Now that Halloween is over..What do we learn about next?

I know for myself as a preschool teacher, I am so glad Halloween is over.  Don't get me wrong - I love planning the fun Halloween activities and games.  And of course, seeing all the preschoolers excited and dressed up. 

HOWEVER, it can be just as exhausting from start to finish.  So, when Friday approached and the clock struck 4:00pm, I was out of there with a huge sigh, while locking the classroom doors. 

Now that Halloween is over and November is here, planning for such a "bleh" month, can be challenging!  Alot of professionals struggle on themes because not too much happens in terms of holidays and any special holidays that are coming up - well, don't really happen till December. 

But for me at the preschool, November is always one of the busiest months through the whole school year.  It and January are my two months that I choose to do a "random" monthly theme.  Meaning, I choose an area of learning (or theme) that we haven't done before.  The past two years and Novembers, I did community helpers.  But just like kids getting bored with the seeing the same toys and same books, I too get bored, but with the themes.  If it starts to become too predictable on what "we will learn about", then you know it's time to do something different.  Granted, you can't have this approach with certain months such as October - Fall, Thanksgiving, Black and Orange, Halloween or May - Spring, Mother's Day, Bugs, Gardening.  They're just unavoidable.  But when you have months where nothing obvious is happening around you such as holidays, then you have to jump onto those opportunities to explore and learn things you haven't done before!

So, this November, we're focusing on literacy.. or as I have decided to call it "Fun with Books!".  The theme is pretty self-explanatory but in a nutshell it will be ranging from types of books that make us feel, move, and think to our favourite nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and characters.  The older kids will also learn how to find a title and author, gain the understanding of reading left to right, and top it all off, we will be doing a trip to the local library.  There, the preschoolers will get a tour, sign up for a library card if they don't already have one, and participate in a story hour with a librarian.  With the youngers guys, they have a story teller coming in with puppets and all sorts of cool stuff.  I'm pretty excited for it myself. 

I do have to admit, Pinterest has been my lifesaver on literacy-based activities.  This week we will be having an Eric Carle day and there are so much fun things we'll be doing just on that alone including learning to paint like Eric Carle pictures!  In a later post, I'll be sure to post some examples on what we created. 

Eric Carle - Author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar

November is also a busy month as it is also the time that I do developmental report cards on the preschoolers as well.  All 60 of them.  Sure, it's alot of work, but it really gives me an idea as to where each of the preschoolers are at in terms of development.  Areas assessed include physical (fine and gross motor), social, emotional, language, cognition, and level of independence.  That begins tomorrow and I am nowhere near being ready for it.  (Along with some other things for work but no surprise there.  Seems like there's never enough time in a day for an early childhood educator when it comes to planning).  Prep usually includes flashcards, setting up a quiet area for the assessment to take place, locating specific toys that will be used to assess, set up of each child's file, etc. etc. etc.  The list can go on. 

But it's all part of the job.  If the kids are happy.. and the parents are happy.. well, then I guess I'm pretty happy too.  Even if it means losing sleep and drinking two to three cups a coffee throughout the day.

 

For the record, I'll drink two a day, once and awhile.  And that's usually because my first one is cold by the time I can get to it.  Always little people before big people!