Blog - My Play Based Classroom
Hi there!
I'm Janelle - a play-based early years teacher passionate about creating learning experiences that ignite curiosity, creativity, and academic growth.
On this blog, I share practical tips on meeting curriculum benchmarks through a balance of explicit teaching and play, setting up the ideal learning environment and fostering social-emotional development.
Let’s make play-based teaching work in your your preschool, kindergarten, and first grade classrooms!
A Guide to Play Schemas in Early Childhood Education
If you would like to create an engaging and effective learning environment and confidently plan learning experiences that perfectly match the cognitive development of each child in your class, this blog post on play schemas is for you. Understanding play schemas and being able to pinpoint the ones your students are developing is critical to the success of your early childhood classroom.
Using Weather Gnomes to Teach the Year 1 ACARA Science Curriculum
Discover how to use weather gnomes to teach Year 1 students about weather patterns and seasonal changes in line with the ACARA Science Curriculum.
Creating a Calm and Peaceful Classroom Learning Environment
Discover how to create a peaceful learning environment in your classroom with calming routines, mindful spaces, and practical resources. Reduce sensory overload, foster emotional growth, and promote student focus with my social and emotional learning tools and transform your classroom into a safe, calm space where students thrive.
Desert Felted Play Mat Tutorial
Learn how to make a quick and easy desert felted play mat for small world play set ups. My DIY hack requires minimal materials and can be completed in no time! Whether you are teaching about different habitats, the Australian desert or just need to revamp your imaginative play area, this play mat will provide endless hours of fun and learning for your students.
My Best Ever Playdough Recipe - A Classroom Must Have
Want to discover my go-to, must-have ultimate playdough recipe? In this blog post, you’ll learn how to make the best ever playdough. Explore the benefits of playdough in early childhood education, and find out my tips for getting creative with colours, scents, and textures so you can enhance your playdough sensory play.