PreK Parade

Gobble, gobble! 🦃

The temperatures are dropping and the holiday countdown is officially on! We know this time of year can be a whirlwind in the world of Pre-K, with little learners keeping you on your toes and a million things to do before the holiday break. The latest quarterly edition of The Pre-K Parade is here, filled with a little inspiration, classroom ideas, regional highlights, and a few fun things to brighten your season. Grab your favorite drink, take a deep breath, and enjoy this edition. You're doing wonderful things, and we're cheering you on every step of the way!

I had the opportunity to visit Ms. Sides’ Pre-K classroom in DeLeon ISD, and it was wonderful to see such strong routines and procedures already in place early in the school year!

Students were exploring multiple ways to represent numbers, practicing sight words, and transitioning seamlessly into small groups. Ms. Sides does a phenomenal job of keeping students engaged and incorporating brain breaks throughout her mini-lessons during carpet time.

It’s always exciting to see the amazing things happening in our Region 14 classrooms! I would love to highlight more of the great work happening across our region. Reach out to schedule a classroom visit and share the wonderful things happening in your classroom!

Planning is already underway for the 2027 Early Childhood Symposium, and we want your input! Please take a few minutes to complete this short [Google Form] and share the topics, ideas, and experiences you would love to see included in next year’s symposium.

As a thank-you for your feedback, everyone who completes the form before Thanksgiving break will be entered into a drawing to win a prize!

Your feedback helps us create a meaningful and engaging experience that supports the amazing work you do with our youngest learners. We look forward to hearing from you!

NEW-CLI Class Goal Setting Report: The Class Goal-Setting Report provides teachers with an opportunity to review their student's wave 1 child progress monitoring data and set individualized wave 3 goals. Learn how to generate the report [here].

Sensory bins are an easy and affordable way to bring learning to life! With a few items from Dollar Tree, you can switch out materials to match the seasons, holidays, or classroom themes. Think fall leaves, mini pumpkins, scoops, cups, and colorful fillers!

As a mom of a 3.5-year-old, I can attest that a sensory bin can keep little hands busy for quite some time, and the excitement when new items are added is priceless! Beyond the fun, children are practicing pouring, scooping, sorting, and exploring with their senses. These bins also create natural teachable moments for counting, comparing, describing textures, and building vocabulary. See more sensory bin ideas [here].

This issue's magic: Looking for an easy way to make your classroom screen more interactive? Digital classroom tools like Gynzy allow you to create engaging visuals, display timers, use interactive tools, and more! These tools are a great way to support routines, keep little learners engaged, and make transitions smoother. Check it out and see what works for your classroom!