I wanted to create a space and page in which you can find the most appropriate resources for you and your children along with some of my tips. These are just extra resources which you can explore. None of these are required to be done at home. If you have any questions about any of these resources please feel free to email me! 

As a  teacher, I aim to keep our classroom libraries and story time read alouds diverse and inclusive of all kinds of people, families, and important life lessons. I often find important messages to deal with addressing difficult topics in our story books and use them to highlight or address what's happening in the world around us. This article on Book Riot highlights 30 picture books that celebrate differences. 

Many ways to get children working on fine motor skills and spelling out some words can involve many things that do not include using a paper and pencil. In a blog post from Pocket of Preschool, there are some great ideas on how to work on letter and build letters and words! Ask your child which way they would like to explore new letters or words from the choices in the board below. Some of our favorites are using stickers, q-tip painting, and making a collage from magazines. Feel free to share your choices with us! 

IXL is a website that enables your child to gain fluency and confidence in math! IXL helps students master essential skills at their own pace through fun and interactive questions, built in support, and motivating awards. Unfortunately, IXL is not a free website but it offers printable certificates, practice coupons, goal posters and more! The website also learning plans for up to 7 weeks of learning! It is not mandatory to purchase a membership, but it is an opportunity to continue fostering math skills at home. 

As adults, we spend years learning how to deal with disappointment, and even then, we still struggle at times. How do we teach children to handle disappointment? The Early Years suggests helping them find the benefit. You can help your child put a positive spin on something they're upset about it. For example, if your child really wants to work on a project but has to wait until Monday, you can assist them in brainstorming ideas for their project. You can help them think of fun things to add to it. Another way to help your child deal with disappointment is helping them brainstorm alternatives. 

In the classroom, we love to pretend that we are scientist and conduct experiments! The Discovery Center is the perfect center to explore this! Active and hands on learning is the most meaningful and effective way for children to learn. According to Teaching Strategies, you can create a similar center at home by providing household and other readily available materials that your child can investigate, such as magnets, plants, mirrors, flashlights, soil, and rocks. Share some of your investigations with me! 

Blocks are not only great for working on gross and fine motor skills, according to the NAEYC, they help children learn to take turns and share materials, increase attention span, cooperate with others, and develop self-esteem. Blocks can also provide you with the opportunity to teach/reinforce colors, shapes, sizes, work develop math skills, and even gravity and balance. Teaching Strategies states that you can create this center in your home by providing building blocks, a variety of boxes/containers, baskets, plastic cups, paper tubes, tape, doll house, and toy animals. You can also research different buildings around the world and recreate them using blocks. Start building and send me pictures of your creations!

One thing students don't have difficulty with is playing! Students love to play games and therefore love our Toys & Games Center in our classroom. To recreate a center like this at home, Teaching Strategies suggests providing toys and games that you have in your home or can borrow, such as age-appropriate puzzles, card games, and board games. Playing games together is a great way to teach social skills, build vocabulary, and spend time together!

Aside from helping to create warm bonds while reading together, books help students to develop basic language skills and expand their vocabulary as stated by The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. As Teaching Strategies kindly shared with us, you can create a library at home by providing books, magazines, and props for story retelling. Have pencils, paper, and crayons handy to encourage children to either reflect on the story or make their own. Feel free to send clips of your child reading their favorite story or one of their own.

The Art Center is one of the centers in our classrooms that always seems to be full. Students love to express their creativity through the use of art. To create a center like this at home you can provide paper, crayons, markers, clay or molding dough, chalk, paint, scissors, old magazines, glue, and scrap materials (e.g., buttons, fabric, recycled caps, etc.). Consider setting aside a place for “works in progress” that your child can revisit. Please feel free to share your child's artwork with me!

Mandy, a Pre-K teacher created this chart of 30 household items that can also be used for play. In the classroom, one center that most students love is our Dramatic Play Center. The students love imitating what they watch their loved ones do. Have your children assist you during your daily activities as well as use household items for imaginative play and crafts. Shaving cream for example can be used as a creative tool to have your children practice writing their letters, name, and/or sight words. They can use cupcake liners for counting and/or sorting. Take a look at what you have at home and get creative! 

We all love technology and how useful it can be during this time. I wanted to share some of my favorite apps and educational games for Pre-k students! I highly recommend ABCya Games, PBS Kids Games, and Starfall. Another app that students love is ABC Mouse, unfortunately this is not a free app but is high quality in education. For these and a list of more apps to try, both free and paid, please check out this article.  

The early years are critical for developing a love of reading and vocabulary. It's never too early to begin reading with your child! The tips below will offer some fun ways to help your child become a happy and confident reader. Choose a variety of books to read with your child and allow them to choose their favorite stories!