Isn't it amazing to see the way our little learners soak up everything around them? They're like tiny sponges, eager to explore and learn new things.

When it comes to early literacy, our little sponges need the right opportunities to help them learn foundational literacy skills.

Let's face it, traditional flashcards and worksheets can feel a bit…well, dry... and honestly... those methods aren't meaningful ways to learn letters.

Plus, as you know from Episode 90, laying the literacy foundation is about SO much more than letter learning.

So how do we make learning these emergent literacy skills exciting and engaging for our preschool crew? Tune in to find out!

Topics Discussed:

• 5 proven methods to help learn emergent literacy skills

Resources Mentioned:

• Beyond the ABC’s Free Challenge
• Read Aloud Activities Bundle for Pre-K
• Shared Reading Pocket Chart Poems and Simple Sentences BUNDLE
• Shared & Interactive Writing BUNDLE for Pre-K and Kindergarten

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

For whatever reason, parents seem to think if their preschooler can't name all the alphabet letters by the end of preschool, then the year was a loss. Or maybe you've even had an administrator that sees letter recognition as the key early learning goals for literacy!

It can be frustrating because, as preschool teachers, we know that early literacy is so much more than just memorizing letters!

This poses an important question though. What should we be teaching in this emergent literacy stage?

Tune in to find out exactly which skills we should be focusing on when it comes to early literacy.

Topics Discussed:

• 4 early literacy skills you should focus on
• Additional resources to help you incorporate a holistic approach to early literacy

Resources Mentioned:

• Beyond the ABC’s Free Challenge
• FREE List of Skills Every Emergent Reader Must Have to Lay the Literacy Foundation

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

We all know the importance of fresh, engaging center materials to spark curiosity and learning in our preschoolers. But let's be real, sometimes the thought of prepping and switching out those materials feels like a whole other mountain to climb.

We've all been there. You spend all this time crafting amazing experiences, but then changing things out feels like a chaotic avalanche.

Fear not, my friend! This episode will definitely help. 

Topics Discussed:

• 6 practical tips to help prep and manage center rotations
• A special offer!

Resources Mentioned:

• Preschool Planning Matrix

Related Episodes or Blogposts:

• Blogpost: Leveling up your Centers with Tray Tasking
• Blogpost: Level Up your Preschool Science Centers
• Blogpost: Why we Change out our Drama Center
• Podcast: Episode 49 - Center Signs that Work Harder

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

Do you want to keep your preschool center time fresh and engaging, but get overwhelmed at the thought of actually doing it? Changing out centers for center time is some serious work! But, what you need is a plan! In this episode, let me walk you through my step-by-step process for changing out your centers! Tune in!

Topics Discussed:

• The problem- changing out centers can be overwhelming and time consuming
• The solution for easy switches
• My step-by-step process that will save you time and sanity
• A special offer!

Resources Mentioned:

• Math & Literacy Center Bundle SALE
• Writing Invitations
• Science Centers
• Preschool Planning Matrix

Related Episodes or Blogposts:

• Blogpost: How Long to Schedule Centers
• Podcast: Episode 13- Benefits of Free Choice Play

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

You know the centers in your classroom that your preschoolers rarely go to? The centers that when they do get students, those students rarely stay for too long? I call those the "un-popular" centers. I've found a way to liven up those centers! Tune in!

Topics Discussed:

• Un-popular centers - writing, math, science, literacy
• How to make the un-popular centers fun and appealing

Resources Mentioned:

• Preschool Science Centers Bundle - Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources
• Writing Invitations Bundle - Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources

Related Episodes or Blogposts:

• Blogpost: Free Play + Playful Learning = Engaged Centers
• Podcast: Episode 14- Free Play + Playful Learning = Engaged Centers
• Blogpost: Level Up your Preschool Science Centers
• Blogpost: Why we Change out our Drama Center
• Podcast: Episode 62 - Why we Change out our Drama Center
• Podcast: Episode 48- Preschool Centers: Free Choice or Rotation?

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

We all know the magic of center time: a room buzzing with creativity, exploration, and little minds learning through play. But let's be honest, sometimes center time can feel more like...chaos erupting.

Keeping children engaged can be challenging. Today I want to share with you 5 strategies that have helped guide me to making my free play centers more enjoyable for all!

Topics Discussed:

• Change it up
• Use hands-on materials
• Put it on the table
• Use novelty
• Play in the center

Related Episodes or Blogposts:

• Blogpost: Free Play + Playful Learning = Engaged Centers
• Podcast: Episode 14- Free Play + Playful Learning = Engaged Centers
• Blogpost: Preschool Centers: Free Choice or Rotation?
• Podcast: Episode 48- Preschool Centers: Free Choice or Rotation?

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

The end of the school year is definitely bittersweet. It's exciting for our current students to be headed to new adventures and hard to let go of the littles we have had in our classrooms all year! One thing I do at the end of each year is spend some time reflecting. What worked in my classroom and what do I want to change for that new group of students coming in!

Topics Discussed:

• The importance of reflection
• Several key areas to reflect on (wins and needs work)
• Setting goals for next school year

Resources Mentioned:

• Get your Yearly Planning On (free training)
• Circle Time Games
• Interactive Read Alouds
• Shared Reading
• Interactive and Shared Writing

Related Episodes or Blogposts:

• Setting Up your Preschool Classroom (video)

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

While conferences are a great time to connect with parents, celebrate student achievements and also provide a space to express concerns - it's not easy. Most of us are extremely comfortable talking to young children, but talking to parents can feel like a totally different experience! In this episode of the Lovely Preschool Teachers podcast, you will get tips on how to make conferences go more smoothly and actual examples that you can use when talking to parents!

Topics Discussed:

• Positivity First
• Giving Specifics
• Focusing on Skills
• Providing Support

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

I’ve done a lot of required assessments in my day. And when I think back, I can confirm that I didn’t actually use the results from the assessments. I just got the assessment done and called it a day.

But, the purpose of assessing is to check progress and if there is a discrepancy, to use that data to create lessons and learning opportunities to help teach that missing skill.

Tune in to this episode to hear the why, how, and what behind data collection and the system I created!

Topics Discussed:

• Why assessment data should be analyzed
• The system I created and how to use it
• What can be learned from collecting assessment data

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Quick Data Collector
• Free Assessment Guide

Related Episodes or Blogposts:

• Episode 26: Do This, Not That - Assessment Edition
• Episode 27: Making Preschool Assessment Engaging
• Episode 31: Streamline your Preschool Assessment Process

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

We all know the importance of preschool assessment – it helps us understand our little learners and tailor our teaching to their needs. But traditional assessment periods can sometimes feel overwhelming. Testing all of the skills multiple times per year is exhausting and unnecessary! What if you were only focusing on specific skills to assess for each testing period? You'd be doing LESS assessing. Now you can use that time saved to TEACH those missing skills in small group! Let me introduce you to 'The Storybook Method'.

Topics Discussed:

• Why use the Storybook Method for Preschool Assessment?
• The Skill Break-Down
• What to do about Re-Assessing
• The 4 Step Process to Storybook Your Assessments

Resources Mentioned:

• FREE Storybook Method Assessment Guide

Related Episodes or Blogposts:

• Blogpost: Making Assessments Engaging
• Podcast Episode 31: Streamline your Preschool Assessment Process

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com