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Play Workshop is the way to teach into play!

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Hello Teacher!

I’m Amber and I help Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers implement Play Workshop in their classrooms so that our little learners experience purposeful play every day!

Sound good to you?

Get started by quickly and easily recording your students’ play progress with this FREE

Play Observation Documentation! Grab the FREEBIE!

Play Workshop is the way to teach into play!

play observation documentation

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Need a way to document your students’ play progress?

Hey There!

My name is Amber Unger. I am a 4K public school teacher in The Cream City (aka Milwaukee). I am a passionate educator who knows that play is the way for our littlest learners. My goal is to help you teach into that play, even if you're just getting started.

Learn and Grow as a Play Based Teacher

cups stacked in a tower according to the numbers on the cups to match the number task card

How to Teach Math and Literacy Through Play Exploration

pvc pipe play structure for imagination center in classroom

How to Easily Build a PVC Structure for Your Imagination Center

photo snapshot of a free play choice board with the text how to calm the classroom chaos with the perfect free play choice board

How to Calm the Classroom Chaos with the Perfect Free Play Choice Board

young students sitting at the carpet while the teacher leads a focus lesson

How to Use Purposeful Play Lessons to Intentionally Teach Into Your Students’ Play Every Day

Teach Into Play with these Resources!

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Steal this idea if you're looking for a way to spi

Steal this idea if you're looking for a way to spice up your morning check-in routine!

My 4K friends grab the magnetic lines and curves that are needed to form the first letter of their names.

Then they build their first letters next to the rest of their names and their photos on the printables.

This setup is hosted in our Magnets Center during Morning Play.

Want to grab a set of magnetic lines and curves for your classroom? I'll post the link in my stories for the next 24 hours.

⭐ SAVE ⭐ this post if you want to remember to come back to it!

#prekteacher #4Kteacher #kindergartenteacher #tkteacher #kindergartenclassroom #4Kclassroom #prekclassroom #tkclassroom

Did you invite your students to disguise turkeys 🦃 this year?

As with most things in our 4K classroom, I find it so much easier to give directions through photos. Providing examples is a bonus!

So naturally I showed my students photo examples of how to disguise their turkeys when I explained this family project.

⭐ SAVE ⭐ this post if you want to do the same in your classroom! Feel free to use these photos in order to give your students examples.

#prekteacher #4Kteacher #tkteacher #kindergartenteacher #preschoolteacher #turkeyindisguise

Here are the 18 centers that are available to our

Here are the 18 centers that are available to our 4K friends during our daily Play Workshop:

⭐ Construction Center
⭐ Imagination Center
⭐ Theater
⭐ Tinker Toys
⭐ Makerspace
⭐ Pocket Chart Center
⭐ Science Center
⭐ Light Table
⭐ Games Center
⭐ Art Center
⭐ ABC Center
⭐ Library and Listening center
⭐ Writing Center
⭐ Puzzle Center
⭐ Math Center
⭐ Sensory Table
⭐ Play Dough Center
⭐ Magnets Center

Questions about our play centers...or Play Workshop in general? Drop them in the comments below!

Looking for more inspiration, ideas, and strategies for your play-based classroom?

Then you want the weekly " Play Workshop Provocation" to pop in your inbox each Wednesday!

Comment the word "PLAY" below 👇 and I'll personally send you the link to get signed up.

#playbasedclassroom #playworkshop #prekteacher #kindergartenteacher #4kteacher #tkteacher #preschoolteacher #prekclassroom #kindergartenclassroom #tkclassroom #4kclassroom #preschoolclassroom

Check it out! Our loose parts name art projects ar

Check it out! Our loose parts name art projects are complete and on display. 😍

Here's the process we used:

✔️ Cut out cardboard flats from boxes.

✔️ Write each child's name using permanent marker.

✔️ Invite your students to trace over the letters using tacky craft glue. (Allow them to be liberal with the glue! It's needed to make those loose parts stick.)

✔️ Offer your students trays filled with a variety of loose parts. Think marker caps, beads, ribbon, yarn, Q-Tips, pipe cleaners, or whatever you have laying around that is small and lightweight.

Your kiddos should lay the loose parts in the glue.

✔️ Allow plenty of time for the glue to dry before displaying.

Love this idea? Share these photos with a friend! 💜

Be sure to ⭐ SAVE ⭐ this post so you can come back to it.

#loosepartsart #loosepartsplay #prekclassroom #4kclassroom #kindergartenclassroom #tkclassroom #preschoolclassroom #prekclassroom

Double tap if you agree! ❤️ Here's your permi

Double tap if you agree! ❤️

Here's your permission slip to let go of the idea that play has to look, sound, or feel a certain way.

Instead, continue to learn and grow as a play-based educator. Make small changes often. Do the best you can given your unique situation.

Send this to a teacher friend that might need this reminder!

#prekteacher #kindergartenteacher #4kteacher #tkteacher #preschoolteacher #playworkshop #playbasedlearning

⭐ Play is for everyone. ⭐ Spread the message

⭐ Play is for everyone. ⭐

Spread the message with a sticker!

Personally, I stick them to my laptops (because they go everywhere with me).

But I also have stickers on my clipboards at school.

Want to grab one for yourself? Comment the word "STICKER" and I'll get that link directly to you. 💜

#prekteacher #4Kteacher #kindergartenteacher #preschoolteacher #tkteacher

Easiest loose parts ever? Cardboard! 📦 You mig

Easiest loose parts ever? Cardboard! 📦

You might even have some boxes laying around right now. But if not, quick email your custodian and I'm sure they can get you some cardboard in no time.

Simply cut the boxes into a variety of shapes, and let your kids have at it!

I prompted my students to make faces, but really the ideas are endless.

Love this idea? Send it to a teacher friend who will love it too. 💜

#loosepartsplay #playbasedclassroom #playtolearn #purposefulplay #preschoolclassroom #prekclassroom #4Kclassroom #kindergartenclassroom #tkclassroom

Here are 5 playful literacy materials to add to yo

Here are 5 playful literacy materials to add to your classroom:

1️⃣ lines and curves (for building letters)

It doesn't matter if they're magnetic, wooden, snapping plastic pieces, whatever...as long as your kiddos have opportunities to work on the visual discrimination of letters.

2️⃣ felt board and story sets

Keep it simple. We hot glued some black felt to a random panel board we had in our classroom.

Felt story sets are amazing, but can be expensive. If your budget is tight, stick velcro dots on the back of character printouts.

3️⃣ alphabet games

There are countless games that expose children to the alphabet, so be mindful about what you choose. My 4K friends absolutely love our wooden fishing game! It's a favorite every single year.

4️⃣ open writing materials

You never know when an authentic interest to write will arise, so always have on-hand clipboards, blank paper, and a variety of writing materials.

5️⃣ books, books, and more books

It's so easy to go down a rabbit hole when it comes to classroom books. So again, be mindful about what you choose to add to your library.

Love these ideas? Want more?

⭐ Follow me here so you don't miss a thing! ⭐

#prekteacher #kindergartenteacher #4kteacher #tkteacher #playworkshop

If you really want your students to understand the

If you really want your students to understand the process of voting...

Give your students many opportunities to vote. These experiences can happen beyond Election Day.

Swipe through to see different ways we have voted in our play-based classroom over the years.

What is your favorite way to teach your students about voting?

If you love this play-focused approach to voting, hit that ⭐ SAVE ⭐ button, so you can come back to it later.

#playbasedclassroom #playworkshop #prekteacher #4Kteacher #tkteacher #kindergartenteacher

Here are 4 books to read when you're teaching your

Here are 4 books to read when you're teaching your students about problem-solving in play:

☑️ "Can I Play Too?" by Mo Willems

☑️ "Can I Play Too?" by Samantha Cotterill

☑️ "Problem Solved!" by Jan Thomas

☑️ "The Almost Terrible Playdate" by Richard Torrey

💙 Follow for more quick tips for your play-based learning classroom! 💙

#preschoolclassroom #prekteacher #kindergartenteacher #4kteacher #tkclassroom #preschoolteacher #prekclassroom #kindergartenclassroom #4kclassroom #tkteacher #playbasedlearning #playworkshop

😍 Ooookay, Hungry Cutters, I see you. 😉 Tea

😍 Ooookay, Hungry Cutters, I see you. 😉

Teacher friend, if your students struggle to hold scissors correctly, check out these scissor magnets.

Simply snap the magnets on your scissors. Easy peasy! Your students will know if they're holding the scissors the correct way when they see the cute picture.

There are magnets available for both right-handed and left-handed kiddos.

To be clear, this is not a partnership post. I purchased these scissor magnets. I had my eye on them for awhile, and finally decided to make my move. I'm so glad I did!

My 4K friends love the scissor magnets! It takes away the headache of constantly adjusting scissor grips. So I wanted to make sure you knew about them, too.

Jump over to the @hungrycutters corner of Instagram for details about ordering.

Love these, but not ready to order yet?

⭐ Save this post so you can come back to it! ⭐

⭐ Send this post to a teacher friend who needs to know about these scissor magnets, too! ⭐

#hungrycutters #prekteacher #prekclassroom #kindergartenteacher #kindergartenclassroom #4Kclassroom #4Kteacher #preschoolclassroom #preschoolteacher #tkclassroom #tkteacher

Tell me I'm not alone. 🙏 I acknowledge that I

Tell me I'm not alone. 🙏

I acknowledge that I can be so extra...as a teacher, yes, but as a human being in general. It's just my nature.

While I love this about my personality 😍 I also drive myself a little crazy. 🤪

#teacherlife #kindergartenteacher #prekteacher #4Kteacher #tkteacher

Relatable?

⭐ BRAND NEW SOCIAL STORY ⭐ If your students

There are no rules. Silly or serious...big or sm

There are no rules.

Silly or serious...big or small...it doesn't matter!

So let's hear your answer. What do you need right now, teacher friend?

I can't wait to see you how you finish the sentence! Drop your response in the comments below:

"Right now, I need..."

#prekteacher #kindergartenteacher #4kteacher #tkteacher #preschoolteacher

This ✨ BRAND NEW ✨ resource is for you if nurs

Did you know about this book, "Scribble Scrabble,"

Did you know about this book, "Scribble Scrabble," by @thatkindermama?!

It was the perfect addition to our scribble story study. 🥰

Swipe through to see the scribble characters that my 4K friends created.

After a few days of focusing on our characters, we encouraged our little learners to focus on the story that can be told through their "scribbles."

👉 Where is your character?
👉 How is your character feeling?
👉 Is there a problem In the story?
👉 If so, how was the problem solved?

During our closure activity, our 4K friends shared their scribble stories (sometimes with the whole group under the document camera, other times with a partner).

If a scribble story study is in your future, ⭐ SAVE ⭐ this post!

#prekteacher #prekclassroom #4kclassroom #4Kteacher #tkteacher #tkclassroom #preschoolteacher #preschoolclassroom

This ✨ BRAND NEW ✨ resource is for you if nurs

It's no secret... If you want to learn or improve

It's no secret...

If you want to learn or improve anything in your life, you'll get there faster by surrounding yourself with like-minded people.

Let me be one of your people on your journey as a play-based teacher! 💜

I'm sharing play systems, strategies, tips, and tricks in the weekly "Play Workshop Provocation."

Comment the word ⭐ "PLAY" ⭐ to be sure those emails make it to your inbox each Wednesday.

#kindergartenteacher #prekteacher #4kteacher #tkteacher #playworkshop #purposefulplay #playtolearn

These step-by-step Art Center visuals are yours fo

These step-by-step Art Center visuals are yours for FREE! 🙌

This is the resource you need to teach your students a consistent process, so they stop over-using materials and rushing through projects.

1️⃣ make a plan
2️⃣ prep materials
3️⃣ write name
4️⃣ create
5️⃣ complete (Don't overlook this important step!)
6️⃣ clean up

Watch your students become more intentional with their art creations with the help of these visuals.

Teach the process in your whole group, then display the visuals in your Art Center so your students can refer back to them.

⭐ Comment the word "ART" and I'll send the link directly to you. ⭐

#kindergartenteacher #prekteacher #4kteacher #tkteacher #kindergartenclassroom #prekclassroom #tkteacher #4kclassroom #playbasedclassroom #playworkshop #purposefulplay

The answer is easier than you might think! Here'

The answer is easier than you might think!

Here's how I stay sane as a play-based teacher:

We don't change play center materials or themes on a schedule.

Okay, okay... I do understand that some admin require their teachers to rotate materials and themes based on a required curriculum or schedule.

However, it seems that many educators put unnecessary pressure on themselves. Is that the case for you?

Is your admin actually requiring this of you? Or are you feeling the pressure because of Instagram?

If you are supposed to be following a curriculum or schedule, consider having a conversation with your admin to make this more manageable.

Just something to think about. 💜

Are you required to change play center materials or themes based on a schedule?

#kindergartenteacher #prekteacher #tkteacher #4kteacher

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