Kindergarten Cafe Podcast: Simple Tips for Teaching Kindergarten

Zeba McGibbon
  • 4.9 (58)
  • Education
  • Updated 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. 14h ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Sep 3

    150. Why Students Fall Behind Early

    Kindergarten teachers know that kids arrive with wildly different backgrounds and levels of readiness, and it can be hard to know what to do when a student is already struggling in the fall. This episode is a practical guide to understanding which foundational skills matter at the start of the year, how to spot gaps early, and what to do about them before they grow. In this episode, I share: why kids not having foundational skills when they arrive is not a failure on anyone, and what your job is when that happenswhich literacy skills matter most in kindergarten, including letter names and sounds, phonological awareness, fine motor, and oral languagewhich math skills to prioritize early, like counting, one-to-one correspondence, subitizing, and cardinalitywhy observing students as they work tells you more than a formal assessment, and what to look forhow to give extra support and differentiation early without needing formal small groups in place yetwhen lack of progress after good instruction is the real signal to be concerned, not where a child started Kids do not fall behind overnight, and you do not have to wait for report cards to respond to what you are seeing. Observe early, support consistently, and trust that meeting kids where they are is exactly the right place to start. Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching Send Zeba a voice message Related Episodes:Essential Math Skills Every Kindergartener Needs ~ Ep. 66Kindergarten Case Study: Supporting Kindergarteners With No Letter Knowledge ~ Ep. 105 Resources:Tracking student progress easilyMath BundleLiteracy 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

    150. Why Students Fall Behind Early

  6. Aug 27

    149. Fixing a Classroom With No Routines

    If you are a few weeks into school and your classroom already feels chaotic, or if routines you taught at the start of the year have slowly fallen apart, this episode is your reset plan. It is never too late to start over, and knowing exactly how to do it makes all the difference. In this episode, I share: how to figure out what went wrong with a routine so you can fix the problem instead of just getting more frustratedwhy stopping the class and starting a routine over from scratch is good teachingthe exact step-by-step process for resetting a routine, from explaining why it matters to modeling, practicing, and verbalizing what you want to seehow to use quick resets throughout the year to maintain routines before they fully fall apartwhen a routine that keeps breaking down is a sign that something needs to change, and how to figure out what that is A successful kindergarten classroom is not built before school starts or even on day one. It is built one intentional routine and one relationship at a time, and the work you are putting in right now will absolutely pay off by spring. Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching Send Zeba a voice message Related Episodes:Why Your Routines Aren’t Working Yet ~ Ep. 1465 Routine Mistakes That Cause Year-Long Chaos ~ Ep. 147How I Launch Math and Literacy Centers ~ Ep. 148 Connect with Zeba:Instagram - @kindergartencafeFacebook - @kindergartencafeWebsite - www.kindergartencafe.orgTik Tok - @kindergartencafe Mentioned in this episode: Morning Meeting Classroom Community Bundle https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Morning-Meeting-Circle-Time-Activities-for-SEL-Classroom-Community-and-Routines-9429952

    149. Fixing a Classroom With No Routines

  7. Aug 20

    148. How I Launch Math and Literacy Centers

    Independent centers do not just happen because you set out the materials and hope for the best. They happen because you took the time to launch them the right way, one step at a time. If you have ever felt like your centers were chaotic or kids just could not handle them, this episode walks you through exactly how to introduce math and literacy centers so students can actually be successful. In this episode, I share: why keeping academic tasks low demand during center launch lets students focus on routines instead of the activity itselfhow introducing one center at a time, whole class, builds the confidence kids need before working independentlywhy letting students freely explore materials before giving them specific tasks prevents a lot of behavior problems before they starthow to gradually move from whole class practice to choosing between centers so the shift to independence feels smoothwhat additional lessons need to happen alongside center launch, like voice levels, asking for help, cleaning up, and partner skills Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching Send Zeba a voice message Related Episodes:How to Effectively Manage Kindergarten Math Centers ~ Ep. 71Building Effective Literacy Centers with the Science of Reading ~ Ep. 78Best Storage Solutions for Centers in Kindergarten ~ Ep. 103 Resources:“Introducing Math Manipulatives” packFirst Month of School BundleMath Bundle Literacy BundleSocial Emotional Lesson BundleLearning Partners LessonsRecess Curriculum Pack 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

    148. How I Launch Math and Literacy Centers

  8. Aug 13

    147. 5 Routine Mistakes That Cause Year-Long Chaos

    Classroom chaos rarely comes out of nowhere. Most of the time it can be traced back to specific mistakes made in the first weeks of school when routines were being introduced. If your classroom has felt harder to manage than it should, this episode breaks down the five most common routine mistakes and exactly how to avoid them. In this episode, I share: why "assume nothing, teach everything" and "go slow to go fast" are the two philosophies that should guide every routine decision you make at the start of the yearhow not modeling enough leaves students without a clear picture of what you expect, and how to fix that through intentional student modelingwhy moving too fast through routines sets kids up to struggle, and what it looks like to give a routine the time it needs to stickhow assuming independence too early undermines the work you have already put in, and why one good day does not mean they are ready to move onwhy not revisiting routines is one of the most common reasons they fall apart, and how narrating what you see keeps expectations fresh without starting from scratch every timewhy inconsistency is the biggest routine mistake of all, and how kids learn what they can get away with the moment you do not follow through Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching Send Zeba a voice message Resources:Back to School Pack & First Week Lesson PlansFirst Month of School BundleClassroom Community Bundle Connect with Zeba:Instagram - @kindergartencafeFacebook - @kindergartencafeWebsite - www.kindergartencafe.orgTik Tok - @kindergartencafe Mentioned in this episode: First Month of Kindergarten Success Kit Grab your First Month of Kindergarten Success Kit today on TPT or on my website! First Month Survival Kit TPT - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Month-of-Kindergarten-Success-Kit-9834168?st=5099a0e1f8b3c99dfd410a4162bb0d0c Website - https://kindergartencafe.org/first-month-survival-kit/

    147. 5 Routine Mistakes That Cause Year-Long Chaos
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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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