Stay At Home Educator

Why Preschoolers Interrupt During Circle Time (and What Teachers Can Do About It)

Sarah Punkoney, MAT — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:10:19 +0000

Circle time discussions can be some of the most engaging moments in a preschool classroom, but preschoolers interrupting during circle time can make it some of the most chaotic. You ask a question, and suddenly multiple children are talking at once. Someone blurts out an answer without raising their hand. Another child interrupts mid-sentence because...

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Weather Lesson Plans for Preschool (Free + Weekly Guide)

Sarah Punkoney, MAT — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 19:29:08 +0000

Spring weather is unpredictable (in the best way). If you’re planning your next theme and searching for weather lesson plans for preschool, you probably want activities that feel hands-on, real life, and easy to pull together, right? Preschoolers naturally notice the sky. They watch clouds move, feel wind on their cheeks, listen for thunder, and...

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Spring Preschool Lesson Plans (Free Weekly Activities + Printable Plan)

Sarah Punkoney, MAT — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:52:54 +0000

Goodbye winter, hello spring! If you’re planning your next theme and searching for spring preschool lesson plans, you probably want something that feels fresh, engaging, and easy to implement. As the weather changes, preschoolers are full of energy and curiosity. They notice budding flowers, rainy days, baby animals, and longer afternoons. Spring is the perfect...

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Letter Names or Sounds First? What Preschool Teachers Should Do

Sarah Punkoney, MAT — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:26:39 +0000

If you teach preschool, you’ve likely asked yourself: Should you teach letter names or sounds first? You want children to be ready for kindergarten. You want them confident. You want them prepared to actually read and not just sing the alphabet song. But advice online can feel conflicting. Some educators say start with names. Others...

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Should You Teach Uppercase or Lowercase Letters First?

Sarah Punkoney, MAT — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 18:15:18 +0000

Preschool teachers often ask whether to teach uppercase or lowercase letter first. The answer isn’t either-or. This debate comes up constantly in preschool classrooms and parent conversations. Some educators argue that uppercase letters are easier for young children to recognize. Others point out that lowercase letters appear more frequently in books and everyday print. So...

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20+ Preschool Math Activities To Do At Home

Sarah Punkoney, MAT — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:10:19 +0000

If you’re searching for preschool math activities at home that feel playful instead of pressured, you’re in the right place. A lot of parents want to support early math skills but aren’t sure what that actually looks like in real life. Should you be using workbooks? Teaching addition already? How much is enough? Here’s the...

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Weekly Preschool Themes: How to Plan All 52 Weeks the Easy Way

Sarah Punkoney, MAT — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 20:58:51 +0000

Planning preschool can feel overwhelming. You want your children engaged and having fun. And you also want some structure so the week doesn’t feel scattered or chaotic. That’s where weekly preschool themes make all the difference. Using a weekly theme gives your preschool lesson plans a clear focus while still allowing flexibility, creativity, and time...

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Preschool Math Curriculum: Scope, Sequence & Daily Lesson Plan Guide

Sarah Punkoney, MAT — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 09:29:00 +0000

You know early math matters. You want a solid preschool math curriculum that’s more than worksheets and random counting games. But figuring out what to teach, when to teach it, and how to keep it developmentally appropriate can quickly become confusing. And because preschoolers develop at different speeds, it’s easy to wonder: Am I teaching...

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Teaching Letter Recognition in Preschool: A Step-by-Step, Research-Based Guide

Sarah Punkoney, MAT — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:34:00 +0000

Teaching letter recognition in preschool is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — parts of early literacy instruction. Many parents and educators are told that children will “pick up letters naturally” through letter recognition activities and play. And this is sometimes true. But when preschoolers struggle to recognize letters later on, adults...

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Preschool Math Objectives: A Clear Guide for Planning Math

Sarah Punkoney, MAT — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:28:00 +0000

Planning math for preschool can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to figure out what how to organize preschool math skills into a scope and sequence that makes sense. Clear preschool math objectives take the guesswork out of planning by helping you align skills, expectations, and preschool math activities in a way that’s developmentally appropriate...

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