Below you will find my preschool classroom must-haves. Stock up your preschool classroom with these items and you will not be disappointed!
- White Boards
- I love using white boards as a teaching tool. And kids LOVE writing on whiteboards. We have several that we use— one big white easel-style board used for small groups and individual writing practice. These can be purchased online as well as at Toys R Us. We also use small personal white boards for letter and drawing practice. I use old (but clean) socks as erasers. You can buy these anywhere (WalMart, Target, teaching supply stores) or made them using masonite from building supply stores.
- Flannel Board
- Flannel boards are great for story-telling, songs and chants and for counting practice. You can make anything into a flannel project by adding flannel to the back.
- Sensory Bin
- Using a large tub or a sand/water table, create a sensory bin. You can fill it with sand, rice, beans, etc. You’ll see ideas each week for a sensory bin and these can just be added to your sensory bin fillers.
- ABC stamps
- My kids and preschoolers have LOVED using alphabet stamps. I have the Melissa and Doug ABC stamps but any set will do. These are great for art projects, journaling or just exploring with letters.
- My kids and preschoolers have LOVED using alphabet stamps. I have the Melissa and Doug ABC stamps but any set will do. These are great for art projects, journaling or just exploring with letters.
- Instruments
- Again, here is my Melissa and Doug plug— but I love their instrument kit. I used it for preschool everyday during our music time. Students would trade and play different instruments as we explored rhythm.
- Counting Items
- These can be found at school supply stores and I’ve even seen them at Walmart. They are just items in a tub that can be used for counting (bears, blocks, cubes, circles, etc.).
- Music
- Here are some of my favorite artists and/or albums for children’s music:
- Disney Junior songs AND Disney Silly Songs
- Rockin’ the Schoolhouse, by Billy Gorilly
- Country Blues for Kids, by Victor Johnson
- Artist: Elizabeth Mitchell
- Artist: Caspar Babypants
- Top 20 Color and Sing Happy Songs (Clifford Songs)
- Top 20 Color and Sing Friendly Songs (Clifford Songs)
- Free music from KidsMusicWeb.com
- Carnival of the Animals (for Children)
- Baby Instrumental Lullabies (you can find popular song in lullaby format on iTunes)
- Here are some of my favorite artists and/or albums for children’s music:
- Other supplies
– Glue—glue sticks, white glue and hot glue gun
– Scissors—child scissors and adult scissors
– Popsicle sticks
– Construction paper— you can buy large packs of construction paper at most Hobby Lobby stores
– Assorted colors of tissue paper
– Toilet paper rolls
– Brads
– Stapler
– Tape
– Glitter
– Paints: Watercolor and poster paint
– Easel paper— I buy mine at IKEA for around $5/roll.
– Ribbon
– Crayons, markers and colored pencils
– Play dough
– Legos
– Magnetic Letters AND/OR ABC blocks
The Letter Zoo 