Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Let’s get cutting!  Cutting skills and preschool go hand in hand. Many times it is the first time that children have been allowed to use scissors. So, it’s important that we understand the continuum in which children’s cutting skills develop.  To make it a little easier to remember, I created a printable Preschool Cutting Continuum graphic that you can grab at the link below! Tune in to...

Let’s talk about circle time, shall we? Do you love it? Or do you loathe it? Some of us have mixed feelings about circle time. And depending on how you structure yours, it can lead to a wonderful group experience or a chaotic and frustrating mess. Today, let’s go into some do’s and don’ts of circle time! Topics Discussed: Consistency in circle time How and when to give choices during circle time A...

Whole group games work SOOO incredibly well at circle time.  I use them on the daily and these games allow me to work with students as a group to practice and review academic skills – but in a fun way! In this episode, I want to share with you 5 of my favorite types of circle time games that you can play and adapt for any theme or season! Tune in! Topics Discussed: 5 Circle Time Games de...

Got a Circle Time Cart?  This is one idea for circle time that you are going to want to hear about! When you take a minute to stop and think of all the things that you use or could use during circle time, a long list might start forming. Calendar pieces, pointers, markers, well-wishing wands, music, a pocket chart….  But, do you make sure that all these items are readily available at you...

Circle time is a beloved and essential part of the preschool classroom, providing a space for children to connect with their peers, learn new things, and develop important social and emotional skills.  To create a successful and engaging circle time experience, it's crucial to carefully consider the physical environment.  This episode lays out the key features I think about when setting...

Center time is a major staple of a preschool program. And if you are running a play-based classroom like I am… free-play centers is the key ingredient! But have you ever wondered…. how long should I schedule time in centers? Tune in and I will walk you through what the recommendations are for scheduling center time. Topics Discussed: ECERS ( Early Childhood Environmental Education Rating System) r...

Setting up a preschool classroom is both exciting and daunting. This is the space where new little young minds will explore, learn, and grow. As a play-based classroom, my classroom truly is the second teacher. But, I truly believe we can’t just ‘wing it’. There are some important factors to take into consideration when setting up your preschool classroom – and I’m sharing them all here with you!...

The first day of preschool is a whirlwind of excitement, nerves, and new faces. As preschool teachers, we know the importance of creating a warm and welcoming environment from the start. And we also know how a little strategic planning can go a long way in setting the stage for a smooth and successful year. In this episode, we’re talking about why investing time in planning classroom management be...

Preschool teachers often find themselves navigating many tiny humans with big emotions. While the rewards of being a preschool teacher are huge, it doesn't come without challenges! Behavior management in the preschool classroom is complex and so much of it is our own mindset. Let's talk about the hard truths of behavior management! Topics Discussed: 6 hard truths about behavior management in the p...

No preschool classroom is immune to it… little learners with BIG emotions. Some years are different from others, but every school year we will have children in our class that need help processing big emotions. And this year was the year I finally created something that I feel like really helps…. It’s called The Chill Spot and I want to share it because I’m so excited about the progress I am seeing...

We all know the importance of fostering a strong literacy foundation in our little learners. But with so much to juggle, ensuring we're hitting all those crucial emergent literacy goals can feel overwhelming. I do understand why many teachers still grasp to a step-by-step plan. It makes sense to our brains and makes us feel confident that we are covering the skills we should be (even if it's done...

Isn't it amazing to see the way our little learners soak up everything around them? They're like tiny sponges, eager to explore and learn new things. When it comes to early literacy, our little sponges need the right opportunities to help them learn foundational literacy skills. Let's face it, traditional flashcards and worksheets can feel a bit…well, dry... and honestly... those methods aren't me...

For whatever reason, parents seem to think if their preschooler can't name all the alphabet letters by the end of preschool, then the year was a loss. Or maybe you've even had an administrator that sees letter recognition as the key early learning goals for literacy! It can be frustrating because, as preschool teachers, we know that early literacy is so much more than just memorizing letters ! Thi...

We all know the importance of fresh, engaging center materials to spark curiosity and learning in our preschoolers. But let's be real, sometimes the thought of prepping and switching out those materials feels like a whole other mountain to climb. We've all been there. You spend all this time crafting amazing experiences, but then changing things out feels like a chaotic avalanche. Fear not, my fri...

Do you want to keep your preschool center time fresh and engaging, but get overwhelmed at the thought of actually doing it? Changing out centers for center time is some serious work! But, what you need is a plan! In this episode, let me walk you through my step-by-step process for changing out your centers! Tune in! Topics Discussed: The problem- changing out centers can be overwhelming and t...

You know the centers in your classroom that your preschoolers rarely go to? The centers that when they do get students, those students rarely stay for too long? I call those the "un-popular" centers. I've found a way to liven up those centers! Tune in! Topics Discussed: Un-popular centers - writing, math, science, literacy How to make the un-popular centers fun and appealing Resources Mentioned: P...

We all know the magic of center time: a room buzzing with creativity, exploration, and little minds learning through play. But let's be honest, sometimes center time can feel more like...chaos erupting. Keeping children engaged can be challenging. Today I want to share with you 5 strategies that have helped guide me to making my free play centers more enjoyable for all! Topics Discussed: Change it...

The end of the school year is definitely bittersweet. It's exciting for our current students to be headed to new adventures and hard to let go of the littles we have had in our classrooms all year! One thing I do at the end of each year is spend some time reflecting. What worked in my classroom and what do I want to change for that new group of students coming in! Topics Discussed: The importance...

While conferences are a great time to connect with parents, celebrate student achievements and also provide a space to express concerns - it's not easy. Most of us are extremely comfortable talking to young children, but talking to parents can feel like a totally different experience! In this episode of the Lovely Preschool Teachers podcast, you will get tips on how to make conferences go more smo...

I’ve done a lot of required assessments in my day. And when I think back, I can confirm that I didn’t actually use the results from the assessments. I just got the assessment done and called it a day. But, the purpose of assessing is to check progress and if there is a discrepancy, to use that data to create lessons and learning opportunities to help teach that missing skill. Tune in to this episo...

We all know the importance of preschool assessment – it helps us understand our little learners and tailor our teaching to their needs. But traditional assessment periods can sometimes feel overwhelming. Testing all of the skills multiple times per year is exhausting and unnecessary! What if you were only focusing on specific skills to assess for each testing period? You'd be doing LESS assessing....

Circle time is a great way to review skills and grow class community! However, what do you do when circle time feels like more of a hassle than it's worth? Is it hard to keep the students engaged? Is your circle time becoming boring? In this episode I will help you bring joy into your circle time! Topics Discussed: Why circle time might need a refresh Ways to keep circle time lively Resources Ment...

Raise your hand if you struggle to ‘fit it all in’. Relying on small group time to fit in all the things that preschoolers need to know just wasn’t cutting it. The problem is… since small group time often occurs during free play, there are many distractions. Not only do some children not want to leave their play to come to the small group table, teachers are often needed for conflict resolution. B...

As Play-Based Preschool Teachers, we often find ourselves juggling multiple responsibilities and trying to create engaging and play-filled experiences for our little learners. However, while trying to provide the best education possible, we can end up getting overwhelmed and stretched too thin. Topics Discussed: Reconsidering classroom parties Simplifying student gifts Rethinking seasonal decor El...

Sharing. It's a common topic amongst those who teach young children. Why are preschoolers expected to share? What impacts might forcing young children to share have? What should we do instead. This episode covers it all! Topics Discussed: The reasons preschoolers are told to share The negative impact it can have What we should teach instead How to help children solve "sharing issues" Connect with...