The Kindergarten Toolbox

Amy Murray
  • 5.0 (6)
  • How To
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to The Kindergarten Toolbox Podcast, your go-to guide for creating calmer classrooms and more confident writers in the wonderfully unique world of kindergarten. I’m Amy Murray — former kindergarten teacher, Type C “organized-in-piles” human, and vanilla-latte enthusiast. After years of helping teachers streamline their classroom routines with tips and tools that actually make sense for 5- and 6-year-olds, I created this podcast to support you with the practical strategies you’ve been craving. Each episode is short, actionable, and designed to help you: ✔ simplify classroom management  ✔ reduce behavior chaos with systems that stick  ✔ teach writing in a way that meets beginning writers where they are  ✔ build routines that make your day flow  ✔ use visuals, tools, and expectations that really work in K Whether you’re a brand-new kindergarten teacher or a seasoned pro looking for clarity and calm, you’ll find step-by-step support to help you feel more confident and in control. Because kindergarten isn’t just the new first grade, it’s a world all its own, and you deserve tools that actually work. Hit follow so you never miss an episode… Here’s to calmer days and more confident writers!

  1. 8h ago

    24. New Kindergarten Teacher? Here's What I Wish I Knew Before My First Day

    Are you a new kindergarten teacher preparing for your first year in the classroom? Or maybe you're switching grade levels and wondering what makes kindergarten so different from every other grade? In this episode, I'm sharing my biggest piece of advice for new kindergarten teachers: assume they don't know how to do anything. From lining up and walking in the hallway to using the bathroom, sitting at the carpet, and using school supplies, kindergarten students need explicit instruction for routines, procedures, and expectations that older students often take for granted. I'll share stories from my own first year teaching kindergarten, the mistakes I made, and what I wish I had known before those five-year-olds walked through my classroom door. If you're preparing for the beginning of kindergarten, the first week of school, or your very first year as a kindergarten teacher, this episode will help you focus on what matters most: building relationships, teaching routines, and creating a classroom environment where students can succeed. In this episode, we discuss: My unexpected journey into teaching kindergarten Why new kindergarten teachers should assume students know nothingThe importance of explicitly teaching classroom routines and proceduresCommon beginning-of-kindergarten surprisesWhy relationships and routines matter more than academics at the start of the yearPreparing students to use school tools successfullyResources Mentioned: 🔗 Free School Tools Worksheets 🔗 First Week of Kindergarten Blueprint Show Notes: https://kindergartentoolbox.com/new-kindergarten-teacher-episode-24/

    10 min

  2. Jun 10

    23. The 5 Classroom Management Decisions Every Kindergarten Teacher Should Make Before School Starts

    Before school starts, there are five classroom management decisions every kindergarten teacher should make. Too often, we spend our back-to-school time organizing supplies, decorating bulletin boards, and planning lessons while putting off the classroom management planning that actually helps our year run smoothly. But students don't struggle because your classroom isn't decorated. They struggle when expectations aren't clear. I walk you through the five key pieces of a kindergarten classroom management plan: classroom rules, consequences, procedures and routines, positive behavior supports, and family communication. Whether you're a brand-new kindergarten teacher or looking to improve your classroom management this year, these simple decisions can help you start the school year with clear expectations and a plan you can actually stick with. You'll also learn why consistency matters more than complicated behavior systems and how to create a classroom management plan before students walk through the door. In this episode, we discuss: • Creating simple classroom rules for kindergarten • Planning classroom consequences ahead of time • Teaching procedures and routines effectively • Encouraging positive behavior and building classroom community • Creating a family communication plan • Building a kindergarten classroom management plan that works Links & Resources: 🔗 Free Kindergarten Classroom Management Plan 🔗 Last day to save on Kindergarten Behavior Blueprint Show Notes: https://kindergartentoolbox.com/5-kindergarten-classroom-management-decisions/ Check out my website: https://teachingexceptionalkinders.com/ Follow me on Instagram @teachingexceptionalkinders

    11 min

  3. Jun 3

    22. The Real Secret to Successful Kindergarten Classroom Management

    Do calm kindergarten classrooms have better-behaved students? Not always. In this episode, we're talking about the real secret to successful classroom management in kindergarten. It isn't a complicated behavior system or the latest classroom management trend. It's simple, predictable systems that help students know what to expect. We'll discuss why consistency matters so much in kindergarten, how routines create student independence, and why classroom management becomes exhausting when everything depends on the teacher. In this episode, you'll learn: Why calm classrooms aren't created by perfect studentsHow predictable routines improve student behaviorWhy simple classroom management systems work better than complicated onesHow to reduce constant reminders, interruptions, and redirectionThe key to creating a calmer, more manageable kindergarten classroomLinks & Resources: 🔗 Kindergarten Behavior Blueprint 🔗 Free Kindergarten Classroom Management Plan Show notes: https://kindergartentoolbox.com/the-real-secret-to-kindergarten-classroom-management/ Check out my website: https://teachingexceptionalkinders.com/ Follow me on Instagram @teachingexceptionalkinders

    9 min

  4. May 27

    21. The One Thing Every Kindergarten Classroom Needs for Better Classroom Management

    When classroom management feels exhausting, the problem may not be your students or your behavior strategies. It may be that too much of your classroom depends on you constantly reminding, redirecting, and holding everything together all day long. In this episode, we’re talking about one of the most powerful kindergarten classroom management tools teachers often overlook: simple visual systems. From visual schedules and classroom routines to behavior supports and transition expectations, visual systems help kindergarten students understand what to do without relying on constant verbal reminders. And when students know what to expect, classrooms start to feel calmer, more predictable, and much less overwhelming for both teachers and students. In this episode, we’re chatting about:  why classroom management feels exhausting when the teacher becomes the system  how visual supports increase student independence  why simple classroom management systems work better than complicated behavior programs  and the small shifts that can completely transform classroom management next school year If you’re tired of repeating yourself all day, constantly redirecting behavior, or feeling like your classroom only functions when you’re actively managing every moment, this episode will help you rethink kindergarten classroom management in a simpler, more sustainable way. Plus, I’m sharing how Kindergarten Behavior Blueprint helps teachers build calm, consistent classroom management systems that actually work with real five and six year olds. Links and Resources Mentioned: 🔗 Kindergarten Behavior Blueprint Show notes: https://kindergartentoolbox.com/the-one-thing-every-kindergarten-classroom-needs-for-better-classroom-management/

    9 min

  5. May 20

    20. How to Reduce Calling Out in Kindergarten Chatter Challenge

    Getting kindergarten students to stop talking can feel impossible sometimes. The blurting, interruptions, constant calling out, and nonstop classroom chatter can quickly make your classroom feel chaotic and exhausting. And after a while, it starts to feel like you’re spending your entire day repeating: “Raise your hand.” “Stop talking.” “Voice level zero.” In this episode of The Kindergarten Toolbox Podcast, we’re chatting about a simple classroom management strategy for reducing calling out and teaching appropriate classroom participation in kindergarten. You’ll learn: Why kindergarten students often struggle with calling out and interruptionsHow to teach classroom participation expectations step-by-stepWhy visual supports are so important for kindergarten classroom managementHow to use a simple whole-class behavior challenge without overcomplicating thingsWhy consistency matters more than complicated behavior systemsEasy ways to reduce classroom noise and improve student behavior during lessonsI’m also sharing how I used the Chatter Challenge — a simple visual classroom management tool designed to help kindergarten students practice raising their hands, listening, and participating appropriately during lessons. If your classroom has been extra chatty lately, this episode will give you practical, realistic classroom management ideas you can actually use with real five and six-year-olds. Links and Resources Mentioned: 🔗 Chatter Challenge Resource 🔗 Kindergarten Behavior Blueprint Show notes: https://kindergartentoolbox.com/how-to-stop-the-constant-calling-out-in-kindergarten/ If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review so more kindergarten teachers can find the show too!

    12 min

  6. May 13

    19. How to Survive End-of-Year Behavior in Kindergarten (Without Starting Over)

    If your kindergarten classroom feels louder, messier, and harder to manage right now, you are not alone. End-of-year behavior in kindergarten is real, and May can start to feel like pure survival mode for teachers. In this episode, we’re talking about the “May-cember” effect, why classroom behavior gets harder at the end of the school year, and realistic ways to make these last few weeks feel more manageable for both you and your students. We’ll chat about why it’s easy to focus only on negative behaviors, how to shift back toward connection and positive reinforcement, and simple ways to help your class finish the year strong without overhauling your entire classroom management system. Plus, I’m sharing easy end-of-year behavior supports, positive reinforcement ideas, and why simple incentive systems like Build-a-Reward charts can help reset the tone in your classroom. If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and counting down to summer break, this episode will help you feel more calm, more supported, and a little less alone. 🔗🍩 Try our donut reward chart FREE 🔗 Kindergarten Behavior Blueprint Show Notes: https://kindergartentoolbox.com/end-of-year-behavior-kindergarten

    11 min

  7. May 6

    18. Why Kindergarten Classroom Management Still Feels Hard

    Kindergarten classroom management shouldn’t feel this hard, but if you’re constantly repeating directions, managing every transition, and ending the day exhausted, you’re not alone. In this episode, we’re breaking down why classroom management still feels overwhelming even when you’re using routines, behavior strategies, and clear expectations. Here’s what’s actually happening: It’s not that you need more strategies.  It’s that your classroom systems aren’t working together. When routines, visuals, and expectations aren’t connected, everything falls back on you. That’s when teaching starts to feel exhausting. We’ll talk about how to shift from managing behavior moment by moment to building simple, consistent systems that help your students work more independently so you can actually teach again. If your classroom feels chaotic or harder than it should, this episode will help you see what’s missing and what to do next. 🔗 Kindergarten Behavior Blueprint 🔗 Show Notes: https://kindergartentoolbox.com/episode-18-why-your-classroom-management-still-feels-hard/

    10 min

  8. Apr 29

    17. 3 Things Every Kindergarten Classroom Management System Needs

    In this episode of The Kindergarten Toolbox Podcast, Amy Murray breaks down the three essential components of effective kindergarten classroom management: clear expectations, visual supports, and consistent routines. If your classroom feels unpredictable, if you are constantly repeating directions, or if your behavior strategies are not sticking, this episode will help you understand what is missing and how to fix it with simple systems that actually work in a real kindergarten classroom. You will learn how clear expectations help students know exactly what to do, why visual supports reduce interruptions and increase independence, and how consistent routines create a calm, predictable classroom environment. This is not about adding more strategies. It is about putting the right pieces in place so your classroom management system can do the work for you. Plus, walk away with a simple, actionable step you can try tomorrow to start improving behavior and routines right away. Calmer days start with simple, consistent systems.  🔗 Kindergarten Behavior Blueprint 🔗 Show Notes: kindergartentoolbox.com/kindergarten-classroom-management-system-3-things

    10 min
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About

Welcome to The Kindergarten Toolbox Podcast, your go-to guide for creating calmer classrooms and more confident writers in the wonderfully unique world of kindergarten. I’m Amy Murray — former kindergarten teacher, Type C “organized-in-piles” human, and vanilla-latte enthusiast. After years of helping teachers streamline their classroom routines with tips and tools that actually make sense for 5- and 6-year-olds, I created this podcast to support you with the practical strategies you’ve been craving. Each episode is short, actionable, and designed to help you: ✔ simplify classroom management  ✔ reduce behavior chaos with systems that stick  ✔ teach writing in a way that meets beginning writers where they are  ✔ build routines that make your day flow  ✔ use visuals, tools, and expectations that really work in K Whether you’re a brand-new kindergarten teacher or a seasoned pro looking for clarity and calm, you’ll find step-by-step support to help you feel more confident and in control. Because kindergarten isn’t just the new first grade, it’s a world all its own, and you deserve tools that actually work. Hit follow so you never miss an episode… Here’s to calmer days and more confident writers!

Information

  • Creator
    Amy Murray
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Kindergarten Toolbox
  • Show Website
    The Kindergarten Toolbox

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