Teresa Hadley | Joyful Teaching, Powerful Learning

September has come to an end and our Year 2 learners were craving a challenge, so we delivered! We grabbed our MAGNA-TILES combo set and our Early Years Creator Center to put their skills to the test with a barrier game. It started off simple - one player describes where to place a shape, and their partner tries to recreate it without seeing the design. Easy, right? Well... not quite. 😆 As we modelled, our learners quickly realized how much description was needed! We’re talking left, right (we labeled the board with an L and an R to support them) above, below, beside and they had to mention if the tiles were touching and even how to place the triangles correctly. You could almost see the gears turning in their heads! But here’s where it gets really fun and challenging. We mixed it up by throwing in microMAGS and original MAGNA-TILES, so they also had to describe the shape, size, and colour of tile too. Honestly, their perseverance blew us away! For those not quite ready for the full challenge, they used the examples as models, and that was totally okay. What really got me, though, was later when we were looking for something as a group in an image one learner said, “It’s on the left, in the middle!” 🙌 He is already putting that practice with positional language into use! I love it when our learners surprise us like that! What are some of your learners’ favourite challenges and how do they tackle them? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your ideas and stories! Let me know if you want links and discount codes to the MAGNA-TILES or the @copernicuseducationalproducts Early Years Creator Center! @magnatiles @magnatiles.ca #earlylearning #stemeducation #magnatiles #playbasedlearning #inquirybasedlearning #handsonlearning #kindergartenfun #teachergram #elementaryeducation #earlyyears #creativelearning #learningthroughplay #teachingideas #earlymath #earlychildhoodeducation #stemeducation #kidsactivities #stemforkids #earlyyears #playtolearn #teacherreels #kidslearning #magnetictiles #stemchallenge #earlymathskills #unpluggedchildhood #gamesforkids #earlymathsfun #kindergarten #kindergartenteacher #teachersofinstagram

This little corner of calm might just be my favourite spot in our classroom! I have to admit that I have stolen a few moments of calm on this couch too during my lunch break when our learners are outside. You know those moments when the energy in the room dips, your learners settle in, and a warm calm fills the air? That’s exactly what happens here. Our @epickidz_play play couch is doing double duty as a cozy reading nook right now. I adore seeing our learners snuggle in with a decodable book in one hand and one of their sensory pals in the other. There’s something so pure about their giggles, their whispered observations about the story, and the way they connect with each other. Let’s talk about those sensory pals for a second: @meaviatoys Sunny the Sea Turtle, our weighted superstar; the octopus with its delightful textures; and the squishy, cuddly elephant. These aren’t just stuffed animals; they’re the supporters of calm and focus. Whether it’s the gentle weight of Sunny’s lap pad or the tactile fidgeting with the octopus’s tentacles, these pals provide the kind of comfort that makes reading feel like a hug. Oh, and our @mybumpas? Those weighted arms are perfect for our learners who love a squeeze of reassurance while they dive into their book. Now, let’s take a moment to gush about the joy of decodable books. Watching little ones light up when they crack the code of a word; it’s everything. There’s so much power in giving them the tools to feel confident as readers. The books our learners are reading here are Science Decodables by @juniorlearning_ Our learners love them because they have beautiful photographs of animals and they can decode them to read independently. Do you have a favourite decodable book series your learners love? Let’s swap recommendations because you can never have too many great decodable books, right? Our play couch is the @epickidz_play Fort Building set. It is beautiful. Use code TERESA15 to save! @mybumpas Lucky, @meaviatoys Sunny the Sea Turtle & decodable books available at @scholarschoice Code joysoflearning15 will save you 15% (If you are ordering @meaviatoys in the US, let me know and I can send you a link and code).

This little wooden game board started out as a blank slate — a crafty gift from a family friend. Now, and it’s been transformed into a coding adventure for our learners! I used my Cricut (seriously, where was this magical machine all my life?!) to add a grid and create these wooden arrow tiles. The best part? Everything (characters, tiles, obstacles) fits neatly into the little drawers. Talk about organized fun! Since we’re loving our Gingerbread Man exploration lately, I couldn’t resist adding the characters and obstacles from the story. Our learners absolutely light up as they ‘code’ their gingerbread man to dodge trees, avoid the sneaky fox, and make their way across the board to the gingerbread house (a wood slice). Here’s the thing about coding with young learners: it’s not about screens or complicated algorithms. It’s about building those problem-solving skills, understanding sequences, and planning steps ahead—all through play! Plus, it’s hilarious to see them narrate as their character ‘accidentally’ walks into a tree or circles back to where they started. Have you ever tried coding with little ones? How do you add a bit of STEM magic into your day? And can we talk about the Cricut for a second? If you’re team Cricut, you know the obsession is real. What’s the coolest thing you’ve made with yours? Or, if you don’t have one, what would you want to create? Let’s swap ideas—I’m always looking for inspiration! #thegingerbreadman #coding #kidscode #kidscoding #childhoodunplugged #teachergram #kindergarten #kindergartenclassroom #learningthroughplay #playbasedlearning #handsonlearning #earlyeducation #iteachk #kindergartenmath #cricutmade #stem #stemeducation #stemactivities #stemforkids #handsonlearning #kindergartenteacher #earlymath #earlymathskills #teachersofinstagram #earlyyears #earlychildhoodeducator #earlychildhoodeducation #fdk #ontarioteacher #playbased @cricut_ca @cricut

“Can we make more of these today?” That’s what I kept hearing as we worked on our winter centerpieces. Watching tiny hands carefully place boughs and berries while chatting about who they’re giving it to is the kind of holiday magic you can’t bottle. We started this tradition last year and it was so special, I knew it would be added to our plans every year from then on. A few weeks back, we kicked this project off by collecting pinecones and asking for mug donations (they make the perfect planter for little hands to work with and can be reused later). Then, we watched Laura from @gardenanswer do her thing with winter arrangements, and I have to say, our learners were hooked. We took a walk through our forest, clipping spruce, pine, and cedar like mini florists, tossing in some greenery from our own yards, too. Back in the classroom, it was all about those creative decisions: red dogwood in the middle? Yes. A perfectly placed reindeer? Absolutely. “Enough greenery” was hotly debated, but hey, they owned it. The pride on their faces when they finished? Unreal. Our learners couldn’t wait to get them home to place as the centerpiece of their family’s table. We even made extras for a special delivery this week (stay tuned for an update). I hope we have inspired our learners to keep creating long after the holidays. What’s your favourite holiday tradition with little ones? Let’s swap ideas! Our Tuff Trays by @cosydirect from @scholarschoice made a great workstation! (code joysoflearning15 saves you 15%). #cosytuffspot #tufftray #tufftrayideas #tufftrayactivities #teachergram #winteractivities #teachersofinstagram #kindergarten #fdk #iteachk #iteachkinder #iteachkindergarten #iteachkinders #naturebased #naturebasedlearning #naturebasedplay #naturekindergarten #naturekids #diygifts #diygiftideas #makecreateplay #handsonlearning #handson #learningbydoing #environmentaleducation #outdoored #outdooreducation #outdooreducator #naturesgifts #naturecrafts

You know that warm, fuzzy feeling when you realize how much heart your little learners have? That happened for us this week in the most unexpected, wonderful way. It all started when one of our learners said, “I love having big buddies. I want to be a big buddy too!” And then, because children are absolute magic, they didn’t just stop there. They brainstormed, “What if we invited the daycare kids to play with us?” I mean, how could we not run with that? Together, we picked dates, wrote an invitation, and planned all the fun things our new friends might want to do. Watercolour paint? Check. Blocks? Double check. Sand play? Yes! Cozy spots for reading? Obviously. The big day finally came, and our first group of daycare buddies arrived, with the rest coming tomorrow to keep things cozy and manageable. Watching our learners step into different roles was the highlight of my week. Some helped their buddies find fresh paper for the easel; others simply made space for them to join in play. There was so much laughter, so many little moments of connection, it was like our room was buzzing with this amazing energy. It wasn’t just about play (though play is the best teacher); it was about building community. What’s something you’ve seen your learners initiate that made you stop and think, Wow, this is why we do what we do? Let’s share the love for those moments where learning and heart collide. #playbased #playbasedlearning #teachergram #kindergarten #earlyyears #teachersofinstagram #earlychildhoodeducation #kindergartenteacher #fdk #ontarioteacher #earlyed #earlyeducation #earlylearning #playingislearning #childledlearning #childhoodunplugged #childhoodunplugged #earlyyearsideas #earlyyearsteacher #play #iteachk #iteachkinder #iteachkindergarten #invitationtoplay #community

Okay, I have to tell you about this new math game we’ve been playing because it’s not just fun, it’s special. And honestly, it’s not even my idea (which is probably why it’s so good). One of our learners brought in these spinners she found while shopping with her family. She said, “I thought we could use these to make a new math game!” I mean, how sweet is that? When I asked her what she had in mind, she told me her idea: spin a number and practice printing it on the whiteboard. Simple. Genius. And let me tell you, our learners are all in. What I love most isn’t just the game itself, it’s the fact that it came from one of them. It’s such a beautiful reminder that when we give our learners space to share their ideas, they bring their A-game. It’s also such a great way to build in math practice, problem-solving, and turn-taking (without anyone realizing they’re “learning”). Do you ever have moments like this where your learners surprise you with their creativity or thoughtfulness? Or maybe you’ve had a game or activity totally transform because someone added their own spin (pun fully intended)? I’d love to hear about it! #earlymath #earlymathskills #mathgame #mathgames #handsonlearning #handsonmath #playbasedlearning #playbased #kindergarten #earlylearning #fdk #classroomcommunity #childledlearning #teachergram #teachersofinstagram #earlyyearseducation #earlyed #earlyyears #earlychildhoodeducation #ontarioteacher #earlylearning #mathskills #ontarioteachers #playtolearn #invitationtoplay

You know what makes your coffee or tea even better? A little extra magic wrapped around your cup! Our local café, @farmgirlcafestirling , dropped these plain cardboard cup sleeves off at our school and invited everyone to decorate them. How fun is that? Our learners were so excited to get to work turning these into tiny works of art. We’ve got smiling snow people and reindeer, polar bears in scarves, a cow, gingerbread people and houses, and one VERY dramatic swirl (every story needs a bit of mystery 😀). Can you imagine grabbing your favourite drink and seeing one of these hand-decorated sleeves? Like, “Oh, look, my hot chocolate comes with a snow person cheering me on today!” What would YOU draw if you got to design a cup sleeve? Something funny? Cozy? Maybe a little doodle that makes someone smile? Share your ideas. I’m curious! And if you’re in the area, swing by Farm Girl Cafe to grab a hot drink (and some of their other amazing goodies) and keep an eye out for these masterpieces. Thank you @farmgirlcafestirling for providing us with such a fun and authentic way to practice our drawing skills and creativity. If you aren’t local, I highly recommend checking in with your community to see if this experience is possible for you. It has been a really special one. Our learners are so excited about the idea of people in the community receiving their drawings. ❤️ #kindergarten #earlyyears #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearsideas #earlyeducation #finemotor #finemotorskills #finemotoractivities #invitationtocreate #communitypartnership #teachergram #teachersofinstagram #kidartwork #youngartist #unpluggedchildhood #kindnessrocks #iteachk #iteachkinder #iteachkindergarten #earlychildhoodeducator #earlychildhoodeducation #ece #ontarioteacher #ontarioteachers #learntodraw #kindergartenart #stirlingrawdon #earlyliteracy

“So… we basically just became treasure-hunting coders, right?!” That’s the kind of excitement that lights up our classroom during this simple unplugged coding activity! Picture this: an orange @magnatiles microMAGS triangle marks the starting point, @3m sticky notes hide treasures, and learners use colour-coded microMAGS with arrows to write their “code” and guide the way. They’re like little programmers on a treasure hunt! Unplugged coding has this fantastic way of making learning feel like pure play. Our learners don’t even realize they’re working on problem-solving, directionality, and logical thinking while they’re busy plotting routes and uncovering surprises. Plus, how fun is it to watch their skills (and confidence) grow as they figure out if they want the quickest route or maybe the longest, obstacle-packed adventure? We begin by modelling how to follow a code to find the treasure. Then we have one learner visit the cubby room while the rest of us hide the treasure , choose a starting location and collaboratively write the code for our friend to follow. We place the coding tiles right on the board to support with a visual and then move them to the “code” space before inviting our friend back. We are always excited when they are successful and cheer for each other. Later we being adding obstacles with additional microMAGS that sit on top of the path and block the way. We keep it simple—sticky note grids on giant @3M chart paper, arrows written on microMAGS with chalk markers, and a cookie sheet to store them all neatly when we’re done. Oh, and pro tip: those microMAGS can double as obstacles if you want to spice things up. Who knew “unplugged” coding could be this versatile? What are some of your go-to unplugged coding activities? Do your learners prefer direct paths or the twisty, challenge-filled kind? Share your ideas below—I’m always looking for new inspiration! @magnatiles @magnatiles.ca @scholarschoice

Okay, confession time. Even though I love small world play, our small world play area was looking rough. You know that one corner of your house (or classroom) that you kind of pretend doesn’t exist? That was me with this space for some reason this year. And surprise, surprise—it wasn’t getting much love from our learners either. I can’t really blame them, can I? Who’s inspired by a sad little pile of materials? Not me. Not them. But this week, something magical happened. The play has become more purposeful and intentional and the stories that are emerging are so much fun. It all started on the carpet with our @toddleroad_com (you know we love those things). Our learners started creating these elaborate little worlds—roads winding through cities and forests with familiar landmarks. And then, I saw them hauling pieces from the sad small world area over to their new masterpiece. That’s when it hit me: I’ve been neglecting this space. The energy, the excitement, the stories—they were already there. I just needed to meet them halfway. We give time and space to the things we value. So, I gave the small world table a little love. We gathered materials our learners were already obsessed with, threw in some new materials, and I modeled a couple of quick stories to kick things off. The transformation was instant. Our learners dove in with so much excitement, and now the room is buzzing with animal chases, road-building adventures, and stories I couldn’t make up if I tried. Are there go-to materials you swear by? Or maybe your learners have a favourite small world theme they can’t get enough of? Drop your ideas below because I’m ready to keep this momentum going. Tree stump, log, and cave by @yellow_door_education, felted fairy homes by @cosydirect , Light Leaning Rocks by @roylco , Wooden Forest Animals by @tickit_education , wooden bridge by @explorenook All available at @scholarschoice Use code joysoflearning15 to save. Let me know if you want links to anything. Felted trees, stacking tree, rainbow, gem rounds by @forestlearningtools #smallworldplay #smallworldlovers #teachergram #earlyliteracy #playbasedlearning #playbased #kindergarten #kindergartenteacher

Picture this: 28 roaring dinosaurs rampaging through your classroom. Chaos, right? Now imagine them outside, stomping through dirt “valleys” and stick “forests.” Much better, right? That’s why I love taking small world play outdoors! Here’s the thing—if you’ve got a basket and a few small toys, you’ve got everything you need to create the perfect small world play setup for outdoor learning. The best part? Nature does most of the heavy lifting for you. Toss in a few dinosaurs, animals, or vehicles, and suddenly sticks become bridges, rocks are mountains, and leaves are dinner for a hungry brontosaurus. Not only does outdoor small world play keep the volume down (hello, roaring dino brigade!), but it’s also a sensory goldmine for kids. They’re touching, smelling, building, and creating—all while connecting with the natural world. Plus, the open space really lets their imaginations stretch. So tell me, what’s in your small world play basket? Are you team dinosaurs, or do you go for animals, vehicles, or something else entirely? I’d love to know your go-to setup and how your learners bring it to life! #smallworldlovers #smallworldplay #outdoorplay #outdoorlearning #outdoorlearningenvironment #outdooreducation #outdoored #naturebasedlearning #naturebasedplay #naturebasededucation #naturekindergarten #forestschool #forestschoolideas #forestschooling #forestschoolactivities #notallclassroomshavefourwalls #takemeoutside #playingislearning #learningthroughplay #kindergarten #kindergartenteacher #kindergartenteachers #teachergram #teachergram🍎 #earlyyearseducation #earlyyears #earlyyearsideas #earlychildhoodeducation #teachersofinstagram #playbasedlearning

Who else loves a good play dough glow-up? Seriously, if you’re ever looking for a low-prep, high-engagement activity that pulls your learners in like magic, grab some play dough and Potato Head accessories. It’s perfection. Every time we set this up, our learners dive in, creating the most hilarious, adorable, and sometimes slightly unsettling (in the best way!) characters. The stories and descriptions of their characters are so cute. Next up, we’re adding a fun twist - documenting their creations! We’ll be snapping photos of their play dough personalities and inviting our learners to add captions or speech bubbles. What do you think their characters would say? Or what wild adventure might they be heading on? It’s all about encouraging oral storytelling, imagination, and maybe even sneaking in a little writing fun. Oh, and let’s not forget the fine motor workout happening here; squishing, rolling, and pressing the dough, all while carefully adding tiny accessories. It’s like a mini gym session for those little fingers. Add in the creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration and this activity is a win on so many levels. Have you tried this with your little learners? Or do you have a go-to play dough setup that’s always a hit? Let’s swap ideas in the comments! #playdough #finemotorskills #finemotoractivity #finemotor #finemotorplay #sensoryplay #sensoryactivity #sensoryplayideas #invitationtocreate #invitationtoplay #playtolearn #playingislearning #kindergarten #iteachk #fdk #teachergram #ontarioteachers #unpluggedchildhood #earlyliteracy #earlyyears #earlyed #earlyyearseducation #earlylearning #earlychildhoodeducation #playbasedlearning #kindergartenteacher #teachersofinstagram #playbased #earlyliteracyskills #earlychildhoodeducator

Have you ever witnessed that magical moment when a few children start playing, and before you know it, the whole crew is joining in? That’s exactly what happened here. It all started with two learners building roads on the carpet—simple enough, right? But then, the magic happened. Hills and curves appeared, followed by a park, and even some buildings. Slowly but surely, more learners started joining in, each bringing their own materials, ideas, and enthusiasm. Before I knew it, the roads weren’t just roads anymore—they became pathways for stories. One learner talked about a park they visited with their grandma. Another shared about a family trip through a long tunnel all lit up with beautiful lights. And then there was a tale about a hotel adventure and even a trip to a friend’s house. These stories were so sweet and heartfelt—I could have listened to them all day. It’s funny because small-world play has been slower to take off this year. But this? This feels like the spark we’ve been waiting for. Watching their imaginations and memories unfold into little narratives is always a wonderful reminder about how much value storytelling brings to play. They weren’t just playing—they were practicing language, sequencing, collaboration, and even a little spatial reasoning. Have experienced a moment like this recently? When does small-world play really click for your little ones? I’d love to hear about it! Silicone roads by @toddleroad_com , Line and Learn Cars by @meaviatoys , tree stump and log by @yellow_door_education and bridge by @explorenook can be found at @scholarschoice Use code joysoflearning15 to save 15%! Let me know if you want a direct link to anything! Trees, mushrooms, rainbow by @forestlearningtools #teachergram #kindergarten #earlyyears #playbasedlearning #kindergartenteacher #teachersofinstagram #earlychildhoodeducation #fdk #ontarioteacher #playbased #openendedtoys #openendedplay #sensoryplay #smallworldplay #giftsforchildren #giftsforkids #holidaygifts #unpluggedchildhood #childhoodunplugged #playbasedlearning #playbased #playtolearn #iteachk #iteachkindergarten