Author name: Vanessa Levin

If you’re anything like me, then you love a good deal (and truth is, who doesn’t?) Which is why this is such an exciting time of the year. As someone who looooves a good deal, Cyber Monday is one of my favorite ways to find good deals on new materials for my classroom centers. Even […]

 I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty certain hearing a student say “I’m boooooored!!” is every preschool teacher’s nightmare. I’ve been through this before, as have you, I’m sure. And, because of that, I know you can imagine the panic in every teacher’s head when those cursed words are uttered. But, have you

 Imagine with me: You’ve got your preschool classroom all set up. The centers are stocked and ready to be used, full of materials you’ve purchased or made yourself.  Everything is the best it could be, and you just can’t wait for your students to use and enjoy every single center in the classroom. However,

 Whether you love pumpkin pie and turkey, or you dread family get-togethers, one thing’s for sure, Thanksgiving is almost here!  What does this mean for early childhood teachers like you and me? Well simply… Thanksgiving activities and the dreaded extra work that comes with them. Being a preschool teacher can be challenging on the

Are you still struggling to get your little ones to stay engaged with you in the classroom? Or maybe you’re wondering how you’re ever going to teach them anything at this pace? Well then, I’ve got the solution for you! Today, I’ll be sharing with you the best preschool activities for a fall theme to

Every pre-k teacher knows it, making art is a big part of preschool. It’s a great way for the children to be creative, enrich their imagination, and develop their fine motor skills in a fun and enjoyable manner. However, making sure your students are creating the right kind of art is important. Because yes, the

 If you’re overwhelmed by the sheer amount of educational preschool centers you’re supposed to have in your preschool classroom, then you’re not alone. Many of us find ourselves facing a dilemma when setting up centers in our classroom: Should we have a separate area for each center? Or can some be combined? Naturally, both

 There are some things that will make or break you as a teacher, and transitions are right there at the top of the list for early childhood teachers. Every single day is full of transitions in preschool, so having a surefire list of tips that’ll help you make them as easy as possible is

The new school year is here, and this means that, like every year, it’s now time for teaching all those important routines and procedures! You see, the life of a preschool teacher is not easy (no matter what some people might tell you). We have quite a few things to take care of and keep

Want to add more diverse picture books to your classroom this year?  Discover Black Boy, Black Boy, a beautifully illustrated children’s book with an uplifting message for all young children. This is the perfect picture book if you’re looking for inspirational stories that will resonate with all the students in your preschool classroom. Not convinced

It’s no secret that early childhood teachers everywhere have seen changes in their students’ behavior since the pandemic began. And because of that, teaching young children is now more challenging than it ever was.  Kids are bouncing off the walls and full of energy… sometimes, a little bit too much energy if I’m being honest.

As I’ve discussed in the last episode of Elevating Early Childhood, learning how to write your name as a preschooler takes a lot of work and dedication from both the teachers and the students. Continuing on with the theme, today, I’ll be discussing whether you should be teaching your pre-k students to write their names

Writing your name as a preschooler is no easy feat. It takes work, dedication, and the right writing activities from you, their teacher. This is why, today, I’ll be sharing some super fun (and super easy) name writing activities you can do with your preschool students. But before we start, let’s address the elephant in

Teaching math skills to preschoolers is not always straightforward. Not every child will find it easy to jump into the world of numbers, and some might even find math pretty intimidating. So, how can we, as early childhood teachers, help facilitate this for them? And where do we even start?  These are the questions I

Hello everyone, and welcome back to a brand new episode of Elevating Early Childhood! Today’s episode is one many of you have been asking for. It’s part 3 of my circle time series! But before we start, let me ask you a question: Are you searching for ways to make circle time more fun and

There are two types of teachers: Those who absolutely love technology and those who don’t feel comfortable using it.  But the one thing both types have in common is that they never have enough time in their work day to get everything done. I’m sure you’re in the same situation as well. Always running around,

Hello everyone, and welcome back to a brand new episode of Elevating Early Childhood! Today’s episode is suuuuuuper exciting. “Why,” you ask? Simply because I’m interviewing the brilliant Dr. Danny Brassell! If you haven’t heard of him (although I’m sure many of you have), Dr. Brassell is an internationally-acclaimed speaker, best-selling author of 15 books,

Wondering how to create a successful dramatic play center in your preschool classroom? Watch this episode below for all of my best tips! But, before we start, let me ask you a quick question… Do your students love pretend play? I’m pretty sure your answer is a resounding “yes!” because, come on, what child doesn’t

Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Elevating Early Childhood! Before we start, let me ask you a quick question: Do your preschool or pre-k students need help learning how to count and develop number sense? If your answer is “YES!” then you’ve come to the right place, because that’s exactly what I’m

Do you have kids in your classroom who have strong reactions to things like loud noises or certain smells?  If your answer is “yes”, then you’re dealing with a child with a sensory processing disorder! At least once in your career, you will have to deal with a situation like this, and making sure to