I spent the early years ( and many years after ) of my teaching career in early childhood. While I was working on my teaching credential I was teaching preschool in the am and running the after care in the afternoon. Then straight off to night classes about 45 minutes from my home and job. It was tiring but packed full of valuable learning experiences.
I fell in love with teaching during this time right after my undergrad degree!
I have learned a lot over the 26 years that I have been an educator and I will continue to make learning and growing a priority in my life.
One of the things that I was able to see a direct relationship with in my teaching was working with fine motor skills. If I was able to build them up in a child I was able to see a direct relation to their improved writing/drawing skills.
I knew the time I spent preparing fine motor activities for them was going to pay off big time when it came to them holding a pencil, scissors, etc.
That is one of the reasons that I developed my GROW product series on TPT. My desire as is yours I suspect since you are here reading this is for your students’ growth. We want to celebrate the growth of our students in all areas: SEL, academic, etc. In order to do that we need to give them the TOOLS they need to experience that growth so that’s how my GROW series evolved.
Anything that I see as a ‘growth’ promoter for young learners is included in this series. I cover fine motor skill actitivites, social activities, pre reading activites and more.
Below is just a small sample of my grow series that I have started, I have products in my store currently that I am changing covers to and adding to this series.
Pokey pin art – builds fine motor skills and confidence ( not shown but available in my store )
Tracing – builds fine motor skills and confidence – preparing your student for future success in writing, grasping etc.
Dramatic play centers – build social AND emotional skills in young children. Learning to take turns, delegate and accept ‘jobs’ within the roles of dramatic play. Learning to be disappointed when they didn’t get a role they wanted right away. Talking, interacting, imaginative play are all so VITAL in kids nowadays and lacking in my opinion.
Sequencing pictures – a great pre reading skill as children are learning to navigate stories/events have a beginning, middle and an end.
Sensory bins ( not shown but availabe in my store )- Perfect for using their pincher grasp to pick up the sight words or cards in the bin amongst rice or paper or cotton balls, etc.
This series is a work in progress/growing series, if you are interested in these just look for the GROW symbol on covers in my store or click the GROW series in my product categories to find more.
Remember these products will be perfect for PRESCHOOL, PREK, TK, KINDERGARTEN, SPED and possibly FIRST GRADE.
You can find them in my store here.
happy teaching xox
