Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Some Simple Preschool Teacher Resources Worth Knowing A Bit More About

There are numerous preschool teacher resources available that can each help make life more interesting for those little children that are just beginning to learn about the world around them and among the options open to preschool teachers is “Centers at Little or No Cost” that is a wonderful book that contains over two hundred pages that contain huge patterns that can be reproduced and which also come with directions that show children of all ages how to perform certain activities that include reading, math, language as well as recipes for art and a lot more.

Remember Songs

Another useful preschool teacher resources is “A Ring of Songs and Finger Plays CD” that help teachers to remember songs as well as finger play and which provides more than fifty songs as well as finger plays that can even be printed on paper laminates (post card sized) and which is quite cheap and costs no more than it is believed fifteen dollars plus shipping and handling extra.

Other preschool teacher resources include ABC Flash Cards CD as well as Alphabet Basket Game that have alphabets along with three to five pictures that show little children the beginning sound for each different letter.

You can also benefit from other exciting preschool teacher resources such as Rhyming cards that are a must for every classroom teacher as too is Rhyming Puzzle cards which should be used after having introduced the children to rhyming cards.

If, as a preschool teacher you also make an effort to learn how children actually develop them and learn, you will then be in a better position to select the proper materials as well as learn which preschool teacher resources will prove to be the most effective and which will ensure growth in the child.

Among other preschool teacher resources that every teacher would require are those that will help the child become more literate and so there is need to find suitable books, and any means to improve phonological awareness in the child as too resources to help children improve their vocabulary as well as language.

Other aspects of preschool child learning that require proper preschool teacher resources are math, science, social science, the arts as well as better awareness of modern technology.

Also, preschool teacher resources must include material that helps teachers understand their own role which essentially is to continuously monitor and observe young children and to guide their learning as well as assess whatever progress the children are making.

Another important aspect to preschool teaching is that which pertains to preschool teacher curriculum that must take into account a number of things. Finally, preschool teaching also requires that the teacher also understands the role that the child’s family plays and so it is important for the teacher to bridge for the child two different worlds which are the home and the preschool and use whatever preschool teacher resources are required.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Implementing Effective Preschool Lesson Plan Ideas

Preschool is a great teaching experience that many teachers cherish. This is mainly due to the precious children that are full of enthusiasm and innocence. Many preschool teachers have lessons plans to help them through the day and to guide them with their lessons. There are many different kinds of preschool lesson plan ideas that can make a certain lesson more interesting. 

Shorter Attention Span

Most, if not all, preschool pupils will have a very short attention span and will most likely get easily distracted from what you are teaching. The key to most preschool lesson plan ideas is keep them interesting and varied so as not to lose your pupils' attention. Focusing too much on a specific example or topic will be boring for your kids. The topics or examples in the preschool lesson plan ideas must also be geared to things and objects that are familiar to the pupils and what they can easily understand. 

Concrete Examples

It is also best to have concrete examples of your preschool lesson plan ideas on hand to show what you mean instead of expecting the preschool children to grasp the concept you are teaching in abstract. These can be tools for preschool teaching ideas which are more common in the age bracket or level. Other preschool lesson plan ideas are to keep the abstract lesson short and the concrete examples concise and clear. 

Some examples can be had when playing a game or singing a song. Preschool lesson plan ideas can be integrated into the daily activities of the school and the children. Bear in mind that children of this age bracket can also learn things through examples and by watching role models. By integrating concrete or abstract examples into songs and other daily activities like gardening and coloring, you reinforce your lesson without forcing the children to learn. 

Other Preschool Lesson Plan Ideas

Other valuable preschool lesson plan ideas involve taking the children out on a short tour of the outside to observe nature and their surroundings. By bringing the children out to see and experience the aspects of the lesson you are trying to teach them, they can learn fast. Personal experience is sometimes the best teacher. Other preschool lesson plan ideas are to get the children as involved as possible in their lessons and to be a good role model to them as a teacher and a responsible adult. 

Taking charge of the education of such young minds is a mighty task. Preschool teachers need a lot of preschool lesson plan ideas to help their kids grow up to be smart and understanding children who can be responsible adults in the future.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Introduce Your Child to a PC with Preschool Computer Games

As technology is slowly seeping into every corner of our lives many parents want to expose their young children to preschool computer games as an opportunity to provide them with skills they will need in the future.  Many vendors produce special software packages for preschool-aged children that not only are educational but will provide the type of exposure that will help your child become comfortable working with a computer. 

Great Preschool Computer Games 

If you have a young child then odds are that you are very familiar with Thomas the Tank Engine.  Check out a software program called “Thomas and Friends Trouble on the Tracks.”  This preschool computer game incorporates several of the favorite characters including Thomas, James, and Harold.  In the game James has derailed and it is up to your child to help get him back on the tracks again.  Once each task is completed you will be able to reward your child for his or her accomplishments by printing out a certificate for them!  This program also has other preschool learning games like puzzles that you can print out and cut up for your child to assemble for additional fun!

Based on the characters from the beloved series of books is “Dr. Seuss Preschool.”  The adventure revolves around Elma Sue who is looking for her mother.  Your child and Horton the Elephant will assist her in the hunt.  With several activities to keep your child busy for hours this is sure to become a favorite computer game for your preschooler.  While he or she is having fun they will be enhancing their math, listening, reading, and memory skills at the same time!  

Another popular preschool computer game is “The Land Before Time Preschool Adventure.”  This particular software program has a really great reward system that your child will love.  For each activity your child successfully completes he or she will get a “magic seed” that they can plant.  After they have six seeds planted they get a special party during the game.  Great for teaching the alphabet and numbers and has three skill levels that you can adjust to best suit your child!

While not based on any popular books or television shows “My First CD-ROM” is a great preschool computer game that will teach your child math and language skills while providing a fun environment with lots of activities and puzzles to solve.

There are many popular preschool computer games available today.  If your child has a favorite television show then finding a game that is based on that is a great way to capture their attention!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Using Preschool Online Learning To Help With Education

When it comes to the education of your child, there is nothing worse then not paying attention to what he or she is going through and what they are learning. Even if he or she attends a regular preschool setting, there is probably a good chance that there is still a lot that could be learned from some preschool online learning through games and activities. A lot more parents are starting to add some preschool online learning into their day and schools are using an online preschool curriculum.

By bringing some preschool online learning into the life of your child, there is no doubt that a lot can be learned from the entire experience. You do want to make sure that the games are the right ones for the age of your child. By trying to force a child to complete games and activities that are too far advanced for them, you are making it worse and maybe even setting them back a bit. There is nothing wrong with sticking to age appropriate preschool online learning games for the time being.

Keeping Track Of Your Kid

The last thing you want to do is use the preschool online learning games and such as your babysitter. There is nothing good that can come from this, as the Internet is full of things that are just not safe for such young children. In order to protect their best interest, you should make sure that you are with them at all times while they are using the computer. Preschool online learning games may still be a little tricky for your child if he or she is not all that great with the computer yet.

You also should be using this time as a bonding moment for the two of you as these are the times that help build and mold who they are as people. Also, it is important that you really know what is going on in the life of your child so that you are not left in the dark. Playing the preschool online learning games with your child will also help show him or her that you are really interested in them and what they are learning about. This will help build their self-confidence up and this can be such a wonderful thing. Be a true part of what your child is doing and they are sure to thank you for it in their own special way.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Creating Preschool Art Lesson Plans Suitable for all Children

Lesson plans for preschool can be fun, rewarding and valuable to everyone involved. Not only does is offer a preschool teacher the ability to stay organized, but it also offers the opportunity for written documentation of what they’re teaching children throughout the year.

When it comes to teaching children at the preschool level, art is just as important as any other aspect of the learning day. Creating preschool art lesson plans to incorporate into the activities of the day is a great way to expand a child’s interest, imagination and pride. Preschool art projects are also ways for children to share their days with parents at home in the evening.

Preschool Art Lesson Plan Ideas

Lesson plans can be created in a number of different ways, depending on the teachers’ preference in regard to documentation and plan layout. The most important part of creating preschool art lesson plans is to make sure the activities are appropriate for preschool children, and all of the planning is done beforehand. Some great preschool art lesson plan ideas follow:

Family Portraits

You will need children’s smocks, white construction paper, multiple colors of paint, some thin and thick paint brushes as well as newspaper to line tables with. Teachers should consider painting their own family portraits beforehand, as examples for the children. Encouragement for painting the portraits in the children’s favorite scenes like at home and at the park is suggested. These portraits can even be laminated for the parents, creating a safe keep that can last a lifetime.

Paper Mache Pinatas

A great preschool art lesson plan is to create paper mache pinatas. Although the project isn’t necessarily a clean project, it’s fun for children to learn how paper mache works. It’s also a great lesson in how ingredients can be mixed together to be useful in a different way.

The project should be completed outside because it can get messy, but all that’s needed is some flour and water mixed to a paste consistency, some balloons and some strips of newspaper. Blow the balloons up, and dip the strips of newspaper into the paper mache mix then paste the strips of paper onto the balloons. Let them dry over night and the children have themselves their own piƱatas!

Easy Macaroni Necklaces

Fun for children and great gifts for parents, macaroni necklaces make for a perfect preschool art lesson plan. By cooking macaroni noodles and leaving them to dry over night, they become hard and can be used on strings to create necklaces or bracelets. Going a step further, these jewelry pieces can be hand painted and dried again overnight before taking them home to parents.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Learning Activities For Preschool Children

If you operate a child care service for preschool aged children, or if you have children of your own, there are many ways you can begin stimulating their learning before they reach kindergarten. With the level of work that children are expected to keep up with in kindergarten, it's important to begin this process as early as you can. Below we will take a look at some helpful suggestions for activities for preschool children. 

Why?

There are several ways that preschool learning activities can benefit your child. Activities for preschool children will begin to teach them how to socialize with other children. This is one of the most important things they will need to know. You can also begin teaching your child the basics of education. These are all skills that your child will need to know as they begin school later on. 

Activities

Since these children are so young, activities for preschool children are best when they are in the form of games. Children will learn much better when they do not realize they are learning. There are many things they can learn while they are playing and having fun. 

You can begin by playing games that will address their hand-eye coordination. This can be something as simple as tossing a ball back and forth. Other motor skills can be worked on by letting the child draw or scribble on a piece of paper. This will get them used to writing and hold a pencil or crayon. Other activities for preschool children focus on memory and learning basic skills they will need for school. Flash cards are a great way to work on learning shapes and colors. This will also strengthen their memory and retention skills. 

Another one of the best activities for preschool children is to begin teaching them about the world around them. You can do this by simply taking your child outside and walking around the yard with them. You can point things out to them or answer any questions that they might have. This is a great way to begin teaching them some basics about nature and science. Talking about the weather or about different animals and insects is a great teaching tool for preschool kids. 

You can also use modern technology to begin teaching your preschool children. You can take advantage of computers and even video games to accomplish this. There are a number of great programs and games that are designed for children of this age. This type  of activity for preschool children should be reserved for the winter months. The last thing you want is for your child to be inside playing video games when it's nice and warm outside.

Monday, September 29, 2008

A Look At Some Essentials Of Preschool Teacher Requirements

Children aged less than five should go to a preschool prior to even entering kindergarten and it is then up to parents to send their little ones to either public schools or to those preschools that are run by private institutions, and even religious institutions. There are a number of advantages to preschool teaching that should be understood as the child will get a chance to be more creative by doing preschool projects at a very tender age.

Desire To Learn

As far as preschool teacher requirements go, there is first of all a need for the teacher to be able to inculcate the desire to learn in the child and to also prepare them so that they are equipped to meet the challenges ahead. Thus, preschool teacher requirements also mean that the child at such a tender age is taught how to receive new information and to also try and help them use their brains so that it can absorb all the new information that is being given to them.

Another aspect to preschool teacher requirements is that the child should also be given a chance to play so that they can develop their social skills including realizing the need to respect others and to also work with others and even to take turns and otherwise learn the fundamental lessons being taught.

Creativity too is essential to preschool teacher requirements and if done successfully as well as effectively it could help the child as he is being taught ball play with which he can then develop better hand to eye coordination which will help him to excel in games that require physical exertion and which will also help in sharpening their motor skills (gross).

It is also necessary that preschool teacher requirements are carefully thought up in advance because only then can essentials of proper teaching be imparted to the teacher who must show young children how to improve their memory and to take part in writing games so as to further improve their motor skills.

As such, another aspect to preschool teacher requirements is that the teacher must essentially play the role of a facilitator who must creatively present fundamentals in as engaging a manner as to totally capture the attention of children and to ensure that their teachings become ingrained in the minds of their young wards.

With a number of preschool teacher resources to avail of, teachers should also have on hand many of these resources to that they can succeed in teaching their impressionable and very young pupils. Even integrating computer lessons into the child’s curriculum is necessary and so preschool teacher requirements also must be such that preschool teachers are able to address this aspect of their role to the best of their abilities.