I’m a bit of an amateur (very) photography buff. I love to snap shots of my students (and obviously my kids) and make collages, scrapbooks, yearbooks, wall hangings, and what-have-you, for keepsakes and memorabilia from year to year. I also know that there’s nothing kids (and adults for that matter) like more than looking at pictures of themselves. Photos on the wall draw children into the classroom, especially during their first months when they’re still transitioning into the preschool classroom routine. My photo obsession combined with my crafts supplies and Hygloss specialty papers have produced some wonderful results over the years, one of which I repeatedly do for its fun and flair: framed silhouettes with silhouette paper.

Seventeen adorable children are my responsibility this year. They came to school on the first day in a huge array of different states of mind: excited, reluctant, curious, scared, energetic, and . . . . homesick. That seemed to be the predominant theme these first few days of school – “I want to go home.” Okay, it happens sometimes. And I have the remedy right on my shelf: The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn and Velour Paper Kisses, consoling kids craft.

Getting back to school starts out slowly with preschoolers. They’re completely unfamiliar with a teacher’s expectations and the typical workings of a classroom. So I try to set things up accordingly. From the first day of school and well into the first month, all of my energy goes into establishing the preschool classroom routines, introducing new concepts through interactive activities, engaging in getting to know you activities, ice breaker games, simple arts and crafts, and really concentrating on each individual child. Even though I have a curriculum, a lot depends on my little ones’ and their abilities, their interests, their backgrounds, and their developmental needs. I try to adapt everything to suit the nature of my class.

A preschool classroom is a veritable feast for the senses. It’s nothing like a regular classroom with rows of desks and chairs and a blackboard. It’s just as it should be, inviting and stimulating, full of bright colors, creatively designed bulletin boards, cubbies, toys, comfortable furniture, rugs, original artwork, and lots of other creations the teacher adds to her special domain. The first day of school for most 2-4 year olds is just as inviting and stimulating if not overwhelming. For them it’s not back to school at all. It’s usually their very first time to step into a classroom. And a lot of planning goes into those first few moments.

My bulletin boards aren’t always thematic. It depends on my mood and the ideas that hit me over the summer. This year I told you already, I’m really excited about my creations. They really add to the classroom and I can’t wait to have fun with them. They’re interactive and already familiar to the kids.

Even though many of the children in my class usually know each other before the year begins, since we live in a small town, I still spend a good part of the first week on getting to know you activities and ice breaker games. The goal is to bond as a class and allow each child to express his individuality. We also learn the rules, routines, and jobs of the classroom through games, projects, and you guessed it, bulletin boards.

Here we go. Back to school, almost. At least it’s the season when every teacher, parent, and child is busy shopping for their school supplies, classroom supplies, or teacher’s supplies. Back to School Savings Start With Hygloss With your school supply list in hand, make sure to check out Hygloss Products huge selection of back […]

I told you last time I would share the rest of my blank book uses with you. The truth is, every time I look inside a Hygloss blank book I’m struck with another way to fill its pages. Besides the usual summer craft scrapbooking, sticker collections, and cute quips I catch the kids saying quite often, I’ve been using them for writing “can I have” lists and each child has his own Book About Me blank book that will accompany him from the summer, back to school and through the year.