Happy Teaching
Happy Teaching 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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Episodes
59 episodes
Episode 58: Building Strong Partnerships with Paraeducators
In this episode, Alex shares practical ways to build a positive, productive partnership with the paraeducators in your classroom. Working alongside another adult isn't always something teachers are taught, but strong collaboration can make a hu...
Episode 57: The First Week of School: Go Slow to Go Fast
In this episode, Alex shares the mindset and strategies for a successful first week of school. Instead of rushing into academics, you'll learn why focusing on routines, independence, and classroom community sets the foundation for the rest of t...
Episode 56: Parent Communication Made Easier
In this episode, Alex shares practical strategies for making parent communication simpler and less stressful. You'll hear easy ways to keep families informed, build trust, and maintain healthy boundaries throughout the school year.✨ Y...
Episode 55: Using Book Boxes to Build Independence
In this episode, Alex shares one of her favorite tools for building independence in the classroom: book boxes. Book boxes can do much more than hold books. They can help students manage materials independently, support small group rout...
Episode 54: What If I'm Not Allowed to Play
In this episode, Alex tackles one of the most common questions she hears from teachers: What if I'm not allowed to play? If you love the idea of playful learning but work in a school with strict pacing guides, scripted curriculum, or little roo...
Episode 53: Why Play Is Never "Just Playing"
In this episode, Alex dives into an important early childhood topic: the difference between free play and purposeful (or guided) play. Alex explains what each one looks like, how they support children's growth, and why play is...
Episode 52: What Are Free-Flowing Centers?
In this episode, Alex breaks down one of her favorite classroom systems: free-flowing centers. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by center rotations, timers, constant prep, or trying to manage every student’s movement during math and lit...
Episode 51: Community Supplies: Why They Actually Work
In this episode, Alex shares why she made the switch from individual student supplies to whole-class community supplies and why she never went back. If you’ve ever dealt with missing pencils, broken crayons, overflowing supply boxes, or constan...
Episode 50: Why Your Classroom Layout Matters
In this episode, Alex builds on last week’s conversation about playful classroom areas by introducing the idea of the “mullet of classroom design.” What does that mean? Many classrooms are set up with all the “learning” in the middle with table...
Episode 49: Playful Classroom Areas That Support Learning
In this episode, Alex shares some of the most important classroom areas to include in a playful, developmentally appropriate learning environment. This conversation isn’t about having the “perfect” classroom or expensive setups—it’s about creat...
Episode 48: Beating the Sunday Night Blues
In this episode, Alex talks about something many teachers know all too well — the Sunday Night Blues. That anxious feeling as the weekend winds down can make it hard to fully enjoy your time off. Alex shares simple, realistic ways to r...
Episode 47: Walking in Line Without the Chaos
In this episode, Alex tackles a classroom challenge that sounds simple but rarely feels easy: walking in line. Getting young students from point A to point B can quickly become chaotic, especially during transitions and hallway travel....
Episode 46: Struggling with Dismissal? Try These Simple Shifts
In this episode, Alex tackles one of the most chaotic parts of the school day — dismissal. Even with a plan in place, dismissal can feel rushed, stressful, and overwhelming. You'll hear simple, practical strategies to help you create a...
Episode 45: A Simple Alphabet Party That Feels Fun (Not Stressful)
In this episode, Alex shares a simple, low-prep way to celebrate the end of the year with an Alphabet Party. If you’re feeling the end-of-year crunch, these easy ideas still feel fun and special without adding more to your plate.✨ You...
Episode 44: Four Corners: The Easiest Brain Break Your Class Will Love
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 f...
Episode 43: Should You Limit How Many Kids Are in Each Center? (Let’s Rethink This)
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 perspe...
Episode 42: AI for Teachers: Simple Ways to Save Time and Reduce Stress
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 ...
Episode 41: Giving Directions Kids Can Actually Follow (2 Simple Teacher Tips)
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...
Episode 40: 7 Signs You’re Definitely a Kindergarten Teacher
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...
Episode 39: 3 Tips to Make Morning Arrival Easier
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 fee...
Episode 38: What to Do When Kids Won't Keep Their Hands to Themselves
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...
Episode 37: How to Re-engage Students with Classroom Materials
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 c...
Episode 36: Easy Ways to Add Music/Movement to Circle Time
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...
Episode 35: Valentine’s Day in Pre-K & Kindergarten- What Really Matters
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’...
Episode 34: When a Student Refuses to Work - Try This!
In this episode, we’re tackling a challenge every early childhood teacher faces: what to do when a student refuses to work. Whether it’s ignoring directions, sitting with arms crossed, or simply saying “no,” these moments can be tricky and ...