Whether it’s your first first day or your tenth, that back-to-school butterfly feeling never fully goes away. And that’s okay! 

The first day of school sets the tone. With a few simple, tested tips, you can make it smooth, calm, and connection-filled.

In this episode, Alex shares five tried-and-true strategies to help you feel more prepared and confident heading into Day One with your new little learners.

✨ You’ll hear:

1. How to make meaningful first-day connections at the door
2. The one small prep step that eases nerves (and reduces chaos)
3. Why you should model everything - yes, even glue stick use
4. Favorite ways to use books for calm and connection
5. The power of flexibility, and why done is better than perfect

Whether you’re prepping your first classroom or just looking for a reset, this episode will help you start strong with heart, not hustle.

🔗 Mentioned in this episode

📖 Read the full blog post: Tested Teacher Tips for the First Day of School

📥 Grab the free Mega List of Themes & Skills:  https://thekindergartenconnection.com/free-mega-list-of-themes-and-skills-for-pre-k-and-kindergarten-lesson-plans/

(A teacher-favorite planning tool for mapping your year with confidence!)

🧰 Inside the Print and Play Club:

1. ✅ Ready-to-go first week activities
2. ✅ Classroom routines and visuals
3. ✅ Playful, standards-aligned centers to keep your planning stress-free

📍Join the Club: https://printandplayclub.com/utm_source=blog&utm_medium=podcast

📲 Follow along for more back-to-school tips on Instagram: @thekindergartenconnection

💛 If this episode helped calm your first-day jitters, pass it along to a fellow teacher who’s prepping too!

The Happy Teaching Podcast with The Kindergarten Connection is the go-to podcast for Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers who want simple, effective, and joyful teaching strategies—fast!

Hosted by Alex John, this bite-sized podcast delivers classroom management tips, engaging lesson ideas, and real-life solutions you can implement immediately. Whether you're looking to create smoother routines, build stronger student connections, or bring more fun into your teaching day, each episode (in ten minutes or less!) is designed to make your job easier and your classroom happier.

Subscribe now and start teaching with confidence and joy!

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Connect with The Kindergarten Connection on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekindergartenconnection

Visit us online: https://www.thekindgergartenconnection.com

Join us at https://www.printandplayclub.com