the children's free artwork and writing is a great way to show how much their art and written work is valued.

 When a child discovers that a book has a rip or other ailment they put it in the book hospital so that the teacher can get it back on the mend with some book tape! : )

 Homemade puppet theater! Made from a cardboard box and an old pillowcase. The puppets are in an old yogurt container covered with scrapbook paper and the three little pig popsicle stick puppets shown are all handmade by me as well! What a great way to bring in some puppets at virtually no cost!

I love recycled materials!!!

Homemade weaving board! Not only is this great for motor skills but it opens up great dialogue for positional language (over, under, up down, across, etc...)

 Caterpillar countdown to the 100th day of school! 

Dancing ribbons for music and movement fun!