20 Years in Kindergarten Taught Me This About Joy

Kindergarten teacher extraordinaire "Mr. Greg" of The Kindergarten Smorgasboard and ELEVATE Conference shares why being a teacher matters most. Listeners will leave inspired by Greg's hilarious tales from the classroom and practical tips to try right away with their students!  Episode Mentions: The Kindergarten SmorgasboardResource CenterBlogBasket Head ELEVATE ConferenceHolly Ehle - The Science of Literacy LearningScheduling Sunday!Greg's Recommendations:Greg HIGHLY recommends a doorbell for the classroomGreg HIGHLY recommends glue sponges to replace glue sticksHere is a great DIY sensory bin ideaABC Bootcamp is one of the most effective ways to teach letters & sounds in early elementary. The HOW & WHYChapters0:00 Welcome to Schoolutions with Mr. Greg Smedley-Warren0:54 The Teacher Who Inspired Greg: Mrs. Sears2:50 Why Greg Became a Teacher3:56 What Public Education Is Actually For4:55 Building Play and Inquiry Into Kindergarten6:26 The Basket Head Game8:05 Curriculum Pacing vs. Teacher Judgment10:02 The Post-COVID "Learning Loss" Narrative11:28 How Greg's Kindergarten Team Plans Each Week12:15 Staying in the Classroom Right Now14:19 Real Stories from a Real Kindergarten Classroom16:12 The Student Who Narrates the Whole Day17:32 Why Kids Need Structure and Routine19:22 The Science of Reading with Holly Ehle20:22 The Unofficial Fun Squad21:16 Why Greg Started The Kindergarten Smorgasboard21:38 The Envelope: How Greg Got Assigned to Kindergarten23:52 Calling His Mom and Falling in Love with the Job24:54 Starting the Blog26:31 Balancing Family, Teaching, and Creative Time27:53 Learning to Say No28:57 Sunday Planning30:31 Being Honest on Hard Days32:50 Greg's Call to Action for Teachers34:22 Why Teachers Need Each Other35:14 Closing ThoughtsSchoolutions is the podcast for educators and school leaders, families and homeschoolers, and the coaches, counselors, and mentors who believe every student deserves to thrive. Join our community of educators committed to cultivating student success, inspired teaching, and creating inclusive classrooms with a pro-kid mindset focused on the whole child.🌿Ready to grow alongside your children? Book a coaching session with me here. We'll unlock the expert who is already within you and surround you with a community of educators committed to forever getting better through collective expertise.🎵 Music: Benjamin WahlDon't forget to🔔SUBSCRIBE for more teaching tips, and 💬SHARE with fellow educators! #schoolutions #schoolutionspodcast #forevergettingbetter #curiositydriven #evidencebasedclassroomreadystrategies #KindergartenSmorgasboard #TeacherPodcast #EffectiveTeaching #InstructionalCoaching #StudentEngagement #ActiveLearning #InclusiveTeaching #TeacherSupport #ProfessionalDevelopment #ClassroomBelonging #NewTeachers #TeachingTips #SchoolLeadership #WholeChildEducation #EducatorLife #StrongerTogetherWhen teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, they create schools where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged, supported, and ready to thrive.