Hello everyone, and welcome back to a brand new episode of Elevating Early Childhood! It’s been a while, so I hope you’re as excited as I am about catching up. In this week’s episode, I’ll be talking about something every early childhood classroom -in my opinion- should have: A writing center. Writing centers are a great way to teach young children how to use their imagination. Plus, they're also the perfect getaway to teaching them language and how it works I always get asked questions about ho...
Jul 18, 2022•27 min•Ep. 56
Every single year, I get so many questions about the first days of school. And so, I thought, why not have an episode about it? After all, that first day of school is a pretty big deal, not just for the students, but also for professional educators like you. That is why I’ve created a free printable lesson plan to go along with the episode! I’ll also explain how to use it, so make sure you watch the whole thing! But, did you know? It's not just the first day of school that's crucial, it's actual...
Jun 13, 2022•25 min•Ep. 55
What is the Science of Reading? And what should preschool teachers know about it? In this week's episode of Elevating Early Childhood, I answer these two questions and more. But I won't be doing this alone! Yes friends, this is an interview episode! And in it, I will be discussing this hot topic with the lovely Allison McDonald. Allison is the creator and founder of the early childhood website No Time for Flash Cards. She's also an author, a mom, and a rockstar early childhood educator! Today, s...
Jun 06, 2022•32 min•Ep. 54
The one thing teachers don't have a lot of besides money is time. There's never enough time in the day to finish everything that needs to be done! That's why in this episode, I'll be sharing my 10 favorite classroom must-haves; items that have saved me time or made my teacher life easier. Some of these things I've used for a very long time and I couldn't live without in my classroom, while others may be new to you. My purpose isn't to get you to buy a bunch of things. Instead, I'm sharing my per...
May 30, 2022•42 min•Ep. 53
Time young children spend in learning centers is precious for their development. And yet, it’s one of those strictly school-related activities, which is why we must do our very best to set them up for success. Creating a successful learning center requires lots of strategic planning and effort. There are many questions you need to answer first, including… How many centers should you create? How long should the center time be? What are the centers going to be about? How will your students know wh...
May 23, 2022•20 min•Ep. 52
Have you ever entered your email address to download a freebie...and then been disappointed by what you got? I know I have plenty of times! When you’re trying to find new ideas for your classroom, freebies can be very helpful. But it can also go in another direction—one where you catch yourself thinking... “Huh? That’s it? I could’ve Googled that!” So when I create freebies and bundles, I’m particularly mindful of trying to provide the very best resources and in plentiful fashion. And for quite ...
May 16, 2022•36 min•Ep. 51
One of the biggest challenges teachers face with teaching the alphabet is getting the letters to stick. You spend weeks teaching, following your curriculum, doing everything by the book. Everything seems to be going great. The kiddos are getting it! And then... Poof! They forget all of it! As if you’ve never even mentioned it before! Has this ever happened to you? Because it’s happened to me plenty of times. When I was a young student teacher, I had an opportunity to shadow a kindergarten teache...
May 09, 2022•15 min•Ep. 50
Do parent-teacher conferences stress you out? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Every teacher goes through the worry and the anxiety that come with them, even those of us who have been teaching for decades. It’s normal to stress about parent-teacher conferences. After all, they require a lot of work and patience. From the extra prep work involved to the anxiety that comes with having to talk to parents and maybe let them know their little ones aren’t progressing as much as they hoped for, parent-te...
May 02, 2022•38 min•Ep. 49
Teaching dual language learners in the preschool classroom is not always easy. I taught this population exclusively for 20 years and I have met obstacles along the way — like every other teacher who’s done it before me—. However, there ARE ways to make it easier on yourself and your students. And to discuss that, I have invited this week’s guest, the brilliant Maria Mercedes Champion. Maria Mercedes is an enthusiastic bilingual preschool teacher with nearly two decades of experience in the class...
Apr 25, 2022•44 min•Ep. 48
When I was in school, I didn't like science class very much. I found it boring and I never enjoyed it. However, just because that was my experience, it doesn’t mean the same should happen with my preschool students. See, young children are full of curiosity and love experimenting with the environment around them. To them, the world is full of wonders and they want to discover and learn about all of it. Using their natural curiosity and my science center tips, you can help them understand the wor...
Apr 18, 2022•31 min•Ep. 47
Hello everyone, and welcome back to a brand new episode of Elevating Early Childhood! If you remember, a few episodes ago, I discussed calendar time and whether or not you needed it in your preschool classroom. And well... it seems many of you had even MORE questions, so I’ve decided to answer them for you. In today's episode I'll be responding to our listener and viewer comments and questions on this super hot button topic — for us preschool teachers —. Are you ready for a mindset shift? Let's ...
Apr 11, 2022•21 min•Ep. 46
Hello everyone, and welcome back to a brand new episode of Elevating Early Childhood. Today's podcast is another one of my thrilling interviews, and I can't wait for you to meet this week's guest! But before I introduce them, let me ask you a quick question: Do you use picture books in your preschool classroom? Now, I already know your answer, "Well of course, Vanessa! Everyone uses picture books to teach young children!" And you might be right, however, are you doing it the right way? Are you u...
Apr 04, 2022•40 min•Ep. 45
Hello everyone, Vanessa here! I'm suuuuper excited to have you over again for another fun episode of Elevating Early Childhood. Today, I'll be discussing calendar time in preschool. As you know, calendar time in the preschool classroom can be challenging (for quite a few reasons). And the big question about it often is: To do calendar or not to do calendar? And I am here to answer it for you! Yes friends, today, we're tackling the big calendar time debate! Ready? Let's dive in! Key Takeaways: Ca...
Mar 28, 2022•22 min•Ep. 44
Hello everyone, and welcome back to a brand new episode of Elevating Early Childhood! Today, I'll be discussing circle time and what to do when it goes awry. No matter how good you are at keeping your students focused and engaged during circle time, you'll find yourself, one day or another, facing issues. Circle time problems are common, but many of us find ourselves panicking when they happen. However, you don't need to. As long as you're prepared, you'll know how to troubleshoot circle time is...
Mar 21, 2022•38 min•Ep. 43
Hello everyone, and welcome back to a brand new episode of Elevating Early Childhood. Today, we're talking… sensory table activities! Yes friends, it's time to go big or go home. Sensory play isn't just fun or messy, it turns out that it has other benefits too! If you're looking for ways to add interest and boost engagement during center time in your classroom, then you don't want to miss this episode. All in all, sensory tables are a must-have in every early childhood classroom. In this episode...
Mar 14, 2022•33 min•Ep. 42
Teaching math skills to preschoolers is not always straightforward. Not every child will find it easy to jump into the world of numbers, and some might even find math pretty intimidating. So, how can we, as early childhood teachers, help facilitate this for them? And where do we even start? These are the questions I ask today's guest, who is none other than the amazing Shannon McCartney. Shannon is an international consultant and author whose work helps teachers from all around the country embed...
Mar 07, 2022•36 min•Ep. 41
Hello everyone, and welcome back to a brand new episode of Elevating Early Childhood! Today's episode is one many of you have been asking for. It's part 3 of my circle time series! But before we start, let me ask you a question: Are you searching for ways to make circle time more fun and engaging for your preschool students? If your answer is a resounding "YES!" — and I'm sure it is — then you've come to the right place! Today, I'll be discussing how to create fun and engaging circle time activi...
Feb 28, 2022•38 min•Ep. 40
There are two types of teachers: Those who absolutely love technology and those who don't feel comfortable using it. But the one thing both types have in common is that they never have enough time in their work day to get everything done. I'm sure you're in the same situation as well. Always running around, feeling like a headless chicken, because you have a million and one things to do and not. enough. time. to do them. Well, lucky for you, I'm here to help. I've been there, I've come up with s...
Feb 21, 2022•15 min•Ep. 39
Hello everyone, and welcome back to a brand new episode of Elevating Early Childhood! Today's episode is suuuuuuper exciting. "Why," you ask? Simply because I'm interviewing the brilliant Dr. Danny Brassell! If you haven't heard of him (although I'm sure many of you have), Dr. Brassell is an internationally-acclaimed speaker, best-selling author of 15 books, and overall funny person — I mean he is nicknamed “Jim Carrey with a PhD”—. I first met Dr. Brassell when I was on the educational conferen...
Feb 14, 2022•36 min•Ep. 38
Friends, before we start, let me ask you a quick question. Do your students love pretend play? I’m pretty sure your answer is a resounding “yes!” because, come on , what child doesn’t like to act out everyday scenarios for fun? Well, you can take your students’ love for dramatic play, and turn it into a learning moment (isn’t that our job after all?) And what better way to do that than by creating your own — very successful, might I add — dramatic play center. Having a well-equipped, well-organi...
Feb 07, 2022•31 min•Ep. 37
Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Elevating Early Childhood! Before we start, let me ask you a quick question: Do your preschool or pre-k students need help learning how to count and develop number sense? If your answer is "YES!" then you've come to the right place, because that's exactly what I'm discussing today. As you know, math doesn't come easily to everyone. Some children have real difficulties with it, while others find it super fun and easy, almost like solving a pu...
Jan 31, 2022•31 min•Ep. 36
Do you have kids in your classroom who have strong reactions to things like loud noises or certain smells? If your answer is "yes", then you may have students with sensory issues! Whether it's the first or the tenth time you've encountered a situation like this, it's important to know what to do, and most importantly, what not to do for your students' wellbeing! So, to discuss this, I've invited author Keri Wilmot on the podcast. Keri is an author and pediatric occupational therapist with more t...
Jan 24, 2022•34 min•Ep. 35
Hello everyone, and welcome back to a brand new episode of Elevating Early Childhood. Before we start, let me ask you a question: What's in your block center? If you're looking for ways to spice up your block center or help your kids get the most out of the block center, then this episode is for you! Because, let me tell you, when your block center is well-stocked and organized, student engagement will skyrocket! But how do you make sure yours checks all the right boxes and is as successful as i...
Jan 17, 2022•39 min•Ep. 34
What's the secret to making every circle time a smashing success? This is the question I answer in today's episode of Elevating Early Childhood! As you know, circle time is an essential part of every preschool classroom. Done right, it can be super fun and engaging! But, there is one big obstacle between you and a successful circle time... Children's short attention spans! I've talked about this before, and yes, I'm about to circle back — excuse the pun — to it again this week, because if you wa...
Jan 10, 2022•38 min•Ep. 33
Friends, it's a new year!! And you know what that means… NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS! Every single December, we all collectively decide the coming year is going to be our best. But let's be honest, these last two years have been less than stellar, especially for teachers, thanks to a little something called "The Pandemic". However, as they say, third time's the charm, and 2022 is going to be OUR year! And that's why it's the perfect time to make (and follow) the one resolution every teacher needs to ma...
Jan 03, 2022•35 min•Ep. 32
Hello everyone, and welcome back to a brand new episode of Elevating Early Childhood. Today, we're talking… organization! If you're dreaming of a more organized teacher life in 2022, I've got you! If you want a fresh start to the new year, then kick classroom clutter to curb and organize #allthethings with my very best tips. After all, no one enjoys it when they open a cabinet in their classroom and get hit on the head by a random bottle of tempera paint — please tell me I'm not the only one who...
Dec 27, 2021•24 min•Ep. 31
I remember the very first time I saw a light table in a classroom, I was mesmerized by the soft glow and the reflecting colors. There was just something about it that was super soothing and comforting to me. And who doesn't like soothing and comforting? I mean, those words sound like a cozy night in with a good book and a hot cup of tea! Well, after making my discovery, I thought to myself: "My students will 100% enjoy something like this." But buying a light table was out of the question, it wa...
Dec 20, 2021•32 min•Ep. 30
Hello everyone, and welcome back to a brand new episode of Elevating Early Childhood. Guess what? This week's episode is another amazing interview, with the one and only Dan St. Romain! Dan is a brilliant author and consultant with 30 years of experience in the education field. He has served as an educational diagnostician AND a behavior specialist on an early childhood campus, so, all in all, Dan really knows what he's talking about! And today, he's here to discuss how to communicate behavior t...
Dec 13, 2021•33 min•Ep. 29
Here is a question I get all the time from my listeners: "Help, my kids are out of control! What can I do?" Now this is something every early childhood teacher has had to deal with in their career. It's no secret that young children are not all angels. It's normal, they're kids, and they don't have as much impulse control as we do. Plus, they're at that age when they're starting to feel like their own person and want to express themselves. So, how do you make them behave in the classroom? Well, ...
Dec 06, 2021•28 min•Ep. 28
Hi everyone, I'm so excited to have you here back again! Today, I pick up right where I left last week in my riveting discussion with Melissa. If you're not sure what I'm talking about, let me refresh your memory a bit! Melissa and I discussed literacy, the importance of understanding the children you're teaching, and how to teach your students the alphabet. And today, we discuss even more fun stuff and answer your most burning literacy questions, so make sure to tune in! Key Takeaways: Do you n...
Nov 29, 2021•29 min•Ep. 27
