Have enough space for the children to sit, recline, or dance comfortably without touching someone else, or fiddle with equipment or materials. One key factor in preventing challenging behavior is your environment. Prevention of behavior problems is easier than dealing with them when they pop up. Here they can practice writing their name independently throughout the day.Ī child who is usually productive at circle and has a change in behavior may have one of the following challenges: illness, a toothache, hunger, tired, has family concerns, or maybe her best friend did not come to school that day. To support name recognition and name writing put the children’s cards in a basket on a small table with paper and pencil.

Slowly reveal the picture as children try to guess who it is. You can also cover the face and show only the names to help children “read” theirs’ or their friend’s name. Hold up one face card to the group of children and ask them who it is.

One way to help the children recognize their name, and that of their friends, is to use the face cards during circle or transition.

Don’t be concerned if a child always picks a particular face, such as sad or angry, they may just like that picture of themselves. Let the children know that they can choose to replace their emotion face with another throughout the day.

You can use the face cards on an emotion chart by letting the children pick the face that describes the way they are feeling that day and placing it on the chart.

Three spaces on the chart means only three children can be in that area at one time.

Create a place for the children to put their picture near the learning area they are exploring.

Provide other elements such as trees or animals that might help them get started. Use the faces to tell a story on a felt board.When creating small groups, put the children’s’ face cards who will work in the group on a chart with the teacher’s picture who is facilitating the group and the time for the small group activity.

As children arrive have them move their face to the “I’m here” side of the chart.

Grandpa's Face by Eloise Greenfield