Artwork for podcast Kindergarten Cafe Podcast: Simple Tips for Teaching Kindergarten
141. Questions to Ask and Answer Before the School Year Starts
Episode 1412nd July 2026 • Kindergarten Cafe Podcast: Simple Tips for Teaching Kindergarten • Zeba McGibbon
00:00:00 00:13:56

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If summer break has you staring at a long list of things to fix, buy, or change in your classroom, and you are not sure where to even start, this episode will help you slow down before you dive in. Whether you are a brand new kindergarten teacher or a returning one, the most useful thing you can do this July is ask yourself the right questions first, so the time and energy you do put in actually moves the needle for next year.

In this episode, I share:

  • why new teachers should start by picturing what their classroom and routines should look like in the spring before planning how the year begins
  • how looking ahead to your curriculum and school-wide routines helps you set up your classroom and teach beginning-of-year routines that actually work
  • why returning teachers should reflect on what worked, what didn't, and what kept causing problems before making any summer changes
  • how to identify the one or two areas worth improving this summer instead of trying to overhaul everything at once
  • why asking yourself whether something was "worth the squeeze" helps you simplify what is not sustainable
  • what information about your students is important to gather before the year starts
  • why summer is also a time to rest and fill your own cup, not just plan for school

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