Top 50 Early Childhood Education Blogs
Participating in a community of bloggers who share a passion for educating kids is its own reward for the writers of our Top 50 Early Childhood Education Blogs. Carving out time to blog in days packed with activity is part of the balancing act for busy teachers and at-home educators who eagerly share tried-and-true ideas tested in the trenches teaching early learners.
Preschool
Teach Preschool
Activity boxes that form the foundation for engaging lessons are just one of the bright ideas shared by early childhood education professional Deborah J. Stewart on Teach Preschool, a blog that offers a bonanza of DIY projects utilizing ink stamps, tin foil and play-dough, each accompanied by photos that illustrate the creative process.
Urban Preschool
On Urban Preschool, Jolayne offers the unique perspective of a teacher of predominantly French-speaking students in a school owned by a clothing maker; the quest for kids’ music with universal appeal, Earth-friendly learning toys and artistic inspiration from ordinary objects are just a sample of what motivates this creative blogger.
teacher tom
An Edublog award-winner by Seattle teacher, author and artist, teacher tom describes the blog author’s practice of the principles of a cooperative classroom, the challenge of defining roles, staying on task and surrendering complete control in a parent-owned school, and a revolutionary idea for boosting parent involvement.
Preschool Playbook
Preschool Playbook presents inspiring ideas from a nursery school teacher/director with 20 years in the preschool trenches; implementing “Handwriting Without Tears,” teaching toothbrushing techniques with boiled eggs, assembling bones in Dino camp, and setting up a stuffed pet vet-center are a sampling of what this blog contains.
Learning and Teaching with Preschoolers
On Learning And Teaching With Preschoolers, kids’ book author/illustrator and early childhood educator Tami shares Dollar Store treasures, multicultural classroom celebrations, story-telling aprons that capture the attention of ELL students, and the unique challenge of blogging as a dyslexic.
Preschool Daze
Preschool Daze by non-profit preschool teacher and director, Kristin Neufeld Epp, gives a glimpse of the day-to-day early learning experience in delightful photos and posts titled alphabet style, as in F is for field trips ranging from donut shop to firestation, and P is for pirate adventures complete with treasure map and edible booty.
PreKinders
A veteran teacher making the transition from private to public school, Karen Cox devotes PreKinders to sharing teacher resources; this lifelong polka-dot fan offers tips on teaching with goldfish crackers and candy hearts, ideas for a multitude of magnet activities and instructions for setting up a play dough bakery.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten…Kindergarten
Kindergarten…Kindergarten by Texas teacher Kathryn Warner offers comforting words for first-time teachers, nifty ways to teach respect of classroom rules and tools, crafty activities covering community-building to center time, and photos that document a classroom-in-the-making.
Mrs Wills Kindergarten
Mrs Wills Kindergarten is a blog by Missouri teacher Deedee Wills, who describes feeling like a goat-herder in the first week of the new school year, shares freebies galore and ideas for math and literacy stations, and goes old-school with an overhead projector for a creative handwriting lesson.
Sneaker Teacher
Fresh from a teaching stint in Germany and actively pursuing a doctorate, Oregon kindergarten teacher “Mrs. Sneaker” is the author of Sneaker Teacher, which addresses the challenge of a redefined and abbreviated kindergarten curriculum that is heavy on academics but short on time to play.
Kindergarten’s 3 R’s
Respect, Resources and Rants are the inspiration for Kindergarten’s 3 R’s, where teacher Michaele Sommerville reflects on back-to-school blues and utilizing the web to create a virtual classroom tour for kids who can’t make a trip to get acquainted before the start of the school year.
Chalk Talk
Chalk Talk is filled with favorite reads, blogs and giveaways of Texas teacher turned K-1 strategist Mrs. Larremore, who shares ideas for learning with LEGOs, book activities that extend storytime lessons, a parade of alphabet celebrities, and a description of setting up the class pet’s habitat.
A Place Called Kindergarten
Veteran teacher Jonelle Bell borrows a book title from Jessica Harper for the award-winning blog, A Place Called Kindergarten; Starbucks and Diet Cokes head the list of essential teacher supplies for this self-confessed label lover who shares ideas for turning kids into non-fiction writers and keeps a jar of Smarties for smarties on her desk.
KindergartenWorks
Being part of a community of teacher-bloggers inspires Leslie on KindergartenWorks, which includes ideas for introducing centers, optimizing read-aloud time, creating a sanity-saving binder, and steering a steady course through changing Common Core Standards.
Kindergarten Crayons
Fran Kramer’s Kindergarten Crayons is a treasure trove of ideas for fellow teachers, with tips for student badges that are chew-proof, a bevy of sight word activities, and a five-fingered rubric for writing rules; creating the ideal homework folder is an ongoing quest for this 25-year kindergarten veteran and district trainer.
Kinderglynn
Creating classroom materials is a passion for teacher, presenter and Kinderglynn blogger Donna Glynn, who eagerly prepares her classroom for a pirate-packed year, finds time to blog after 12-hour days, and includes Aussie versions of her cute and clever classroom themes for down-under pals.
Kindergarten Tales
Mrs. Blakely’s Kindergarten Tales is a classroom blog that provides parents with a glimpse into a room of kids busily training with hula-hoops for Kinder-Olympics, reenacting nursery rhymes, creating books using the Storybird website and learning math skills during Tub Time.
Lil’ Country Kindergarten
Marlana gets a back-to-school makeover after sporting a casual look all summer, discovers her new class can “out-talk an auctioneer,“ and considers Highlights freebies a highlight of the week; on her blog Lil’ Country Kindergarten, the rural teacher also contemplates the confidentiality of kids on classroom blogs and reveals that she is phobic about public speaking yet fearless in front of kids.
Little Miss Kindergarten
Bottle-cap stamps and a trash can converted into a teaching tool exemplify the creative projects that abound on Little Miss Kindergarten, along with integrated writing inspiration, ideas for using a document camera in the classroom and the perspective of a career with plenty of spillover into the life of teacher-blogger Mrs. Coe.
Kreative in Kinder
The pursuit of a Master’s in Educational Technology inspired the creation of Kreative in Kinder, where Texas teacher and adoptive mom Crystal shares ideas for organizing learning centers and shows off a lively nature-walk mural, a tree consisting of environmental print and a kid-created constitution.
Live Love Laugh
Live Love Laugh, Everyday in Kindergarten is inspired by the notion of blogging as a way to keep the classroom fresh, even after 15 years in the teaching trenches; blogger Tammy offers encouraging advice for newbies, ideas for implementing Scott Foresman Reading Street and original classroom activities like a “Real or Batty” word game along with other seasonal fun.
The Alphabet Garden
Returning to the classroom after time off raising a family, Mrs. Hicks posts about surviving the first year back in the trenches, realizing the importance of procedure and practice, and toiling to create keepsake student scrapbooks in this classroom kindergarten blog titled The Alphabet Garden.
The Polka Dot Patch
Kindergarten classroom happenings are the focus of The Polka Dot Patch by teacher Ashley Nichols, who compares being back in school to cat herding as she counts down to Fridays, shops for school supplies on a scaled-back salary, and helps inaugurate the Daily 5 approach school-wide.
Kindergarten Lesson Plans
Kindergarten Lesson Plans is a teacher/parent source brimming with the best ideas scoured from the blogosphere covering every Kinder subject; in addition to tried-and-true age appropriate activities, this blog serves as an introduction, with links, to the talented contributors who generously share a wealth of expertise and ideas ranging from origami storytime with plots that fold as they unfold and sentence-making with bottle-cap words.
K is for Kindergarten
Alphabet post headings carry out the theme of K is for Kindergarten by teacher Lisa, who reflects on the metamorphosis of kids and caterpillars in the classroom, witnesses a breakthrough by a student that is a year in the making, and is chosen as the featured subject of a student author’s book.
A Teacher’s Touch
Songs, posters and engaging activities for classroom work stations fill “A Teacher’s Touch” by Georgia teacher, history buff and Kevin Henkes fan Linda McCardle, who can claim 3 generations currently in Kindergarten, including grandkids and a teacher daughter.
Literacy and Laughter
A priceless scrapbook for parents and an inspiring resource for teachers, Literacy and Laughter by kindergarten teacher Mrs. Rider is filled with Fab Finds, tech tools for teachers and photos that capture memories and milestones in a classroom where budding writers and artists enjoy plenty of opportunities for expression.
1st Grade
Primary Perspective
Primary Perspective by Texas first grade teacher Brooke Perry includes clever classroom management ideas, a class time capsule project, plans for building a reading loft, and a primer on utilizing “environmental print” found all around us as a teaching tool.
Fabulous In First
Fabulous In First by teacher Michelle Oakes describes achieving shopping nirvana in a free teacher supply store (stocked with wares that include items crafted by convicts), trying to set up a classroom while recovering from a vacation-packed summer, and creating GO books to help students get organized.
The Inspired Apple
The Inspired Apple by first grade teacher Abby Mullins, AKA babbling abby, describes setting up a classroom in August with the AC on the fritz, learning to let go and yield some classroom ownership to students as a type-A teacher, and taking a creative stab at DIY ceiling tile art.
Crazy for First Grade
Guest posts fill the gap – and demonstrate the generosity of the teacher-blogging community – while “Crazy For First Grade” creator Anna Brantley graduates grad school; discover a clever classroom job chart complete with clean-up crew and center inspectors, a photo-illustrated guide to managing centers and a kindred spirit who gets an adrenaline rush shopping for organizer bins.
Finally In First
Finally In First celebrates the fulfillment of a career dream for veteran teacher Jenn Bates, who counts down the days to school’s start while working on teaching stuff during a Cub Scout camp out, inherits a class with ‘baggage’ and a preponderance of boys, and lets the class-pet snake attend recess.
The First Grade Parade
Mrs. Carroll finds inspiration communing with teacher pals in blogland and the real world; The First Grade Parade includes regularly featured Teacher Talk Tuesdays, Math tub 101, and a colorful photo tour of classroom highlights and award-worthy back-to-school hallway themes ranging from Candyland to rockstars.
Fun in First
Activities that extend from back-to-school to graduation, including a Friday Favorites feature with ideas gathered from the blogosphere, fill Fun in First, where 1st grade teacher Jodi muses on handling difficult students, teaching in a doorless class, and realizing her room is completely blinged-out with blog-inspired treasures.
First Grade Brain
On First Grade Brain, teacher Mrs. Magee posts about connecting with parents through Facebook and graduating from a thumb drive to a sleek Seagate model; this resource-packed blog offers themes ranging from Hollywood to Dr. Seuss, tips for managing communal class supplies, Open House PowerPoint presentations and much more.
First Grade – California Style
Faced with a class full of struggling learners instead of academic all-stars, teacher Kristen writes on First Grade – California Style about embracing the kids you get, experiencing the joy of Mondays that go as planned, the triumph of passing up donuts in the teacher lounge, and trying to recapture her blogging mojo amid the blitz of back-to-school activity.
More Early Childhood Education Blogs
What The Teacher Wants
What The Teacher Wants is a joint blogging effort by Utah teachers Natalie and Rachelle, who post about getting aboard the Daily 5 bandwagon and offer surefire writing prompts and favorite read-aloud titles, instructions for making milk crate seats, and a hamburger model for teaching how to fill writing with flavor.
Learning With Mrs. Parker
Learning With Mrs. Parker offers a glimpse into the world of a K-1 looping teacher, from first-day getting acquainted exercises to the emotional tug-of-war that the end of each school year brings; a classroom safari for the school’s round-the-world multicultural fair is just one highlight documented in this resource-packed blog.
Teach Mama
When reality interfered with the fantasy of starring as a school volunteer, Reading Specialist/Literacy Consultant, tutor and mom, Amy Mascott discovered her own way to offer support, including setting up the school’s Twitter account; on Teach Mama, she aims to empower and encourage parents to infuse a little learning into each day.
Early Childhood and Youth Development
Dawn Braa shares program details, testimonials by students, guest speaker introductions and career opportunities as instructor at Minnesota’s Dakota County Technical College on Early Childhood and Youth Development; in addition, this information-packed blog includes parenting tips, photos of classroom resources and reviews & giveaways.
Let the Children Play
Let The Children Play is a parent-teacher resource and celebration of playful learning by veteran progressive preschool teacher and Australian, Jenny, who shares ideas for bushwalking, mud pie making, frog ponds and fairy gardens – along with a conviction that kids need quiet spaces carved out of nature.
Getting Messy With Ms Jessi
A childhood nickname that stuck inspires the blog title Getting Messy With Ms Jessi, where this Arizona early childhood professional offers ideas for repurposing on regularly-featured Trashy Tuesdays, along with All About Me get-acquainted activities, classroom themes, and “mad” science.
Teaching Two
An elementary teacher-turned stay-at-home mom, the author of Teaching Two may have downsized her classroom, but her passion for the profession is evident in this blog packed with tips for bean bag toss lessons, a “bored jar” full of ideas to banish the blahs, and activities inspired by Eric Carle picture books.
Little Illuminations
Early childhood teacher Ayn Colsh provides a glimpse into a teacher’s day on Little Illuminations, as she struggles with the decision to banish toys from Show & Tell, reflects on how to commemorate 9/11 in preschool, teaches graphing with gummy bears, and releases a newly morphed moth from the class butterfly habitat.
Tired, Need Sleep
Carving out room each day for playful learning is the challenge that Nicole tackles on Tired, Need Sleep, but the stay-at-home mom makes time for sharing “mama-made fun”, book reviews, faith-related activities, and a contemplation on the necessity of preschool and the debate over homeschooling.
Teaching Blog Addict
Teaching Blog Addict is a collaborative effort that unites dedicated bloggers with an interest in educating kids; as an all-access pass to the best teaching blogs, TBA offers practical tips for using blog tools, recognition of fellow bloggers, collective wisdom about striking a balance as a busy teacher, and regular features like Friday Freebies.
BookaDay
Children’s book author and teacher Carolyn Wilhelm presents a ton of book recommendations and reviews for young readers and beautiful worksheet PDFs that accompany many of the books.
Itsy Bitsy Learners
Alison Garza’s resource for early educators provides free printables, reviews of learning products, fun art project ideas, and explains how a visit to the Welch coast can be turned into a learning experience.
Minds in Bloom
Rachel Lynette aims to inspire creative and critical thinking on Minds In Bloom, a blog for parents and teachers that includes daily brain teasers and reflections on challenging academic stars, recognizing ways that creativity gets squelched, defining a classroom culture, helping outsiders gain group acceptance, and revitalizing routines to avoid a rut.
Irresistible Ideas for Play Based Learning
Irresistible Ideas For Play Based Learning is the collaboration of Aussies Sherry Hutton and Donna Burns, who bring a wealth of first-hand expertise to this resource that invites teachers and parents of early learners to find opportunities for learning all around – with no permission slip required.
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More Great Blogs to Check Out – Honorable Mention
Brick by Brick
Brick by Brick reflects Nashville teacher R. Scott Wiley’s work building foundations for a lifetime of learning; repurposing, looking at ordinary objects in new ways, and recapturing the curiosity, fearlessness and zeal of the youngest learners are examples of topics this blog addresses.
Imagination Soup
On the award-winning blog Imagination Soup, freelancer, book editor and former elementary teacher, Melissa Taylor, shares her views on self-censorship versus book banning and serves up ideas for parents, including tips on packing eco-friendly school lunches, motivating reluctant readers and making hula hoops.
Pre-K Pages
A comprehensive resource for early childhood educators by teacher and speaker Vanessa, Pre-K Pages is packed with printables, info on professional development, interactive whiteboard activities, and technology in the classroom; tips on conducting home visits and preparing hands-on activities for family nights are examples of the practical advice this blog contains.
Kreative Resources
Scavenging garage sales for classroom treasures is practically a part-time job for Kreative Resources blogger LeeanneA, an early childhood educator with a Montessori background who emphasizes process over product, extolls the benefits of sign language in the classroom, and turns water-play into a toy-sanitizing session.
Get Your Mess On!
Plunge into the stimulating world of hands-on learning on Get Your Mess On!, where Kami Wilt shares her passion for creative repurposing and physics lessons in the guise of pinball machines and marble runs as director of the Austin, Texas Tinkering School, based on a California model and recognized in forums as diverse as The New York Times and GQ.
TinkerLab
TinkerLab, by mom and arts educator Rachelle Doorley, is a rich parent resource filled with inspiring projects conveniently categorized by age group; along with sharing ideas for backyard mudpie kitchens and hammer-time with golf tees, this avid upcycler invites participation in creative challenges using everyday objects like rubber bands and LEGOs.
1+1+1=1
1+1+1=1 isn’t new math – it’s the meaningful title of the homeschooling blog by Christian missionary and former kindergarten teacher Carisa, whose talent at photography is evident in this digital scrapbook that is a rich resource for Montessori, Raising Rock Stars and preschool packs with themes ranging from ballerinas to monster trucks.
The Preschool Professor
Entrepreneur and elementary education professional Lindy McLean assembles a compendium of information on The Preschool Professor and its adjunct, The Preschool Blog, where teachers and parents find tips on everything from carving out a career path and setting up a classroom to locating a preschool and easing first-day fears.
The Ramblings Of A Crazy Woman
Preschool teacher-turned veterinary clinic owner, Jennifer offers a virtual attic brimming with ideas and activities in The Ramblings Of A Crazy Woman; regular features of this blog include Wordless Wednesdays that prove the worth of priceless pictures, Slow-cooker Thursday’s recipes that leave time for playful learning, and Friday’s Showcase featuring crafty contributions.
If you have a suggestion for a blog to be added to the Top 50 Early Childhood Education Blogs, please email info@teachercertificationdegrees.com.
