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Inside: Wondering how to introduce preschool journals to 3 year olds? Here are some examples of our journal activities, and how we keep them simple.

Journals are one of our favorite activities in our classroom. Often when I mention to others that we do journals, I get looks of disbelief. Some people have told me they are too young. But when I say we do simple journals with 3 year olds, I must emphasize SIMPLE.

SIMPLE preschool journals.

Journals with 3 year olds exposes them to handling writing tools, opening books, moving from left to right, and dictating. Our journals are cherished by their young owners. They love that these books are THEIRS. Teachers can do these during small group time. And at the end of the school year they get to take them home.

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How to Introduce Preschool Journals to 3 Year Olds

At the beginning of the school year , I ask each parent to provide a composition book for their child. I label the covers with their names and photos.

I keep their journals in a basket that sits on a shelf in our reading corner all year. When we rotate our small groups each day, one group sits at the journaling table. However, the journals are available for the 3’s to use at any time.

Introducing journals:

I introduced their journals by drawing a circle on one of the pages and providing markers. They could do whatever they wanted with it.

Then, I provided circle stickers. Some placed them in a circle shape, others placed them inside the circle.

We also place stickers on a journal page and invite the children to draw lines from one sticker to another.

Name recognition is part of our simple journals, too. We keep their name card in a paper pocket that is adhered to the inside of the cover. They can pull these cards out any time they’d like to be reminded of the letters in their names.

The first letter we write in their journal is the first letter in their names. They use stickers to cover the letter. Later in the year they will trace it, and some will actually write it on their own.

I added some other shapes, too, such as a gingerbread person when the 3’s were very into The Gingerbread Boy book.

Then, some dictated what their picture was about.

And they started trying to mimic my writing.

I vary the writing tools . I have added stencils, letter stamps, stickers, and textured items for rubbings.

Self-Portraits

Throughout the year we devote pages of our journals for creating self-portraits.

It’s so much fun comparing how these drawings change from month to month.

Self-portraits are a great way to see how much a child has grown and developed over the months.

While drawing themselves, preschoolers have to think about holding the writing tool, drawing specific shapes, and deciding where features go.

Eventually they will see the finer details, such as tiny teeth inside the mouth and fingers on the hands.

Mat Man

Because our preschool uses the Learning Without Tears program, Mat Man is a popular activity.

After building Mat Man during circle time (using the Mat Man song), our children are then invited to draw mat man in their journals.

Mat Man teaches children to draw and develop body awareness.

While building and drawing him, we have to think about where each body part goes as well as its use.

Often, when the children finish other small groups , they ask if they can move to the journal table. They are so focused, adding their own pages. Even the ones who might not normally enjoy focusing on fine motor activities love their journals. This is a great start to future journal writing!









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Science

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Sensory

Gross Motor

Art

Social Studies

Music

Circle Time

Social/Emotional