If you can grab some small mounted canvases when they’re on special or at a bargain basement shop, these Halloween Canvas Snapshots will not only look brilliant but they won’t stretch your pocketbook either. It’s so nice for kids to paint on canvas ‘like a real artist,’ and these snapshots are sweet and simple so […]
Digraphs: Ch- Words When You Only Have a Minute
Digraphs are formed when 2 letters come together to make 1 sound and they’re important to grasp confidently. For this month’s When You Only Have A Minute printable we’re focusing on ch- words. What you need Download this free Ch-Words printable. You’ll also need scissors and a brad / split pin / paper fastener to […]
Art Projects for Kids: A Halloween Witch’s Hat
I love the idea of taking a crafty-type activity and adapting it a little to create a piece of art. This Halloween Witch’s Hat uses lines and colour for effect, and because it’s 3-dimensional it becomes like a little sculpture. By the way, if you want to print the template so that these hats will […]
Does Movement Improve Learning Outcomes? #6
What is the best way to learn? Because people are so different it seems that what’s ‘best’ may be somewhat subjective. Today, we’re asking the question: Does movement improve learning outcomes? And the answer is a resounding yes! Fortunately there are lots of other benefits for children, too. You can listen to this episode above, listen to […]
Alphabet Flash Cards
Learning the alphabet and gaining confidence with beginning sounds is such an amazing turning point for children. It’s like grasping the key to a great mystery. Children see text all around them so learning to decipher that text can be very exciting! Alphabet flash cards can be a helpful tool as children go through the […]
Art Projects for Kids: Halloween Silhouettes
We’re continuing on with our Halloween art projects for kids this month and today it’s Halloween Silhouettes. It’s a simple but effective idea that creates a vibrant piece of art. This art project uses cut paper for the silhouettes which means kids will get lots of fine motor practice. It also means they can easily […]
What are the Rights of a Child? #5
How long is it since you considered the United Nation’s perspective on the rights of a child? Have you ever? It’s quite an enlightening exercise so this podcast episode goes through these rights and then shows how one early childhood centre has adapted those rights into a Children’s Rights Charter. It’s a beautiful example of […]
How to Prepare an Effective End-of-Year Class Performance
Anyone who has worked with me will tell you that I believe strongly in the benefits of performance for young children. When done effectively it motivates, engages and excites children over many weeks and increases the energy in the classroom. It teaches them the value of perseverance and practice. It develops their ability to work […]
Art Projects for Kids: Pumpkin Patch
Last week we featured a Halloween Owl and this week we’ve switched to pumpkins. Today’s art project for kids is a mixed media Pumpkin Patch painting that will add some lovely colour to your room. I especially love that it uses real pumpkin seeds… so much fun! As an Australian I love the occasional baked […]
School Readiness Through Music: #4
School readiness is a challenging area in education, particularly for less advantaged children who have not had the opportunity to attend preschool. This podcast episode is all about one teacher’s experience of running an 8-week music program specifically to help kids get ready for Kinder. You can listen to it above, listen to it on […]