Signing In and Out in Pre-K

Our general classroom theme is fish, but I just love all the new owl decorations that are all the rage this year. I just couldn't resist finding a way to incorporate a few into our classroom. One of our daily routines is having the children sign in upon arrival. This is our new sign in/ sign out area. Right now, the kids find the owl with their name and picture on it and place it into their own nest on the tree branch. Later in the year, the kids will write their name on the back with a dry erase marker and place it into the nest. At the end of the day, they take the owl and put it in one of the bins at the bottom so it will be ready for the next school day!

The "nests" were so easy to make! I chopped off the top of a brown paper lunch sack and contact papered both sides, leaving an opening at the top.

The kids are already loving this little routine! I can't wait until they are writing their names on the back, too!

If you'd like to see more of our classroom bulletin boards and decorations, check out: Back To School Bulletin Boards...Redux!

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Using A Picture Schedule in Pre-K

In one of my most popular posts last year, Picture Schedules in the Pre-K Classroom,  I described the picture schedule that we used in our class.  I've received many emails about that schedule. Shortly after writing that post, my friend I and were fortunate to be invited to observe a preschool program in South Carolina that had implemented Conscious Discipline in all 22 of their pre-k classes.  We visited many of those classrooms and saw some really exciting things going on. One of the classrooms had this picture schedule posted for their kids to manipulate. I had to take pictures! Our class theme/acronym is F.I.S.H. (Family Involvement Starts Here).

I made one of these this year. Mine is pretty similar to the one above. I have it located on the bottom of a low hanging bulletin board, so it is at just the right height for little hands to manipulate.  We have a "time keeper" class job, so the children take turns being in charge of the schedule.

We have a "time keeper" class job, so the children take turns being in charge of the schedule. They simply move the fish to the appropriate fishbowl at each transition time throughout the day.

The kids really enjoy manipulating the schedule and will remind each other that it's time to change it. I often see children going over independently to refer to it. As I mentioned my my earlier post,

 "manipulating the schedule can be an especially helpful task for some children with autism or special needs. It is also very soothing for a child with separation anxiety. They can look and see what comes next and when "Mommy or Daddy is coming back."

 This new picture schedule seems to be really working out so far. I have a few that are struggling with separation anxiety and this has been a  really helpful tool to them. Now, I just need a little teacher magic to help me manage my time. I keeping getting behind schedule!

Picture Schedules in the Pre-K Classroom

Several years ago, when my daughter was little and we were struggling to cope with her autism, we used PECS cards and picture schedules to help her manage transitions. It didn't take long for me to realize that picture schedules were a great way for "NT" (neuro-typical) preschoolers to manage transitions, as well. I've been using movable picture schedules in my classroom for since then.

In almost every early childhood classroom, you'll find a written daily schedule at "grown-up" eye level for grown-ups to read. Few preschoolers can read these and even if they are able, they are likely posted way above a preschooler's eye level.

There are lots of great ways to implement picture schedules in an early childhood classroom. One of the easiest is to use a pocket chart and list the activities with a picture, similar to this one from Learning Resources. I would substitute the clock face for actual pictures for young children who are not "reading a clock" yet.

One of my colleagues made this one for her class. There is a clothespin that the students manipulate to change the current activity.

Last year, when my state Pre-K consultant visited, she mentioned that I really needed to have one that read left to right to encourage proper patterns of reading. My current schedule goes across and back again for a few rows, since I just didn't have the space to put one in one long length.

I use photos of the kids during each part of the day, so it is easy for them to relate to.

There is a velcro arrow that the "Timekeeper" moves throughout the day.

Some years, I randomly ask a student to move the schedule or assign it for the day, but this year I included it as one of our weekly jobs. Manipulating the schedule can be an especially helpful task for some children with autism or special needs. It is also very soothing for a child who has separation anxiety. They can look and see exactly what comes next and when "Mommy or Daddy is coming back".

Each Monday morning, my students are invited to pick a classroom job for the week and be in charge of that duty. Our "Timekeeper" gets to move the arrow at each transition time and gets to sport the "Timekeeper" job icon on their cubby.

 Our "Timekeeper" icon

The schedule can be as complex or simple as your needs dictate. The goal is to make a schedule that fits your activities and needs. Be sure to post it low for little eyes and hands.