How Preschool Teachers Do It

When children are upset or in need in any way, we should avoid assuming how we can help. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about assuming nothing and getting children used to thinking about and expressing their own needs. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cyn...

Today's children don't see coins, paper money, stamps, and other items or experiences that were part of our childhoods. Everyone is swiping, tapping, and hitting send instead. Even learning to use cursive writing is still being debated. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about if it is valuable to still teach about these disappearing items and actions. Check out our website:   https://www.howp...

Sharing and taking turns are two different actions, and one comes before the other. Join Cindy and Alison to examine these skills and ensure you are talking with children about what they are actually doing - sharing or taking turns. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more abo...

Think about how you played as a child. Do you see connections to who you are today? For some people, it may be obvious. For others, it may not be as apparent. Join Cindy and Alison to learn more about the predictive nature of play. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more abou...

Is it wise to tell children not to say no to teachers or families? For generations, saying no to adults was seen as disrespectful. Cindy and Alison discuss the generational belief that children should not say no to adults and the potential consequences of that practice. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/h...

Doll play may be more symbolic than you think! Cindy and Alison discuss how children use playing with dolls to figure out not only others but also themselves. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia's work, including professional development, family education, a...

Children benefit from visuals of all types, and making connections between ideas is no different. Using paper in the shape of hexagons, we can make a visual representation of how their ideas connect. We might even discover connections in their conversations we hadn't considered before! Join Cindy and Alison for this lively conversation about hexagonal thinking. Check out our website:   https://www...

Nursery rhymes are fun for children to learn and have life lessons that we can introduce to children. Cindy and Alison have a great time reciting nursery rhymes and discovering the messages they teach. You will never look at some nursery rhymes the same way again! Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpres...

When we talk with children about their behavior, it is important to remember that different families and cultures may have their own values, priorities, and ways they teach respect. Join Cindy and Alison as they consider differences between how cultures treat eye contact, use tone of voice, and more. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook pa...

If we use morning large group time to allow children to plan their time during free play, will they build more skills and allow us to better understand their creative thinking? Cindy and Alison discuss the benefits of children planning their time and how we can facilitate that. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebo...

Provocations challenge children to explore their interests in a deeper, meaningful, and self-directed way. Join Cindy and Alison to learn the difference between offering provocations and giving instructions and to get some ideas for providing provocations in your setting. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com...

You don't need a kitchen to cook with young children. Cooking activities should be done with early learners all the time! They build many skills, and it has great value; yet, people are hesitant to facilitate the experiences. Join Cindy and Alison to learn how this can be possible with all children, including those with allergies. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/...

Sibling rivalry is common and part of typical development for many children. Join Cindy and Alison to learn one of the main reasons for sibling rivalry (and it isn't always attention!). Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia's work, including professional devel...

There are reasons why early childhood staff members may be attending training with different facilitators or on different days. The same is true for families who watch information about raising children. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about what to do because separate trainings aren't always equal. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Faceb...

Cindy and Alison discuss the inspiration behind the episodes in the podcast and how that can remind us all of the amazing early childhood education and parenting environment. Join them for a fun look back and a look forward! Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynth...

There is evidence that children are not reading and not enjoying reading as much as in the past. You may think this is due to technology, not it is not! Join Cindy and Alison as they discuss how to bring back joy for reading starting at the youngest age groups. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howprescho...

It can be challenging to shift our mindsets from relying on our experience with young children to relying on research-based standards and objectives. Cindy and Alison discuss why using research-based standards and objectives matters and how it can change our understandings of each child's development. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook p...

Should schools and early childhood programs have requirements for families that can limit their involvement in their children's early education experience? Cindy and Alison discuss our ethics and the restrictions that exist in some early childhood settings. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolte...

No one loves initials or acronyms more that people who work in early childhood education. CITE, NAEYC, ABC, LRE, and a whole list of others can confuse teachers and families. Join Cindy and Alison to learn some of the most commonly used abbreviations and acronyms in the world of early education. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  ...

For generations, adults thought ignoring behaviors was the way to teach children and change their behavior. That might work in the short term, but what does ignoring do to the lasting psyche? Join Cindy and Alison to discuss what we know today about the impact of ignoring. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.co...

"Sensory" is a hot and sometimes misused word when products are marketed to families and early childhood programs. Join Cindy and Alison as they discuss experiences that are truly multi-sensory...and those that really are not. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cyn...

Dress Up and Spirit Days can be stressful for everyone involved. There has to be a better way to have community-building events! Join Cindy and Alison for a spirited discussion of Spirit and Dress Up Days as they consider the challenges they pose, especially for families, and what else we might consider doing. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our F...

Is your early childhood program trying to force families to attend events and meetings in person? Is this responsive to the needs of families? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about lessons lost and connections with families that may not suit their needs. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howprescho...

When we declare something to be "best practice," are we saying there is no other way to meet quality benchmarks? Join Cindy and Alison to consider that phrase and other ways we may want to talk about what we strive to do. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia'...

Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about adults' goals when they deal with challenging behavior. Are they looking for compliance? Can we teach social-emotional lessons if our goal is compliance? Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia's work, including profe...