My answer? (This probably won’t shock you…)
I believe it all comes back to intentionally teaching social-emotional skills. That’s why I’m dedicated to helping preschool teachers and early childhood educators like you make social-emotional learning easy to implement, simple to teach, and engaging for your learners.
Hi, I'm Sara—
a heart-led human, an early childhood teacher, and a lifelong learner. And it’s my mission to make sure you’re never left on a Sunday night wondering…
→ what you’re going to teach at group time in the morning
→ how you’re going to help Daphne learn to keep her hands and feet to herself, or
→ how on earth you’re supposed to teach something as BIG as empathy to 4-year-olds.
Because I know what it’s like to worry for your students. To worry that you’re never quite doing enough. To feel overwhelmed with everything that is expected from you. To know your learners need more support (because each day feels a little more chaotic than the last). All without knowing what that support should look like or where to find it.
It was in the midst of those moments that I began to discover the power of social-emotional learning… and everything changed.
My answer? (This probably won’t shock you…)
I believe it all comes back to intentionally teaching social-emotional skills. That’s why I’m dedicated to helping preschool teachers and early childhood educators like you make social-emotional learning easy to implement, simple to teach, and engaging for your learners.
Hi, I'm Sara—
a heart-led human, an early childhood teacher, and a lifelong learner. And it’s my mission to make sure you’re never left on a Sunday night wondering…
→ what you’re going to teach at group time in the morning
→ how you’re going to help Daphne learn to keep her hands and feet to herself, or
→ how on earth you’re supposed to teach something as BIG as empathy to 4-year-olds.
Because I know what it’s like to worry for your students. To worry that you’re never quite doing enough. To feel overwhelmed with everything that is expected from you. To know your learners need more support (because each day feels a little more chaotic than the last). All without knowing what that support should look like or where to find it.
It was in the midst of those moments that I began to discover the power of social-emotional learning… and everything changed.
The more time I invested in learning about early childhood social-emotional development, the more I saw that it was the key to a calmer classroom.
One filled with students who were growing in their ability to self-manage, build healthy relationships, and make responsible choices.
But it was still a daily challenge to make time to teach my preschoolers these skills. Not because they didn’t want to learn (of course they did!). Not because they couldn’t (of course they could!).
No, it was nearly impossible to prioritize SEL because, as teachers, there are so many things we HAVE TO get done. This means that planning for and being intentional about SEL often gets put on the back burner. And sometimes? It stays there indefinitely. So, I decided that I was going to do something about it.
AND NOT JUST FOR ME—FOR ALL OF US.
I was so tired of only being able to find activities and lessons for older students and wasting time adapting them to fit the needs of my young learners.
I began creating resources designed specifically for preschoolers and using them in my own classroom.
I started sharing them online, making sure that each resource included clear instructions, required minimal prep, and was tailored to the unique needs of preschool-aged learners.
I created a blog to spotlight activities and strategies that would make early childhood social-emotional development tangible and actionable for other preschool teachers looking for support.
And with that, Spark Interest with Sara officially began, all with one goal in mind:
To inspire and support teachers all around the world so that they can easily and confidently bring social-emotional learning into the heart of their preschool classrooms.
I know we just met, but...
Have I told you about my superpower?
I can take any “complex” learning topic and break it down into bite-sized, digestible pieces that are 100% preschool-appropriate. (Just ask me about the time I taught a bunch of 3- and 4-year-olds how their brains work!)
Wondering how I developed this magical power? It’s no secret! I did it by…
→ Spending over 20 years teaching in preschool classrooms.
→ Earning my master's degree in early childhood education.
→ Seeing the whole, curious child and all that they are capable of.
→ Being a voracious learner myself (seriously, the number of personal development books I’ve read this year might shock you!).
The most important catalyst for these superpowers, though?
The knowledge that our young learners are capable of so much more depth and understanding than they are often given credit for. And I believe it is our responsibility as educators to not shy away from teaching these “complex” or “difficult” concepts in a way that is both relevant and accessible.
And now I use that superpower to help you teach the trickiest SEL topics to your young learners (because I want you both to reap the benefits).
I see early childhood social-emotional development is an enormous puzzle with countless pieces.
It can be tricky to connect the pieces and the puzzle may shift and change over time.
But as you piece it together, you begin to see a beautiful and intricate tapestry. One that illuminates the potential of each child. One that reminds you of why you became a teacher in the first place.
I want to help you put those pieces together with less frustration, less frantic Googling, less Pinterest-scrolling, and less late-night planning.
SO, HERE’S MY PROMISE TO YOU:
Everything you find here was made with you in mind.
I know you’ll be able to feel the care and thoughtfulness I put into my work when you download one of my resources and share it with your students.
PREP TOMORROW'S SEL LESSON IN 5 MINUTES — FOR FREE!
Size of the Problem vs Reaction Game
Get your learners thinking (and giggling) as they engage with the idea that our reactions will differ according to the size of a problem in this FUN FREEBIE.
SENT! Please check your email—your students are gonna love it!
(Are you a kindergarten teacher, school counselor, parent, or teacher working in a childcare setting crossing your fingers that my SEL resources will work for you too? Because they absolutely will!)
Consider this our meet the teacher moment.
MY HAPPIEST MEMORY
The day my 12-year-old son was born. Or when they announced a surprise fourth season of Ted Lasso. (JUST KIDDING—it was definitely my son!)
EACH EVENING, YOU’LL FIND ME
Taking a walk around my beautiful neighbourhood with my 5-year-old staffy named Enzo, listening to the newest episode of the Jay Shetty Podcast, while soaking up the beautiful sunsets and the ocean views. And of course, no walk is complete without stopping for a chat with my 90-year-old neighbour Bill, who always calls me “darling.”
IT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW…
I was born in Malaysia, lived in the UK, went to university in Hawaii, and then moved to Sydney 15 years ago. (Where I still teach and live with my family today!)
WHAT’S ON MY TV AFTER A BUSY DAY
If it’s me and my son? We’re watching The Amazing Race & Lego Masters. If I’ve got some solo time? I’m totally turning on a sports documentary. (My current favorite has got to be Reciever on Netflix!)
A DAILY HABIT I’D *NEVER* BREAK
My morning meditation practice. Each morning, I sit in my living room where I can see the sun coming up over the ocean and meditate. I can confidently tell you that meditation has changed my life and I’m a better person because of it.
IF I WASN’T A TEACHER…
I’d be a Life Coach! My love for coaching led me to begin offering heart-centered life coaching for teachers. You can learn more about this other side of my work here.
MY IDEA OF A FUN FRIDAY NIGHT
Turning on the Nintendo Switch, grabbing a pair of microphones, and singing karaoke with my son! We queue up all of our favorites (“Another One Bites the Dust” for him, and 00s rock ballads for me) and sing our hearts out! So be warned, if we’re together and Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol comes on… I just might start singing!
Consider this our meet the teacher moment.
MY HAPPIEST MEMORY
The day my 12-year-old son was born. Or when they announced a surprise fourth season of Ted Lasso. (JUST KIDDING—it was definitely my son!)
EACH EVENING, YOU’LL FIND ME
Taking a walk around my beautiful neighbourhood with my 5-year-old staffy named Enzo, listening to the newest episode of the Jay Shetty Podcast, while soaking up the beautiful sunsets and the ocean views. And of course, no walk is complete without stopping for a chat with my 90-year-old neighbour Bill, who always calls me “darling.”
IT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW…
I was born in Malaysia, lived in the UK, went to university in Hawaii, and then moved to Sydney 15 years ago. (Where I still teach and live with my family today!)
WHAT’S ON MY TV AFTER A BUSY DAY
If it’s me and my son? We’re watching The Amazing Race & Lego Masters. If I’ve got some solo time? I’m totally turning on a sports documentary. (My current favorite has got to be Reciever on Netflix!)
A DAILY HABIT I’D *NEVER* BREAK
My morning meditation practice. Each morning, I sit in my living room where I can see the sun coming up over the ocean and meditate. I can confidently tell you that meditation has changed my life and I’m a better person because of it.
IF I WASN’T A TEACHER…
I’d be a Life Coach! My love for coaching led me to begin offering heart-centered life coaching for teachers. You can learn more about this other side of my work here.
MY IDEA OF A FUN FRIDAY NIGHT
Turning on the Nintendo Switch, grabbing a pair of microphones, and singing karaoke with my son! We queue up all of our favorites (“Another One Bites the Dust” for him, and 00s rock ballads for me) and sing our hearts out! So be warned, if we’re together and Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol comes on… I just might start singing!
AND THE PART OF THIS WORK THAT BRINGS ME THE MOST PRIDE?
Knowing my lessons are making a difference
FOR TEACHERS LIKE THESE ALL AROUND THE WORLD
“I loved this activity as much as my students did!
It was such a great visual on what fair vs. equal really means. I will be using this every year!”
– Claudia S.
“I used this for an SEL lesson at the beginning of the school year,
and I still refer my students to it every day. It really helps them understand things in their control!”
– Talia J.
“My students loved using this resource.
It was easy to prep and my students were highly engaged. Great complement for my SEL program.”
– Mary Beth R.
The values behind my work
Heart-Centered
I will always interact and communicate with my readers and customers from the heart, with honesty and integrity, and from a place of genuine care.
Care & Thoughtfulness
With every resource I create, I consider what young learners need and how they learn best, what their teachers will need to seamlessly bring it to life in their classroom, and what the research says about best practices for early childhood social-emotional development.
Ease
The purpose behind everything I create is to provide an opportunity for early childhood educators to feel at ease, cared for, and supported. I strive to ensure that everything they could possibly need is included in each resource so that teaching SEL can finally feel easy.
Respect
I believe that children are competent and capable humans who deserve our respect. They're not just little and they’re not just cute. They are whole beings who have the ability to grasp complex concepts and surprise us with what they are capable of understanding.
4- and 5-star reviews
Teacher Favorites
Snag a Freebie
Size of the Problem VS Reaction Game
Read the Blog
10 Easy Strategies for Cultivating Joy in the Classroom
Grab a Best-Seller
The Friendship Bundle
It’s time to put down the 32 balls you're currently juggling… And let me take some of the planning and prep work off your plate.
Together, we can bring accessible, engaging early childhood social-emotional development activities to your classroom. We'll instill a sense of joy and calm in your days and support each one of your diverse preschoolers. All while giving you a chance to
take a much-deserved break.
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