If you are applying for a new teaching job, hoping to switch schools, changing grade levels, or trying to land your very first classroom position, this episode is packed with the kind of advice you usually only hear behind closed doors.

I am joined by not one, but two elementary principals, Jake and Rob, for an honest conversation about what really matters in the hiring process. From getting the interview to standing out once you’re in the room.

They talk through what principals notice right away, what makes a candidate memorable, and how teachers can better prepare for interviews, demo lessons, and even internal grade-level changes. There is also a lot of reassurance here for anyone feeling discouraged by rejections or overwhelmed by the process.

In this episode, we discuss:

1. how to talk to your principal if you want to change grade levels within your school
2. what helps candidates land an interview, including resume details, cover letters, and reaching out directly
3. why getting your foot in the door through subbing, paraprofessional work, or long-term positions can make a huge difference
4. what principals are really looking for in an interview beyond the buzzwords
5. how personality, authenticity, preparation, and school culture all factor into hiring decisions
6. the kinds of questions candidates should be ready to answer, especially around collaboration, differentiation, and family communication
7. what questions you should ask in an interview to make sure the school is the right fit for you
8. tips for demo lessons, including how to prepare, what administrators are watching for, and why student engagement matters most

This episode is packed! Jake and Rob also share some of the biggest red flags in interviews, the value of thank-you emails, and why schools are not just hiring a teacher on paper, they are hiring someone to join a team and care for kids every day.

If you are job searching right now, or even just thinking about making a change, this episode will help you feel more prepared, more confident, and a lot less in the dark about the process.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Monthly Guides

https://www.kindergartencafe.org/guides/

In kindergarten writing, the main goal is helping students write a strong, clear sentence. But once some students are ready to go further, the next step is learning how to add meaningful details that bring their stories to life.

In this episode, I share simple strategies for teaching young writers how to expand their stories without overwhelming them. I explain how to break the skill into manageable steps and introduce one type of detail at a time through small groups, conferences, and modeling.

Inside this episode, you’ll hear ideas for:

1. teaching students to add thinking and talking through speech and thought bubbles
2. helping writers include feelings so readers better understand the story
3. guiding students to use the five senses to make their writing more vivid
4. using small groups, checklists, and sticky-note goals to support individual writers
5. why oral storytelling and writing warmups help students generate stronger details before they begin writing

1. Using Writing Goals to Empower Young Writers ~ Ep. 24

1. Use Kindergarten Writing Prompts and Easy Warm-Ups to Improve Writing!

1. Writing Adding Details: Writing Small Groups
2. Teaching Writing in Small Groups Bundle | Differentiated Writing Groups K-2

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Mentioned in this episode:

Literacy Support Bundle

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Year-Long-Literacy-Support-for-Small-Group-Instruction-BUNDLE-Reading-Writing-11977457

Planning a field trip can feel exciting… and slightly terrifying at the same time. In this episode, I share all the practical tips I’ve learned over the years to make field trips smoother, safer, and far less stressful for teachers. Everything from choosing the right location to organizing groups and managing the day-of logistics. If you’ve ever worried about keeping track of 20+ kids in a crowded public place, this episode is for you.

Inside the episode, I share tips like:

1. how to choose a field trip location that’s actually manageable for your class
2. ways to organize parent volunteers and small student groups for better supervision
3. simple strategies for preparing families and students ahead of time
4. what to bring with you on the trip (including a few things you might not think of)
5. how to keep students safe, organized, and still excited about the experience

Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching

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Mentioned in this episode:

Monthly Guides

https://www.kindergartencafe.org/guides/

Phonics can feel… well, stressful. For teachers and parents. I invited Melanie Jeffrey, host of the Phonics Rules for Kids podcast and former K–3 classroom teacher turned phonics coach to talk about what actually helps early readers become confident decoders (and what looks like reading but is really just guessing).

Melanie shares how her instruction shifted from leveled texts and “cueing” strategies to more systematic phonics, and why it made such a noticeable difference for kids.

You’ll hear practical, classroom-friendly ideas like:

1. what to focus on in small groups when a child is stuck at blending/decoding
2. why that jump from easy leveled books to harder ones can completely derail kids
3. simple “must-have” materials for phonics-based small groups (without needing 97 bins)
4. an easy phonics game kids will beg to play again (and that won’t require re-teaching directions weekly)
5. why partner reading often beats silent reading in kindergarten (and why “silent reading” can be a wild expectation anyway)

Plus, Melanie shares what inspired her to start helping parents teach phonics at home in short, doable chunks so it doesn’t turn into nightly tears and drama.

1. Podcast - Phonics Rules for Kids
2. Website - phonicsrulesforkids.com

Work with Zeba 1:1 Coaching

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Mentioned in this episode:

Literacy Support Bundle

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Year-Long-Literacy-Support-for-Small-Group-Instruction-BUNDLE-Reading-Writing-11977457

This episode tackles two opposite classroom math challenges: students who don’t get addition, and students who’ve already mastered it. Whether you're trying to build understanding from the ground up or keep your addition knowers engaged, I shares real, classroom-tested strategies that go beyond just “more worksheets.”

1. Why addition often breaks down when students move too quickly from counting to abstract story problems
2. How using concrete tools (counters, 10‑frames, visuals) helps students truly understand “total” and “altogether”
3. The importance of modeling, repetition, and explicitly teaching how to combine groups
4. Ways to deepen learning by having students explain their thinking, create their own problems, and find multiple solutions
5. How logic puzzles and open‑ended math tasks build problem‑solving skills without rushing ahead in content

1. Kindergarten Cafe Math Resources
2. KenKen Puzzles
3. TangMath by Greg Tang
4. Bedtime Math
5. Math Books I recommend (Amazon Affiliate Link)

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Mentioned in this episode:

Kindergarten Math for the WHOLE Year Bundle

Grab the bundle at https://www.kindergartencafe.org/math

Your students are finally decoding with confidence, so what’s next? In this episode, I share what comprehension-focused small groups can look like once your students are fluent readers. Spoiler: it’s about more than just “did they understand the story?”

1. Why decoding must come first before comprehension groups
2. How comprehension is built through modeling, discussion, and real conversations
3. A breakdown of skill-based small group topics like: Retelling, Character focus, Predicting, Making connections, Comparing/contrasting
4. Tips for keeping it simple with before/during/after comprehension questions
5. How to use comprehension jobs, cards, or bookmarks to guide small group roles
6. When to try independent book clubs with higher readers (and how to structure them)

1. Easy Small Group Ideas for Blending and Decoding Success ~ Ep. 119

1. Kindergarten Small Group Comprehension Pack

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Mentioned in this episode:

Kindergarten Essentials

Grab the year-long, mega-bundle kindergarten activities here:

Feeling torn between leveled readers and decodables? There are strong opinions out there, but in this episode, I share the difference between the two and what I use in my classroom (and why). I also share my favorite decodable resources and how I use them during small groups and independent reading time.

1. The difference between decodable vs. leveled books
2. Why I stopped using leveled texts in small groups
3. How decodables build student confidence and support phonics instruction
4. When it’s okay to mix in leveled texts
5. How to match decodable texts to students' phonics skills
6. Tips for organizing your classroom library and book bags
7. Why it’s okay if you’ve done things differently in the past (you’re learning!)

1. Science of Reading 101 With Heidi from Droppin’ Knowledge ~ Ep. 81

1. Decodable Readers

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Mentioned in this episode:

Kindergarten Essentials

Grab the year-long, mega-bundle kindergarten activities here:

Grade-level teams can make your year feel supportive… or completely draining. In this episode,I’m joined by Jenna Everetts (aka @ThatStrongTeacher) to talk honestly about navigating team dynamics, communication challenges, and collaboration struggles teachers face at every stage of their career.

We unpack what to do when you feel unheard, left out, or pressured to teach in a way that doesn’t align with you, especially as a new teacher or someone new to a grade level. Jenna shares real experiences from her own teaching career and introduces her F.A.N.S. framework for building stronger, healthier team relationships.

1. How to communicate needs and concerns using simple, effective language
2. What to do when teams feel cliquey, unbalanced, or hard to break into
3. How to advocate for yourself while still being a supportive teammate
4. Why celebrating small moments and sharing resources matters more than you think
5. Practical ways to build trust and connection with colleagues over time

1. Instagram - @thatstrongteacher

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Mentioned in this episode:

Social Emotional Lessons

Download the free Social/Emotional Lessons: https://kindergartencafe.org/social-emotional-lessons

If you feel like you're spending all day listening to “he said/she said” drama, this episode is for you. I share my favorite strategies for reducing tattling and teaching students to manage problems on their own. Plus, learn why teaching kids to “take care of themselves” is a life skill that goes way beyond kindergarten.

1. How to teach kids to solve conflicts with the “Bug and a Wish” sentence frame
2. The difference between tattling vs. telling (and how to teach it explicitly)
3. How to help kids understand the size of a problem: small, medium, or big
4. Why I am NOT a fan of the “viral tattle” ideas floating around (and what to do instead)
5. Simple responses to redirect tattling in the moment
6. What to say when you don’t know who to believe
7. How to address trust, lying, and repeat offenders gently but firmly
8. Book recommendations for teaching about tattling

1. Teaching Problem-Solving Skills with Young Students ~ Ep. 57

1. A Bug and a Wish by Karen Scheuer (amazon affiliate link)
2. More SEL Children’s Books for tattling and other expected behaviors (amazon affiliate link)
3. Join the FREE 5-Day Social Emotional Learning Challenge

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Mentioned in this episode:

SEL Bundle

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Emotional-Learning-Year-Long-Kindergarten-Curriculum-Bundle-11-SEL-Units-3904167

Midyear assessments are in and if you're feeling overwhelmed, or just plain frustrated, this episode is here to help. I’m answering three real teacher questions about assessment results, struggling students, and managing all that data.

1. What to do when students aren’t showing the progress you expected
2. How to turn midyear data into small group plans that actually move the needle
3. Why consistent, repeated practice (even if it’s boring) works
4. Tips for talking to families without just giving the problem to them
5. What to try if students still don’t know letters or sounds
6. The system I use to organize assessment data (that won’t make your binder explode)

1. Easy Small Group Ideas for Blending and Decoding Success ~ Ep. 119
2. Kindergarten Small Groups for Teaching Letter Sounds ~ Ep. 106
3. Kindergarten Case Study: Supporting Kindergarteners With No Letter Knowledge ~ Ep. 105

1. Decodable Readers
2. CVC Words: Beginning, Middle, End Sounds Phonemic Awareness Games and Centers
3. PD By the Pool Private Podcast
4. Book a Coaching Session

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Mentioned in this episode:

Free Math Guide

Download the free Math Guide: www.kindergartencafe.org/math-guide