Friends, I have a question for you: Have you ever had a parent request that their child not participate in holiday activities in your classroom? If you've taught for any length of time, chances are you've encountered this issue before. But what can you do about it? And how do you deal with it in a respectful and inclusive way? In today’s episode, I’ll be answering these exact questions and sharing a few dos and don’ts of dealing with these situations. Are you ready? Tune in now! Key Takeaways: D...
Feb 27, 2023•18 min•Ep. 86
In the last two episodes, Dan St. Romain and I sat down and discussed everything from how to teach your students to become more independent to how to get them not to interrupt you during small group time. Today, he and I will be tackling another hot topic: What to do when a parent tells you their child is being bullied. Nothing strikes fear in a teacher's heart more than hearing from a parent who says their child has been bullied. As a teacher, hearing those words makes us feel like we’ve let ou...
Feb 20, 2023•25 min•Ep. 85
In last week’s episode, Dan St. Romain and I discussed how to teach children not to interrupt you during small group time. Something Dan and I really focused on during that conversation was the importance of teaching preschool-aged children to be independent the right way. Well, today, Dan and I will dive deeper into that, so I hope you’re just as excited as I am! Listen in as he and I discuss the best ways to teach your preschool students to become independent and how to avoid the pitfalls ma...
Feb 13, 2023•26 min•Ep. 84
It’s no secret that small group time can be challenging, even for the most seasoned early childhood teachers. Why is that? Simply because it’s not always easy to manage the other students while working with small groups, which means the possibilities for interruption can be… infinite. But what can you do if you're struggling with constant interruptions during small group instruction? To answer this question, I’ve invited the amazing Dan St. Romain to join me in this week’s episode, which is part...
Feb 06, 2023•27 min•Ep. 83
Many early childhood teachers feel like a broken record. They’re always saying “no” and “no hitting” and “use your words,” etc… If you’ve been teaching preschool for a while, then you know that every day can be like a battlefield (full of cute children, yes, but a battlefield nonetheless). Our job consists of putting out a hundred fires at once while teaching children skills they will need in life and making sure they’re in one piece at the end of the day. This is exactly why we need to learn ho...
Jan 30, 2023•31 min•Ep. 82
Friends, I have a question for you: Do you ever dread saying no to your students because you’re worried they might have a full on meltdown? I get you, I’ve been there too. Trying to say “no” to a child without having them throw a temper tantrum is a whoooole lot of work. In simpler words, it’s hard. But as you know if you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, it’s not impossible! Every preschool classroom problem has a solution. Yes, even this one. And to discuss this, the brilliant Dr. ...
Jan 23, 2023•34 min•Ep. 81
If you’ve ever wondered why your students wander around the classroom and just… dump their toys on the floor, then you’re not alone! Let's face it, we've all had children in our classrooms wandering aimlessly from center to center pulling tubs of toys off the shelves without ever playing with them. The truth is, this is a fairly typical scenario in the early childhood classroom. The question then is: Why oh why do toddlers (and preschoolers) do that? And most importantly, how can you teach them ...
Jan 16, 2023•33 min•Ep. 80
If you’ve ever taught young children (and my bet is you have, since you’re listening to this podcast) then you’ve probably had your fair share of daily fires to put out. I feel you, I’ve been there too. It’s no secret that the daily life of an early childhood educator isn’t always sunshine and roses. And sometimes, it’s just really, really hard. One of the issues many pre-k teachers struggle with is what to do when all their students want to go to the same center at the same time! As you know al...
Jan 09, 2023•27 min•Ep. 79
Teaching young children literacy skills can be tricky. They’re such an important skill that it can become downright intimidating to teach them to your students. Which one do you even start with? Letters? Letter names? Or letter sounds? Sometimes, the answer to that question seems obvious. But, most of the time, it’s truly not. And so, deciding which skill to start with can give even the most seasoned preschool educators a headache. But, lucky for you, this is exactly what I’ll be discussing in t...
Jan 02, 2023•13 min•Ep. 78
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...
Dec 19, 2022•31 min•Ep. 77
Does this sound familiar to you? While everyone else is out singing carols and decking the halls, you are barely keeping your head above water, because you're trying to do all that plus prep all of your lessons and activities for the first week back after winter break. Just thinking about this makes me shudder. The struggle is real, am I right? But, no need to panic, because today, I’ll be helping you get a jumpstart on your planning for the new year! In this episode, I’ll be sharing with you aa...
Dec 12, 2022•26 min•Ep. 76
Let me ask you this question. Have you ever had a child in your classroom get upset when they didn't get their own way? If your answer is “yes” (and I’m sure it is), then this episode is for you! Why is that? Simply because in it, I’ll be discussing why kids may throw fits when they don't get what they want, how to respond appropriately, and why “You get what you get and you don't throw a fit” is never the right answer. And to make this even more interesting, I’ve invited a guest! His name is Ro...
Dec 05, 2022•30 min•Ep. 75
If you’re anything like me, then you love a good deal (and truth is, who doesn’t?) Which is why this is such an exciting time of the year. As someone who looooves a good deal, Cyber Monday is one of my favorite ways to find good deals on new materials for my classroom centers. Even the ones that are too spendy may be affordable today, so I thought I would share some deeply discounted fun finds I recently discovered with you. If you're always on the hunt for the best materials for your preschool ...
Nov 23, 2022•28 min•Ep. 74
I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty certain hearing a student say “I’m boooooored!!” is every preschool teacher’s nightmare. I’ve been through this before, as have you, I’m sure. And, because of that, I know you can imagine the panic in every teacher’s head when those cursed words are uttered. But, have you ever stopped to ask yourself why your students are saying this? You see, it’s not always boredom, but something else. What is it? Well, you’ll have to listen to this episode to learn the a...
Nov 21, 2022•23 min•Ep. 73
Imagine with me: You’ve got your preschool classroom all set up. The centers are stocked and ready to be used, full of materials you’ve purchased or made yourself. Everything is the best it could be, and you just can’t wait for your students to use and enjoy every single center in the classroom. However, somehow, your kids just avoid certain centers. They don’t like them, don’t want to go near them, don’t even look at them… Uh oh, Houston, we have a problem. Does this sound familiar to you? If s...
Nov 14, 2022•26 min•Ep. 72
Are you looking for ways to make things more fun and engaging in your classroom this November? If so, you're in luck because in today's episode of Elevating Early Childhood, I'll be sharing 12 fun, exciting, engaging, and developmentally appropriate ways to spice things up this Thanksgiving. From sensory bins to pumpkin pie scented playdough, these creative ideas are a fantastic way for your children to develop their fine motor skills - all while having a blast ! Tune in to learn how to spice up...
Nov 07, 2022•26 min•Ep. 71
Whether you love pumpkin pie and turkey, or you dread family get-togethers, one thing's for sure, Thanksgiving is almost here! What does this mean for early childhood teachers like you and me? Well simply… the dreaded extra work . Being a preschool teacher can be challenging on the best of days, but, during times like Christmas and Thanksgiving, the work can downright be impossible ! However, this year it’s going to be different. Because, this year, I’ll be sharing with you four easy steps to he...
Oct 31, 2022•19 min•Ep. 70
Are you still struggling to get your little ones to sit still and pay attention? Or maybe you're wondering how you're ever going to teach them anything at this pace? Well then, I’ve got the solution for you! Today, I’ll be sharing with you the best preschool activities for a fall theme to keep your students interested in the classroom. You see, it’s not always easy to get young children to pay attention. In fact, it’s sometimes downright hard , so a little help every once in a while doesn’t hurt...
Oct 24, 2022•28 min•Ep. 69
If you’re a preschool teacher, chances are you probably have an art center in your classroom. After all, art is a quintessential part of the preschool curriculum. It’s a great way to help children develop their imagination and creativity and work on their fine motor skills. And in order to do that, an art center is a must . However, not all preschool art centers are equal. Some are better than others. Why is that? Simply because they have everything a young child needs to develop their art skill...
Oct 17, 2022•34 min•Ep. 68
Every pre-k teacher knows it, making art is a big part of preschool. It’s a great way for the children to be creative, enrich their imagination, and develop their fine motor skills in a fun and enjoyable manner. However, making sure your students are creating the right kind of art is important. Because yes , the kind of art your kids are making does matter. Process art and product art are two types of activities that usually happen in the preschool classroom. The difference between them is that ...
Oct 10, 2022•14 min•Ep. 67
Hello everyone and welcome back to a brand new episode of Elevating Early Childhood. Now, a quick warning before you start listening, this episode’s got a bit of a bite to it (pun intended)! This, friends, is because today, we’re discussing children who bite. Most younger preschool classrooms have at least one bitey kid, and it can be pretty difficult for teachers to deal with those types of situations. Why is the child biting? How can you deal with their behavior? And most importantly, how can ...
Oct 03, 2022•30 min•Ep. 66
If you’re overwhelmed by the sheer amount of educational centers you’re supposed to have in your preschool classroom, then you’re not alone. Many of us find ourselves facing a dilemma when setting up centers in our classroom: Should we have a separate area for each center? Or can some be combined? Naturally, both options have their pros and cons, and because of that, it can be difficult to decide which way is best for you. Lucky for you, I’m here to help you make that decision. In today’s episod...
Sep 26, 2022•10 min•Ep. 65
The beginning of the year is tricky, there is so much to take care of, things to set up, new students to meet, parents to get to know, etc... All of this stuff can be pretty stressful, but I’m here to make it just a little bit easier on you. Friends, today, we’re talking about how to set your kids up for success when it comes to learning the alphabet. It’s no secret that teaching the alphabet at the beginning of the year can be challenging - for even the most seasoned teacher. However, with the ...
Sep 19, 2022•39 min•Ep. 64
There are some things that will make or break you as a teacher, and transitions are right there at the top of the list for early childhood teachers. Every single day is full of transitions in preschool, so having a surefire list of tips that’ll help you make them as easy as possible is crucial . Lucky for you, I’m about to share those tips with you. So, if you’re struggling with transitioning from one activity (or place) to another in your preschool classroom, this episode is for you! Want to le...
Sep 05, 2022•23 min•Ep. 63
The new school year is here, and this means that, like every year, it’s now time for those back-to-school checklists! You see, the life of a preschool teacher is not easy (no matter what some people might tell you). We have quite a few things to take care of and keep in mind, and this is especially true during the beginning of the year, when everything is still a bit chaotic. Lucky for you, the chaos doesn’t have to be permanent. You can get rid of it by setting up simple routines and procedures...
Aug 25, 2022•16 min•Ep. 62
Do you ever wonder why your students can’t sit through story time without fiddling around or losing interest? If you’re struggling with getting your kids to pay attention during a read-aloud, I’ve got a secret to share with you: You’re not alone. Every preschool teacher has been through this. And I mean it. All of us have wished for a magical wand that’d make story time easier at least once in our careers. Sadly, we have yet to find that wand. But hey, don’t lose hope yet, because there is a sol...
Aug 22, 2022•26 min•Ep. 61
Want to add more diverse picture books to your classroom this year? Discover Black Boy, Black Boy , a beautifully illustrated children's book with an uplifting message for all young children. This is the perfect picture book if you’re looking for inspirational stories that will resonate with all the students in your preschool classroom. Not convinced yet? How about you listen to my interview with the authors, Jorge Redmond and Ali Kamanda? I’m sure they would be able to convince you. Well then, ...
Aug 15, 2022•28 min•Ep. 60
It’s no secret that early childhood teachers everywhere have seen changes in their students’ behavior since the pandemic began. And because of that, teaching young children is now more challenging than it ever was. Kids are bouncing off the walls and full of energy… sometimes, a little bit too much energy if I’m being honest. However, this doesn’t have to be a perpetual issue in your classroom. I’m here, and I'm about to share an easy way to help reduce your preschool behavioral woes. Yes friend...
Aug 08, 2022•22 min•Ep. 59
As I’ve discussed in the last episode of Elevating Early Childhood, learning how to write your name as a preschooler takes a lot of work and dedication from both the teachers and the students. Continuing on with the theme, today, I’ll be discussing whether you should be teaching your pre-k students to write their names in capital letters or lowercase letters. This episode is also for those of you who are wondering why some kids can write their names beautifully while others cry at the thought of...
Aug 01, 2022•19 min•Ep. 58
Writing your name as a preschooler is no easy feat. It takes work, dedication, and the right writing activities from you, their preschool teacher. This is why, today, I’ll be sharing some super fun ( and super easy) name writing activities you can do with your preschool students. But before we start, let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we? Writing is one of those developmental milestones that’s individual to each child, and that means that not every child will benefit from the same act...
Jul 25, 2022•30 min•Ep. 57
