Discover the untold benefits of using a linear calendar in your pre-k classroom and why it has been a staple in my pre-k classroom for over a decade. Say goodbye to the daily struggle of keeping track of important dates and say hello to a visual representation of time that will captivate your students. It also helps them understand the abstract concept of time.

As a preschool teacher, I understand the importance of being organized and staying on top of our daily responsibilities. The same goes for our students, as they learn the abstract concept of time. A linear calendar in the classroom serves as a visual mediator and can be the cornerstone of your classroom community.

In my over decade-long experience as a preschool teacher, I have found that using a linear calendar in the classroom has numerous benefits. Here are just a few:

Helps to document special occasions: Our calendar helper finds the date and crosses it off, making it a simple and easy way to document special events in the classroom, such as birthdays, holidays, and visitors.

Provides exposure and experience with calendars: Some math skills are touched upon briefly during the calendar time. But more importantly, it’s about giving students the experience of seeing how calendars are used to track important dates.

Makes the concept of time more concrete: When the month is over, I display the calendar in a designated space in the classroom, adding a new strip each month. This allows students to see all the time and months that have passed, making the concept of time more concrete.

Easy preparation: I print one paper calendar for each month, and with a few snips and a couple pieces of tape, the preparation time is less than 2 minutes.

Keeps teacher organized: You know those random dates that something is happening at your school, whether it’s a hearing test or a fundraiser, or spirit week, add it to your classroom calendar, and students are also aware of these miscellaneous events.

Encourages self-regulation: The calendar helps students gear up for a weekend and understand what that means in terms of not seeing each other until Monday.

In conclusion, incorporating a linear calendar into the preschool classroom can provide numerous benefits for children's self-regulation and executive functioning skills. Not only does it help make the abstract concept of time more concrete, but it also offers young children opportunities to develop critical skills that will serve them well in school and life.