Educational Free Resources From Kickin It In Kindergarten For Early Childhood Educators
The digital landscape offers numerous resources for educators seeking classroom materials without financial investment. Among these resources, the website Kickin' it in Kindergarten provides a variety of free educational materials designed specifically for kindergarten teachers and parents of young learners. This article explores the free resources available through this platform, their educational applications, and how educators can access them to enhance their teaching practices without additional cost.
Overview of Kickin' it in Kindergarten
Kickin' it in Kindergarten is a resource platform developed for kindergarten educators and parents of kindergarten-aged children. The website offers a collection of free printable materials and classroom activities designed to support early childhood education. The platform is part of a broader educational community that includes various teacher bloggers and Instagram accounts dedicated to sharing resources and ideas for early childhood classrooms.
The platform is actively engaged in educational initiatives such as book studies and collaborative teaching strategies. For instance, Kickin' it in Kindergarten participated in a book study for "Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites," a text that emphasizes engaging students through meaningful activities rather than traditional worksheet-based instruction. This participation demonstrates the platform's commitment to evidence-based teaching practices and professional development opportunities for educators.
Available Free Educational Resources
Kickin' it in Kindergarten offers a diverse range of free educational materials that address various aspects of kindergarten curriculum and classroom management. These resources are designed to be immediately usable in educational settings without requiring additional preparation or materials.
Classroom Management Resources
The platform provides several resources focused on establishing effective classroom environments:
- 4 Rules: A visual representation of fundamental classroom expectations that help establish clear behavioral guidelines for young learners.
- My First Day in Kindergarten: Materials designed specifically to ease the transition of students into kindergarten, including activities that help children become familiar with their new learning environment.
- There's No One Like Me: An activity that helps children develop self-awareness and appreciation for individual differences within the classroom community.
Seasonal and Holiday Activities
The platform includes time-sensitive resources that align with various calendar events:
- Spring Break Writing: Prompts and activities designed to maintain writing skills during school breaks.
- Dress Like the Cat in the Hat: Materials related to Dr. Seuss celebrations, likely for Read Across America Day or similar literary events.
- Weather Storms: Educational resources about different weather patterns, possibly aligned with seasonal weather studies.
Developmental and Academic Materials
Kickin' it in Kindergarten offers resources targeting specific developmental and academic goals:
- Hug a Bug Poem: A literacy resource that likely combines poetry with insect studies, appealing to young children's natural curiosity about the natural world.
- Things I am Looking Forward to in 1st & 2nd Grade: Materials that help kindergarten students transition emotionally to the idea of advancing to higher grade levels.
- Teen Number Snowman: A mathematics activity focused on teen numbers, using a snowman theme to make numerical concepts more engaging for young learners.
Book Study Participation
Kickin' it in Kindergarten actively participates in professional development opportunities through book studies. The platform was involved in a study of "Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites," a text that advocates for engaging teaching strategies that accommodate diverse learning styles. This participation demonstrates the platform's commitment to professional growth and evidence-based teaching practices.
The book study focused on strategies to move beyond traditional worksheet-based instruction toward more engaging, interactive approaches. For example, Chapter 1 of the book emphasized brainstorming and discussion techniques, which are particularly valuable for English Language Learners (ELLs) who comprise a significant portion of many kindergarten classrooms. The study highlighted how sentence starters can help facilitate these discussions, providing scaffolding for students who may need additional support to express their thoughts verbally.
Classroom Activities Featured
Beyond printable resources, Kickin' it in Kindergarten showcases various classroom activities that educators can implement with minimal materials. One featured activity is the "Crazy Legs" project, which involves:
- Providing each student with a green rectangle as a base
- Having students draw expressions on the faces
- Using Valentine's stickers to decorate the characters
- Creating ladder-style arms and legs by folding black paper strips
- Assembling the final pieces to create a character
This activity combines fine motor skill development with creative expression and can be connected to literature studies, particularly books featuring characters with distinctive physical characteristics.
Connection to Educational Communities
Kickin' it in Kindergarten maintains connections to broader educational communities through social media platforms, particularly Instagram. The platform maintains an active Instagram presence where educators can access additional resources and teaching ideas. The Instagram account is listed among recommended educational bloggers, indicating its recognition within the teacher community.
The platform encourages educators to follow specific hashtags on Instagram to discover additional resources and connect with fellow educators. Some of the recommended hashtags include:
- #teachersfollowteachers
- #teachersofinstagram
- #teachersoninstagram
- #kindergarten
- #iteachkindergarten
- #teachercreated
- #teacherspayteachers
These hashtags serve as discovery tools for educators seeking additional free resources and teaching inspiration. The Instagram presence also allows for real-time sharing of classroom implementations and adaptations of the materials provided through the platform.
Accessing Free Resources
Educators can access the free resources from Kickin' it in Kindergarten through the website's dedicated freebies section. The resources are typically presented as downloadable PDF files that can be printed and used immediately in classroom settings. No purchase or subscription is required to access these materials, making them particularly valuable for educators with limited budget resources.
The platform occasionally offers free resources through Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT), as evidenced by the "Teen Number Snowman" activity mentioned in one source. These TpT freebies maintain the same quality and educational value as the resources available directly through the website.
Educational Philosophy Behind the Resources
The resources provided by Kickin' it in Kindergarten reflect a child-centered educational philosophy that emphasizes engagement and meaningful learning experiences. This philosophy aligns with the principles outlined in "Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites," which advocates for teaching strategies that accommodate diverse learning styles and provide opportunities for students to retain information long-term.
The platform's resources typically incorporate multiple elements:
- Visual components that appeal to visual learners
- Hands-on activities that support kinesthetic learners
- Opportunities for verbal expression that benefit auditory learners
- Creative elements that make learning enjoyable and memorable
This multi-modal approach ensures that the resources can effectively support diverse learning needs within a typical kindergarten classroom.
Practical Applications in the Classroom
The free resources from Kickin' it in Kindergarten can be applied in various classroom settings and situations:
For Beginning of the Year
- "My First Day in Kindergarten" materials help establish a welcoming environment
- "4 Rules" resources set clear behavioral expectations
- "There's No One Like Me" activities build classroom community
For Seasonal Teaching
- "Spring Break Writing" maintains academic engagement during breaks
- "Weather Storms" resources support science curricula
- "Dress Like the Cat in the Hat" materials support literacy celebrations
For Skill Development
- "Teen Number Snowman" activities develop mathematical understanding
- "Hug a Bug Poem" combines literacy with science content
- "Things I am Looking Forward to in 1st & 2nd Grade" supports social-emotional development
Professional Development Opportunities
Beyond providing classroom resources, Kickin' it in Kindergarten offers opportunities for professional growth through participation in book studies and collaborative teaching initiatives. These opportunities allow educators to expand their instructional repertoire and stay current with research-based teaching practices.
The book study of "Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites" exemplifies this commitment to professional development. By engaging with texts that advocate for meaningful, engaging teaching strategies, educators can continuously refine their instructional approaches to better serve their students.
Community Engagement and Collaboration
Kickin' it in Kindergarten actively participates in educational link-ups and collaborative projects, such as the book study link-up mentioned in the source material. These collaborative initiatives allow educators to share ideas, resources, and experiences, creating a supportive professional network that benefits both teachers and students.
The platform's presence on Instagram and other social media channels further facilitates this community engagement, allowing for real-time sharing and collaboration among educators across different locations and contexts.
Conclusion
Kickin' it in Kindergarten provides a valuable resource for educators seeking high-quality, free materials for kindergarten classrooms. The platform's diverse collection of printable resources, classroom activities, and professional development opportunities supports effective teaching practices without requiring financial investment. By connecting to broader educational communities and maintaining an active social media presence, the platform creates a dynamic resource ecosystem that continues to evolve based on educator needs and input.
The resources reflect a thoughtful approach to early childhood education, emphasizing engagement, differentiation, and meaningful learning experiences. Whether for beginning-of-year activities, seasonal teaching, or skill development, the materials offer practical solutions for common kindergarten teaching challenges.
Sources
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