Preschool can feel like a whirlwind of milestones. New words, new skills, new emotions… all happening at once. As teachers and parents, we want to nurture curiosity, celebrate growth, and make sure we’re covering what matters most. But with so many developmental areas to consider, it can be hard to know where to start or how to track progress along the way.
That’s why I created the Teaching Concepts and Evaluations for 3- and 4-year-olds: practical, grace-filled tools to give you clarity and confidence as you guide little learners through these foundational years.
What Are Teaching Concepts?
The Teaching Concepts provide a roadmap for what to introduce, when to introduce it, and how to support children’s growth in ways that feel natural and developmentally appropriate. Each guide covers five key developmental domains:
- Approaches to Learning
- Social-Emotional Development
- Communication, Language and Literacy
- Cognitive Development
- Physical Development
These concepts are fully aligned with national and New York State early childhood standards , including ELOF, NAEYC, and NYSPLS, so you can be confident that your teaching meets recognized benchmarks while still leaving room for flexibility and joy.
They are perfect for preschool teachers, homeschool parents, and childcare providers who want a clear plan for building early skills without overwhelming themselves or their little learners.
How the Evaluations Work
The Evaluations pair seamlessly with the Teaching Concepts. They provide a simple, easy-to-use format for tracking growth across those same five domains, with space to:
- Record observations in both fall and spring
- Note areas of strength and areas for growth
- Celebrate milestones and progress (because every step matters!)
Whether you use them for parent conferences, homeschool portfolios, or personal reflection, these evaluations turn progress tracking into something purposeful and encouraging rather than stressful.
Where Letters, Numbers, Shapes, and Colors Fit In
The framework behind these Teaching Concepts and Evaluations is also the foundation for all of my skill-specific resources: including my Letter Pages, Number Pages, Shape Pages, and Color Pages. Each of these focuses on early literacy and math concepts, building fine motor skills, recognition, and vocabulary in a way that complements the bigger developmental picture.
These resources are designed to work together, making it easy for you to weave playful, intentional learning into your daily routines while knowing everything connects back to a larger plan. And this is just the beginning: all of these pieces will become part of my full preschool curriculum, launching in 2026.
Why They Matter
Early childhood is about more than just academics… it’s about shaping the whole child. By combining standards-based structure with playful, grace-centered learning, these resources help you:
- Feel confident that you’re covering what’s developmentally appropriate
- Recognize and celebrate growth at every stage
- Build meaningful connections between planning, teaching, and evaluating
- Lay a strong foundation for future learning and life skills
Get Started Today
Both the Teaching Concepts and Evaluations for 3- and 4-year-olds — along with the Letter, Number, Shape, and Color Pages — are now available in my Teachers Pay Teachers: Grace in the Disarray store.
Download them today and step into this school year with a plan that combines clarity, flexibility, and joy! Because teaching preschool should feel purposeful, not overwhelming.
Want to stay in the loop?
Follow along on Instagram @graceinthedisarray for more playful learning tips and updates as we work toward the full curriculum launch in 2026.
Childhood should spark joy and every small step is worth celebrating.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. —Colossians 3:23
Grace in the Disarray 