Tips and Best Practices for Teaching VPK & Pre-K

Voluntary Prekindergarten VPK

Teaching in the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program can be one of the most rewarding experiences in education. The early childhood years are a critical period for laying the foundation for lifelong learning, and as a VPK teacher, you have the opportunity to help shape young minds during this formative time. To be successful, it’s important to use strategies that engage children, build their skills, and support their development across academic, social, emotional, and physical domains. Here are some tips and best practices to help you provide the best possible VPK experience for your students:

1. Embrace Play-Based Learning

VPK Play Based

Play is an essential part of early childhood education. It’s through play that children learn about the world around them, solve problems, practice social skills, and engage in creative thinking.

• Incorporate Play in Every Lesson: Whether it's through imaginative play, sensory activities, or structured games, use play to introduce new concepts and reinforce learning. For example, a dramatic play area with costumes or a pretend kitchen can be used to practice language, math, and social interactions.

  
  

• Hands-On Activities: Use tangible materials like blocks, puzzles, art supplies, and manipulatives. These items encourage children to engage with learning actively and allow them to build fine motor and problem-solving skills.

  
  

• Encourage Exploration: Allow children time to explore their environment, both indoors and outdoors. Exploration fosters curiosity and helps build critical thinking and inquiry skills.

2. Create a Structured and Predictable Routine

Children thrive in environments that are structured and predictable. Establishing clear routines helps children feel secure, reduces anxiety, and makes transitions easier.

• Set Clear Expectations: From the beginning of the school year, teach children the daily schedule. Use visual cues like charts or pictures to illustrate the sequence of events, such as snack time, outdoor play, or storytime.

  
  

• Consistent Transitions: Use songs, chants, or hand signals to signal transitions between activities. This helps children understand when it's time to shift their focus and prepares them for what's coming next.

  
  

• Time for Flexibility: While consistency is key, it’s also important to remain flexible. Allow room for spontaneous moments of learning and exploration that may arise throughout the day.

3. Support Social-Emotional Development

VPK is a critical time for fostering social and emotional growth, and teachers play a key role in helping children develop these skills.

• Model Positive Behavior: Demonstrate how to express emotions appropriately, resolve conflicts, and use polite language. Children often learn by watching adults, so be mindful of how you model interactions.

  
  

• Create Opportunities for Social Interaction: Set up activities that require children to work together, such as group art projects, cooperative games, or problem-solving tasks. This helps children practice sharing, taking turns, and cooperating with peers.

  
  

• Encourage Emotional Expression: Help children identify and label their emotions, such as “I feel happy,” “I feel frustrated,” or “I feel sad.” Use stories, songs, or role-playing activities to teach about different emotions and how to manage them.

  
  

• Provide Individual Attention: Be mindful of children who may need extra support in regulating their emotions or navigating social interactions. Provide calm guidance when necessary, and use positive reinforcement to encourage appropriate behavior.

4. Make Language and Literacy a Daily Focus

Developing early literacy skills is a primary goal in VPK. Make language and literacy a part of your daily activities to build children’s vocabulary, reading, and writing skills.

• Read Aloud Regularly: Reading aloud to children is one of the most important ways to foster language skills. Choose a variety of books—stories, poems, informational texts—that are engaging and age-appropriate. Encourage children to interact with the story by asking questions, making predictions, or retelling the story in their own words.

  
  

• Create Print-Rich Environments: Label items in the classroom (e.g., door, windows, cubbies) and post visual schedules to help children connect written words with their surroundings. Encourage children to "write" in their own ways through scribbles, letter-like forms, or invented spelling.

  
  

• Encourage Speaking and Listening: Provide opportunities for children to talk to each other and to you. Ask open-ended questions to encourage conversations and allow them time to respond. Invite them to share stories, thoughts, and ideas during group activities or circle time.

  
  

• Sing Songs and Rhymes: Songs, rhymes, and chants are great tools for building phonological awareness, which is the ability to hear and manipulate sounds in language. Use simple songs and fingerplays throughout the day to reinforce language learning.

As a preschool educator with over two decades of experience, I have seen firsthand the importance of structure and flexibility in early childhood education.

That’s why I’m excited to introduce my 10-Month Supplemental Curriculum Pacing Guide, designed to reinforce Math and Literacy skills in preschoolers—whether they’re enrolled in a traditional preschool or the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program.

What Is the 10-Month Supplemental Curriculum Pacing Guide?

This pacing guide outlines monthly themes, weekly focus areas, and specific learning goals for both math and literacy skill development. It’s designed for use over a 10-month period, allowing you to cover crucial foundational skills in a structured yet adaptable way.

The curriculum is designed to:

• Support ongoing learning with suggestions of age-appropriate math and literacy activities.

  
  

• Reinforce concepts through repetition and variety, ensuring that children build confidence in their abilities.

  
  

• Adapt seamlessly to any preschool or VPK curriculum you are already following, making it a simple and flexible addition to your existing lesson plans.

  
  

• Prepare the children for the STAR FAST assessment.

Learn more here!

5. Foster Cognitive Development Through Hands-On Learning

VPK is a time for children to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and cognitive skills. Use a variety of hands-on activities to promote exploration, reasoning, and creativity.

• Encourage Exploration and Experimentation: Set up science or math discovery stations where children can engage with materials like magnets, water, or nature items. These experiences foster curiosity and help children develop scientific thinking.

  
  

• Use Real-Life Objects: Provide children with everyday items that they can explore, manipulate, and learn from. For example, items such as measuring cups, different textures, or even kitchen tools can help children understand concepts like size, shape, and measurement.

  
  

• Incorporate Critical Thinking: Ask open-ended questions that prompt children to think critically, such as "What do you think will happen if...?" or "How could we solve this problem together?"

  
  

• Hands-On Math Activities: Use tangible objects like counting blocks, buttons, or beads to help children understand early math concepts such as counting, sorting, and patterns.

6. Promote Physical Development

Physical activity is essential for young children's growth and development, and it’s important to provide regular opportunities for both fine and gross motor skills development.

• Fine Motor Activities: Incorporate activities that help children develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, such as drawing, cutting, stringing beads, or working with playdough. These activities support early writing and self-care tasks like buttoning and zipping.

  
  

• Gross Motor Skills: Make sure children have plenty of opportunities to run, jump, climb, and move their bodies in active play. Whether indoors or outdoors, activities such as obstacle courses, dancing, or free play in the playground support gross motor development and overall physical health.

  
  

• Balance and Coordination: Set up activities that encourage balance and coordination, such as walking along a line, jumping over objects, or playing games like "Simon Says."

7. Promote Family Engagement and Communication

A strong partnership between teachers and families is essential for children’s success in VPK. Keep families informed and involved in their child’s learning journey.

• Regular Communication: Stay in contact with families through daily reports, newsletters, or emails to update them on their child’s progress and classroom activities.

  
  

• Provide Resources: Share ideas with parents on how they can support learning at home, such as reading with their child, practicing numbers and letters, or engaging in simple science experiments.

  
  

• Host Family Events: Consider organizing family engagement activities, such as reading nights, field trips, or art shows, to foster a sense of community and provide families with opportunities to be actively involved in their child’s education.

8. Focus on Individual Needs and Differentiation

Every child comes to the VPK program with different strengths, challenges, and interests. As a teacher, it's important to provide differentiated instruction to meet the unique needs of each child.

• Observe and Assess Regularly: Pay attention to each child's progress and individual needs. Use assessments and observations to identify areas where a child may need extra support or where they are excelling.

  
  

• Use a Variety of Teaching Approaches: Adapt your teaching methods to reach all types of learners. For example, some children may benefit from visual aids, while others might thrive through hands-on experiences or verbal explanations.

  
  

• Create Individualized Learning Goals: Set realistic learning goals for each child based on their developmental needs, and adjust your teaching strategies to help them achieve those goals.

Teaching in the VPK program is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to make a lasting impact on young children’s lives. By incorporating these best practices into your teaching, you’ll help foster a love of learning, support emotional and social growth, and give your students the strong foundation they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. Remember, patience, creativity, and flexibility are key to creating a positive and effective learning environment for young children.

My 10-Month Supplemental Curriculum Pacing Guide is the perfect tool to enhance any preschool or VPK program by providing an organized, comprehensive approach to reinforcing math and literacy skills.

Whether you're looking for extra resources to strengthen your current curriculum or simply need a structured way to supplement your classroom learning, this pacing calendar offers flexibility, fun, and foundational skills that will help your students succeed.

By following this calendar, you’ll ensure your students are building the essential skills they need for future success in school and beyond—while having fun along the way!