There is a big difference between telling children what to do and teaching them how to do it.

In preschool, we give directions all day:

“Clean up,”

“Wash your hands,”

“Choose a center,”

And when children don’t follow those directions, it’s easy to think, “But I already told you!”

The truth is, telling communicates an expectation.

Teaching gives children the skills to meet it.

In this episode, we are talking about the difference between telling and teaching.

Plus, check out the new Center Expectation Visuals resource linked below!

Topics Discussed:

• Why simple directions aren't always simple for preschoolers
• How classroom routines and behaviors need to be explicitly taught
• The question to ask when you find yourself constantly correcting
• Why teaching, reteaching, and practicing are necessary for independence
• How investing time in teaching routines now can reduce repeated corrections later

Related Resources:

• Visual Procedure Cards
• The First Six Weeks Playbook
• Center Expectation Visuals *NEW!

Related Blogposts/Episodes:

• How to Teach Classroom Procedures
• The Preschool Classroom Mistakes That Create Chaos Later

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

One of the biggest classroom management mistakes isn't having expectations. It's assuming children learned them because we explained them once.

In this episode, we're talking about the difference between telling and teaching. Preschoolers don't automatically know how to line up, clean up, walk in the hallway, or participate during circle time. These are skills that must be intentionally taught through modeling, practice, coaching, and repetition.

If you find yourself repeating the same directions all day, it may not be a listening problem. It may be a teaching opportunity.

Topics Discussed:

• Why explaining a classroom expectation isn't the same as teaching it
• The preschool mindset that changes how you approach behavior
• Why reminders alone don't help children master new skills
• How intentional instruction can reduce repeated corrections and build independence

Related Resources:

• The First Six Weeks Playbook
• Webinar: Stop Repeating Yourself All Day

Related Blogposts/Episodes:

• I Open Centers on Day One—But I Don't Expect Independence
• The Preschool Framework I Use Every Year

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

What classroom management system do you use?

It's one of the questions I hear most often from preschool teachers. The answer may surprise you:

I don't rely on one classroom management system.

I rely on a framework:

Build It. Teach It. Reinforce It.

In this episode, we're breaking down why so many classroom management strategies fall apart and what teachers can do instead to create systems that actually work.

Topics Discussed:

• How to create an environment that answers children's questions before they need to ask
• Why we can't expect children to know how to "do school" without intentionally teaching skills
• How successful classroom management happens through repetition and support
• Why teachers feel stuck when it comes to classroom management

Related Resources:

• The First Six Weeks Playbook + Bundle
• Stop Repeating Yourself All Day Training Registration

Related Blogposts/Episodes:

• Why Planning Classroom Management Before Day 1 Makes All the Difference

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

One of the questions I'm asked most often is, "When do you introduce centers?" Many teachers are surprised by my answer: I open centers on Day One.

But there's an important difference.

I don't expect children to be independent on Day One.

In this episode, we're talking about the biggest mistakes teachers make when introducing centers, why preschoolers struggle during those first few weeks, and how you can teach center routines in a way that builds confidence instead of chaos.

Topics Discussed:

• Why keeping centers closed can actually slow down learning
• Why expecting independence too soon leads to frustration
• The skills children need before they can successfully work in centers
• How to teach routines while children are actively playing
• Why repetition and practice create lasting independence

Related Resources:

• Preschool Centers Guide (free)
• First Six Weeks Playbook + Bundle
• Stop Repeating Yourself All Day Training Sign Up

Related Blogposts/Episodes:

• Why "Just Go Play" Doesn't Work: Explicitly Teaching Center Skills
• Preschool Centers: Free Choice or Rotation?
• 5 Reasons Why Assigning Centers Can Backfire

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

Every summer, preschool teachers make ambitious classroom prep lists:

• Cut everything out.
• Laminate everything.
• Organize every bin.
• Create every center.

But once school begins, many of those tasks suddenly feel far less important than they seemed in June.

Instead of preparing endless activities, you'll learn why preparing classroom systems is what truly sets the tone for a successful school year.

A classroom that runs smoothly can teach far more than a classroom that's constantly managing chaos.

Topics Discussed:

• Why systems matter more than activities during the first weeks of school
• The five classroom routines that create independence all year long
• How fewer centers and fewer materials often lead to better learning
• What independence really looks like in a preschool classroom
• Why the first month should focus on routines, relationships, and confidence before academics

Related Resources:

• Classroom Management Bundle

Related Blogposts/Episodes:

• The First Day of Preschool: What to Prep (and What to Forget)
• Why Planning for Classroom Management before Day 1 Makes Sense
• How to Teach Classroom Procedures

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

The teachers running the smoothest classrooms aren't usually the ones with the cutest classrooms. They're the ones who spent the first few weeks intentionally teaching children how the classroom works.

In this episode, we dive into five common mistakes teachers make at the beginning of the year that often lead to behavior challenges, difficult transitions, dependence on adults, and classroom chaos later on.

Plus, what to focus on instead to build a classroom that runs smoothly all year long.

Topics Discussed:

• Why teaching routines matters more than teaching academics during the first weeks of school
• The difference between telling children what to do and actually teaching a skill
• Why opening every center and material right away can create unnecessary chaos
• How independence develops through intentional instruction and practice
• Why many behavior challenges are actually teaching opportunities

Related Resources:

• Procedure Card Visuals
• Visual Schedule Cards
• Rules & Expectations
• Transition Time Toolkit

Related Blogposts/Episodes:

• The First Day of Preschool: What to Prep (and What to Forget)
• Why Planning for Classroom Management before Day 1 Makes Sense
• How to Teach Classroom Procedures

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

You spent the time laminating the cards.

You hung the visual schedule perfectly on the wall.

But then?

The kids barely looked at it.

In this episode, let's talk about the five biggest mistakes teachers make with visual schedules and explain how to turn your schedule from a classroom decoration into one of the most powerful tools in your day.

The truth is, visual schedules do not work automatically. They have to be taught, referenced, updated, and used consistently if we want children to feel safe and confident using them.

Topics Discussed:

• Why visual schedules are important
• Why hanging a visual schedule is not enough
• How to teach children to use the schedule
• Why updating the schedule matters
• Ways to reduce transition anxiety

Related Resources:

• Visual Schedule Cards

Related Blogposts/Episodes:

• Why You Should Be Using a Visual Schedule

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

The summer slide is real. But turning summer into “homework season” is not the answer.

In this episode, we’re talking about a better way to support preschool learning at home through simple, play-based activities families will actually use. If you’ve ever sent home workbook packets only to wonder if they ever left the backpack, this conversation is for you...

Because preschoolers learn best through play, connection, conversation, and hands-on experiences, not pages of busywork.

Topics Discussed:

• Why traditional take-home packets don't work for preschoolers
• What young children actually need to keep skills fresh over break
• How play-based family activities build math, literacy, and fine motor skills
• Done for you take-home activities

Related Resources:

• Family Learning Kits

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

If assessment season makes you want to shut your laptop and disappear for a while… you’re not alone. In this episode, let me break down why traditional assessment methods feel so exhausting! But more importantly, let me give you a better way to do it.

You’ll learn a simpler, more effective approach that saves time, reduces stress for your students, and gives you data you can actually use to guide your teaching.

Topics Discussed:

• Why assessing everything at the beginning of the year doesn’t work
• What to assess at the beginning, middle, and end of the year
• The “Storybook Method” for structuring assessment periods
• Why re-assessment is the missing piece most teachers skip
• How to use assessment data to actually guide instruction

Related Resources:

• Assessment and Portfolio Resources

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

What if the loudest, most chaotic corner of your classroom is actually where the deepest learning is happening?

In this episode, we’re rethinking dramatic play and breaking the myth that it’s “just pretending.” Because when you take a closer look, you’ll see children building language, social skills, literacy, and real-world understanding through play.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to replace play with more structured academics, this episode will help you see why dramatic play deserves a permanent place in your classroom.

Topics Discussed:

• Skill Building in Dramatic Play
• Why engagement is naturally higher in play-based centers
• How to set up your dramatic play area with intention

Related Resources:

• Dramatic Play Bundle

Related Blogposts and Episodes:

• The Importance of Changing out Play Centers

Connect with Ashley

• Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
• Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!

As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.

Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com