Elevating Early Childhood

By Vanessa LevinEducation Leisure Kids & Family How To Education for Kids Crafts

Elevating Early Childhood episodes

May 29, 2023 Building a Natural Preschool Math Center
Are you looking for ways to incorporate more nature into your classroom? Bringing the outdoors into your classroom can provide a calmer and more soothing environment for young children. Who doesn’t want more calm and less chaos in their classroom, am I right?
In today’s episode of elevating early childhood I’m going to share easy and inexpensive ways to build a more natural math center in your preschool or pre-k classroom. Teaching Trailblazers
Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers
16 min
May 22, 2023 End-of-the-School Year: 5 Easy and Stress-Free Hacks for Preschool Teachers
Teachers, let’s be honest, the end of the school year is almost as stressful as the beginning of the year, am I right?
If you’re not rehearsing for the end of the year “program,” you’re assessing your students, doing report cards, planning Mother’s Day and Father’s Day events, field trips, and much more! The very last thing teachers need at the end of the school year is more “stuff to do” piled on their already overflowing plates. In today’s episode of elevating early childhood, I’m going to share 5 easy hacks preschool and even kinder teachers can use to lighten the load during this busy time. Teaching Trailblazers
Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers
23 min
May 15, 2023 Kindergarten Readiness, Should Preschoolers Read Before Kindergarten?
What does it really mean to be “kindergarten ready?”
Should we be teaching kids to read before they enter kindergarten?
Are you worried that your preschool or Pre-K kids won’t have all the skills they need to excel in today’s kindergarten classrooms?
In this episode I'm going to break it all down for you so your kids will be well-prepared for kindergarten - and beyond. Teaching Trailblazers
Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers
24 min
May 08, 2023 Preschool Centers: Puzzle Tips & Tricks
Do puzzles cause headaches in your classroom? Are your kids uninterested in puzzles? Or maybe they’re frustrated because they can’t put them together? If you think puzzles are too much of a hassle, or they’re too old school for today’s kids – think again!
In today’s episode I’ll be sharing my best tips and tricks for teaching smarter, not harder when it comes to puzzles in the classroom, AND how to set your kids up for success with puzzles by following the developmental sequence that nobody taught you in college. Teaching Trailblazers
Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers
21 min
May 04, 2023 6 Learning Center Myths Preschool Teachers Should Stop Falling For
Teachers, have you ever been told by an administrator that centers are “just playing?”
Maybe you’re even one of the unlucky ones who have been told by an administrator that you can’t have centers in your classroom because they’re “just for fun” and not enough academic learning is taking place.
Or even worse, maybe even thought about throwing in the towel on centers because they’re just too darn hard to manage!
Today I’m going to help dispel the 6 myths that preschool teachers should never fall for when it comes to learning centers.
Teaching Trailblazers
Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers
12 min
April 24, 2023 My Ultimate Guide for Setting-Up and Stocking Your Classroom Centers
Do you ever feel like you just don’t have enough center materials in your classroom?
Are you wondering if what you have is enough? And how do you know?
You see, setting-up and stocking your classroom centers can be very tricky.
Every good teacher knows that centers are essential for a high-quality early childhood experience.
The issue is that no one ever gives you an actual roadmap to follow when it comes to setting-up or stocking your centers.
And that can leave teachers like you and me struggling to figure it out on our own.
But today's your lucky day! I'm going to share my Ultimate Center Essentials Guide with you that will lay it all out for you in a very easy-to-follow format.
So if centers are getting you down, this episode is for you!
Teaching Trailblazers
Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers

14 min
April 17, 2023My Foolproof Formula to Improve Cleanup Transitions
Do transitions in your classroom have you at the end of your rope? Does it feel like you’re trying to herd kittens during arrival, dismissal, or cleanup time?
Then I have two things to tell you:
You’re not alone.
I can help!
You see, transitions are something that all early childhood teachers struggle with. Yes, even the most experienced ones.
The issue is that even though everyone says transitions are important, no one ever gives you an actual roadmap to follow.
And that can leave teachers like you and me feeling a bit… all over the place.
Lucky for you, because I’ve been through this more than enough times, I’ve come up with a foolproof formula to easy transitions in the preschool classroom; specifically, cleanup transitions.
So if getting your preschool students to clean up seems like an impossible task, this episode is for you!
Well then, what are you waiting for?
Tune in now.

Key Takeaways:
Are cleanup transitions a nightmare for you? (00:00)
The four building blocks of cleanup time (03:05)
An easy step-by-step process you can follow (06:07)
Some troubleshooting tips (21:13)

Additional Resources:
- Got a burning question for Vanessa? Get your answer on the Elevating Early Childhood podcast here.
- Visit our website to find tons of pre-K teaching resources here.
- Get my book “Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers”.
- Learn more about my exclusive mentorship program, “Teaching Trailblazers”.
- Watch my previous transition video here.
- Get my Visual Routine Bundle here.
- Get my Back to School Bundle here.

Elevating Early Childhood is an early education podcast dedicated to helping Pre-K, Preschool, and Kindergarten teachers teach better, save time, and live more.
If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.
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Onward & Upward!
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Disclaimer:
Pre-K Pages is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. The word “affiliate” means that we may earn a small commission if/when you click on or make purchases via these links at no additional cost to you.
As a policy, the Company will only affiliate with products, services, consultants or experts that we believe will provide value to our customers and followers.
You recognize that it remains your personal responsibility to investigate whether any affiliate offers are right for you and will benefit you. You will not rely on any recommendation, reference, or information provided by the Company but will instead conduct your own investigation and will rely upon your investigation to decide whether to purchase the affiliate product or service.
Teaching Trailblazers
Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers
24 min
April 10, 2023 3 Steps to Improve Handwriting Skills in Preschool
Do your students struggle to write the letters of the alphabet?
If so, I’ve got some good news for you: You’re not alone!
In fact, most preschool teachers have to deal with this issue every single year (if not several times a year).
And because I have dealt with it too, I’ve ended up coming up with a few solutions to this pesky problem.
Improving your preschool students' handwriting can be a difficult task (even daunting for some of us), but it’s not impossible.
Don’t believe me?
Then listen to this episode where I share my top three steps to improve your preschoolers’ handwriting, try those tips, and let me know how it goes. I promise, they work!
All right, are you ready to learn more?
Let’s dive in.

Key Takeaways:
How to help your preschool students improve their handwriting (00:00)
Understand the importance of fine motor skills (03:56)
Set developmentally appropriate expectations (06:13)
Use the right tools at the right time (10:30)
Let’s discuss some conflicts (24:27)

Additional Resources:
- Got a burning question for Vanessa? Get your answer on the Elevating Early Childhood podcast here.
- Visit our website to find tons of pre-K teaching resources here.
- Get my book “Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers”.
- Learn more about my exclusive mentorship program, “Teaching Trailblazers”.
- Watch my episode about playdough tools here.
- Discover more handwriting tips here.
- Check out my favorite fine motor tools here.
- Get our Farm Fine Motor Printables here.
- Get your pre-writing cards here.
- Grab your FREE Fine Motor Parent Handout here.
- Get your FREE printable playdough recipe here.

Elevating Early Childhood is an early education podcast dedicated to helping Pre-K, Preschool, and Kindergarten teachers teach better, save time, and live more.
If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.
--
Onward & Upward!
--
Disclaimer:
Pre-K Pages is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. The word “affiliate” means that we may earn a small commission if/when you click on or make purchases via these links at no additional cost to you.
As a policy, the Company will only affiliate with products, services, consultants or experts that we believe will provide value to our customers and followers.
You recognize that it remains your personal responsibility to investigate whether any affiliate offers are right for you and will benefit you. You will not rely on any recommendation, reference, or information provided by the Company but will instead conduct your own investigation and will rely upon your investigation to decide whether to purchase the affiliate product or service.
Teaching Trailblazers
Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers

30 min
April 03, 2023 Is Your Classroom Too Loud?
Friends, I have a question for you: Are the students in your classroom too loud?
If so, then welcome to the club no one wants to join (yes, I have jokes).
I can relate to students who have trouble keeping their outside voices where they belong, outside.
And principals who complain about noisy classrooms.
No matter what has brought you here, you and I both know there is no magic fix for this little (but very loud) problem.
Yes, we all wish we had a magic wand sometimes. Alas, no one has discovered that yet. So, we’ll have to go with the next best thing…
What’s that?
Tune in to this week’s episode to find out.
Are you ready?
Let’s dive in!

Key Takeaways:
Is your classroom too loud? (00:00)
Story time! (02:37)
My 5-step solution to a loud classroom (03:26)
A few pitfalls you need to avoid (12:44)
How about troubleshooting? (18:35)

Additional Resources:
- Got a burning question for Vanessa? Get your answer on the Elevating Early Childhood podcast here.
- Visit our website to find tons of pre-K teaching resources here.
- Get my book “Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers”.
- Learn more about my exclusive mentorship program, “Teaching Trailblazers”.

Elevating Early Childhood is an early education podcast dedicated to helping Pre-K, Preschool, and Kindergarten teachers teach better, save time, and live more.
If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.
--
Onward & Upward!
--
Disclaimer:
Pre-K Pages is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. The word “affiliate” means that we may earn a small commission if/when you click on or make purchases via these links at no additional cost to you.
As a policy, the Company will only affiliate with products, services, consultants or experts that we believe will provide value to our customers and followers.
You recognize that it remains your personal responsibility to investigate whether any affiliate offers are right for you and will benefit you. You will not rely on any recommendation, reference, or information provided by the Company but will instead conduct your own investigation and will rely upon your investigation to decide whether to purchase the affiliate product or service.
Teaching Trailblazers
Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers

24 min
March 27, 2023 Using ASL in the Early Childhood Classroom
Friends, I have a question for you: Could your students use a little extra help paying attention during circle time? Are they constantly interrupting you? Or maybe they're struggling to learn important academic skills?
All right, that was more than one question, but you get the gist!
Children have short attention spans, and that can mean constant interruptions in the early childhood classroom.
But what if I told you that there's one thing that you could do in the classroom to help with all of that and more?
And the good news is you don’t need any extra tools for it!
That one thing, my friends, is American Sign Language (ASL for short), and I’ll be discussing how you can incorporate it in your preschool classroom with today’s guest, an expert in ASL and a nationally-certified ASL interpreter, the brilliant Cynthia Long.
Are you ready to learn more?
Let’s dive in!

Key Takeaways:
Let’s talk about ASL (00:00)
Is ASL only for people with hearing challenges? (02:54)
The benefits of using ASL in the classroom (06:15)
Is ASL difficult to learn? (16:40)
Parting thoughts from Cynthia (24:35)

Additional Resources:
- Got a burning question for Vanessa? Get your answer on the Elevating Early Childhood podcast here.
- Visit our website to find tons of pre-K teaching resources here.
- Get my book “Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers”.
- Learn more about my exclusive mentorship program, “Teaching Trailblazers”.
- Discover our ASL alphabet posters here.
- More ASL FREE teaching resources here.
- Use code FREEFC to get your ASL flash cards freebie here.
- Learn more about Cynthia’s work here.
- Follow ASL Teaching Resources on Instagram here.
- Follow ASL Teaching Resources on Facebook here.

Elevating Early Childhood is an early education podcast dedicated to helping Pre-K, Preschool, and Kindergarten teachers teach better, save time, and live more.
If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.
--
Onward & Upward!
--
Disclaimer:
Pre-K Pages is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. The word “affiliate” means that we may earn a small commission if/when you click on or make purchases via these links at no additional cost to you.
As a policy, the Company will only affiliate with products, services, consultants or experts that we believe will provide value to our customers and followers.
You recognize that it remains your personal responsibility to investigate whether any affiliate offers are right for you and will benefit you. You will not rely on any recommendation, reference, or information provided by the Company but will instead conduct your own investigation and will rely upon your investigation to decide whether to purchase the affiliate product or service.
Teaching Trailblazers
Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers

30 min

About Elevating Early Childhood

From the publisher's feed

Are you ready to teach better, save time, and live more? Learn more about my membership program “Teaching Trailblazers” here: https://teachingtrailblazers.com/