Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast

January is long and your kids have way too much energy.
In this episode, let's talk winter themes like arctic animals and hibernation.
When you use play-based, intentional centers, winter becomes a time for deep engagement, meaningful learning, and calmer classrooms.
Topics Discussed:
Why winter themes work so well in January
The problem with relying only on “cute crafts”
How to turn arctic animals and hibernation into skill -rich center work
Practical winter center ideas you can use

Related Resources:
Science Centers: Winter
Science Centers: Hibernation
Winter Writing Invitations
Winter Dramatic Play Center
Hunt the Room Winter

Connect with Ashley
Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast
Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!
As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.
Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

It feels like the perfect time for a little circle time check-in.
In this episode, I’m sharing what’s been working well, what I’ve adjusted along the way, and the incredible growth I’ve seen in my students since August.
If you’re a teacher looking to make Circle Time more engaging, flexible, and responsive to your students’ needs, this episode will give you practical ideas and reassurance that evolving your routines is a good thing.
Topics Discussed:
How circle time looked in August vs how it looks now
What's working well mid-year
What we've changed along the way
The social, emotional, and academic growth that has come with circle time
The resource that I use to help make circle time a success

Related Resources:
Pre-K Circle Time Visuals
Two & Three Year Olds Circle Time Visuals

Related Episodes:
Podcast: The First Few Weeks of Circle Time

Connect with Ashley
Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast
Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!
As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.
Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

In this episode, we’re talking about how to turn story time into an interactive literacy experience without adding more to your prep list. I’m sharing simple ways to dig deeper into books, what happens when you re-read with purpose, and how I use Interactive Read-Aloud units to keep everything organized and joyful.
Topics Discussed:
Why read-alouds are such an essential literacy tool in preschool
What makes a read-aloud interactive
How to structure a full week of learning around one book
Why re-reading builds comprehension, confidence, and a love of books

Related Resources:
Interactive Read Aloud Literacy Units

Connect with Ashley
Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast
Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!
As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.
Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

In this episode, we are diving into Writing Invitations! We want children to be excited about writing, which means we need a playful, child-led approach without pressure, prompts, or frustration. Learn what Writing Invitations are, why they work, and how to use them to make your writing center a place kids actually want to visit.
Topics Discussed:
What Writing Invitations are (and what they aren't)
How to set up Writing Invitations
Real examples of Writing Invitations
Why Writing Invitations support emergent writing, creativity, and confidence
How to shift expectations and honor scribbles, symbols, and early marks as real writing
Common pitfalls to avoid (like comparison and overcorrecting)

Related Resources:
Writing Invitations
Fine Motor Build a Skill: do this before name writing!
Name Writing Notebooks

Related Blogposts/Episodes:
How to Use Writing Invitations in Preschool

Connect with Ashley
Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast
Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!
As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.
Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

Teaching preschoolers to write their names is about so much more than putting letters on paper. In this episode, we’re unpacking what really comes before name writing: the recognition, the fine motor readiness and the meaningful play that make writing feel exciting instead of frustrating.
Listen in as I give you practical strategies to support your students at every stage - from recognizing their name in print to confidently building and eventually writing it.
Topics Discussed:
Recognition before formation.
Before writing, we build - becoming familiar with their names.
Hands-on beats pencil-down - strengthing fine motor skills and building letter memory.
Are their hands even ready? - Pre-writing skills
What happens if we rush?

Related Resources:
Name Recognition Toolkit
Fine Motor Build a Skill: do this before name writing!

Connect with Ashley
Follow on Instagram @lovelycommotion
Join the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook Group

More About the Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast
Are you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!
As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.
Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com