Welcome to Kindergarten Cafe!

I’m Zeba, and I’m here to help you find the *kindergarten magic* in your classroom. I create resources and share strategies to make your teaching easier, more engaging, and focused on those magical moments of growth with your students. Whether you teach kindergarten, preschool, or first grade, you’ll find ideas and activities to bring that *kindergarten magic* to life. Feel free to reach out—let’s make teaching kindergarten magical again!

recent

A Developmental Approach to Teaching Writing with Melissa from Teaching to Transform ~ Ep. 114

Managing Math Expectations and Math Materials ~ Ep. 113

A Kindergarten Social Studies Year-Long Plan ~ Ep. 112

A Kindergarten Social Studies Unit: Families ~ Ep. 111

Honest Talk on Handling Teacher Burnout and Difficult Students ~ Ep. 110

Classroom Community

The Power of Kindergarten Routines ~ Ep. 101

Classroom Community

Apple Spotify Amazon Music Routine is really important routine will help the classroom be independent and run itself and will reduce anxiety so kids can focus on learning.~ Zeba from Episode 101 of the Kindergarten Cafe Podcast Episode Summary At this point in the year, it’s tempting to shake things up,...

The Power of Positive Reinforcement in Kindergarten ~ Ep. 73

Classroom Community

Apple Spotify Amazon Music This is just a quick snapshot into the positive reinforcement in the classroom and how it can be used to not only reinforce the behavior you want to see, but how it can be used to bring back the behavior.~ Zeba McGibbon from Episode 73...

A Week of Engaging Morning Meeting Ideas ~ Ep. 65

Classroom Activities and Lessons

Apple Spotify Amazon Music We're not just showing that we're listening. We're actively listening and remembering so that we can use that information when we think about our friend. When we talk to them again, we can ask them more about it.- Zeba McGibbon from The Kindergarten Cafe Podcast...

Handling Behaviors in Kindergarten with Stacy and Katie ~ Ep. 61

Classroom Community

Apple Spotify Amazon Music Episode Summary In this episode, I speak with Stacy and Katie, the creators of Teacher Tricks Times Two, a resource platform for educators. We discuss the evolving challenges in kindergarten teaching post-pandemic, talking about the increase in extreme behaviors and the necessity of fostering a safe,...

Helping Students Thrive as Learning Partners ~ Ep. 53

Classroom Activities and Lessons

Apple Spotify Amazon Music Episode Summary Teaching students to be effective learning partners is very important. Looking back on my experiences with a new math curriculum that focused on collaboration, I have some strategies that will help you when it comes to having your students work with partners. Things like...

Simplifying Sub Plans for Stress-Free Sick Days ~ Ep. 52

Back to School

Apple Spotify Amazon Music Episode Summary Dread being out due to the thought of making sub plans? In this episode, I give you effective sub plans that allow for a seamless transition for students and guest teachers. I share my approach to creating emergency sub plans with accessible templates and...

How to Have Smooth Transitions in Kindergarten ~ Ep. 51

Classroom Community

Apple Spotify Amazon Music Episode Summary Sometimes transition time can be a tricky time in Kindergarten. In this episode, I discuss effective strategies for managing transitions in the kindergarten classroom, aiming to transform chaos into calm. We cover the importance of clear, engaging directions and attention-getting phrases to ensure students...

Launching Morning Meeting in Kindergarten ~ Ep. 46

Back to School

Apple Spotify Amazon Music Episode Summary How do I introduce morning meeting to my students? That’s what this episode is about. I discuss the detailed process of implementing morning meetings in kindergarten, following the Responsive Classroom approach. The morning meeting includes key elements such as greetings, calendar discussions, and sharing...

Building Strong Classroom Management ~ Ep. 43

Classroom Community

Apple Spotify Amazon Music Episode Summary Get rid of the clip charts and public behavior displays! We need to understand behavior as communication and advocate for a problem-solving approach. In this episode, we explore effective classroom management strategies, and highlight the inefficacy of quick-fix systems. It is important to invest...

Drama Games in the Classroom with Sam from Pocketful of Drama ~ Ep. 40

Classroom Activities and Lessons

Apple Spotify Amazon Music Episode Summary Join me as I chat with Sam Marsden about the magic of drama games for young learners. We explore the benefits of imaginative play, the power of repetition, and how drama boosts empathy and confidence. Sam shares tips for hesitant teachers and introduces her...