8 Early Elementary Teachers You Have to Follow This School Year
Okay, real talk—my brain is full of play dough and printables right now, but these are the teachers I keep going back to when I need a spark. If you don’t follow them yet, trust me—you’re missing out. Some of them I've met when they were presenters at conferences, some have become go-to's for hands-on classroom activities, and all of them bring real joy, creativity, and “oh wow I needed that” energy to my feed.
✨ Mr. Greg & Jason – The Kindergarten Smorgasboard
Handle: @kindergarten.smorgasboard
Classroom Superpower: Turning kindergarten chaos into glitter-filled learning magic.
Follow for: Bright outfits, big energy, and hands-on activities that are as fun as they are standards-based. Plus: their class motto is “Be your best,” and honestly, you'll want to do just that after watching a single reel.
🎉 Jackie Kops – Pocket of Preschool
Handle: @pocketofpreschool
Classroom Superpower: Making play look like serious pedagogy (because it is).
Follow for: Themed centers, sensory bins, math "stews", fine motor tubs, behavior visuals, and resources so good you’ll forget it’s Sunday night.
🧘♀️ LeAnna Wolkis Goldstein – Wolkis Wonderland
Handle: @wolkiswonderland
Classroom Superpower: Creating classrooms so calm and dreamy, you’ll want to crawl into the reading corner and nap.
Follow for: Mindfulness moments, student affirmations, beachy classroom aesthetics, and that “deep breath, you’ve got this” vibe.
☕ Katie Knight – Teacher to the Core
Handle: @teachertothecore_katie_knight
Classroom Superpower: Empowering teachers to find joy and flow in real classrooms.
Follow for: Classroom management hacks, laugh-until-you-relate moments, beautifully imperfect classroom tours, and that friend‑teacher voice that says, “Yes, you got this.”
✏️ Jake Daggett
Handle: @jake_daggett
Classroom Superpower: Turning structured literacy into a full-body experience.
Follow for: Chant-along phonics, science of reading routines, and literacy that feels like a concert. Jake’s chants? Game changer. Even my 10-year-old started doing them.
😍 Amy McMahon – Amy Smiles
Handle: @smilesamy70
Classroom Superpower: Transforming routine classroom life into meaningful connections.
Follow for: Real school-day stories, intentional transitions, reminders like “Communication is key,” and kindergarten content that just feels true.
🧃 Amanda Tessier – Mrs. Tessier’s Kindergarten
Handle: @mrstessierkindergarten
Classroom Superpower: Turning core skills into fun, fast, hands-on games that actually teach.
Follow for: Genius ideas like headband dictation, no set up board games, read-the-room with a twist, and centers that feel like play but hit every standard.
🎭 Jere Chang – MsChangGifted
Handle: @mschanggifted
Classroom Superpower: Making teaching feel like stand-up comedy (in the best way).
Follow for: Reels that’ll make you laugh out loud, get classroom setup inspiration, and find pure ✨ teacher joy ✨ wrapped in realness.
🚀 Bonus Hashtag Hack
Want even more inspiration? Explore #iteachkinder, #primaryteachersofinstagram, or just fall down the rabbit hole of whoever these amazing humans tag in their collabs and conference photos.
💛 Tag Your Teacher Bestie
Seriously. Share this post. Or send it in the group chat with: “YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THESE PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY.” Then go refill your coffee—you’ve earned it. I’ll be over here bookmarking Amanda’s headband dictation and getting back to work on Kindergarten Crate planning.