Over six years of teaching, I have tried hundreds of tools, apps, and materials. These are the ones that have earned a permanent place in my practice.
Physical Materials
- Wooden letter tiles: For tactile letter recognition and word building. Children trace the letter shape with their fingers before attempting to write it.
- Story cubes: Dice with images on each face. Roll them and build a story from whatever comes up. Endless creative potential.
- Cuisenaire rods: Coloured rods of varying lengths for early numeracy. Children discover mathematical relationships through play.
- Mini whiteboards: Low-stakes writing surfaces. Children are more willing to try when they know they can erase and start again.
- Loose parts: Buttons, shells, stones, fabric scraps. Open-ended materials that children use in endlessly creative ways.
Digital Tools
- Bookinou: A screen-free audio storyteller that lets children listen to stories recorded by family members or the teacher. Perfect for developing listening skills and building a love of stories, especially in a bilingual context where I record the same story in both languages.
Classroom Organisation
- Visual timetable: A picture-based schedule that helps children (especially younger or non-verbal ones) understand the day's rhythm.
- Autonomous workshop stations: I set up 4-5 stations each day with activities at different levels. Children rotate independently, building responsibility and self-regulation.
- Sound corner: A quiet area with headphones, audiobooks in French and English, and a listening journal where children draw what they heard.
I am always testing new tools. If you have suggestions, I would love to hear them. Get in touch.