10 Things Every Kindergarten Teacher Should Know
We want to assist you in making your teaching experience as smooth as possible, especially with such an exciting school year ahead of you. It's important to have the right tools and services when it comes to educating young children. With so many valuable skills to teach, we've put together a list of tools and tips to help you start and finish the school year high.
1. How to Manage Your Classroom
It's crucial to know how to run a classroom! Before you set up your classroom, you can ask yourself a lot of questions. You should be able to maintain order in the classroom, set up learning centers, develop a discipline policy, organize classroom activities, and effectively group students. Do not be concerned! There are many tools available to ensure that you understand how to make your classroom a healthy learning space.
2. How to Choose and Store Supplies
If your classroom is cluttered, you won't be able to learn effectively. Make sure you're using storage solutions that keep unwanted goods out of the way while clearly marking items that will be used on a regular basis. Mark, label, label! Graphics will go a long way towards assisting how students use the classroom for supply needs. Your classroom should be tidy and easy to navigate for students on a regular basis. Check out our affordable storage options in the product list to make your life a little easier!
3. How to Get Parents Involved
You'll need parental help to get through the kindergarten school year and ensure that each child receives a full education. Communication is important. You should concentrate on the essentials–returning phone calls, responding to emails, and simply letting parents know that you care! You should not only talk, but you should do so often as well. A successful kindergarten teacher understands that continuous contact is vital to individual student progress, whether through a monthly newsletter or individual notes on homework assignments. For more details, see the tools below and the Family Engagement articles in our Insights and Inspirations section.
4. How to Arrange Your Desks
Seating has a big effect on how centered your students are when you're teaching. Will they be arranged in groups for learning stations or in reading circles facing each other? How many students would you have, and how will you use your classroom space most efficiently? Inspiring Spaces for Young Children is a wonderful resource for finding answers to these and other questions, covering everything from furniture to visual displays!
5. How to Maintain a Steady Stream of Lesson Plans
If you've ever taught kindergarten, you know how important it is to not only keep the material going, but also to keep the students engaged! With so many skills to help children grow, it can be difficult to come up with new activities on a regular basis. Check out the website's Insights & Inspirations section for activities and lessons that encourage innovation, STEM learning, social and emotional growth, health, and more!
6. How to Motivate Your Students to Clean Up
You'll want to know the trick to getting students to clean up after themselves by the end of the day! After all, there's just one of you compared to a slew of little hands constantly up to no good! Having a clean-up map, assigning assignments that change regularly, giving each student a particular number of pieces of trash to collect, and setting a time limit (15-20 minutes) to see how well they can clean up in a specified area are all cute ideas for getting kindergartners to clean.
7. How to Set the Pace in the Classroom
In the classroom, speed is crucial because it determines when and how long you can hold your students' attention. Pace your lessons so that you only demonstrate a couple of measures at a time and that lectures and discussions do not exceed 10 minutes. If they do, you've probably lost them. Working in groups will keep a kindergarten class on the same page and make everyone feel accomplished.
8. How to Expect the Unexpected
As a kindergarten teacher, you never know what your day will bring! Unlike teachers in higher grades, who can come prepared with the essentials–pens, paper, construction paper, and glue–kindergarten teachers have no such guide. Here are some ideas to help you prepare for the unexpected:
Students should bring an extra set of clothes in case of an accident.
If any students have latex allergies, have non-latex bandages on hand.
Keep yourself hydrated! After a long day of teaching, you'll need a big bottle of water at your desk.
If you have a fidgety student, hold a squishy ball near your desk. This will assist them in concentrating and keeping the class on track!
Make sure you have stuffed toys on hand for Day 1! When it's time to say goodbye to mom and dad, kindergarteners can get teary. Allowing children to keep stuffed animals until they know how much fun kindergarten will be is a perfect way to make them feel comfortable.
9. How to Get Students' Attention
Kindergarteners, in particular, are vulnerable to being distracted. Make sure all eyes are on you before you begin speaking. And if it feels like it will take forever the first time, try your patience and wait until you have the whole class's attention. When students become more accustomed to what is anticipated, this will become easier. It's best to use multisensory signals like "Put your finger on your ear if you can hear me." You can begin your lesson only after every student has completed their homework. This will prevent you from having to repeat instructions over and over again!
10. How to Survive
Have a good time! Every day will be an adventure with your kindergarteners! If this is your first year, you will have a lot to remember. Kindergarten teachers frequently take many years to feel secure in their ability to lead a class. The most crucial aspect is prioritizing students and treating the class with enthusiasm. Your students will follow your example and do the same, making the learning process fun for everyone. No one ever stops knowing, after all!
Read next: When is Teachers' Day 2020? History, Significance, Facts, Celebration and all you need to know
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