New to teaching Kindergarten

I just found out that I will be teaching Kindergarten (my school was waiting on enrollment). I have taught 1st for the last 3 years, so while I'm familiar with the little ones, I have a feeling K is a whole other world.

Any K teachers out there have any advice, helpful hints, cool projects you do, etc to share?? TIA!

Re: New to teaching Kindergarten

Hi,
That's funny because I've taught K for 4 years and will be teaching first in Sept. My tip for Sept. is routine, routine, routine. They need to practice it over and over. I do a lot with the Kissing Hand the first few days. Any tips for 1st?

Re: New to teaching Kindergarten

That is so funny. I taught 1st for three years before moving to K. This will be my fourth year on K. I agree with the PP routines, routines and more routines. They will get it but definitely not as quick as 1st grade. They are still very much babyish in the beginning. You wouldn't think there was a big difference but it is a huge difference. They require a lot more attention but they are usually very cute. I also agree with the PP about the Kissing Hand. Let me know if you need anything. Are you in the city or LI? I feel like with all the city requires you to do curriculum wise you will have plenty to do!

Re: New to teaching Kindergarten

Great advice. I've taught 2nd for 10 years and now I will be teaching K in the fall. This will be a whole new experience. I am excited!

Re: New to teaching Kindergarten

I've been teaching K for 10 years and agree with everyone! Dont expect much from them the first few weeks.
They will need breaks and if you can take them outside I would! Expect cryiers and not just the children! Mommies will be tearful and full of questions. We have a supply drop off day before school opens (we volunteer to come in for an hour to meet the kids and mommies and ward off any question that will take time away from you getting through the day with your sanity). If your school does not have this, only have them bring in supplies they need right away and them have them bring in the rest slowly otherwise it's a giant mess that will take literally 3 hours to organize as the kids can't really do it themselves. I would also requiire a change of close right from day one as you are sure to have at least one accident.


Good luck! I can go on and on about this!

Re: New to teaching Kindergarten

Just know that most of them will be coming from a half day program so they will need to be given breaks, time to do some physical activity and get their "sillies" out.......you may have some seperation anxiety as well. But be clear with the rules, routine as you would in any other grade and don't expect too much from them at first! Good luck!

Re: New to teaching Kindergarten

i was k for 4 yrs and will more than likely by 1st this year - w/enrollment, i may be k so i'm crossing my fingers...but anyway - as the pp said - routines, routines, routines from lining up to how to use glue, dry erase markers, raise their hands if they need to use the bathroom all of it...many kids come w/ little to no formal schooling and are unfamiliar to most of it. take everything in the beginning slow it'll be ok.

any tips for the 1st grade teachers to be? lol

Re: New to teaching Kindergarten

Thanks, everyone!

Any special projects or cool on-going routines that you do throughout the school year?

As for the new 1st grade teachers - I would also say routines are huge! (as for every grade!)
The focus will be on decoding and basic comprehension (characters, setting, problem/solution, sequencing -- and the more able kids can work on more advanced skills like cause/effect, inferencing, main idea and so forth later in the year). Include *at least* 1 read aloud everyday as well as time for independent reading. I always had time for phonics instruction as well as comprehension (I used a lot of big books - the same one for multiple days).

I could definitely write a book on 1st grade, so I'd gladly answer any questions anyone has!!

And of course, any other K info would be great :)

Re: New to teaching Kindergarten

I was big on treating others fairly and went by the book - you can't say you can't play - there was no way anyone in class was ever allowed to tell another student that they couldn't play with them. my motto was "we're all friends, if you don't want so and so to play with you, no problem - you can sit out and they can play with the others. is that what you would like to do?" at which point they'd take the other kid by the hand and make them play with them. lol

patterns were a big thing in math and i always used my calendar as my daily practice for patterns - each month i put up a new pattern and they had to guess what it would be once it repeated.

repeat words over and over again till they get it - not sure if it was a fl thing or a 4/5 yr old thing but lots of kids can't say pattern they always called it a patteran...ugh....

k, u get the pic...u'll do well! no sweat!