How "DJ of the Day" and other classroom jobs can build confidence in preschoolers

A confidence story worth dancing about!

Picture this: a 4-year-old who barely whispered a word at the start of the year now stands tall, microphone in hand, leading morning affirmations for their classmates. What changed? Just a bit of courage, a supportive teacher, and a classroom job called “DJ of the Day.”

This is the power of intentional leadership building in action. And, it's happening in classrooms across the country thanks to educators like Alexia Pendleton, also known as @TheDancerTeacher on Instagram and TikTok.

During a recent webinar hosted by Famly, Alexia shared her innovative approach to building student confidence through classroom jobs, with her signature "DJ of the Day" role taking center stage. What started as a creative way to engage her Atlantic City Kindergartners has become a powerful tool for developing the whole child—not just academically, but emotionally and socially too. It also helped earn her the title of Teacher of the Year for the 2020-2021 school year in her region. 

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Brain science of building confidence (made simple)

Before diving into the fun stuff (and trust me, there's plenty of music and dancing ahead), let's talk about why this matters from a brain science perspective. Alexia breaks down the brain into three key parts that every educator should understand:

1. Safety brain (amygdala): The part that checks, “Am I safe?”
2. Emotional brain (hippocampus): Where feelings and connections live.
3. Problem-solving brain (prefrontal cortex): Where big thinking and learning happen.

Here’s the key takeaway: if a child doesn’t feel safe or connected, their brain literally can’t get to the problem-solving part. But when they feel confident? That’s when the real learning happens.

Think about that child who used to melt down over every small frustration but now problem-solves through challenges. That's neuroplasticity in action.

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Enter the DJ: Where leadership meets fun

So how does the "DJ of the Day" role work exactly? Every single day, one student gets selected to become the classroom DJ. They get the microphone, the special seating, and most importantly, the responsibility to lead.

The DJ leads morning affirmations, guides transitions between subjects, manages turn-and-talk discussions, and even gets to give compliments to classmates. But here's what makes this approach brilliant: every child gets a turn. It's not based on good behavior or academic performance. It's simply about being an active part of the classroom community.

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The transformation is real

Remember that quiet student I mentioned at the beginning? Alexia specifically chose to highlight him in her presentation videos because his transformation was so dramatic.

"This student used to even not want to be the DJ at the beginning of the year. He was very quiet, he wouldn't speak, he was also a multilingual learner... English was not his first language. So, it just shows after time the confidence that builds inside of him."

This isn't unusual. Alexia regularly sees students who start the year hiding in the shadows emerge as confident leaders by year's end. The key? Consistent opportunities to practice leadership in a safe, supportive environment.

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What classroom jobs should you use in the preschool classroom?

While the DJ of the Day gets the spotlight (literally), Alexia has reimagined classroom jobs across four key domains that go far deeper than traditional "paper passer" roles:

• Care and Connection roles include the Love Consultant, Calm Coach, and Kindness Coach. These students check in on classmates, help with breathing exercises, and foster positive language throughout the day.
• Curiosity and Knowledge positions feature Reading Specialists, Writing Specialists, and Mathematicians who support academic transitions and ensure materials are ready for learning.
• Collective Work and Responsibility encompasses roles like Secretary (yes, Kindergartners can answer phones!), Community Care Leader, and Tech Coordinator.
• Culture and Engagement includes the DJ of the Day, Hype Leader, and Art and Beautification Team members who keep the classroom energy positive and the environment beautiful.

The positive impact of unconventional classroom jobs

What happens when you consistently give children leadership opportunities? The benefits extend far beyond confidence building:

• Academics: Confident kids are more willing to take risks and tackle tough learning. "Research shows that confidence not only boosts academic achievement, right? Because at the end of the day, we want our kids to learn, but we want them to be whole," Alexia explains.
• Behavior: When children feel a sense of belonging and ownership, they’re more invested in keeping the classroom community strong. "Some of those behavior problems are going to go away. Not all of them, because we're human, but you'll start to see that."
• Resilience: Leadership roles teach kids to stumble, try again, and bounce back. As Alexia puts it, "The more confident our kids are, the more likely they're going to take some risks. And when we take risks or things don't go our way and we do hard things, we build that resilience."
• Community: A classroom filled with little leaders is one where everyone feels valued. This approach of the non-traditional classroom roles creates genuine connection. Children aren’t just co-existing, they're actively caring for one another.

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And, the benefits go far beyond preschool

Here's something that might surprise you: in her dance classes, Alexia often surveys both children and adults about confidence, asking them to close their eyes and raise their hands if they feel confident. The majority in both groups said no.

 "From littles, as little as seven years old, to grownups, as old as in their 50s and 60s, they all said the majority of people were not confident. So it just shows how important this work is."

This isn't just about making school more fun (though it definitely does that). It's about addressing a crisis of confidence that follows many people throughout their lives. When we invest in building confident leaders in early education, we're quite literally changing the trajectory of children's lives.

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Practical tips to get started in your classroom

Ready to bring some DJ energy to your classroom? Alexia offers some practical advice:

• Start with routines: "Routines are so important. So when a child knows what to expect, the part of their brain that's involved in safety, that threat, slows down."
• Use positive reinforcement strategically: "For every one negative thing or correction, [we] want to provide at least five to seven positive things."
• Don't switch jobs constantly: For young children, “that's too much switching... their brain works in that consistency and routine."
• Include families: "We can't do it without them. So it's very important."

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Confidence isn’t just about being the loudest

Confidence isn’t just about speaking up. It’s about rewiring brains, shaping resilience, and raising kids who believe they can handle life’s challenges.

Or, in Alexia’s words:

‍"Teaching is hard and it's very hard work and it's exhausting work but I can say when joy is there we can get through all of those things."

When we give children real leadership opportunities, celebrate their voices, and create classroom cultures where everyone belongs, we're nurturing the confident, capable leaders our world desperately needs.

Who knows? Handing a child a microphone might just change the trajectory of their life. Whether it’s “DJ of the Day,” Calm Coach, or Tech Coordinator, these small leadership moments add up.

And honestly, if that doesn't make you want to grab a microphone and start your own classroom DJ program, I don't know what will.

I also highly recommend you give the full webinar a watch, I was smiling the whole way through watching the children’s confidence building journey.