Teaching a child a new concept can feel overwhelming. Where do you start? What should you say, and when? How can you keep their attention? Thankfully, it doesn't have to be complicated. Below, you'll find simple and practical resources to help you, play lessons, teach songs, sign language, encourage a love for reading, and more. Explore these FREE tips and videos to empower you as you guide your preschooler in learning and growing.
For learning to take place, three things must happen:
1. You must be prepared to teach.
2. The child must be prepared to learn.
3. You must know how to teach.
This page is all about making learning possible! Read or listen to the following information to help you prepare.
Yes... to be the best teacher you can be, God must be guiding your time. Just changing 1% of your day can truly transform how you prepare your heart to work with your children. Listen in as we explore what God offers and how small changes can make a big difference in your teaching experience.
If a child doesn’t feel safe, they won’t be able to learn. If they can’t obey, they won’t be able to learn. And if their heart isn’t teachable, learning becomes impossible. I recommend that a teacher spends 2-3 weeks on routines, obedience, and self-control before diving into academics.
In this video, I’ll share specific ideas and strategies to help your child sit quietly for age-appropriate amounts of time during lessons, reading sessions, or group activities like library or Sunday School. With these practical tips, you can create a focused and calm learning environment while helping your child develop attention and self-control skills.
One liners or broken records are my absolute favorite way to prepare children for learning. These short, pre-scripted phrases, often called "broken records," have been key in shaping my children's behavior. What's even better is that other parents and educators have seen the same success with these simple expressions in their own homes and classrooms.
Parents and teachers may unknowingly contribute to a child’s selfishness, which can make them unteachable. In this podcast episode, Heidi and Melanie explore how we unintentionally foster selfishness in kids and how we can seek wisdom from God's Word to change the outcome.
Once you've prepared yourself and your students for learning, the fun can begin! However, for true learning to happen, it's important to teach in a way that encourages it. Teaching goes beyond simply standing in front of children; it involves asking thoughtful questions, pointing out key details, and using purposeful play. Watch and read the following videos for a deeper understanding.
There are three steps in teaching something new: Introduce, Practice, Identify. Each step gives the child more ownership in the learning.
1. The child is introduced to the new concept.
"This is a triangle. It has three sides. It looks like a piece of pizza."
2. The child practices the learning at the lowest level of learning first.
"Point to the triangle."
3. The child proves that the concept is learned. Review is necessary for retention.
"What is this shape called?" (The child names triangular-shaped items as triangles.)
In the perfect world, this progression would occur within a week's time frame. But depending on the child's development and the concept being taught, it may take anywhere from a few moments to many weeks, months, or even years to learn a new concept. Always follow the child's cues as to when he/she is ready to move on to the next step.
For a concrete example, below is the 3 Year Curriculum Lesson Plan into the three-part process. Notice how the child's participation and ownership in the learning increases through the week. It is very important not to move to the next level of teaching until the child is ready. This means that you may stay on introduction or practice for many weeks or months until the is developmentally ready to move on to the next level.
Lesson plan steps -
1. Introduce the Objectives (Mondays) - This is a ______.
2. Practice the Learning (Wednesdays) - Show me the __________.
3. Identify that the Learning Has Occurred (Fridays) - Name this item.
Day 1 - Introduce Concepts
• Begin by introducing the Bible story, verse, song, poem - child is listening
• Introduce the new letter and number with rhymes and tactile letter/number tracing (This is the letter ___ and it makes the sound ____.)
• Child listens as you read the Book of the Week.
• Introduce the new colors or basic math (I am sorting the blocks into different colors.)
• Introduce the name activity
Day 2 - Practice the Learning
• Review Bible story, verse, song, poem - allow child to fill in key words
• Review new letter and number by tracing and doing an activity - (Point to the letter ____.)
• Review new color or basic math by doing an activity - (Which block is _____ in color?)
• Child listens as you read the Book of the Week and points to various objects in the illustrations.
• Do name activity
Day 3 - Identify that the Learning Has Occurred
• Review Bible story, verse, song, poem - encourage child to take active role in each aspect with assistance along the way
• Child identifies new letter and number by tracing and doing an activity - (What is this number? What sound does this letter make?)
• Child finishes repetitive lines and rhyming words.
• Child identifies new color or basic math by doing an activity - (What color is this block?)
• Do name activity
Throughout the week
• Do cooking activities, watch videos, read books, etc when time is appropriate
• Review all activities while in the car, bathtub, or whenever teachable moments arise
Want to save time and reduce stress while using the ABCJesusLovesMe Preschool Curriculum? In this video, you’ll learn simple tips to organize your materials, plan ahead, and set up your weekly lessons. With a little preparation, you'll be ready to teach each week with minimal effort, allowing you to focus more on your preschooler’s learning and development.
Teaching songs and actions to little ones can be a fun and engaging way to help them learn. In this video, you’ll discover practical ideas to introduce songs, incorporate easy movements, and keep toddlers and preschoolers actively involved. These tips will make learning through music enjoyable and memorable for both you and the child!
In this informative LIVE Broadcast, I’ll guide you through the essential steps to prepare your child for using scissors safely and correctly. Learn how to build hand strength, practice grip, and introduce cutting skills in a way that sets your preschooler up for success. By the end, you’ll feel confident in teaching this important fine motor skill!
Reading with your child is a valuable opportunity to teach and connect. In this video, you’ll learn simple strategies to engage your child and make the most of every story. Discover ways to ask questions, spark curiosity, and encourage participation, turning reading time into a fun and educational experience!
In this Live Broadcast, I’ll share helpful tips on how to effectively tell Bible stories to young children, making the stories come alive in an engaging and age-appropriate way. Then, I’ll walk you through an example story of Abraham and Sarah Have a Baby, showing how to captivate your child’s attention while teaching them valuable lessons from the Bible.
Reading with your child is a valuable opportunity to teach and connect. In this video, you’ll learn simple strategies to engage your child and make the most of every story. Discover ways to ask questions, spark curiosity, and encourage participation, turning reading time into a fun and educational experience!
Sign language is a powerful tool for helping babies and toddlers communicate before they can speak, reducing frustration and boosting their language skills. In this video, you’ll learn why signing is so helpful and discover 28 basic signs to teach your child. Watch as your little one gains confidence in expressing their needs and feelings through sign language!
The "Memory Obstacle Course" beautifully combines exercise and learning. In this video, you'll learn how to set up this obstacle course, along with tips to boost your child's memory and cognitive development as they play. Best of all, it’s perfect for multiple children to enjoy together.
Teaching preschoolers to write and use scissors may seem simple, but there are common mistakes that can hinder their progress. In this video, we’ll explore these pitfalls and provide tips to avoid frustration. Learn how to foster proper grip, hand strength, and coordination to set your child up for success in developing fine motor skills.
Can talking to a child really enrich her vocabulary and raise her IQ? Do conversations with my child create space for connection and spiritual growth? Learn about the differences between "Instructional Talk" and "Relational Talk," why we need to pursue both, and how to take advantage of God-given opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations with our children.
Have you ever wondered how some parents turn ordinary moments into powerful God-moments that leave a lasting impact on their children's hearts? We call these "Teachable Moments." With just a few simple tips, Melanie and Heidi believe you can create your own God-moments with your kids too!
• There is a very fine line between under and over planning your day. It is my hope that in using the ABCJLM Curriculum and worksheets you will find the majority of work done for you (especially if you order the worksheets printed). Some of you - especially those who have an education degree - may want to create elaborate lesson plans. And after so many questions, I have shown you how to do this on the example pages listed on the left. But I can not caution you enough not to over plan. Be intentional with the objectives. Include your child in the gathering of supplies. But I encourage you not to spend hours of time away from your children just to prepare weeks and months in advance.
• The Objective Checklist is a great place to start. In education, teachers use pretests to determine what needs to be learned and post-test to evaluate whether the concept was learned. The Pre-checklists can be used to determine what your child knows. Both are based upon the curriculum's objectives.
• When working on any writing or art project either sit at a table designed for a child so that their feet can touch the floor or stand with the paper on a vertical surface. This is best for development and learning.
I realized something this morning. There is nothing that my children HAVE to learn from the ABCJesusLovesMe Curriculum. Yes, there are goals and it would be great for them to retain it all, but it's not a test to see how much they know and how much you can make them retain. They will learn what they learn and probably enjoy spending time with you more than anything. Do what you can and don't stress the rest. - Cindy
To help you get started with the curriculum, here are example conversations that I have had with my children while working on the curriculum.
*Adult: We are going to work on your numbers in five minutes. Would you like me to set the time so you know when we will start?
*Adult: We are going to work on your numbers. Would you like to begin now or play for five more minutes?
*Adult: Tell me how to spell your name. Before you begin, I want you to think and not be silly.
*(Playing Go Fish on a number that I know the child knows)
Adult: Do you have any cards with the number "one" on them?
Child: I don’t know.
Adult: I know that you know the number "one" because you are very smart. Draw the number one in the air for me please.
*(Playing Go Fish on a number that I know the child struggles with)
Adult: Do you have any cards with the number seven on them?
Child: I don’t know.
Adult: Across the sky, down from heaven, that’s the way to make a...
Child: Seven.
Adult: That’s correct. Let me help you draw that number in the air. (Draw large seven) Okay, now look at your cards. Do you have any cards with the number seven on them?
• Use "fat" writing utensils to aid in better control when writing.
• Encourage crayons and pencils over markers as markers do not require as much motor coordination to use.
• When the child loses interest in school time, figure out if you are dealing with a heart issue of disobedience or a stage that the child is going through. The difference will show you how to handle the situation.
• Do not join with other parents in the comparison game. All children have strengths and weaknesses and each child develops at his or her own pace even if the child is being exposed to wonderful situations. Unless there is concern about a developmental delay, being consistent and intentional will help your child learn what he or she needs to know for Kindergarten.
• Model correct phonetic sounds and correct formation of letters and numbers. (i.e. Make sure your child does not add a vowel to the end of /k/ as in /kuh/)
• Encourage the child to use adjectives and nouns to describe and object instead of using the word “that,” "this," or simply pointing. This increases the child's vocabulary as well as helps the child learning how to explain his/her desires - especially during frustrating situations.
• Don't skip important steps. Much learning occurs in a sequence. For example, recognizing shapes is a prerequisite for learning letters and numbers. And, a child must be able to break up compound words before they can separate each sound in a word. Skipping over the "little stuff" won't help your child read sooner. It may do the opposite.
One of the biggest suggestions that I can give to you while using the ABCJesusLovesMe curriculum is to have fun. The preschool years are quick, and a child deserves the right to be a little boy or little girl during these years. Here are tips to keep the laughter in the learning.
• I believe fully that learning should be fun, active, and age-appropriate. Secondly, everyone involved should be successful. Any stress from the parent or guardian due to preparation or feeling overwhelmed will filter down to the child.
• A child's attention span increase as he or she grows. A typical two-year-old is only able to focus for three to four minutes during formal instruction while a five-year-old has a five to ten consecutive minute attention span. Break up the learning and include fun and play.
• Remember that five minutes of learning time every day is better than 30 minutes once a week.
• In doing focused learning time with the child, changes need to be made if tears, frustration, and stress are encountered. Continuing in this manner could have devastating consequences on the child's formal education.
• As much as possible to keep sitting time to a minimum and space the learning throughout the day.
• Always watch for signs that the child needs a break. It is always better to come back to a concept than push too far. Look for signs of tiredness, frustration, or impatience. Always use positive reinforcement and never belittle the child for not knowing something. Be patient. When patience is running thin for you or the child, it is time to take a break.
• Don’t forget to verbally praise the child for his/her hard work and a job well done. A high five or a hug can go a long way when learning new items.
• Do not get anxious or stressed over how fast the child is learning a concept. All of the items take time. While one concept will take two weeks, others will take one day. This will vary between children.
• Get the whole family involved. A preschool child loves to demonstrate to Daddy, Grandma, or siblings what he or she is learning.
