What behavior system should you use in kindergarten? Classroom economy, Dojo points, desk pets, prize boxes, reward systems...there are SO many options. But just because a behavior system works with older students doesn't mean it's the right fit for five- and six-year-olds. In this episode, we're talking about how to choose a kindergarten behavior system that is developmentally appropriate, manageable for teachers, and actually supports strong kindergarten classroom management. I'll share som...
Aug 4
15 min
Do you think classroom management starts when student behavior becomes a problem? One of the biggest classroom management myths kindergarten teachers believe is that behavior management is all about consequences, clip charts, rewards, or figuring out what to do when students misbehave. But strong kindergarten classroom management starts long before that. In this episode, I’m sharing the lesson that completely changed the way I thought about kindergarten behavior and classroom management. We’l...
Jul 29
8 min
Are you spending your summer organizing centers, decorating your classroom, and shopping for kindergarten supplies, but you're still not sure what to teach during the first week of school? You're not alone. Every summer, kindergarten teachers spend hours preparing classroom centers, bulletin boards, and materials while putting off the one thing that has the biggest impact on the entire school year: planning the first week of kindergarten. In this episode, I'm sharing what actually deserves yo...
Jul 22
8 min
Should kindergarten teachers send home a daily behavior report for every student? It's one of the most common classroom management questions I see every summer, especially from teachers preparing for a new school year. While many classrooms use daily behavior calendars, clip charts, or behavior reports to communicate with families, are they really the most effective way to talk about kindergarten behavior? In this episode, I'm sharing why I stopped using daily behavior calendars in my kinderg...
Jul 15
12 min
Should kindergarten students have classroom jobs? Classroom jobs have been a tradition in elementary classrooms for years, but are they actually teaching responsibility or creating more work for teachers? In this episode, I'm sharing why I stopped using traditional classroom jobs in my kindergarten classroom and switched to a simple Helper of the Day system instead. You'll hear how this change simplified my classroom management, eliminated job chart headaches, and still gave every student mea...
Jul 8
10 min
Should kindergarten students have individual school supplies or community supplies? It's one of the biggest classroom setup decisions kindergarten teachers make before the school year begins. In this episode, we're breaking down the pros and cons of both systems and why the "right" answer depends more on your classroom management than the supplies themselves. I'll share why I chose individual toolboxes in my kindergarten classroom, how I used numbered supplies to teach responsibility and acco...
Jul 1
11 min
If you're planning for the first week of kindergarten and feeling overwhelmed by everything you need to teach, this episode is for you. One of the biggest mistakes kindergarten teachers make is trying to jump straight into academics before teaching students how to be students. Before children can successfully learn letters, numbers, and all the other skills on your curriculum map, they need to learn how to walk in line, use classroom materials, follow routines, and understand expectations. In...
Jun 24
14 min
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 rou...
Jun 17
9 min
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...
Jun 10
11 min
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 everyt...
Jun 3
8 min
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