Shaping Little Minds

Behavior management has become the topic to discuss. Why? Behaviors in the classroom are more drastic and very different than they’ve been in the past. So many teachers are struggling to gain control of those said behaviors and it is one of the many reasons teachers are leaving education. This becomes a reason teachers burnout; when the classroom is chaotic, teachers feel like life is chaotic. And...

Today, we are diving into the juicy details of what it means to join The Confident ECE. I answer questions like: who is this for? How much will it cost? What is the time commitment? The Confident ECE is a mentorship program for new and struggling teachers who are looking for in class support. Tune in to find out if this program is the right fit for you. Learn more:  https://shapinglittleminds.myka...

Have you ever thought about incorporating sensory play for your students?  In today’s podcast episode, I got to talk to Tiffany about sensory play in the early childhood classroom. We dive into what sensory play is, how it encourages learning, various activities teachers can incorporate, and the way it impacts a child’s development and behavior.  Thank you so much for listening to this week's...

Classroom and behavior management is something all teachers are struggling with at the moment.  When I put a poll up to ask what teachers want to learn about, the most prominent answer was classroom management. In today's episode, I dive into the 4 steps I've taken to create a classroom management plan . It's the steps I find to be the hardest and challenging inside the classroom. S...

We can’t just assume that our students will know what they are feeling let alone be able to verbalize it. We need to teach them the vocabulary necessary to express their feelings. In this episode, we dive into various ways we can start to teach our students about emotions and feelings throughout the school year. A question to consider: What does the feeling look like? This will help our learners r...

I talk a lot about this idea of getting consumed in teaching to the point where we end up losing who we are at the core. I think that a big part of this is the idea that rest is bad and the only way we’re using our time wisely is by being productive. What if you changed your mindset around rest? Today we discuss the lessons I've learned after shifting my mindset around the idea of rest. Shift...

I’m excited to dive into this week’s episode because I’ve never done an episode on this topic. I’ve talked about all the things you can do inside an early childhood classroom to encourage learning and play but I’ve never discussed the importance of listening. Listening is a powerful tool educators need and should practice on a consistent basis.  We talk about the 4 ways you can become more intenti...

Today, I’m going to dive into a topic I’m super passionate about and it happens to be my #1 piece of advice for early childhood teachers. If you’ve been with me a while, you know that I whole-heartedly believe that early childhood teachers need a mentor. Someone that will help to guide and support them throughout their education journey.  We'll cover: Why mentorship is so critical for new and...

I’m bringing the theme of play back onto the podcast but we’re diving into how to make play a part of the learning process. I got to welcome back my good friend, Carla Ward; an early childhood educator and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Early Learning Foundations and is one of the biggest advocates for early childhood educators. Here's what we cover: Why play is a controversial topic in...

Boundaries set the foundation for balance in your teaching career. Boundaries help to create balance between your work as a teacher and your personal life.  In this episode, I give you different ways to start setting boundaries so that you start to enjoy your life outside of teaching. I dive into: - Morning routines; why that in and of itself is setting a boundary, what my morning routine looks li...

Have you ever thought about incorporating the practice of mindfulness into your classroom or looking for new ways to continue bringing mindfulness into your classroom?  Look no further!! In this episode, I got to speak to one of my best friends, Adina about mindfulness in the classroom. Adina is not only one of my best friends but an amazing educator. She brings mindfulness into her classroom each...

Today I have a very special guest on the podcast! Kathleen Gomes is a Registered Early Childhood Educator with 10 years experience working in full day kindergarten and more recently, she is employed as an ERW, caring for children with diverse needs. In today’s episode, we talk about teacher self- care; what self-care is, why it’s important, and how you can incorporate it into your daily routine. ...

Teaching has never been easy and definitely isn’t getting easier while being in a pandemic for the last 2.5 years. Without classroom support, teaching can feel even more difficult and can end up consuming your life. Teaching becomes everything you are rather than just a part of who you are.   In this episode, Adva explains her new program, The Confident ECE, that provides early childhood teachers...

 I never experienced Sunday Scaries on this level until I got hired for this summers camp job. But I learned a lot from my experience which is why I’m here sharing this with you; it’s why I launched this podcast in the first place. I wanted to share my knowledge and experiences with teachers. I’m going to list what I’ve learned from my experiences.  Please note that I don’t claim to be an expert a...

I put together a list of 5 important things to focus on during those first days of school: Don’t stress about your lesson plans being perfect Focus on building relationships with your students Review Expectations, Rules & Routines Set boundaries from the very beginning Enforce Rules Now I have a question for you… What else do you focus on in the first days of school? I’d love to hear from you!...

Art has unfortunately become a non-essential activity in schools. Everything is much more academically focused. Today, I have Jalilah on the podcast who can dive into the importance of art, teach you how to implement quality and authentic art lessons into the classroom, and ways to keep your art center exciting and autonomous.  What we'll cover: Why art is such an important part of early chil...

When we make the decision to be a teacher, we are usually there for the kids. We love kids, we love to watch them grow; we’re not usually there because the money is good. If you’ve been around, you know that as teachers we truly don’t get paid enough for the work we do. In today’s episode, we’ll cover: Definition of advocacy and the importance of being an advocate 3 ways you can advocate for your...

And... WE'RE BACK!! Today’s episode is about professional development in early childhood. We talk about:  the different ways you, as the teacher, can grab opportunities to continue to learn,  what’s missing when it comes PD in early childhood,  What teachers are struggling with right now that could change with access to the appropriate professional development program The components of profes...

Have you ever struggled with finding your identity outside of teaching? In the recent years, I have found that I bury myself in work rather than enjoying the time I spend on my own, with friends, with family, etc.  I went from full-time employee to being my own boss and never took the time to really find out who I am outside of work; what really makes me happy.  I created a life that revolved arou...

Today’s episode is all about the benefits of teamwork. What is teamwork? It is a group of people working together in an effective and productive way. We work as teams every day. Every teacher or administrator has a different experience with their team members.  I’m here to remind you of the importance of teamwork and how it benefits YOU as teachers.  Not all teams are effective and productive. Thi...

I had the pleasure of speaking to Natasha all about burnout while teaching in early childhood. Natasha is a registered early childhood educator in Ontario, Canada. She is passionate about providing children quality care and is an advocate for the early childhood profession. Please help me welcome Natasha onto the podcast!  Here's what we cover: What burnout is  What are signs of burnout Benef...

Have you ever dealt with a parent who refused to see that their child needed more support inside the classroom?  It's not easy and can be super frustrating as a teacher.  Today, I want to give you three specific ways to help you handle those objections without feeling like you want to give up on the child.  Lean on Support Don't give up on the student, no matter the circumstances Go back...

Do you invest in your learning?  Do you take the time to learn alongside your students and implement any new strategies or techniques? I know how busy teachers are throughout their day and especially now with Covid being a big part of the classroom environment. The work can be daunting but what happens when your techniques aren't working? Do you invest then? Or do you just try to figure it ou...

Have you ever wondered how you can shift into a growth mindset? Did you know it helps you show up with confidence? I have a special guest on with me today! She’s a social media and confidence coach and today we are diving into operating with a growth mindset in order to show up with confidence.  Today's episode is all about shifting into a growth mindset. Annik gives lots of tips and tricks t...

I'm changing things up! Today's teacher coaching episode is going to be a compilation. You may be wondering what that would look like... well here goes: I'm taking questions from each teacher that can help you and giving you the chance to listen to just that part of the episode. I'm hoping that gives you a bit more help as you go through your teaching journey inside the classro...