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Kindergarten Cafe, LLC

Welcome to Kindergarten Cafe - your home for teaching ideas, activities, and strategies to support you in teaching the whole child! I’m Zeba McGibbon, founder of Kindergarten Cafe, and current early childhood educator. I support early childhood teachers with classroom-tested strategies and materials that help take stress off our plates and support our students better from arrival to dismissal. My proudest moments as a teacher have been seeing my students using the strategies I’ve taught them to calm down, work with others, or stay on task with their work—and you can have this feeling too!

Favorite Blog Posts

8 Easy Impulse Control Activities for Kids

Kids don’t automatically learn impulse control and self-regulation – you have to teach them strategies to use! I have 8 impulse control...

Sub Tub for a Smooth and Easy Absence

Most teachers will tell you that it is easier to come to work sick than make sub plans… enter the Sub Tub!...

Ideas for classroom jobs and why they are important

Classroom jobs are a critical part of the classroom community. They teach students responsibility, independence and teamwork. Not all classroom jobs are...

5 Steps to Making an Interactive Seesaw Activity

Are you using Seesaw this year or considering it for any hybrid or remote learning? It is a wonderful website and app...

Quick and Easy Movement Breaks for Distance Learning

No matter if you are teaching in a classroom or on a computer, your students will need movement beaks and your normal...

Easy Morning Meeting Greetings and Activities for Digital and Socially Distant Classrooms!

Looking for easy interactive morning meeting greetings and activities that can work on a computer and/or in a socially distanced classroom? I’ve...

2019-20 Favorite #1: Establishing Math Routines and Expectations

As we finish up a school year, and prepare for the next one, I wanted to re-share my top 5 favorite blog...

2019-20 Favorite #2: Teaching the Alphabet

As we finish up a school year, and prepare for the next one, I wanted to re-share my top 5 favorite blog...

2019-20 Favorite #3: Authentic and Meaningful High-Frequency Word Practice

As we finish up a school year, and prepare for the next one, I wanted to re-share my top 5 favorite blog...

2019-20 Favorite #4: Kindergarten Phonics 101

As we finish up a school year, and prepare for the next one, I wanted to re-share my top 5 favorite blog...

Helping kindergarten teachers from ARRIVAL to DISMISSAL

I'm Here to Help You With...

New - Social Emotional Children's Books!

Felipe the Feeling Frog

Walk around the neighborhood with Felipe the Feeling Frog, who learns that there is no such thing as a bad feeling! In this kid-friendly social and emotional learning book, children will learn different strategies for regulating emotions and identifying their feelings.

Free Guides

Podcast & Blog Posts: What's New?

Empowering Educators with Effective Student Progress Tracking

Apple Spotify Google Amazon Music Episode Summary Hey teacher friends, today we are talking about tracking student progress. This is a question that comes up a lot for teachers about the...

Kindergarten Shape Adventures: Engaging Hands-On Learning

Apple Spotify Google Amazon Music Episode Summary Hey teacher friends! In today's episode we are talking all about teaching shapes, specifically 2D shapes with students early on in the year. This is one...

The Key Strategies to Successful Transitions in Your Kindergarten Classroom

Transitioning from one activity to another can often be challenging for young children in a kindergarten classroom. However, with the right strategies in place, these transitions can be smooth and successful. In this blog post, we will explore the key strategies that can help teachers effectively manage transitions in their kindergarten classroom – from clear and consistent...

Kindergarten Life Cycle Activities: Unlocking the Magic from Frogs to Flowers

Apple Spotify Google Amazon Music Episode Summary In this episode of Kindergarten Cafe, we delve into the captivating world of kindergarten life cycle activities. Life cycles are a fundamental aspect of teaching science...

Exploring Counting Math Centers in Kindergarten Classrooms

Apple Spotify Google Amazon Music Episode Summary In this episode we are talking all about one of the really foundational math skills that kids learn in kindergarten, which is counting. Some kids who...

The Power of Closing Meeting Activities to End Your Day in Kindergarten

In kindergarten, the end of the day can often feel chaotic as students gather their belongings and prepare to go home. However, incorporating closing meeting activities into your daily routine can help turn that chaos into a structured and positive end to the day. I have witnessed firsthand the power of these activities in promoting a sense...

Supporting Beginning Writers

Apple Spotify Google Amazon Music Episode Summary Today we are talking about how to support our beginning writers in kindergarten. Writing is the hardest time of day for many of our students,...

Introducing Felipe the Feeling Frog

Apple Spotify Google Amazon Music Episode Summary I am thrilled to share some exciting news with all of you today on the Kindergarten Cafe Podcast. After years of hard work, I am proud...

Supporting Kids Who Fight at Recess

Apple Spotify Google Amazon Music Episode Summary Hey there, teacher friends! Welcome back to another episode of The Kindergarten Cafe Podcast. Today, we're tackling a common issue that many...

Embracing Fall and Fostering Observation Skills in Kids

Apple Spotify Google Amazon Music Episode Summary In this episode, we explore using fall as a teaching tool in the classroom. Sharpening observational skills, we encourage students to observe fall objects, dissect them,...