Congratulations! You just found out youβll be moving to Kindergarten next yearβhow exciting! Whether it was a choice you made or a surprise shift, becoming a new Kindergarten teacher can feel both thrilling and overwhelming. Iβve been in your shoesβafter my first year teaching second grade, I was asked to move down to Kindergarten. It was my dream grade level, but I still felt nervous about the change. Thatβs why Iβm here to share a few simple tips to help make your transition into this new role easy peasy lemon squeezy.
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My Big Break
My first year teaching I taught Second Grade. I loved my students, but honestly did not enjoy teaching that grade level and the curriculum that went with it. I remember looking at the Kindergarten classrooms and wishing I could teach Kindergarten instead. However, that grade level was full and I didn't say anything about my wish to change, because I loved working with my Second Grade team. My principal surprised me by asking me to move down to Kindergarten at the end of the year, because she knew it was the “right fit” for me. Of course, I said yes! I was so excited to finally teach my dream grade level, but a little nervous about making the switch from 2nd to Kindergarten.
Observe a Kindergarten Teacher
First of all, I highly suggest going and observing a Kindergarten teacher at your school. Once I found out I would be moving to Kindergarten for my second year of teaching, I found time to go and observe another teacher at my school. I went during one of my planning periods and watched a Kindergarten teacher run through her center rotations. Although I had some experience working with Kindergarteners during after school and some college observations, this was the first time I was watching a Kindergarten class in action since I became a full time teacher.
Teaching Kindergarten is a whole new world. The way you speak to them, give instructions, run centers, etc, is so different than First or Second Grade. Watching a Kindergarten teacher do her thing and interact with Kindergarteners helped me visualize myself as a Kindergarten teacher. Once the school year starts, chances are you won't be able to observe (usually you all have the same lunch/specials schedule.)
If you aren't able to observe a teacher in action, then take it to YouTube! There are plenty of teachers who share videos of their teaching in action. Just search: “Kindergarten Teaching Strategies” or “Kindergarten Classroom Management” and a bunch pop up! Or you can check out Instagram (my favorite!) by searching the hashtag #iteachk for some great Kindergarten educators to follow. One of my favorites to watch is Andriana from The Active Educator. She is calm, patient, and has an amazing relationship with her students. You can find her teaching videos on her Instagram page.
Brush Up on Your Phonics
In college, I had to take a course called Early Learning Literacy, where I learned all about Phonics, Phonological Awareness, and how to teach your students to read. This was my all time favorite course in my time at Florida Gulf Coast University! We took this class at an elementary school, and it was an hour of learning, followed by an hour of one on one practice with Kindergarten and First Grade students. I know not all Education programs have a course like this, but if you did, go back to the textbook or notes (if you still have them) and look them over!
If not, I have some resources that I swear by to help you learn more about teaching phonics.
These two books are amazing at laying out how to teach reading effectively. They are the perfect summer read, whether you have taught Kindergarten for years or are starting brand new, everyone can learn something new.
Phonemic Awareness and Phonological Awareness is something that I did not really understand until I actually taught Kindergarten. You can read more about the importance of teaching these skills and how it will help your students become successful readers:
Prepare with a Game Plan
My first year teaching Kindergarten I had another teacher help me set up my room for productivity purposes. She told me that every spot in my classroom has a purpose and when deciding where tables and shelves go, they need to help your classroom function and be more organized. You need to walk through your day, as if you were a student. Do you want your students unpacking their backpacks, then having to cross the room to drop their folders in the folder bin? NO! Those folders will get lost and your students will get distracted by something on the floor or their friend's new shoes. You want your room to WORK for you! This was seriously the best advice ever!
I have a whole blog post on how I set up my Routines and Procedures and walk you step by step, so you can do it yourself. Kindergarteners THRIVE on routines, so make sure to set some time aside to plan out your daily routine to every small detail.
You can read about it here: Routines and Procedures in Kindergarten
Pretend Your Students Don't Know How to Do a Thing
At the beginning of the year, your students will come in at all different levels. And I'm not talking academically, but socially and emotionally. For some of your students, this will be their first time in a classroom environment. Others may have been in a semi structured classroom, like Preschool or Pre-K. You have to take it slow at the beginning of the year and model how to do everything.
For example- How do you take off a backpack? How do you line up? How do you use the bathroom? The first month of school, there is always an incident where the student goes into the bathroom and leaves the door wide open for all to see. Some students have never had to shut a door to use the bathroom before. Anytime you do something new, pretend like they don't know how to do it, and model how to do it before they try it on their own. This will save you so much frustration!
Patience is Key
I remember the first craft I tried doing on the second day of school. It was this Chicka Chicka Boom Boom name craft. The students had to find stickers to spell their name and put it on a tree that they cut out and glued to a big piece of construction paper. I alloted about a half hour of work time for this activity. However, it took up an hour and a half of our day! I was starting to get frustrated because my students could not hold the scissors properly. They were trying to work ahead and would skip important steps. Or when one of my students threw away his leaves instead of the scraps. I had to take a step back and just breathe.
Your students will test your patience, but you need to remember they are only five. I promise you, it DOES get easier as the year goes on and you will be amazed at how much patience you have. But, at the beginning of the year, expect that everything will take double the time.
I hope that these tips helped you prepare to make the move as a new Kindergarten teacher. Make sure to check out my First Day of Kindergarten plans to help get you started!
