Home Podcasts Firstieland Podcast For Elementary Teachers: Education Teaching Tips And Ideas For Kindergarten And First Grade
Firstieland Podcast For Elementary Teachers: Education Teaching Tips And Ideas For Kindergarten And First Grade

Firstieland Podcast For Elementary Teachers: Education Teaching Tips And Ideas For Kindergarten And First Grade

Molly Schwab 53 Episodes Aug 19, 2026

The Firstieland Podcast For Elementary Teachers: Teaching Tips And Ideas is a weekly podcast that gives kindergarten and first grade teachers real, practical strategies to make teaching easier, more effective, and a whole lot more fun. Hosted by Molly Schwab, a former kindergarten and first grade teacher with over 30 years of classroom experience, the podcast shares creative ideas for classroom management, building community, and using picture books to integrate subjects. Each episode provides easy-to-implement ideas to help educators feel more confident and in control of their classroom.

Episodes

64. Meet the Teacher Night In Elementary School: 5 Mistakes to Avoid
64. Meet the Teacher Night In Elementary School: 5 Mistakes to Avoid Aug 19, 2026 08:15 Meet the teacher night can feel overwhelming, but a successful evening has a lot less to do with having a Pinterest-perfect classroom and a lot more to do with being prepared. In this episode, Molly shares 5 common Meet the Teacher Night mistakes elementary teachers make and what to do instead. You'll learn how to create a welcoming classroom, have a plan for families, organize the information par
63. Does Flexible Seating Really Improve Behavior In A First Grade Classroom?
63. Does Flexible Seating Really Improve Behavior In A First Grade Classroom? Aug 12, 2026 08:59 Flexible seating classroom ideas are everywhere, but does flexible seating really improve behavior in first grade? In this episode, Molly shares her honest experience after using alternative seating in her first grade classroom for years. She talks about what worked, what didn't, her three biggest fears before getting started, and the surprising classroom management benefits she discovered along t
62. Classroom Organization Ideas For Elementary Teachers | Where To Start
62. Classroom Organization Ideas For Elementary Teachers | Where To Start Aug 5, 2026 08:14 Classroom Organization Ideas For Elementary Teachers | Where To StartIn this episode, Molly shows you classroom organization ideas for elementary teachers and exactly where to start so you can create a space that runs smoothly without feeling overwhelmed. Instead of focusing on Pinterest-perfect bins and decorations, you'll learn the four key areas to organize first before your students ever walk
61. First Week Of School Activities In First Grade  | A Day-By-Day Plan
61. First Week Of School Activities In First Grade | A Day-By-Day Plan Jul 29, 2026 12:06 First Week Of School Activities In First Grade | A Day-By-Day PlanIn this episode, Molly shares her exact first grade first week of school activities and walks you through a simple day-by-day plan to help you teach routines, build classroom community, and set the stage for a successful school year.𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲:First Week of School Activities: https://firstieland.com/first-we
60. First Day Of School Activities For First Grade - My Exact First Day Plan
60. First Day Of School Activities For First Grade - My Exact First Day Plan Jul 22, 2026 11:56 First day of school activities for first grade don't have to feel overwhelming. In this episode, Molly walks you through her exact first day plan, including the classroom routines, procedures, and fun activities she used to help students feel comfortable, build confidence, and set the stage for a successful school year.After 35 years of teaching, Molly learned that the first day of school isn't ab
59. Routines And Procedures First Grade Teachers Need To Teach For Better Classroom Management
59. Routines And Procedures First Grade Teachers Need To Teach For Better Classroom Management Jul 15, 2026 09:26 In this episode, Molly shows you how to teach classroom routines and procedures in first grade that actually stick so you can improve classroom management and help your students know exactly what to do each day. After 35 years of teaching first grade, Molly learned that most behavior problems don’t happen because kids are trying to misbehave. They happen because students haven’t been taught exactl
58. How To Teach Without Interruption During Centers In First Grade
58. How To Teach Without Interruption During Centers In First Grade Jul 8, 2026 12:32 In this episode, Molly shows you how to teach without interruption by training students to work independently during centers. Welcome to Part 6 of the full masterclass on how to set up and manage centers in your classroom. You can listen to the entire series in order beginning with Episode 53. After 35 years of teaching, Molly learned that students working independently at centers don't happen
57. Word Work Centers For First Grade | 25+ Easy Phonics Activities
57. Word Work Centers For First Grade | 25+ Easy Phonics Activities Jul 1, 2026 11:38 Word Work Centers For First Grade | 25+ Easy Phonics ActivitiesIn this episode, Molly shares more than 25 easy word work activities that help first grade students practice phonics skills while working independently. Welcome to Part 6 of the 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺. You can find the entire series beginning with episode 53.Whether you're setting up your
56. What Every First Grade Word Work Center Needs
56. What Every First Grade Word Work Center Needs Jun 24, 2026 10:52 What Every First Grade Word Work Center NeedsIn this episode, Molly shares exactly what every first grade word work center needs to help students practice phonics skills, build independence, and stay engaged while you meet with small groups. If you're setting up your literacy centers for back to school, this episode will show you how to create a simple word work center without spending a fortune o
55. Easy First Grade Writing Center Set Up And Ideas
55. Easy First Grade Writing Center Set Up And Ideas Jun 17, 2026 08:35 Easy First Grade Writing Center Set Up And IdeasIn this episode, Molly shares how to set up a writing center that helps students practice writing independently while keeping them engaged and productive. If you're getting ready for back to school or looking to improve your learning centers, the writing center is a great place for students to practice the writing skills you've been teaching througho
54. How To Set Up A Classroom Library Center In First Grade
54. How To Set Up A Classroom Library Center In First Grade Jun 10, 2026 07:16 How To Set Up A Classroom Library Center In First GradeIn this episode, Molly shares how to set up a classroom library that students will love using all year long. If you're getting ready for back to school and wondering which learning center to introduce first, the classroom library is a great place to start. It requires very little prep, helps students practice working independently, and gives y
53. 5 Classroom Literacy Center Mistakes Teachers Make (And How To Fix Them)
53. 5 Classroom Literacy Center Mistakes Teachers Make (And How To Fix Them) Jun 3, 2026 10:53 In this episode, Molly shares five common literacy center mistakes that can make center time feel chaotic and frustrating for teachers. After 35 years of teaching, she learned that most center problems actually start long before students ever rotate to a center.From introducing centers too quickly and skipping important modeling to making centers too complicated, Molly shares simple strategies tha

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