The Top 5 Leaders in Preschool That You Need to Follow Right Now!
Are you familiar with these grade A preschool professionals? If not, let me introduce them to you! I’m going to share leads to a few of the names of people I respect in the field that truly enlighten me.
By the end of the article, you will discover easy and actionable ideas that you can employ. As well as ideas to excite you and ignite your activities!
Ready? Let’s get to it!
Leader #1: Pocket of Preschool
Jackie Kops is a mom and preschool teacher. She specializes in play-based activities and intriguing themes to keep you inspired. The work that has gone into this site is nothing short of amazing! Character building is weaved into the lessons as well. A done for you teacher binder (which I love) is featured on her TpT (Teachers Pay Teachers) profile, along with red and green choices designed to promote positive social-emotional interactions. Check out her easy to follow videos, book lists, and curriculum pacing map. You’ll never feel stuck with these fun and engaging ideas! FYI Jackie just did a Facebook live video explaining in detail how and why sensory bags are so valuable and fun. I absolutely loved it. head on over now!
You can learn more about Jackie at https://pocketofpreschool.com/
Leader #2: Pre-K Pages
Vanessa Levin wears many hats! She is an educator of young children, author, public speaker and consultant. Amazing! She has even spoken to teachers for events held by the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children). This stands out to me because this entity promotes “high-quality learning by connecting policy, practice, and research”. In other words the NAEYC governs with very rigorous standards and they are an authority in the world of early childhood. Pre-K Pages can save you time by offering tons of pre-planned lessons, printables, themes and more. She is here to inspire you and offer support. Why not take advantage of this wonderful opportunity? Don’t forget to subscribe to her page and explore her shop!
You can learn more about this Vanessa at https://www.pre-kpages.com/
Leader #3: Planning Playtime
The first word that comes to mind when you visit Amy’s website is “warmth”! The color scheme feels soothing and you just feel relaxed. You scroll down to find a beautiful picture of her and you feel as though you are going to spend time with a friend. She finds our pain points as parents and gets to the root of the issue. She addresses all too common concerns of being short on time, feeling unorganized, and bringing fun into our experiences with our children. You want to follow her because her expertise was featured in Good Housekeeping, Teachers Pay Teachers, Huffington Post, and Good Things Utah! This is incredible! Another point that stands out to me is that her mother was a retired teacher, so that love of teaching was passed down to her. If you want your child to learn through play, this site is for you.
You can learn more about Amy Nielson at https://planningplaytime.com/
Leader #4: another_day_in_prek
Renee loves to share the fun things she does in her classroom! It makes me want to be in the classroom again when I see what everyone else is doing. Serious FOMO (fear of missing out) happening here. I enjoy seeing her sensory bins and name activities. She also provides quick videos and funny posts on her account. I feel that she provides a variety of simple activities that you can do at home, and repeat by incorporating them with different themes. Renee also shares what materials she uses and where to find them. I appreciate the attention and interaction that is given to her followers. It is so comforting to know if you ask a question you will get a timely response. You will get a sense of authenticity when you see her photos. Wish her well, she is teaching this year! Be sure to follow right away!
You can learn more about Renee Sperrazza on Instagram @another_day_in_prek
Leader #5: Hands On As We Grow
How happy does Jamie look? Ecstatic, right? If you want to look like this when you spend time with you child(ren), try out her fantastic activity library. Why give her a try? You will find that the plans are effortless and laid out clearly. So much so, you will actually want to do them! The activities are organized by age which is super convenient and the supplies are items that you likely have at home or are easily accessible and affordable. Jamie is all about making memories and I feel that she is super interesting. She was a marketing manager before she became a mother to 3 handsome boys, she decorates cakes, and helps with a family business. You see a teaching background is not necessary to teach your children and provide memorable experiences for them! This site offers a 7-day challenge and you will definitely want to become a member of The Activity Room because she sends activities right to your inbox. This community provides motivation and accountability. Check back regularly for public enrollment which is happening this fall.
You can learn more about Jamie Reimer at https://handsonaswegrow.com/
Conclusion
Jackie, Vanessa, Amy, Renee, and Jamie all have a love of teaching young children, and a wealth of knowledge that they are eager to share.
My goal was to connect you with some of the most exciting teachers and mothers that I have enjoyed reading about and watching.
As you can see from these great influencers, planning activities is not hard, you don’t have to come up with the most extravagant idea, or even spend a lot of money. I want you to know that you are not alone!
It is so important to me to know what your thoughts are! Please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.
Happy Planning,
Sascha McLaurin
