Whether you are a brand spanking new teacher, or one that has had years in the classroom, you have questions. You are looking for tried and true methods. You want your school year to be as simple and organized as possible. You do not want to be overwhelmed.
After all, you have a life outside of school, too. You don’t want to be spending it dealing with work-related stuff.
Here’s Your Preschool Teacher Survival Guide
You’ve been given four walls that will be your classroom. You know you need to stock it with child-sized furniture, educational toys, and art supplies. But how do you set it up?
And what if you can’t afford all that stuff?
And then there is behavior management and trying to figure out how to keep little Johnny at circle time instead of wandering away….
Hold on.
Take a deep breath.
The links in this survival guide are essential for new and experienced teachers. Some of the links are mine, and some are from others. And if, after reading this guide, there is something I have not covered, send me a message. I will do my best to help!
Setting Up the Preschool Classroom
You can see how I’ve set up my classroom for many years, as well as tips and other ideas, in my Back-to-School Prep Playlist.
- How to Set up a Preschool Classroom
- Setting Up the Toddler Classroom for the First Day of School
- Easy Ways to Decorate a Classroom with the Children’s Work
- Organizing Preschool Classroom Supplies
- Getting Ready for the First Day of School
- How to Set Up Preschool Learning Centers
- Setting Up Learning Centers in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom
- Classroom DIY Ideas
- Finding Classroom Supplies at Thrift Stores (Free Printable List)
- How to Make a Simple Classroom Tree
Planning Your Year
- Choosing Your Themes
- Using our Toddler and Preschool Lesson Plans
- How to Plan and Organize Your Classroom Themes
- How to Have a Classroom Helper
- Sharing Time in Preschool
- Celebrating Birthdays in the Preschool Classroom
Planning Your Day
Communicating with Parents
Classroom Management
- Separation Anxiety Tips
- How to Provide Age-Appropriate Instructions
- The Secrets to Handling Transitions
- Creating a Kindness Classroom
- Building Communication Skills with Preschoolers
- Promoting Diversity in the Preschool Classroom
Circle Time
- Creating a Preschool Circle Time
- Creating a Toddler Circle Time
- My Secret to a Successful Circle Time
- Winter Activities for Preschool Circle Time
- Preschool Morning Meeting Ideas
- Back-to-School Activities
- Our Big Collection of Free Circle Time Props
Even more resources: Circle Time Playlist
Small Groups
Literacy
- Favorite Preschool Fingerplays
- Best Books for Kids to Sing With
- Favorite Picture Books for the Preschool Classroom
- Favorite Rhyming Books
- How to Use Journals with 3 Year Olds
- Creating a Literacy-Rich Preschool Environment
Math
Science
Music and Movement
- Our Playlists for the Entire Year
- 25+ Music and Movement Activities
- 30 Favorite Toddler Songs
- Music to Get the Wiggles Out
- Rhythm Sticks Activities
- Learning Songs for Circle Time
Printables
Check out all of our printable packets for your classroom in our Teachers Pay Teachers shop!
Favorite Resources
- Check out my favorite collection for preschool teachers: The Best Resources for Preschool Teachers. I will be adding to it, so keep checking back!
Want more?
Subscribe to my YouTube channel! This is where I share videos of my classroom – with tips and activities and a peek at my students actually making their way around our classroom.
Make sure to subscribe to my newsletter where I share tips and activities that are delivered right to your inbox!
Follow me on Instagram so you can see snippets of our days in the classroom.
Find all of my circle time props and other printables in my shop!
See what my favorite products are that I use in my classroom.
Check out my Pinterest board for Teachers.
And now I have a private support group for teachers of toddlers and preschoolers!
Toddler and Preschool Activity Plans
Looking for an entire year’s worth of learning activities? We’ve done the work for you!
I have helped create each of these packets, along with a team of talented educators and homeschoolers.
Easy to follow activity plans include activity modifications and adaptations to meet the needs of all learners.
Every theme comes with recommended reading lists, songs, material lists, and more.
Click on the graphics below for more details.
Toddlers (18 – 36 months):
Preschool (3 – 5 Years):
FREE CIRCLE TIME PLANNER!
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