In this episode of Elevating Early Childhood, Vanessa Levin speaks with Amanda Morgan, author of 'How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood,' about the evolving challenges of early childhood education. They discuss the crucial role of play in child development, the diminishing impact of preschool programs since 2000, and the importance of self-efficacy and agency in young learners. Amanda emphasizes the need for understanding and communication among teachers, parents, and administr...
Jun 25, 2025•27 min•Ep. 116
Teaching Trailblazers Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers
Sep 02, 2024•15 min•Ep. 115
Today I'm tackling a topic that every single one of us has encountered at one point or another, and that is working with challenging families or caregivers. Now, I know what you're thinking. Challenging families. Oh boy, here we go. But before you roll your eyes, stick with me because we're going to flip the script on this topic and approach it in a way that might just make your job a little easier and a whole lot more fulfilling. Teaching Trailblazers Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Earl...
Aug 20, 2024•8 min•Ep. 114
Hey teachers! Let me ask you a question, do you have “schoolmares” – or nightmares about the first day of school, long before the first day? It's only natural, because facing the unknown can be scary, it’s only natural. And each new school year brings many unknowns for both teachers and our little learners. Welcome to another episode of "Elevating Early Childhood!" I'm your host, Vanessa, and today we're tackling a topic that many of us face at the start of every school year: separation anxiety....
Aug 05, 2024•9 min•Ep. 113
Unpopular opinion alert! Today I'm taking on fine motor journals. Let's talk about the developmental stages of writing, proper letter formation, and authentic opportunities for developing fine motor skills - without fine motor journals! Teaching Trailblazers Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers
Jul 27, 2024•11 min•Ep. 112
Check out my latest circle time area makeover, 2023 edition! Have you ever wondered what you should have in your circle time area? Or maybe you're wondering what's really necessary, and what's not. In this episode of Elevating Early Childhood I'll be unveiling my new circle time board for 2023-2024. You'll learn the must-haves, as well as the "don't bothers" so you can set yourself, and your students up for success all year long.Teaching Trailblazers Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early ...
Sep 10, 2023•39 min•Ep. 111
Welcome to another episode of "Elevating Early Childhood!" In this episode, we unravel the secrets to creating a successful preschool writing center from Day 1. 🍎✏️ 🔍 What You'll Learn: Why planning and setup are essential before the school year starts. The importance of organization: center signs, 'I Can' cards, and labels. Which supplies are a MUST at the beginning and why. Demonstrating and instilling proper procedures and routines. Pro tips on combining art and writing centers effectively....
Aug 24, 2023•30 min•Ep. 110
Today we're diving deep into setting up the perfect Circle Time Area for your little learners. Discover how to create a space that inspires, educates, and brings everyone together!Teaching Trailblazers Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers
Aug 16, 2023•31 min•Ep. 109
Does setting up your centers stress you out? Are you looking for ways to make your sensory table center more fun and engaging for your students? In this episode of Elevating Early Childhood we'll be looking at the best sensory bin tools to enhance sensory play and fine motor skills. We'll also discuss sensory bin fillers and there's even a free printable included to make setting up, planning for, and managing your sensory table a breeze! Teaching Trailblazers Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies f...
Aug 08, 2023•21 min•Ep. 108
Do you have questions about setting up the dramatic play center in your classroom? Are you looking for ways to make your dramatic play center more engaging and deepen the play and learning? Or maybe you just LOVE peeking into other teacher’s classrooms. If any of these describe you, then you’re in the right place. This episode of elevating early childhood is part of a series I’m doing called Learning Center Tours where I draw back the curtains on each center, so stick around until the very end s...
Aug 01, 2023•33 min•Ep. 107
In this impactful episode of Elevating Early Childhood with Vanessa Levin, we dive into the heart of the early childhood classroom with a focus on blocks – the cornerstone of creativity and cognitive development. Discover the intricacies of setting up your block center for unparalleled success in this center tour. Answering burning questions from my e-mail inbox, I'll will guide you through the crucial components of an effective block center set-up. Join me for this in-depth tour, showcasing rea...
Jul 26, 2023•21 min•Ep. 106
Teachers, do you want the upcoming school year to be your best year ever? What if I told you that you can start laying the foundation for a successful school year BEFORE your kids ever walk through your classroom door? Yes, you heard me right! You can get a jump start on things during the summer that are going to ease your "schoolmares." In this episode of EEC I’ll be sharing my secret weapon to combat your schoolmares head-on, right now, before the first day of school. Teaching Trailblazers Tea...
Jul 18, 2023•49 min•Ep. 105
Teachers, are you overwhelmed by all the “non-teaching” responsibilities you have at school? I’m talking about the things not related to when the students are in the classroom, like labeling the tubs in your centers, communicating with parents, planning events like meet the teacher etc. I could go on because the list is endless, but you know what I’m talking about. All these things can add up quickly and lead to feeling completely overwhelmed. In this episode I'll be sharing ways to make all the...
Jul 11, 2023•23 min•Ep. 104
Teachers, have you ever felt like a failure? Of course you have, and so have I! Every teacher out there feels like a failure some, or even all of the time. And that feeling of failure, it can really drag you down if you let it, am I right? That’s exactly why #teacher quittok exists. But before you throw in the towel and turn in your resignation, I encourage you to watch/listen to this episode until the very end because I’m going to share my #1 method to help you STOP feeling like a failure, and ...
Jul 04, 2023•26 min•Ep. 103
Listen, it's no secret that teaching preschoolers isn't easy peasy. It's full of ups and downs with lots of bumps along the way, which leaves you exhausted from trying to find a balance between work and life. You just wish somebody would tell you what to teach and when to teach it, so you can find time to do the endless mounds of laundry or cook the occasional meal for your family. If any of this sounds familiar to you, I want you to know that you're not alone. In this episode of Elevating Early...
Jun 27, 2023•19 min•Ep. 102
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the behaviors in your preschool classroom? That’s a trick question because every teacher feels like that sometimes. And those behaviors, do they seem like they’re getting worse each year? If any of this sounds familiar, then you’re in the right place because this week’s episode of Elevating Early Childhood has the answers you’ve been looking for. But those answers might surprise you, so be sure to stick around until the very end so you don’t miss a thing.Tea...
Jun 19, 2023•7 min•Ep. 101
Let me ask you a question, how is teaching Pre-K different from, let’s say, 4th grade? Or even first, second, or third grade? It’s an entirely different animal, isn’t it? So, if you’ve you been moved down to Pre-K from a higher grade, OR you’re brand new to teaching Pre-K, Then this episode of elevating early childhood is for you! And if you’re an administrator, instructional coach, or a classroom teacher who works with teachers new to Pre-K – you’ll find this episode useful too! Teaching Trailb...
Jun 06, 2023•10 min•Ep. 100
Are you looking for ways to incorporate more nature into your classroom? Bringing the outdoors into your classroom can provide a calmer and more soothing environment for young children. Who doesn’t want more calm and less chaos in their classroom, am I right? In today’s episode of elevating early childhood I’m going to share easy and inexpensive ways to build a more natural math center in your preschool or pre-k classroom. Teaching Trailblazers Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childh...
May 29, 2023•15 min•Ep. 99
Teachers, let’s be honest, the end of the school year is almost as stressful as the beginning of the year, am I right? If you’re not rehearsing for the end of the year “program,” you’re assessing your students, doing report cards, planning Mother’s Day and Father’s Day events, field trips, and much more! The very last thing teachers need at the end of the school year is more “stuff to do” piled on their already overflowing plates. In today’s episode of elevating early childhood, I’m going to sha...
May 22, 2023•22 min•Ep. 98
What does it really mean to be “kindergarten ready?” Should we be teaching kids to read before they enter kindergarten? Are you worried that your preschool or Pre-K kids won’t have all the skills they need to excel in today’s kindergarten classrooms? In this episode I'm going to break it all down for you so your kids will be well-prepared for kindergarten - and beyond.Teaching Trailblazers Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers
May 15, 2023•24 min•Ep. 97
Do puzzles cause headaches in your classroom? Are your kids uninterested in puzzles? Or maybe they’re frustrated because they can’t put them together? If you think puzzles are too much of a hassle, or they’re too old school for today’s kids – think again! In today’s episode I’ll be sharing my best tips and tricks for teaching smarter, not harder when it comes to puzzles in the classroom, AND how to set your kids up for success with puzzles by following the developmental sequence that nobody taug...
May 08, 2023•20 min•Ep. 96
Teachers, have you ever been told by an administrator that centers are “just playing?” Maybe you’re even one of the unlucky ones who have been told by an administrator that you can’t have centers in your classroom because they’re “just for fun” and not enough academic learning is taking place. Or even worse, maybe even thought about throwing in the towel on centers because they’re just too darn hard to manage! Today I’m going to help dispel the 6 myths that preschool teachers should never fall f...
May 04, 2023•11 min•Ep. 95
Do you ever feel like you just don’t have enough center materials in your classroom? Are you wondering if what you have is enough? And how do you know? You see, setting-up and stocking your classroom centers can be very tricky. Every good teacher knows that centers are essential for a high-quality early childhood experience. The issue is that no one ever gives you an actual roadmap to follow when it comes to setting-up or stocking your centers. And that can leave teachers like you and me struggl...
Apr 24, 2023•13 min•Ep. 94
Do transitions in your classroom have you at the end of your rope? Does it feel like you’re trying to herd kittens during arrival, dismissal, or cleanup time? Then I have two things to tell you: You’re not alone. I can help! You see, transitions are something that all early childhood teachers struggle with. Yes, even the most experienced ones. The issue is that even though everyone says transitions are important, no one ever gives you an actual roadmap to follow. And that can leave teachers like...
Apr 17, 2023•24 min•Ep. 93
Do your students struggle to write the letters of the alphabet? If so, I’ve got some good news for you: You’re not alone! In fact, most preschool teachers have to deal with this issue every single year (if not several times a year). And because I have dealt with it too, I’ve ended up coming up with a few solutions to this pesky problem. Improving your preschool students' handwriting can be a difficult task (even daunting for some of us), but it’s not impossible. Don’t believe me? Then listen to ...
Apr 10, 2023•30 min•Ep. 92
Friends, I have a question for you: Are the students in your classroom too loud? If so, then welcome to the club no one wants to join (yes, I have jokes). I can relate to students who have trouble keeping their outside voices where they belong, outside. And principals who complain about noisy classrooms. No matter what has brought you here, you and I both know there is no magic fix for this little (but very loud) problem. Yes, we all wish we had a magic wand sometimes. Alas, no one has discovere...
Apr 03, 2023•24 min•Ep. 91
Friends, I have a question for you: Could your students use a little extra help paying attention during circle time? Are they constantly interrupting you? Or maybe they're struggling to learn important academic skills? All right, that was more than one question, but you get the gist! Children have short attention spans, and that can mean constant interruptions in the early childhood classroom. But what if I told you that there's one thing that you could do in the classroom to help with all of th...
Mar 27, 2023•30 min•Ep. 90
Do your students love playing with playdough in your classroom or at home? I know mine do! Playdough is not only super fun for children to play with, it’s also a great tool for them. It can help them develop stronger hand muscles and better hand-eye coordination. It’s also a great way for them to develop their fine motor skills. Plus, let’s be honest: It’s the one thing you can offer preschoolers and know it’ll keep them engaged and on task for waaaay longer than a few minutes. This is why havin...
Mar 20, 2023•26 min•Ep. 89
Nothing strikes fear in the heart of a teacher more than a formal observation. You’re exhausted from all the hours you spent creating the perfect lesson plans. You’re waiting anxiously with a dry mouth and sweaty palms for your principal to walk through the door. And there’s this sound of a clock ticking inside your head that you just can’t get rid of, no matter how hard you try. Are you stressed out yet? Because I sure am! But no need to panic, because, as always, I’m here to help! It doesn’t m...
Mar 13, 2023•26 min•Ep. 88
Our morning routine sets the tone for our whole day. And the same can be said for your students. You see, what young children do from the minute they walk into your classroom each morning will affect the rest of their day. And this is why choosing the right morning activities for your classroom is a must! So, here are a few questions you should ask yourself: How do I handle arrival time in my preschool classroom? Are my students practicing independence skills during this time? And the most impor...
Mar 06, 2023•23 min•Ep. 87
