Kindergarten Cafe Podcast: Simple Tips for Teaching Kindergarten

Zeba McGibbon
  • 4.9 (58)
  • Education
  • Weekly

Are you an overworked or overwhelmed kindergarten teacher? Or maybe you're just a kindergarten teacher looking for fresh, new ideas. You are in the right place. The Kindergarten Cafe podcast will share weekly tips and tricks to help you save time, work smarter (not harder) and support students with engaging and purposeful lessons. I'm here to help you with everything you need from arrival to dismissal. Let's get started!

  1. 3d ago

    158. Why Behavior Feels Worse Right Now

    If your class was doing beautifully in September and now feels like a completely different group of kids, it’s normal. November is when almost every kindergarten classroom hits a behavior slump, and it happens for real, identifiable reasons. This episode breaks down exactly why behaviors spike at this point in the year and what you can do about it right now. In this episode, I share: why the honeymoon phase ending is a sign that students feel comfortable with you, and what to do when that comfort starts showing up as boundary testinghow increasing academic demands cause behaviors to spike, especially for kids who are struggling with focus, independence, or the skills being asked of themwhy routine drift is one of the biggest contributors to November chaos, and how letting a few small things slide sends kids looking for what else they can get away withhow emotional fatigue affects both students and teachers at this point in the year, and why bringing back movement and mindfulness can make a real differencehow to identify whether the behaviors you are seeing are about routines, academic frustration, or a missing social-emotional skill, so you can address the root cause Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching Send Zeba a voice message Related Episodes:Creating A Calm And Focused Classroom With Mindfulness ~ Ep. 140Teaching Self-Regulation Skills Through Everyday Routines ~ Ep. 80Self-Regulation and Impulse Control in Kids ~ Ep. 225 Back to School Classroom Routine Mistakes That Lead to Chaos All Year ~ Ep. 147Why Your Routines Aren’t Working Yet ~ Ep. 146 Resources: Social Emotional Learning Bundle Caring Critters Books Connect with Zeba:Instagram - @kindergartencafeFacebook - @kindergartencafeWebsite - www.kindergartencafe.orgTik Tok - @kindergartencafe Mentioned in this episode: SEL Challenge Join the FREE 5-Day Social Emotional Learning Challenge: Planting Seeds for Classroom Calm https://www.kindergartencafe.org/challenge/

    158. Why Behavior Feels Worse Right Now

  2. Oct 22

    157. How I Build Strong Family Partnerships

    Strong family partnerships are not built by answering emails at night or going above and beyond until you burn out. They are built because families trust you, and that trust comes from consistent, thoughtful communication that does not require you to reinvent anything from scratch. This episode is about real systems used to make family communication work without adding extra weight to your day. In this episode, I share: why approaching families as the experts on their child while you are the expert on education makes every interaction more collaborative and less adversarialhow a weekly newsletter framed around "ask me about" gives families specific ways to connect with their child without you having to do morewhy making the first communication of the year a positive phone call home changes the tone of the whole relationshiphow to set clear email expectations with families so they are not caught off guard when you do not respond immediatelywhy sending positive notes and updates throughout the year matters just as much as reaching out when something is wronghow to use the same templates, newsletters, and systems year after year so strong communication does not become extra work Family partnerships are built one interaction at a time, and the goal is not to do more. It is to be consistent. When families feel informed and trusted, conferences get easier, hard conversations get shorter, and the whole year runs more smoothly. Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching Send Zeba a voice message Related Episodes:Using Seesaw for Improving Family Communication ~ Ep. 39Getting Ready for Parent-Teacher Conferences – Ep. 2Tips for Difficult Parent-Teacher Conversations ~ Ep. 3Why Parent Communication Breaks Down ~ Ep. 155What Teachers Get Wrong About Supporting Learning at Home ~ Ep. 156 Resources:Family Communication Bundle Connect with Zeba:Instagram - @kindergartencafeFacebook - @kindergartencafeWebsite - www.kindergartencafe.orgTik Tok - @kindergartencafe Mentioned in this episode: Parent Teacher Communication Bundle https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Parent-Teacher-Communication-Resource-Kinder-Homework-Family-Support-Bundle-9922449

    157. How I Build Strong Family Partnerships

  3. Oct 15

    156. Mistakes in Supporting Learning at Home

    Almost every family wants to help their child learn at home, but teachers can accidentally make that help feel overwhelming, unrealistic, or unclear. If you have ever sent home a homework packet and wondered whether it was really helping anyone, this episode will help you rethink what supporting learning at home can look like in a way that works for real families with real schedules. In this episode, I share: why sending home too much busy work can do more harm than good, and what quality over quantity looks like for kindergarten familieshow to set realistic expectations that account for the fact that families have very different home lives, schedules, and resourceswhy showing families exactly how to practice a skill matters more than just telling them their child needs extra workhow to embed learning into what families are already doing, like driving home, setting the table, or reading a menu togetherwhy reading aloud together at home matters for every child, including kids who are already reading on their ownsimple ways to help families support math learning through everyday moments without adding anything extra to their day Your goal is not to send home more. It’s to make home support easier. The families who feel equipped and not overwhelmed are the ones who will actually follow through. Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching Send Zeba a voice message Resources:Family Communication BundleHomework in kindergarten? What’s best for students?Bingo Board "Homework"Home Support for Kindergarten Connect with Zeba:Instagram - @kindergartencafeFacebook - @kindergartencafeWebsite - www.kindergartencafe.orgTik Tok - @kindergartencafe Mentioned in this episode: Parent Teacher Communication Bundle https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Parent-Teacher-Communication-Resource-Kinder-Homework-Family-Support-Bundle-9922449

    156. Mistakes in Supporting Learning at Home

  4. Oct 8

    155. Why Parent Communication Breaks Down

    Strong family partnerships do not fall apart because of one bad conversation. They fall apart because expectations were never clearly set in the first place, and by the time there is a problem, everyone is already caught off guard. This episode breaks down the most common reasons family communication breaks down and exactly what to do to prevent those situations before they start. In this episode, I share: why most difficult parent situations are preventable, and why setting expectations early is the most important thing you can dohow to clearly communicate with families about how and when you will respond, so no one feels ignored or blindsidedwhy waiting until parent-teacher conferences to bring up a concern is one of the biggest communication mistakes teachers makehow misaligned expectations about what kindergarten looks like lead to misunderstandings, and how to address them directlywhy telling families their child is struggling is not enough without also telling them how to helphow to find the right balance between over-communicating and under-communicating for the families in your specific classwhat consistent, low-effort communication systems look like in practice, including weekly newsletters, Seesaw, and template emails that save you time Families feel less anxious and more supportive when they feel like part of the team. Building simple, consistent communication systems now saves you from much harder conversations later. Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching Send Zeba a voice message Related Episodes:Using Seesaw for Improving Family Communication ~ Ep. 39Creating Meaningful Parent-Teacher Partnerships ~ Ep. 107 Resources:Family Communication Bundle Connect with Zeba:Instagram - @kindergartencafeFacebook - @kindergartencafeWebsite - www.kindergartencafe.orgTik Tok - @kindergartencafe Mentioned in this episode: Parent Teacher Communication Bundle https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Parent-Teacher-Communication-Resource-Kinder-Homework-Family-Support-Bundle-9922449

    155. Why Parent Communication Breaks Down

  5. Oct 1

    154. Is Kindergarten Still Developmentally Appropriate? What the Research Says w/ Kate @evidencebasedkate

    Kindergarten has changed, and if you’ve ever wondered whether the expectations we’re placing on our youngest learners are actually developmentally appropriate, this conversation is for you. In this episode, I’m joined by Kate, also known as @EvidenceBasedKate on TikTok, who has spent 20 years in education as a classroom teacher and curriculum writer and now helps bridge the gap between educational research and what’s happening in classrooms. In this episode, you’ll hear:What research tells us about how kindergarten has become increasingly academic and why developmental expectations for five-year-olds haven’t changed along with itHow standardized testing, education policy, and academic standards have contributed to pushing higher expectations into the early gradesWhy play, recess, social-emotional development, and other foundational skills create important conditions for learningWhat the research says about kindergarten redshirting and why the answer isn’t as straightforward as it may seemHow to look more critically at claims that a curriculum or teaching practice is “research-based,” including resources teachers can use to find trustworthy education researchPractical ways to work within a required curriculum while still honoring child development, foundational skills, joyful reading experiences, and what you know about the students in front of you One of my biggest takeaways from this conversation is that you don’t have to overhaul everything at once. If something in your classroom doesn’t feel right, start by getting curious, look at the evidence, and choose one manageable change you can make. Small, intentional shifts can help us create kindergarten classrooms that meet academic expectations while still honoring how young children actually learn. Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching Send Zeba a voice message Connect with Kate:TikTik - @evidencebasedkateLinktree - Evidence Based Kate What Works Clearinghouse EducationWeek Chalkbeat The Hechinger Report Edutopia The 74 Connect with Zeba:Instagram - @kindergartencafeFacebook - @kindergartencafeWebsite - www.kindergartencafe.orgTik Tok - @kindergartencafe Mentioned in this episode: Kindergarten Essentials Grab the year-long, mega-bundle kindergarten activities here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindergarten-Teacher-Essentials-Year-Long-Mega-Bundle-Kindergarten-Activities-8356704

    154. Is Kindergarten Still Developmentally Appropriate? What the Research Says w/ Kate @evidencebasedkate

  6. Sep 24

    153. No Letter or Number Knowledge What Now

    If a student has come to you with little to no letter or number knowledge and your first instinct is to panic, this episode is here to help you take a breath and make a plan instead. Kids arrive in kindergarten from different places, and not knowing letters or numbers is not a crisis, it is a starting point. In this episode, I share: why a child arriving with no letter or number knowledge is not something to panic about, and what your job is when that happenshow to figure out what a student does know so you can meet them exactly where they are instead of focusing only on the gapswhere to start with literacy when a student has no letter knowledge, from name recognition to fine motor to the most foundational phonological skillshow to back up and build number sense step by step for students who are not yet tracking count, number order, or one-to-one correspondencewhy strong social-emotional skills in a child with no academic knowledge is actually a really good sign, and what that tells you about their ability to learnhow to talk to families early without panicking them, and why that conversation is one of the most important things you can dowhy celebrating even small growth with the student matters as much as the extra practice itself Not knowing the letters or numbers when they walk in the door is not the problem. The question is how they progress once you start teaching them, and this episode helps you stay focused on exactly that. Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching Send Zeba a voice message Resources:Math BundleLiteracy Bundle Kindergarten Essentials Bundle Connect with Zeba:Instagram - @kindergartencafeFacebook - @kindergartencafeWebsite - www.kindergartencafe.orgTik Tok - @kindergartencafe Mentioned in this episode: Kindergarten Essentials Grab the year-long, mega-bundle kindergarten activities here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindergarten-Teacher-Essentials-Year-Long-Mega-Bundle-Kindergarten-Activities-8356704

    153. No Letter or Number Knowledge What Now

  7. Sep 17

    152. How I Teach Foundational Skills

    If you have been wondering what small group instruction actually looks like in a real kindergarten classroom, not the idealized version, but the practical, flexible, works-for-actual-five-year-olds version, this episode is for you. I walk through exactly how I approach literacy and math instruction, including when to pull small groups, what happens in them, and how to work smarter instead of reinventing lessons every single week. In this episode, I share: why small groups do not need to look like traditional guided reading, and how staying flexible with the format serves kids betterwhen it makes sense to start pulling small groups, and why waiting until kids are truly independent first is the right callwhat a literacy small group looks like, from warm-up to hands-on letter practice to games that keep kids engagedwhy repeating the same activities over and over is not boring - it is actually one of the most effective things you can do for kids who need extra supporthow to target the exact missing skill in math by meeting kids just above where they currently are, using concrete materials and observation to guide the workwhy flexible grouping matters and how to adjust who is in a group based on progress rather than locking kids in for the whole year You do not need a new lesson every day or a perfectly structured table group to make small group time count. Meet kids where they are, repeat what works, and trust that consistent targeted practice is what moves the needle. Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching Send Zeba a voice message Related Episodes:Why Students Fall Behind Early ~ Ep. 150Mistakes in Teaching Letters and Numbers ~ Ep. 151Differentiating Instruction in Kindergarten for Diverse Learners ~ Ep. 75Minimizing Disruptions During Kindergarten Small Groups ~ Ep. 117How I Launch Math and Literacy Centers ~ Ep. 148 Resources:Math BundleLiteracy Bundle Kindergarten Essentials BundleSimple, yet Effective, Small Group Instruction in Kindergarten Connect with Zeba:Instagram - @kindergartencafeFacebook - @kindergartencafeWebsite - www.kindergartencafe.orgTik Tok - @kindergartencafe Mentioned in this episode: Alphabet Worksheet Bundle https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Alphabet-Worksheets-Bundle-Alphabet-Literacy-Centers-Letter-writing-sound-sort-11657590

    152. How I Teach Foundational Skills

  8. Sep 10

    151. Mistakes in Teaching Letters and Numbers

    Sometimes students are not struggling because something is wrong. Sometimes it’s how the material is being taught, or because a curriculum is moving too fast for where they actually are. This episode is an honest look at the most common mistakes teachers make when teaching letters and numbers, and how to fix them before they create bigger gaps down the road. In this episode, I share: why moving to reading words and books before letters and sounds are solid is one of the fastest ways to make kids look like they are falling behind when they are really right on trackhow teaching letters too quickly or expecting mastery after one round of instruction sets kids up to strugglewhy hands-on learning matters more than worksheets, especially for students who are not picking up letters and sounds at the same pace as their peerswhy daily review, even just one to four minutes, is critical for helping all students hold onto what they have learnedhow focusing on math procedures and facts before kids understand what numbers actually mean creates gaps that follow them for yearswhy concrete manipulatives need to come before visual or abstract math, and what it looks like to slow down for the kids who need itwhy coverage does not equal mastery, and why it is always okay to stay with a skill longer than the curriculum says to Strong foundational skills save everyone time in the long run. Slowing down now is not falling behind, it is exactly what kindergartners need to move forward with confidence. Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching Send Zeba a voice message Related Episodes:Kindergarten Small Groups for Teaching Letter Sounds ~ Ep. 106Essential Math Skills Every Kindergartener Needs ~ Ep. 66Exploring Counting Math Centers in Kindergarten Classrooms ~ Ep. 8Why Students Fall Behind Early ~ Ep. 150 Resources:Math BundleLiteracy Bundle Kindergarten Essentials Bundle Connect with Zeba:Instagram - @kindergartencafeFacebook - @kindergartencafeWebsite - www.kindergartencafe.orgTik Tok - @kindergartencafe Mentioned in this episode: Alphabet Worksheet Bundle https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Alphabet-Worksheets-Bundle-Alphabet-Literacy-Centers-Letter-writing-sound-sort-11657590

    151. Mistakes in Teaching Letters and Numbers
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Are you an overworked or overwhelmed kindergarten teacher? Or maybe you're just a kindergarten teacher looking for fresh, new ideas. You are in the right place. The Kindergarten Cafe podcast will share weekly tips and tricks to help you save time, work smarter (not harder) and support students with engaging and purposeful lessons. I'm here to help you with everything you need from arrival to dismissal. Let's get started!

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