Hey teacher friends! 🙌🏽 Yesterday we hit 500 members. I didn't even get a chance to post about it, because by the time I sat down to write this, we're almost at 600. That's how fast this space is growing, and honestly, it's because of the energy YOU bring. And I have to say it: this isn't just teachers anymore. We have teacher assistants, directors, student teachers, instructional coaches, admins. A whole community of early childhood educators who want to do better for themselves and for their students. I love reading your goals. You are so intentional, so motivating, and we all speak the same language here: play, and learning through play. 💛 Before writing this, I opened the Map tab. And I'm not exaggerating, I got choked up. The US and Canada, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand... we are literally all over the world. 🌎🥳 And it hit me: play is the universal language of children. Different countries, different curricula, different classrooms, and every single one of us is here for the same reason. 🫶🏼 Here's the thing you should know about me: I treat this community the same way I treated my classroom. I believe in building classroom community, and that doesn't stop at the classroom door. It's how I run this Hub, and it's how I run the Pre-K Prep Club. If you're in the Club, you already know how I work. 🍎 So thank you. Truly. For showing up, for answering each other's questions, for making this a space where educators feel less alone. Let's celebrate the only way that makes sense: if you have a teacher friend who would benefit from this energy, invite them in. Send them to the Preschool & Pre-K Teacher Hub and tell them to come say hi. Drop a gif below if you're celebrating with me, and tell us where you're joining from. Let's see this map come alive in the comments! 🌎 - Cathy

I have to stop and celebrate the teachers who just leveled up to Level 2 in our community. Twenty of you! 🥳 That kind of engagement this early tells me you are showing up, jumping into conversations, and helping make this space what it is. Thank you! 🙏🏽 👏 Celebrating our newest Level 2 teachers: @Lynn Nelson @Johnnie Westergreen @Jessica Gonzalez-Baez @Emi S @Natasha Darrow @Sammantha Gilbert @Abby Zook @Terri Rollwitz @Souk Phaiboun @Katherine Fulmer @Kathy Schubert @Patty Johnson @Tasia Dobson @Veronica Winternheimer @Tracy McDermott @Laura Williams, MBA, Ed.S @Ronnette Johnson @Amber Mathis @Julia Macias @Susan Y And here is the fun part... reaching Level 2 unlocks the Teach Names video walkthrough, my 10 playful ideas for helping children recognize and write their names. No worksheets, no drilling, just hands-on ways to build that early literacy foundation through play. 💖 If you're a Level 2 teacher and haven't watched it yet, go take a peek. 👀 And if you already have, I would love to hear from you: 👉🏽 Which of the 10 name ideas got you the most excited? 👉🏽 Or which one are you planning to try first with your students? Drop it in the comments so we can all borrow each other's favorites. 😄 Keep leveling up, teacher friends. I love watching this community grow. 🌱

Hey teacher friends, let's celebrate!!! 🥳 We just crossed 100 members (already past that as I write this!) and I couldn't wait to hop on to say how grateful I am that you're here. 🙏🏽 I made you a walkthrough of the community. I meant for it to be short and ended up giving you the full tour, but I hope you find it helpful! 😀 In it I show you around the discussion board, the post categories, and the Classroom where all the free resources live. A few things to do after you watch: Introduce yourself in the Community. Tell us about you, your classroom, and what you're hoping to get out of this space. Head into the threads and show some love on another teacher's post. 🫶🏼 Then, pop into the Classroom and grab a freebie or two. Come back and let me know which one was most helpful. I read every reply, and your feedback is what shapes what I make next. I've been a bilingual pre-k teacher for 15 years and I know how isolating this calling can feel, even with a classroom right across the hall. That's exactly why this space exists, and I'm so glad you're here! 🍎

Okay I just have to take a second 🫶🏼 Last week, this was a brand new, quiet little space. And today? We're 240+ teachers strong and growing by the hour. 🤯 But honestly the number isn't even the part that's got me emotional. It's each of YOU. It's the questions you're asking out loud that other teachers were (maybe) too nervous to ask. It's the challenges you're naming honestly instead of pretending you've got it all figured out. It's the way you're already showing up for each other in the comments, cheering, answering, relating. THAT is the whole reason I built this room. 🍎 And to everyone who's invited a teacher friend in, or upgraded to the Pre-K Prep Club... thank you! You're the reason this space already feels like home. You made it what it is. What an unreal week, and we are just getting started! 🥳 I'm so excited to actually get to know you and your classrooms more. Drop a quick hello below👇🏽what program you teach in, and the age group you work with. Excited to put faces and classrooms to all these names. 🤗 - Cathy

Yeah got the app now!! 💜💜