Teaching Printing in Kindergarten and Preschool

MY OPINION

Focus on Lower Case Letters

When teaching printing I believe considerably more time should be spent on teaching lower-case letters.

Why?

The reason I believe the focus should be on teaching lower-case letters is because 95 percent of what we read is written in lower case letters. That leaves 5 percent written in upper case letters. In my experience, when children are taught to print words in upper-case letters it is difficult to undo this habit in the upper grades. Having taught a number grades; I have spent a great deal of time retraining children to not place an upper-case letter in the middle of a word. If focus were placed on printing lower-case letters first; this problem might be reduced. Children could be trained when upper-case letters are appropriately used in conjunction with proper grammar usage.

Handwriting for Preschoolers and Kindergarten Children

What is your opinion on this? COMMENT BELOW...

Center Suggestions

CENTER SUGGESTIONS FOR A PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM
Listed below are center suggestions:
1. Literacy
2. Reading
3. Writing
4. Listening
5. Math
6. Science
7. Social Studies
8. Computer
9. Crafts
10. Playdough
11. Easel
12. Blocks
13. Puzzles
14. Puppets
15. Housekeeping
16. Dressup

In the link below you will find signs that can be used to identify these centers.

Signs for the Learning Centers

Preschool-Kindergarten Lesson Plans on Bugs

The video demonstrates lesson plan ideas for incorporating your Bugs theme within your classroom. Click on it to preview it.

For more ideas visit the link below:

Preschool and Kindergarten Lesson Plans on Bugs

Below you will find a list of related books that can be used in conjunction with this theme.
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
2. The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle
3. The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
4. The Very Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
5. The Honeybee and the Robber by Eric Carle
6. Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert
7. The Best Bug Parade by Stuart J. Murphy
8 Bugs for Lunch by Margery Facklam
9. Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner
10. Charlie the Caterpillar by Dom De Luise
12. Creepy Crawlies by Kathryn Kilpatrick
13. Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose
14. How Many Bugs in a Box? by David Carter
15. Icky Bugs Counting Book by Jerry Pallotta
16. I'm a Caterpillar by Jean Marzollo
17. I'm as Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood
18. In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming
19. Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni
20. Insect by Robin Bernard
21. Insects Grow and Change by Elaine Pascoe
22. Ladybug, Ladybug by Ruth Brown
23. Monarch Butterfly by David Schwartz
14. Sam and the Firefly by P.D. Eastman
15. Snappy Little Bugs by Claire Nielson

Preschool and Kindergarten Math - Adding and Subracting

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This video in this post demonstrates how adding and subtracting can be introduced using well-known nursery rhymes and two-sided counters for kindergarten math.

More Information on Pre Kindergarten Math

Preschool-Kindergarten Math on Numbers and Problem Solving

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Kinderplans.com is in the process of developing a full kindergarten math program which is meant to cover the majority of the math outcomes. This video demonstrates activities that can be implemented to achieve the outcomes outlined below. The templates mentioned are available to members of the site.
1. Identify whether the number of objects in one groups is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another. This is best developed through the use of graphing activities.
2. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
3. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Look for and make use of structure.

Preschool-Kindergarten Math Games

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Learning numbers and number sense is a important curriculum outcome for Preschoolers and Kindergartners. The video demonstrates follow-up games that can be implemented for review, once the numbers have been introduced. This offers an engaging learning experience and reinforces number sense for children in the early years of learning.
More Preschool-Kindergarten Math Games

Preschool-Kindergarten Math - Numbers

One of the biggest challenges in teaching Preschool and Kindergarten math is a child's ability to understand cardinality. Cardinality is a child's ability to attach meaning to a number. A young child may be able to count by rote and even use one-to-one correspondence but may not understand that the set represents a specific number. They may not understand that the last number counted represents the total amount. For example, ask a child to count a set and ask them how many there are. Can they confidently relay the total amount (understand the last number counted represents the total)? If you rearrange the set, will they still understand it represents the same number? According to research this is a challenging concept for children and requires them to be actively involved in activities and games that help them develop this. Games and activities that involve counting and comparing are great for developing this. It is a key concept for children because it is the framework for developing other math concepts.
Kinderplans.com has developed a Math program which addresses many of the Kindergarten curriculum outcomes. The video above demonstrates activities that are found in the "Number Sense" strand from the curriculum. It provides ideas of how specific numbers can be introduced and follow-up games and activities can be used to develop the concept of cardinality.
Note: Numbers to 20 are introduced in the program to address the different school jurisdictions curriculum outcomes.

More Preschool-Kindergarten Math Ideas