ABC as easy as 123

Hello all,

I got a message from a teacher pal who moved away,  asking to join the blog.  I've been terrible getting my act together to write.  Cherie inspired me --so here I go.

I know many of you are back with kiddos and the demand on you is crazy hard/difficult.  I really want to make your burden lighter.  So my first word of advice for you is take care of yourselves.  Second, do what is best for your group of kiddos.  I hope that you all have reduced student numbers to help control the spread of Covid.  When you take care of yourself and then get to know, love, and care for the children in your class you've got most things covered.

Now I know that my thinking isn't always what administrators want to hear, but I believe that it is what will make your classroom a place that is fun and safe to be a child.  Children who feel safe and cared for learn and explore with great joy.  That leads to children who become lifelong learners.  It gives you, the teacher, more joy and more energy to be you.  This is what in the long run helps children become successful.

Teachers who love teaching are better teachers and children who enjoy school and feel safe at school are better learners.  So let's take a look at Preschool ABC's and 123's of early learning..

Remember that in all this teaching online or in whatever style your teaching in, that the letters most important to a child are the letters in their name and the letters in their family and friend's names.  Make name cards to use all over the room, or make them to send your students in the mail.  Pictures of different name cards for you to see are below.

I use different types of paper, different colors of ink.  The printed with an icon are great for younger learns who might focus on the icon first and then can find the right cubby and then see their names on the card.  There are so many things to do with name cards in the classroom or at home.  You might share how you use them in the comments on this post.

I have to jump to other ways our kiddos get to know the alphabet.  I love and collect ABC books.  ABC books are wonderful.  Today I will share four that I enjoy and there will be more in blogs ahead.  The Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth is a favorite.  You can sing it to "Joshua Fought the Battle at Jericho", which I do and even did on a mic for a Reading Under the Stars night.   Bugs and Beasties ABC in another ABC book that kids really engage with...ant, butterfly, chameleon--what's not to like. Alan Baker and his bunny books--Black and White Rabbit's ABC.  Rabbit and his ABC adventurer are just cute and fun. A local favorite is C is for Coyote A Southwest Alphabet book.  

Old Black Fly, not only can you sing this book, but you can go on a nature walk and pick up things to make a fly with to go with a fly swatter painting.  Yep, look at the cover...painting with fly swatters is a blast and a bit messy. (It might still be available in a big book!)

Now let's talk Bugs and Beasties ABC's. An ABC book that introduces different bugs and beasts with a torn paper kind of illustrations.  This lends itself to making a class book A is for...  and torn paper art or a collage project.  So much fun and discovery!

The next adventure is with Black and White Rabbit.  Alan Baker has a whole series of Rabbit books so you might go on a wonderful author study.  And you could also go around the room and find items that go with each letter of the alphabet.  If you go looking for this book, it may have a new cover.

 I

C is for Coyote is a bit more detailed and an older 4 year old/5 year old audience is best. It might also go well reading a letter or two at a time.  This ABC book is illustrated with photographs.  It might lead to a class book with photos of students. Or a study of the southwest.  Or a graphing project--My favorite animal is... 

Take out some of your favorite ABC books and decide how you might extend your abc adventures with art, a class book, an abc hunt.  The possibilities are endless.

Learning is as simple as ABC as Easy as 123.  

Memory Lane or a new to you song...depends on your age.  ABC  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho7796-au8U&list=RDho7796-au8U&start_radio=1&t=7

Next time we'll discuss some more ABC books and a few 123 books too.  I don't believe in worksheets, I believe in books, paper, crayons, counting items, etc.  I believe in real items and experiences that tie learning to memory.

Wish you well,

Teacher Debbie