One of my favorite books to read to children is Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli. It’s the story of a lonely man who leads a dull, boring life. One day, the postman delivers a big, beautiful box of candy to his home with a note attached that says, “Somebody loves you.” This […]
“We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community – and this nation.” — Cesar Chavez Our diverse world… Did you know that Houston is the most diverse city in the entire country? At a recent training with preschool teachers in the Houston […]
When my kids were young we had lots of tea parties. We’d set the table with a pretty cloth napkin laid out as a table cloth, a tray with a little tea set with sugar cubes and a little pitcher of milk, and sometimes a plate of cookies or crackers. They loved it and of […]
It’s holiday time and nothing means Thanksgiving like a good pumpkin pie. Here is a fun activity you can do with your students, no baking required! Ingredients: Vanilla Instant Pudding (prepared) Canned Pumpkin Whipped Topping Mini Graham Cracker Crusts Make sure you have enough of each ingredient for each child in your class. To prepare, […]
Cooking with kids is fun! The great thing about cooking with young children is it fosters healthy eating attitudes from an early age, while encouraging thinking about how things grow and then change in the cooking process. Don’t know where to start? Why not at the beginning! “Cooking with kids is not just about ingredients, […]
Whether you have been a child care center director for many years, or many months, you have probably heard (or experienced) how hard it is to keep your staff turnover rate low. According to research, the turnover rate for ECE teachers is extremely high, averaging around 30% annually! (source here) Although some reasons for the […]
As a director (or teacher) in a child care center it is easy to get lost in the day to day tasks that have to be accomplished immediately, and you may notice that as you become increasingly overwhelmed and stressed that your staff morale will decrease at the same rate. What can we do to […]
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, we will have kids in our care who need extra support. Here are five things that kids need after a crisis. Related: After Harvey: Caring for our Kids After a Crisis, Kids Need… Routine. As much as possible, maintain daily schedules of meals, naps and bedtime. Routines are comforting […]
This week, thousands of young children will be pouring back into child care facilities after some time off for Hurricane Harvey. Whether you are directly affected by the crisis or reeling from the media images, I know you’re concerned about how all of this affects young children. In this article, I will share some tips for […]
It’s back to school time and if you are working with preschoolers you know how excited they are about learning! Did you know that you can use your student’s names as a fun way to introduce reading and writing? Here are some fun facts about preschool literacy learning! What’s the first word that children want […]