Day one of preschool and circle time feels like total chaos? You’re not alone—and you’re not doing it wrong.

In this episode, we’re breaking down what circle time really looks like during those first few weeks—and how to keep it simple, predictable, and stress-free (yes, even when someone’s licking a shoe)!

Topics Discussed:

• Why less is more when you’re just starting out
• A realistic breakdown of the first few days
• When to introduce jobs, calendar, and routines
• Why singing instructions actually works
• How visuals can be your secret weapon from Day 1

Related Resources:

• Two and Three Year Old Circle Time Visuals
• Pre-K Circle Time Visuals
• Visual Schedule Blogpost

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

Feeling overwhelmed with all the Pinterest-perfect classroom ideas? Today we’re cutting through the clutter and talking about the only five things you really need to prep before the first day of preschool. No fancy bulletin boards, no year-long plans—just the simple, effective tools that help your classroom run smoother from Day One. Tune in!

Topics Discussed:

• Why procedure visuals are your best Day One investment
• How to use movement and calming prompts to support regulation
• The power of a visual schedule in creating predictability
• What makes a comforting and functional chill-out spot
• Easy, no-prep wait-time games that save your sanity

Related Resources:

• Procedure Visuals
• Movement or calming prompts
• A visual schedule
• A calm-down area
• And wait-time games

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

In today's episode we’re talking about the most overlooked, chaos-causing part of the preschool day: transitions. Those sneaky little in-betweens that can make or break your whole routine. If transitions feel like a daily disaster, I’ve got ideas to help you bring back the calm! Tune in!

Topics Discussed:

• Why transitions are so tricky.
• Signs your transitions might be causing stress.
• What smooth transitions actually look like.

Related Resources:

• Preschool Transition Toolkit
• Free Schedule Workbook + Visual Schedule Cards
• Preschool Procedure Cards

Related Blogposts/Episodes:

• Blogpost: Building a Preschool Schedule that Works

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

In today’s episode, we’re taking a deep dive into the updates that have been made to the Two & Three Year Old Curriculum! What if lesson planning did not have to be complicated? What if everything was done for you so that you could concentrate on the 100's of other things preschool teachers have going on? You want to deliver developmentally appropriate, meaningful, and manageable lessons every single day - let me help you! Tune in and I'll give you all of the details!

Topics Discussed:

• Why I created this curriculum (and why I updated it).
• What's new inside the curriculum. Plus, the bonus features!
• Why this update matters for you.

Related Resources:

• Early Learning Standards for Two and Three Year Olds by LCPR
• Two and Three Year Old Pacing Guide
• Free Lesson Plan: All About Me

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

In today’s episode, we’re diving into how to build a preschool schedule that works for you—not against you. Because a great schedule isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the secret sauce that makes your day smoother, your students calmer, and your teaching time way more effective. Tune in!

Topics Discussed:

• Why your daily schedule matters.
• 4 big schedule mistakes and how to avoid them.
• How to build a schedule that actually works for you.
• How and why to use visuals.

Related Resources:

• Create the Perfect Preschool Schedule Workbook + Visual Schedule Cards

Related Blogposts/Episodes:

• Blogpost: Visual Schedules for Preschool
• Blogpost: How Long to Schedule 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

Rotating play centers means more engagement, deeper learning and better behavior! By rotating the toys and materials in our play centers we can boost engagement and encourage purposeful play. If you aren't sure when or how to rotate centers...tune In! I'm sharing all of my tips and tricks!

Topics Discussed:

• Why rotating centers is important.
• How often to rotate centers.
• Tips for easy rotation.

Related Resources:

• Guide to Preschool Centers

Related Blogposts/Episodes:

• Blogpost: Free Play + Playful Learning = Engaged Centers
• 4 Benefits of Free Choice Play

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

Executive functioning is critical for learning. In this episode, I will teach how centers naturally build these skills and you how to boost those skills without adding a single thing to your to-do list. Tune In!

Topics Discussed:

• What executive functioning is.
• How centers support executive functioning.
• Simple ways to boost executive functioning in centers.

Related Resources:

• Guide to Preschool 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

With seasonal light table mats, you can transform your classroom into a space of wonder and exploration throughout the year. Keep your learners engaged, skills sharp, and imaginations soaring. Ready to jumpstart your sensory journey? Tune In!

Topics Discussed:

• What are light table mats and how do they work?
• The power of using seasonal themes and how to incorporate them into your light table.
• Seasonal light table ideas and done for you resources!
• Tips for using light tables.

Related Resources:

• Summer Light Table Activities

Related Blogposts/Episodes:

• Episode 30: Must Have Items for the Preschool Light Table

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 have your centers all set. Now, its time to 'go play'! Have you ever wondered why your centers are chaotic instead of creative? In this episode, we will uncover the secrets to teaching purposeful play and help transform your preschool center time into moments of joyful learning!

Topics Discussed:

• Understanding the Importance of Teaching Center Skills
• Step-By-Step Guide to Teaching Center Skills
• Practical Tips to Implement in Your Classroom

Related Resources:

• FREE Center Guide

Related Blogposts/Episodes:

• Episode 107: 5 Reasons Why Assigning Centers Can Backfire
• Episode 97: How Long to Schedule Centers
• Episode 89: Prep Centers Now, Save Sanity Later
• Episode 87: The Un-popular 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

Have you ever handed a pencil to an eager preschooler only to see them struggle awkwardly? In episode 121, discover why the key to confident writing starts with building fine motor skills, not rushing to the pencil.

Topics Discussed:

• The Importance of Fine Motor Skills in Early Childhood Development
• The Challenges of Early Writing
• The Fine Motor First Approach

Related Resources:

• Fine Motor Build-a-Skill Resource

Related Blogposts/Episodes:

• Episode 108: Using Fine Motor Boxes in Preschool

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