Whether you’re a preschool teacher, daycare provider, or administrator, the connection you build with parents can make or break a child’s success in your care. Today we'll discuss why strong communication with parents is so critical in early childhood education and how we can communicate well, even when we’re juggling 1000 other things!
Celebrate the one year anniversary of the launch of the Play Before Pencils Podcast with me! We'll take a look back over the year and what it's taught us about the importance of play in early childhood classrooms. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast
In today's episode, we take a look at transitions--why they are hard for young children and how we can approach them with more strategy to minimize the impact they have on the students in your early childhood classroom. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com
As the school year nears an end, early childhood teachers are often asked the question "Is my child ready for kindergarten?" If we've done our jobs well, we can confidently say "YES!" without ever having engaged in 3 common preschool practices that actually work against a child being ready to move on in school. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com
Whole Body Listening….is it helpful or harmful in today’s early childhood classrooms? Join host Jenn Zollinger as she explores the answer to that question in this episode of the Play Before Pencils Podcast. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast
Emergent writing is a process that requires far more support than a worksheet could ever provide. Join me as I discuss a few of the foundational skills necessary for young children to become successful writers and how to create a classroom environment that supports those skills WITHOUT the use of worksheets! Click HERE to save 20% on my course Ditch the Worksheets: Emergent Writing in Play-based Classrooms , or visit the show notes below. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast...
Behavior charts are designed to help children visualize their behavior in real time and they are popular because they are simple to implement and seem to keep classrooms running smoothly. But beneath the surface, there is a darker side to these systems and they can wind up undermining a child's intrinsic motivation to do good and leave them feeling emotionally unstable in the classroom. Join me as I discuss better ways to elicit the positive behavior you want from the students in your classroom....
In today's episode I talk about the importance of giving children freedom to create. We’ll explore why creativity matters, how freedom fuels it, and simple ways you can encourage the imagination of the children in your classroom every day. Visit the show notes for links to some of the resources I use in my art cart. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast
In this episode I share some of my favorite resources and supplies as an ECE. Link are below! Books: The Whole Child Alphabet What if Everybody Understood Child Development? Let the Children Play Podcasts: Not Just Cute The Early Childhood Research Podcast Kindergarten Ready Instagram Accounts: Cream City Teacher Confident Kids Therapy The Intentional Educator Music: Kira Willey Emily Arrow Kimbo Children's Music Classroom Supplies: Label Maker Maker Wall ChompSaw Double-sided Poster Tape Additi...
In this episode we'll explore the topic of guided play, the role it has in a child-led classroom, and how to expertly execute it. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast
In the final episode of my Unintended Consequences of Teacher-led Classrooms, I explore the topic of building relationships in the early childhood classroom and comparing how relationships might differ in teacher-led classrooms vs. child-led classrooms.
Teacher-led classrooms are so focused on instruction that there is often little time left for observation. When this powerful tool is left out of the assessment equation, teachers are at a disadvantage in understanding what their students actually know and where they could use some extra support. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast
Welcome to week 2 of my series "Unintended Consequences of Teacher-led Classrooms". Today we'll take a closer look at play in teacher-led environments and how a focus on following instructions and completing tasks can have a negative impact on a child's development when they take precedence over play. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast
In this 4-part series, we will explore the unintended consequences of teacher-led models of education in early childhood classrooms. This week we are exploring the consequences of not offering choice to students and how a child-led model better supports their growth and development through choice. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast
We know that when learning happens in context, there is a much greater chance that it will stick. But sometimes, children are interested in topics that fall outside of the context of their current environments or experiences--is following that lead OK? Find out my thoughts on today's episode! Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast
There are so many resources out there about how to teach literacy in early childhood classrooms, but Stacy Benge gets to the heart of how that developmental process actually unfolds for young children in her book "The Whole Child Alphabet". Her easy-to-read style of writing makes this resource a must-have for every early childhood educator and my interview with her today will provide you with insights and ideas that you'll be able to immediately implement in your classroom. Show Notes: www.playb...
Sharing is such an integral part of learning in early childhood and a LOT of children struggle to grasp this concept. But the good news? This is also a time when they’re incredibly curious and eager to learn. We just need to guide them in the right direction. In today's episode I discuss a small change I made in my classroom that had a big pay-off when it came to children navigating the complicated task of sharing and turn-taking. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast...
JaneAnn Benson is a wealth of information when it comes to building strong early childhood teams. Kick off your new school year with some extra knowledge and skills that will help you find success in creating a collaborative and healthy working relationship with fellow team members in your classroom. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast
Have you ever taken the time to consider that just because something is common does not necessarily mean it's appropriate? Today I hit on several very common practices in early childhood classrooms and discuss whether they are actually appropriate for the children in our care. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podast
There are a tremendous number of benefits to incorporating storytelling into early childhood settings, but not all of us are comfortable stepping outside of simply reading a book and really getting into the good stuff. In today's episode, Laura Shea talks about the various components of storytelling, why it is an important practice when working with young children, and how to start introducing it into your classroom in simple and accessible ways. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast...
You asked, now here it is! The #1 requested topic I've had for the podcast is an episode on the Reggio Emilia approach. I'm pleased to have Abby Bucher, a veteran teacher who has studied and used the Reggio philosophy in her classroom for 20 years, join me to give a crash course on what this popular approach is all about and how you can begin bringing it into your classroom today. Show notes: www.playeforepencils.com/podcast
"Process over product" is likely a familiar term that you've heard over and over again. It's a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of focusing on the journey or method of achieving a goal rather than solely on the end result or outcome. Early childhood classrooms serve as fertile ground for nurturing curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. It is within these environments that the seeds of lifelong learning are sown. By embracing the principle of process over product, educators foster...
We all know that working in the early childhood field can be demanding and draining, and for some, that stress reaches burnout levels. Join me as I talk with Katie Heiser about her recent experience with burnout as an early childhood educator, how she chose to navigate it, and where she is now. Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast
While on the surface you might not even distinguish between a schedule and a routine, there is a difference! Join me as I discuss that difference and encourage you to favor one over the other for the benefit of your students. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/
Publics schools often have the reputation of being all work and no play, but Amber Unger, The Cream City Teacher, has created a completely different reality in her classroom. Listen as she shares her tips and tricks for incorporating more play into public school classrooms while still targeting the standards and expectations set by the school system. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/
How often do we give children long, uninterrupted stretches of play, either at home or at school? Unless you are being very intentional about the playtime in your classroom, they probably aren't getting as much as you think.
The term "kindergarten ready" has infiltrated preschool classrooms and perhaps caused us to focus more on the skills that children need to acquire later rather than the skills that they need now. A shift in focus to "preschool mastery" can make a world of difference in how you approach your teaching! Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/
Themes have been a mainstay of preschool programs for decades, but what if they are actually limiting what your students are capable of learning? In this episode we will explore that question and consider how changing your approach to themes has the potential to unlock greater creativity and exploration for the children in your classroom. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/
The Share Your Journey series will take us into the worlds of early childhood educators at various stages of their journeys. Be inspired as we hear from Anna Crabb, who knew from the age of 19 that early childhood education and advocacy was her calling in life. Anna has created a beautiful child-led program that you'll want to learn more about! Show Notes: www.playbeforepencils.com/podcast
Lesson planning in a child-led program looks a lot different than it does in a teacher-led program. It can be an intimidating and confusing change to make. Join me as I walk you through 4 key elements that have helped make my lesson planning a simple and reflective process. Show Notes: https://playbeforepencils.com/podcast/
