In this episode, Alex shares a simple, go-to game that every teacher needs in their back pocket, especially during those high-energy, “we need something different right now” moments. Whether you’re dealing with spring fever, indoor recess, or filling in for PE, Four Corners is an easy, low-prep game that gets students moving, engaged, and having fun in minutes.

✨ You’ll learn:

• How to set up and play Four Corners with minimal materials
• How to keep the game moving so students stay engaged
• Easy ways to teach sportsmanship and handling disappointment
• How the game builds turn-taking, patience, and social skills

💡 This episode is a quick win you can use right away to bring energy, structure, and connection into your classroom.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

📚 Print and Play Club 👉🏽 Looking for more support with classroom management, routines, and engaging activities? The Print and Play Club gives you ready-to-use resources and tools to make teaching easier. Not a member yet? Click here to join the club!

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!

...

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

In this episode, Alex challenges a common classroom practice: limiting how many students can be in each center. Before you think, “There’s no way that would work in my classroom”... stick with this one. This episode is all about shifting perspective and rethinking how much control we actually need during center time.

✨ You’ll learn:

•  Why limiting centers may be more about control than student need
•  How removing limits creates real opportunities for problem-solving
•  The difference between behavior issues and the number of students
•  How natural limits (like materials) can replace teacher-imposed limits

💡 This episode will stretch your thinking and help you reflect on how your classroom structures may be impacting independence, engagement, and social growth.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

👉🏽 Check out the related blog post: Must-Try Tips for Pre-K and Kindergarten Center Time Limits

⭐ The P.L.A.Y. Course (Coming this summer!)
Ready to create a calmer, more independent center time without constant management? The P.L.A.Y. Course walks you step-by-step through routines, systems, and strategies for successful play-based learning.
👉 Sign up to learn more and be the first to know when enrollment opens!

🎉 Print and Play Club - Get access to ready-to-use centers, routines, and classroom systems that support independent learning and meaningful play. Click here to join the club!

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!

...

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

In this episode, Alex breaks down AI in a way that actually feels manageable for teachers. Whether you’re excited about AI, completely overwhelmed by it, or somewhere in between, this episode will help you shift your mindset and see how it can support you — without taking over your teaching.

✨ You’ll learn:

• How to use AI as a simple tool to support (not replace) your teaching
• Why starting small can reduce overwhelm
• How better prompts lead to better results
• Ways AI can help lighten your mental load and decision fatigue

💡 This episode is all about helping you feel more confident and in control so you can use AI in a way that supports you, not overwhelms you.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

🤖 Poppy — Your Teacher Assistant (Available exclusively in the Print and Play Club)
Poppy is built specifically for early childhood teachers and trained on Print and Play Club resources. She can help with lesson ideas, classroom management, routines, and quickly finding what you need inside the club. Print and Play Club members can log in and start using Poppy today to brainstorm ideas, problem-solve, and save time. Not a member yet? Click here to join the club!

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!

...

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

In this episode, Alex shares two simple shifts that can dramatically improve how students respond to directions in your classroom. If you’ve ever given instructions and looked around to see students doing something completely different, or felt like you’re constantly saying “Don’t do that” or “Stop running” — this episode is for you.

✨ You’ll learn:

• Why we often give too many directions at once without realizing it
• How breaking instructions into 2–3 simple steps helps students succeed
• A powerful classroom strategy: turning directions into songs or chants
• How rephrasing directions into positive language improves student responses

💡 This episode is a great reminder that small shifts in language and structure can reduce chaos during transitions and make classroom routines run much more smoothly.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Related blog post 👉🏽 Simple Strategy for Improving Classroom Management

📚 Print and Play Club
Inside the Print and Play Club, members have access to classroom management training videos and professional development to help with common challenges like transitions, directions, and student behavior. Not a member yet? Click here to join the club!

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!

...

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

In this fun and relatable episode,  Alex shares seven classic signs you might be a Kindergarten (or early childhood) teacher. From hoarding office supplies to decoding student writing that looks like hieroglyphics, it’s a lighthearted look at the little things only Pre-K, TK, and Kindergarten teachers truly understand.

✨ You’ll Hear:

•  The irresistible pull of a good office supply sale
•  Why early childhood teachers become masters of repurposing everything
•  The mysterious teacher bag that travels between home and school
•  The superpower of decoding early phonetic spelling
•  Why Kindergarten teachers turn everything into a song or chant

💡 This episode is a reminder that the quirky little habits of early childhood teachers are actually part of what makes this work so special.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

•  Check out the related post on the blog 👉🏽 7 (funny) Signs You Are a Kindergarten Teacher

📚 If those “teacher bags” full of work feel a little too familiar, the Print and Play Club can help lighten the load with ready-to-use centers, routines, and classroom resources created specifically for Pre-K, TK, and Kindergarten teachers. Not a member yet? Click here to join the club!

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!

...

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

In this episode, Alex shares three simple, practical strategies to help you calm the chaos of morning arrival. If your day starts with ringing phones, attendance stress, parents needing you, kids arriving at different times, and you already feel overwhelmed ten minutes in — this episode is for you. Because just like adults, kids feel it when a morning starts off rocky. And when we can create a predictable, calm beginning to the day, everything else tends to run more smoothly.

✨ You’ll Hear:

• Why consistency in your arrival routine builds independence
• How keeping the routine the same every day reduces reliance on you
• Why open-ended morning activities work better than worksheets
• The power of daily check-in tasks like sign-in boards or The Cutting Jar

💡 This episode is a reminder that starting the day strong sets the tone and small shifts in your morning routine can make a big difference in your entire day.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Related Blog Post 👉🏽 3 Teacher Tips for Morning Arrival Routines
• The Cutting Jar ✂️ A simple, powerful fine motor routine that builds scissor skills consistently (and kids love it). It’s an easy, low-prep way to strengthen scissor skills daily without endless cutting worksheets. Grab it here 👉🏽 https://thekindergartenconnection.com/simple-scissor-skills-practice-for-the-classroom/

⭐ Print and Play Club Members: Find the Cutting Jar PLUS ready-to-use math bins, literacy centers, and open-ended activities that make mornings easier to manage, all included inside your membership — just log in and download them from your resource library! Not a member yet? Click here to join the club!

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!

...

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

In this episode, Alex dives into one of the most common (and frustrating) classroom challenges: students not keeping their hands to themselves. Whether it’s pestering, poking, constant touching, or more serious hitting and shoving, this episode walks you through how to move beyond just saying “Keep your hands to yourself” and actually teach students what that means.

✨ You’ll hear:

• The difference between “pesty” behavior and truly hurtful behavior
• Why teaching both sides of the situation matters
• How to teach students to use a firm, big voice to say "STOP"
• What students should do when a classmate tells them to stop
• How to create logical, related consequences that actually make sense
• Why follow-through is essential (a boundary without follow-through is just a suggestion)
• How investing time in social-emotional lessons saves time in the long run

💡 This episode is a powerful reminder that social-emotional skills are the work of early childhood, and the time you spend teaching them intentionally will pay off.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Check out this article on the blog 👉🏼 Must-Try Tip for Teaching Personal Space in Pre-K & Kindergarten
• Related podcast episode 👉🏼 Consequences That Actually Work in Pre-K & Kindergarten
• Behavior Busters Guide (Free PDF) – A practical guide for handling common classroom behaviors with confidence

🌟 Print and Play Club Members can access a whole vault of classroom management trainings and support on a wide range of behavior topics. Not a member yet? Click here to join the club!

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!

...

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

In this episode, Alex shares a simple strategy that delivers big results: how to re-engage students with materials they’re ignoring, without buying anything new.
If you’ve ever set up a center you were excited about, only to watch students completely pass it by, this episode is for you. Sometimes the fix isn’t replacing the activity — it’s rethinking how it’s presented.

✨ You’ll Hear:

• Why rotation is one of the easiest ways to make materials feel “new” again
• How presentation impacts whether students even notice a center
• Why clear tubs, trays, and shelf placement matter more than you think
• How changing toy pairings (animals + castle, dinosaurs + blocks) can instantly boost engagement
• Simple ways to refresh paper-based centers with new writing tools

💡 This episode is a reminder that small shifts like moving a shelf, swapping a bin, or adding colored pencils can create a big return on your time and energy.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

Check out the related blog post 👉 Simple Tip to Re-Engage Students with Classroom Materials

Looking for ready-to-use centers that are easy to rotate and refresh? Inside the Print and Play Club, you’ll find math centers, literacy activities, and low-prep options that make rotation simple. Not a member yet? Click here to join the club!

📞 Have a center refresh idea that worked for you? Send a DM or tag @thekindergartenconnection — we love sharing teacher wins!

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!

...

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

In this episode, Alex shares how to make circle time more engaging, effective, and developmentally appropriate — without adding more to your plate. If you’ve ever felt like your students just can’t sit still or that you’re constantly relying on brain breaks to keep things moving, this one’s for you.

✨ You’ll Hear:
• Why shorter circle times actually lead to better focus and fewer behaviors
• How to use songs and chants to guide transitions and boost participation
• Simple ways to add movement to read-alouds and group activities
• Why offering flexible sitting choices can reduce squirming and support focus

💡 You’ll also learn why removing some elements of circle time might be the key to helping everything run more smoothly.

🔗 Mentioned in this Episode:

• Check out this article on the blog 👉Offering Seating Options Beyond “Criss Cross Applesauce”
• Related podcast episode 👉Let’s Talk About “No More Criss Cross Applesauce”
• Grab this FREE Shamrock Subitizing Pocket Chart Game to try in your classroom!
• Get Circle Time Chants and Activities HERE!

Print and Play Club Members:
🎶 Head to your PLAYlist for ready-to-use circle time songs and monthly themed chants
🎉 Find tons of engaging pocket chart chants and activities to get kids moving, participating, and learning in fun, rhythmic ways
🙌 Download the editable Circle Time Seating Options Poster — a customizable visual support to teach sitting choices with clarity

📍 Not a member yet? Click here to join the club!

📣 Let us know what YOU love for music and movement during circle time! Tag @thekindergartenconnection on Instagram with your favorite chant, transition, or brain break — you might inspire another teacher, 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!

...

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

Valentine’s Day in the early childhood classroom can feel like a whirlwind, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or over the top. In this short and sweet episode, we’re talking about what really matters when it comes to celebrating Valentine’s Day in Pre-K and Kindergarten.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

1. A gentle reminder that Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect
2. Why simplicity and consistency are key in classroom celebrations
3. How to keep things meaningful and fun without adding stress
4. What your students will actually remember about this day (hint: it’s not the crafts)

This quick listen will leave you feeling grounded and ready to enjoy the holiday with your little learners without the pressure.

⭐ ⭐ Join the Print and Play Club to access all of our Valentine's Day activities included in the membership. 

You can also check out our Valentine's Day resources on the blog including book lists, activities, and much more. 💝

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!

...

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