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

Social Emotional Learning and Supports

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

Classroom Management

Apple Spotify Amazon Music You can only do so much because your job is to help the classroom of students. You have to help the whole classroom. And this was something I learned the hard way as well.~ Zeba from Episode 110 of The Kindergarten Cafe Podcast Episode Summary Some years...

Kindergarten Case Study: Supporting Students With Big Emotions ~ Ep. 109

PODCAST

Apple Spotify Amazon Music We are more than teachers, as you know, we do so much more. But one of our biggest jobs is actually detective, because behavior is communication. When kids are misbehaving or having big behaviors, they are trying to communicate with us.~ Zeba from Episode 109...

How to Teach Emotional Intelligence in Kindergarten ~ Ep. 108

PODCAST

Apple Spotify Amazon Music It's super important to spend time explicitly teaching kids what the different feelings are, how to identify them, and then strategies they can try when they're feeling that way, and then giving them time to practice those strategies.~ Zeba from Episode 108 of The Kindergarten...

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,...

Setting Up A Calm Down Corner For Your Classroom ~ Ep. 100

Classroom Management

Apple Spotify Amazon Music Every single classroom needs a calm down corner. Every single one. You don't need much at all. It doesn't have to be fancy, it doesn't have to be filled with stuff.~ Zeba from Episode 100 of The Kindergarten Cafe Podcast Episode Summary This episode marks 100(!) episodes...

Teaching Self-Regulation Skills Through Everyday Routines ~ Ep. 80

Classroom Management

Apple Spotify Amazon Music So through your morning meeting, through transitions, especially transitions to the rug, and with your calm down corner, you can really use those everyday classroom routines to help teach and practice self regulation. And the kids really need that practice in order to be able...

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...

De-Escalation Strategies to Stay Calm and In Control During Emotional Outbursts with Sara Yessenow ~ Ep. 64

PODCAST

Apple Spotify Amazon Music "It's important to remember that the number one priority in these moments is de escalation, which means doing what's necessary to keep the child and everyone else safe, even though that means you will be giving the child a certain amount of what that child...

Introducing Trixie the Thoughtful Turtle with Illustrator, Denyse Walker ~ Ep. 61

PODCAST

Apple Spotify Amazon Music Episode Summary In this episode, I chat with my cousin Denyse, the illustrator of the Caring Critters series, about the impact of Felipe the Feeling Frog and our new character, Trixie the Thoughtful Turtle. We discuss fostering social-emotional skills like decision-making through positive language and reflect...

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,...