Happy Teaching

🎙 Episode 7: The Truth About Teachers’ Summers “Must be nice to have summers off…” 😬 If you’ve ever heard that phrase and felt your blood pressure spike a little—you’re not alone. In this episode, Alex gets real about what summer actually looks like for teachers. Spoiler: it’s not two months of piña coladas and pool floats (though we wish!).  From mental recovery to prepping for a brand-new group...

🎙 Episode 6: What to Do When Kids Interrupt All Day Long If you're hearing “Teacher! Teacher!” on repeat, or getting constant shoulder taps during small group time — you’re not alone. Interrupting is one of the most common (and draining) behaviors in early childhood classrooms. In this episode, Alex walks you through exactly why it happens, what you can do about it, and how to set realistic e...

🎙 Episode 5: 3 Things to Say Instead of "Good Job" (That Spark Real Conversation) Let’s be clear—there’s nothing wrong with saying “Good job!” But what if you could level up your praise to build confidence, spark conversation, and boost learning? In this episode, Alex shares three powerful phrases you can use instead of generic praise to help students feel truly seen—and deepen their ref...

Tattling All Day? Here’s What to Do Instead If you’ve already heard “They’re not sharing!” or “He cut me!” more times than you can count before recess—you’re not alone. In this episode, Alex shares why constant tattling happens (hint: it’s not just misbehavior) and what to do instead —including real classroom examples, easy conversation scripts, and one gentle challenge for this week. ✨ You’ll le...

Episode 3: You’re Almost There – A Pep Talk for the Final Stretch You know it’s the end of the year when someone’s backpack is full of rocks and routines are… well, barely hanging on. If you’re juggling countdowns, theme days, and student energy that’s turned all the way up—you’re not alone. In this short but powerful pep talk, Alex is here to remind you just how far you’ve come and how much you’v...

Episode 2: Let’s Make the End of the Year Fun (Without Losing Our Minds) If your brain is half in summer mode but your classroom is still full of kiddos who need structure and fun —you’re in the right place. This episode is all about wrapping up the year with joy, calm, and connection. In this chat, Alex shares easy, meaningful ways to celebrate the end of the year without adding stress to your pl...

Episode 1: How to Actually Leave on Time on Fridays  It’s Friday. Dismissal just ended. Your to-do list? Still a mile long. 😩 And with the end of the school year in full swing, that list likely grew five extra arms. So how do you walk out on time and still feel ready for Monday? In this episode of The Happy Teaching Podcast, we’re talking about 3 simple strategies to protect your Friday afternoon...

🎙 Welcome to The Happy Teaching Podcast! This is the show for Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers who want to bring more joy, ease, and connection to their classrooms. Whether you’re sipping coffee during your commute or wrapping up your day with a quick listen, you're in the right place. In this very first episode, host Alex John — teacher, founder of The Kindergarten Connection, and playful lea...