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How to Teach Math and Literacy Through Play Exploration

March 2, 2024

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If you’re heading into the first few weeks of Pre-

If you’re heading into the first few weeks of Pre-K...

...and you're wondering, “Okay, but what are we actually going to DO?!” I’ve got you.

The beginning of the school year is about getting to know each other, practicing routines and procedures, and building a strong foundation for the year ahead.

So, what does that look like in our 4K classroom?

SWIPE through for some back-to-school highlights!

Like an idea? Go ahead, steal it for your own classroom.

👉 Tap the SAVE button so you can come back to these ideas when you need a little inspiration.

#prekteacher #4kteacher #playbasedlearning #earlychildhoodeducation #preschoolteacher

Here's one thing I've learned after 8 years of suc

Here's one thing I've learned after 8 years of successfully running Play Workshop in our 4K classroom...

The right tools can make a BIG difference!

One of my favorite tools is actually not for the kids.

It's for any adult that comes into our classroom (ie: special education support, admin, parents, outside visitors, etc).

So what's the tool? ➡️ Our Play Center Learning Signs!

(Wait until the end of the video for a sneak peek.)

These visuals help make the learning (that happens through play) visible to everyone in our space.

You'll love the signs, too, because...

✨ They’re EDITABLE!

✨ You get 3 versions: clip art images, real-life (stock) photos, AND open frames.

✨ The open frames let you add your own photos of your actual play centers.

Want to take a closer look?

👉 Comment the word "LEARN" and I’ll send you the link!

#playbasedlearning #playworkshop #preschoolteacher #prekteacher #kindergartenteacher

I know what gets attention on Instagram. And I al

I know what gets attention on Instagram.

And I also know that I could probably grow faster if I leaned into those things.

But that’s not really what I’m here to do.

I’m here to show you what play-based learning can look like in a real public school classroom.

A classroom with curriculum requirements.
A schedule. Limited time.
Big feelings and challenging behaviors.
And 4-year-olds who sometimes have absolutely no interest in following my carefully thought-out plan. 😂

I want the ideas I share to be things I actually use with my own students.

I want you thinking:

“I could actually do that.”

“That would work in my classroom.”

“That makes sense.”

Going viral isn't my goal.

Helping teachers create classrooms where children have more agency, more opportunities to play, and more meaningful learning experiences?

That's the goal. 🩷

So no, I might never have the biggest account in early childhood education.

But if what I share makes your teaching a little more practical, a little more playful, or a little more doable…

I'll take that over going viral any day.

And if that's the kind of teacher content you're looking for, I'm glad you're here. 🫶

#playbasedlearning #earlychildhoodeducation #prekteacher #4kteacher #playworkshop

One of my favorite things about dramatic play is w

One of my favorite things about dramatic play is watching kids take the lead.

This Tiny Land playset is headed into our Imagination Center this year, and I love how open-ended it is.

It could become a restaurant, pet shop, doctor’s office, grocery store, coffee shop...

It can become anything my 4K friends want it to be.

That’s the magic of a good play prop.

It gives children a starting point without deciding the whole story for them.

If you're thinking, "Oh, we soooo need this in our classroom," then...

👉 Comment the word "PLAYSET" and I’ll send the link straight to your DMs!

#playbasedlearning #dramaticplay #4Kteacher #prekteacher #tinylandus

@tinylandus gifted this place led to our classroom, but as always, opinions are my own.

The first week of school in Pre-K is A LOT. 😅 New

The first week of school in Pre-K is A LOT. 😅

New kids. New routines. New classroom. New everything.

The last thing you need is to download a “first week of school” lesson plan that turns out to be 47 pages of vague suggestions that leave you thinking:

“Okay, but what am I actually DOING with these kids?!”

So I’m sharing the exact lesson plans I ACTUALLY use year-after-year during the first 4 days of school in my own 4K classroom.

They're not cutesy, but they're the real deal: lesson plans written by a real teacher for real Pre-K kids who learn through play. ❤️

And yep…they’re FREE!

👉 Comment PLANS and I’ll send the link to your DM.

#4KTeacher #PreKTeacher #EarlyChildhoodEducation #PlayBasedLearning #BackToSchool

Next question: "How do you document learning while

Next question: "How do you document learning while students play?”

We all agree that children learn through play.

But capturing that learning is a little trickier.

Well, here are 3 ways I document learning during Play Workshop:

💻 Letters of Learning - I type up a letter to an individual student that highlights skills they practiced.

📝 Paper + Pencil - I use a guided template to capture specific learning goals.

📸 Photos + Videos - I add captions that connect those artifacts to our program objectives.

Documentation isn't about trying to prove that every single moment of play produced a measurable outcome.

It's about slowing down, noticing the learning that's happening, and making that learning visible.

Have questions about documenting learning during play?

👉 Ask your questions in the comments below and I'll be sure to respond!

#playbasedlearning #playworkshop #earlychildhoodeducation #preschoolteacher #prekteacher

This is for you if you're wondering how to set up

This is for you if you're wondering how to set up play centers in your classroom.

You don’t need 15 different play centers to create a strong play-based classroom.

Start with 5 simple spaces:

🧱 space to BUILD
🎭 space to IMAGINE
🎨 space to CREATE
📚 space for LITERACY
🔬 space for STEM

These five areas give children opportunities to important skills - all through meaningful play.

I wrote a blog post that walks you through how to set up these play spaces...

...without making your classroom setup complicated or overwhelming.

💬 Comment CENTERS and I’ll send you the link!

#playbasedlearning #playbasedclassroom #preschoolteacher #prekteacher #kindergartenteacher

It's time to answer another one of your Play Works

It's time to answer another one of your Play Workshop questions!

(And it's a really good one, because I get this question from teachers all the time.)

“What’s the difference between free play and Play Workshop?”

Play Workshop isn’t just “go play.”

There’s intentional teaching before play through a focus lesson...

...and intentional reflection after play through a group share.

That simple structure helps to connect child-led play to intentional teaching and learning.

Want to go deeper and learn how to implement Play Workshop in your own classroom?

Comment "PLAY" and I’ll send you the link to my course!

#PlayBasedLearning #PreKTeacher #KindergartenTeacher #EarlyChildhoodEducation #PlayWorkshop

Your students’ names are the the most meaningful p

Your students’ names are the the most meaningful print in your classroom.

We teachers know it's super smart to build on that.

With this simple snip-and-glue name activity, students practice...

✂️ scissor skills
🔤 letter recognition
👀 name recognition
✋ fine-motor skills
🧠 concepts of print

And because they’re working with their own name, there’s an extra layer of motivation built right in.

It’s one of those activities that looks simple on the surface, but there’s a LOT of learning happening in those little hands.

As I often say, it feeds many birds with one scone. 🩷

Want to try it with your students?

👇 Comment NAME and I’ll send you the link!

#backtoschoolactivity #nameactivity #prekclassroom #tkclassroom #kindergartenclassroom

It's time to answer another question from the Play

It's time to answer another question from the Play Workshop jar!

"How do you keep Play Workshop from feeling chaotic?"

It's all about routines and procedures, my friend!

Just like morning meeting, lunch, literacy, or any other part of your school schedule...

Play Workshop runs smoothly when children know the expectations and have plenty of opportunities to practice them.

Want to see exactly how I teach those routines?

⭐ Comment the word "PLAY" and I'll send you the link to learn more about my Play Workshop course. ⭐

#PlayBasedLearning #PreKTeacher #KindergartenTeacher #EarlyChildhoodEducation #PlayWorkshop

Visual discrimination doesn't get nearly enough at

Visual discrimination doesn't get nearly enough attention in early childhood classrooms.

Before we ask kids to identify and write letters, they need opportunities to notice the differences between them.

That process starts with exploring the lines and curves that make up our alphabet.

In our 4K classroom, we spend time building letters with magnetic foam lines and curves in the first weeks of school.

It feels like play...but it's building an important foundation for letter recognition.

If you'd like to use the same activity in your classroom, I created printable letter building cards with:

✨ uppercase and lowercase letters
✨ two different sizes
✨ printable lines and curves (if you don't have the magnetic manipulatives)

👉 Comment the word "BUILD" and I'll send you the link!

#PreKTeacher #KindergartenTeacher #LiteracyAndPlay #EarlyLiteracy #TeachersPayTeachers

⭐ NEW SERIES COMING AT YOU! ⭐ I'm pulling your P

⭐ NEW SERIES COMING AT YOU! ⭐

I'm pulling your Play Workshop questions from a jar and answering them one by one.

Today's question:

"How do your students choose their centers during Play Workshop?"

Giving children meaningful choices is one of the simplest ways to build independence, agency, and engagement during play.

If you'd like to see the choice board we use in our 4K classroom...

👉 Comment the word "CHOICE" and I'll send you the link!

#PlayBasedLearning #PreKTeacher #KindergartenTeacher #EarlyChildhoodEducation #PlayWorkshop

To be clear, "playful" doesn't mean "just for fun.

To be clear, "playful" doesn't mean "just for fun."

Playful approaches are the very best way to teach early literacy skills.

These sensory gel letters invite children to touch, explore, and talk about letters... while they're playing.

Swipe through for 5 simple ways we're using this alphabet set in our 4K classroom this school year.

Each idea is easy-peasey to set up - I promise!

Want to add this sensory gel alphabet set to your classroom?

✨ Comment "GEL" and I'll send you the link!

#LiteracyAndPlay #PreKTeacher #EarlyLiteracy #ConstructivePlaythings #PlayfulLearning

This set was gifted to our classroom by Constructive Playthings. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Some of our quietest learners just need the right

Some of our quietest learners just need the right invitation to share their thinking.

That's why I intentionally build in a variety of opportunities for conversation throughout our school day.

Whether it's talking through a toy phone with a partner, sharing with our class mascot, taking turns with a magic wand, or reflecting together before dismissal...

...these simple tools help children practice putting their thoughts into words.

Because oral language is so much more than getting kids to talk.

It's how children build vocabulary.

It's how they learn to organize their thoughts.

And it's one of the foundations for future reading and writing.

None of these strategies require a lot of prep. They fit naturally into the routines you're already doing.

✨ Comment REFLECT and I'll send you the reflection cards we use during our daily Goodbye Group!

#PreKTeacher #KindergartenTeacher #EarlyChildhoodEducation #OralLanguage #EarlyLiteracy

When I add something new to our classroom, I alway

When I add something new to our classroom, I always ask myself one question:

"Will this inspire richer play?"

If the answer is yes, it's worth making room for it. 🩷

This market stand from Tiny Land is the perfect addition to our Imagination Center.

My 4K friends can turn it into a farmers market, a coffee shop, a bakery, a flower shop, or anything their imaginations dream up.

That flexibility is exactly what we need for open-ended play experiences.

As my students play here, they'll naturally:
✨ practice oral language
✨ build foundational math skills
✨ strengthen early literacy skills
✨ develop social-emotional skills

Thank you @tinylandus for gifting this adorable playset to our 4K classroom!

I can't wait to see all the rich conversations, problem-solving, and joyful learning that happen here.

If you want the market stand for your learning space...

👉 Comment PLAYSET and I'll send you the link!

#prekteacher #prekclassroom #preschoolteacher #preschoolclassroom #dramaticplay

Little by little, our 4K classroom is waking up ag

Little by little, our 4K classroom is waking up again.

It will be awesome to see this space really come alive with our new batch of 4K friends!

#prekteacher #4Kteacher #preschoolteacher #kindergartenteacher #tkteacher

Have you started setting up your classroom yet?

🧠 Is play center set up on your mind? Maybe you'r

🧠 Is play center set up on your mind?

Maybe you're wondering...

• Which play centers should I start with?

• What materials do I actually need?

• How can I make my play centers purposeful without spending a fortune?

I've been there too. (Like, literally. It was the summer of 2018.)

I want you to be more confident about your play centers than I was back then.

That's exactly why I created my FREE "5 Essential Play Spaces" guide.

Instead of giving you an overwhelming list of ideas, I'll help you focus on the purpose of each space...

So you can create meaningful play opportunities with materials you probably already have.

✨ Comment GUIDE below, and I'll send the freebie link straight to your inbox!

#playcenters #playworkshop #freechoiceplay #playbasedlearning #playtolearn

The best classroom materials are those that do mor

The best classroom materials are those that do more than one job. 🙌🏻

These alphabet + sign language tiles are a great example.

We already incorporate sign language when we introduce letter names in our 4K classroom, so...

I love that these tiles allow my 4K friends to make that connection while they’re also touching, tracing, and exploring the letters.

We'll be using these tiles during Literacy Exploration with some play dough for multisensory learning.

The tiles are durable and easy to clean, so I don't have to worry about them getting a little messy during play.

Want to add the alphabet and sign language tiles to your classroom, too?

🩷 Comment TILES and I'll send you the link!

Affiliate disclosure: Constructive Playthings gifted these alphabet tiles to our 4K classroom. As always, all opinions are my own.

#playbasedlearning #playbasedclassroom #earlyliteracy #literacythroughplay #prekteacher

If play center selection feels chaotic, you’re not

If play center selection feels chaotic, you’re not alone.

Here’s the thing:

The problem usually isn’t the play. It’s the lack of a system for getting INTO the play.

And that’s where a choice board can make a BIG difference.

A choice board isn’t about controlling where children play.

It’s about giving children a clear, predictable way to make a choice and get started.

Because when children aren’t spending 10 minutes wandering, waiting, asking, or trying to figure out where they’re supposed to go, they have more time to actually PLAY.

And more uninterrupted play time means more opportunities for children to:

✨ build ideas
✨ solve problems
✨ communicate with peers
✨ practice literacy and math skills
✨ persist through challenges
✨ develop independence
✨ experience the deep, meaningful play we’re aiming for

We use a choice board in our Play Workshop every. single. day. It is the system that helps our classroom run more smoothly while still keeping children at the center of their play choices.

Ready to make play center selection easier for YOU and more independent for your students?

💬 Comment CHOICE and I’ll send you the link to my Play Workshop choice board!

#playworkshop #playcenters #playbasedlearning #playbasedclassroom #playbasedteacher

I'm always on the lookout for playful, hands-on wa

I'm always on the lookout for playful, hands-on ways to support early literacy...

...so I can't wait to add these gel-filled alphabet letters to our 4K classroom!

I'm already imagining so many ways to use them:

💧 Add them to a water sensory tub for letter exploration.
✋ Invite children to trace each letter with their fingers.
🔤 Encourage letter recognition through hands-on play.
🧠 Engage multiple senses while building literacy skills.

If you want to add these Sensory Gel Letters from @constructiveplaythingsco to your classroom...

Comment "GEL" below, and I'll send you the link so you can check them out!

#PlayBasedLearning #PreKTeacher #KindergartenTeacher #EarlyChildhoodEducation #LiteracyCenters

Constructive play things gifted us with the set, but as always - opinions are my own.

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