Everything a new pre-k teacher needs to know

I refer to the first few weeks in my class as "Boot Camp" because I spend my time training the students (and parents) how to do everything correctly. It is not literally a boot camp just in case you were wondering :) This page should really be titled "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About How to Start the Year But Were Afraid to Ask", but that would be way too long. This page contains information that will be very useful to new teachers and teachers new to teaching Pre-K or Kindergarten.

The following is to the tune of a Jody Call or a marching cadence from the military. The author/singer is Debra Kimbrough. Debra is a wonderful and inspiring presenter that I had the pleasure of seeing at Frog Street Splash 2005. She has given me permission to use these lyrics on this page, to visit her site click HERE.

1, 2, 3, 4...I'm gonna march right to the door.

___________ come and join me now, ___________ come and show me how!

5, 6, 7, 8...please join us don't be late!

Help! My new classroom is empty, what should I do ?

First things first, don't panic! Before you go off the deep end and spend every cent you have you should first contact your principal, or grade level chairperson to inquire about what types of things you can expect to receive for your new room. Often schools will provide you with basics like pens, staples, paper clips, stapler, tape dispenser, tape, Post-It's etc. Many classrooms will have the basic furniture like desks and chairs; however, an overwhelming majority of new teachers can expect to receive little or nothing beyond the basics paid for by the school. This is a sad but common problem that many new teachers face each year. My best advice is to NOT spend every penny you have furnishing your classroom on your own. I have included a few ideas on how to gather classroom items for a fraction of the price below:

Books: Never buy full-price books! The only full-price books I own I received as gifts for birthdays and holidays. The best sources for cheap books are: Scholastic book orders/sales, garage sales, thrift stores, and discount book stores. Don't spend all of your money on books, you can collect them throughout the school year for free using your Scholastic Bonus Points. Scholastic will also hold warehouse sales two or three times a year in most states, you can go directly to their warehouse and shop for books at half-price.
Games & Puzzles: Garage sales and thrift stores are great for finding these types of items at bargains prices. Also, don't forget about eBay and Craig's List- there are some great deals to be had on those sites as well. Often you can find a daycare that is closing or a retiring teacher that is selling everything. Also, you can make many fun games yourself for no cost at all. Scroll down to the bottom for a link to Kelly's games and my eBay page for teachers.
Chart Stand: My favorite chart stand is a $10 garment rack from Target, it's still going strong after 5 years. You can also make items like chart stands using inexpensive PVC pipe, see the resources section at the bottom of this page for a link to my PVC page.
Sensory Table: Never buy what you can make! You can make your own sensory table for less than $20 using PVC pipe. For a link to my PVC page scroll down to the bottom to the resource section.
Tubs, storage bins, and caddies: The best places to buy these items are dollar stores. Most dollar stores will carry primary colored bins, tubs, and caddies, especially at back to school time. I have seen the primary colored table caddies at Family Dollar. Dollar Tree often has primary colored baskets that are fantastic. Many of the generic dollar stores carry nice primary colored tubs that are large enough for storing books. DO NOT buy these items from expensive teacher stores or Really Good Stuff.com, save your money for more important things.
School supplies: It's important to find out first if your students will be bringing supplies with them or not before you start purchasing any items. However, there will still be a few items you will probably want to buy in bulk yourself. Look for the Back to School sales and compare prices before you go shopping. Office Max and Office Depot both have two pocket, brad folders for .01- .05 cents each just before school starts. Wal Mart often has Crayola crayons on sale for less than .20 cents a box.
Pocket Charts: Do NOT pay full price for a pocket chart at the teacher store! Wal Mart usually has these in the Back to School section for $9.99 each. The Wal Mart pocket charts are of the very same quality as the teacher store pocket charts but for a fraction of the price. You can also find good deals on pocket charts on ebay and Craig's List.

Which resource books should I buy?

I truly believe that you can't learn to be a good teacher from a book. I think we all learn from our mistakes and I am certainly no exception, my first year of teaching I broke the bank buying every teacher resource book I could get my hands on. In the era of computers you can find almost anything for free on the internet, there is no need to purchase an expensive book if you can get it for free. Having said all that there is an exception to every rule and the following are my recommendations:

The Best of Dr. Jean series: There are four books in this series: Science & Math, Hands-On Art, Reading & Writing, Puppets & Storytime. They are published by Scholastic.
Dr. Jean's Teaching Tunes series: There are four books in this series also: Favorite Songs, Nursery Rhymes, Early Phonics, and Basic Concepts.
Frog Street Reproducible Sing & Read Books: I like the Colors, Numbers, and Shapes reproducible books.
A Framework for Understanding Poverty- by Dr. Ruby Payne *a MUST READ if you will be teaching in an impoverished area.*
Comprehensive Literacy Resource for Preschool Teachers by Miriam P. Trehearne
Comprehensive Literacy Resource for Kindergarten Teachers by Miriam P. Trehearne

* See the resources section at the bottom of this page for links to some of the above titles

What should I do to make sure I am prepared for the first day of school?

This is one of the biggest and most common fears of new teachers. You can't begin to have your students organized and trained until you yourself are organized too. I have prepared a list below that outlines some of the things you will need to have ready before the first day.

Nametags: Will your students wear nametags on the first day of school to help you and the staff identify them? If so you will want to have all of your nametags prepared before the first day. Make sure your nametags are laminated for durability. Include your name, student's name, how the student goes home- car, bus, walk, or daycare and bus number if applicable. Of course, always have plenty of extra nametags handy for new additions to your class or for those that lose them.
Meet the Teacher: If at all possible, it is best to have some sort of "Meet the Teacher" or orientation type program before the first day of school so you can explain policies and procedures to the parents. At this meeting it is important to have a list of things you want to talk about with the parents such as pick-up and drop-off procedures, behavior policies, curriculum etc. Having a list will help keep you on track and make the meeting as brief as possible. Also, providing the parents with a copy of the "Class Handbook" or orientation packet of some sort is extremely helpful. For a link to my class handbook scroll down to the bottom of this page to the resource section. You could also present your handbook via a Power Point or Photo Story presentation in addition to giving out hard copies. See the resources section below for a link to our Orientation Photo Story.
Orientation Packets: Have enough packets prepared for every student on your class list, but make sure to have several extras for late additions to your class and for those students who might move to the area during the school year. I use the .01 cent folders with brads from the back to school sales at Office Depot/Max to create my orientation packets. On the inside front pocket I place my "Welcome to Our Class" letter along with my business card. I three hole punch the class handbook and insert it in the middle using the brads. In the inside back pocket I put other important information such as uniform order forms, a note from the nurse, PTA membership information etc. To see a copy of my "Welcome to School" letter please scroll to the bottom to the resources section.
Student Information: One of the most important things to do at an orientation or on the first day of school is to gather information from the parents regarding how their child will be going home, are there any food allergies or medical conditions we need to know about? Often the office may have gathered some of this information from the parents already, but you will not always have quick access to it on the very first day of school. This way you will have all the info at your fingertips on the very first day. I create a simple form that has the parents names, home, work, and cell phone numbers in case of emergency, food allergies, transportation information and have them fill it out at the orientation or on the first day. DO NOT let anybody leave without filling out the information form. These forms can be used all year for various purposes so do not throw them away. I three hole punch mine and place them in an "Emergency" folder that we take with us during lockdowns or fire drills and I leave it with subs when I am absent. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to the resource section for a printable information form.
Backpacks and Cubbies: If your students have "cubbies" or a place to hang their coats and backpacks you will want to have all of your cubbies labeled with students names. If parents help their children find their cubbies it will free up a little time for you to circulate around the room and make sure things are running smoothly. Another reason it's important to have cubbies or special spots labeled with student's names is to make them feel comfortable on their first day. Having a special spot for each child gives the child a sense of security and belonging that is very crucial for the first day of school.
Supplies: If your students bring school supplies on the first day like mine do be prepared with what to do with them. I recommend having a large supply of paper grocery bags and a Sharpie marker handy. As parents approach you with their truckloads of supplies hand them a bag and a Sharpie and tell them to put everything in the bag and write their child's name on the outside of the bag. Later, after school you can go through the bags, sort the items, and mark off who brought what for your records. I use a spreadsheet to record who brought what supplies in case somebody moves and demands their supplies back, you don't want to give them back something that they didn't bring in the first place . Make sure to have copies of the school supply list handy for those parents who lost theirs or who forgot to bring supplies. As you begin to check off supplies write each student's name at the top of a supply list and highlight any items that are missing. Send the highlighted lists home with the students at the end of the first week if they haven't brought the missing items in yet.
Lesson Plans: The rule of thumb for the first week or two of school is it's better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. Have your lesson plans written in extreme detail for the first few weeks to make sure that you are being consistent and establishing a good routine. The first week or two in pre-k or kinder will make or break you as a teacher so I can't stress how important planning is. Write all the names of the songs and fingerplays you will sing and the order in which you will sing them etc. Make sure to have lots of transition tricks at your fingertips, I highly recommend using music for transitions as well as a picture schedule (see picture below). Scroll down to the resources section on this page for a link to a printable lesson plan template that you can customize.
They're Heeeeere!: One important thing to remember about pre-k and kinder is that they will not walk in and sit down at their table or desk, they will want to wander about the room dumping out every toy or manipulative that you have and make a giant mess! They may also bring their younger siblings on the first day who make an even greater mess than the students. One of the best ways to handle this is to beat them to the punch ;) I turn all of my shelves toward the walls or cover those that are stationary with butcher paper and tape them shut. You don't want all of your secrets unveiled in one fell swoop anyway, there's an element of mystery and anticipation if you put everything away and introduce things slowly in the beginning.
What do I do now that they're here?: Have something for each student to do at the table when they first arrive on the first day. Crayons and paper are a sure and safe bet for the first day. Put out blank paper and crayons and pre-date all of the papers. This way once they are finished you can collect the papers and put them in their portfolios to show their very first attempts at drawing. Be prepared to have LOTS of paper available as pre-k and kinder students can draw one little scribble on a page and say "I'm done!". If you are brave and put out toys for arrival on the first day be prepared for them to do inappropriate things with them like throw, put in their mouth, or use in ways that they weren't intended to be used. It's best to save the toys for later when you can properly introduce them, you won't have time during arrival on the first day.
What about the parents who want to stay all day on the first day of school? It's important to find out what your school's policy on this is prior to the first day of school. It may be something you want to mention at your Meet the Teacher night for example. In some school's it's a big no-no as parents can disrupt the establishment of a school routine and forming a bond between teacher and students.
You forgot to mention bulletin boards? No, I didn't :) Actually, on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most important I give bulletin boards a -1. There is no need to waste any of your valuable time on creating cutesy bulletin boards as they usually have no educational purpose, they are purely decorative. I cover my boards with nice fabric, nice borders and leave the fabric and borders up all year, just change out the student's work. For the first day of school the boards are blank, and as the students finish their first day drawings you can put them up on the bulletin board. This gives the students a sense of belonging and ownership of the classroom that they need. You can also cover your tables with colorful butcher paper on the very first day of school and let the kids "decorate". After everybody has covered a significant portion of the butcher paper put it up on the wall and write each child's name next to his or her drawing. Surround this masterpiece with a nice bulletin board border and give it a nice caption and you have an instant bulletin board.

How am I going to get them to listen to me or follow directions?

Somebody once said that teaching Pre-k or Kinder is like herding kittens and I find that statement to be so true! The answer to this question is a simple one:

Be consistent: Following a schedule on a consistent basis will help you get off to a good start. Using a visual schedule that the children can see and manipulate is a big plus. I have included a picture below of my daily schedule. I use a clothespin to indicate what we are currently doing. When it's time to transition to another activity I give them a warning such as, "It's time for Calendar in two minutes", when it's calendar time I say "We are moving the clip to Calendar Time now". These types of clear, consistent transitions make children feel safe. When children feel safe they are more likely to have better behavior and follow directions more easily. If possible I let my leader of the day move the clip on the schedule for us.
Be firm but kind: Often new teachers are afraid to establish good discipline in their classrooms because they are afraid their students won't like them. Actually, the opposite is true- being firm and consistent gives children a feeling of safety and as stated above, children need to feel safe at school in order to function properly. An example of a firm but kind response to a bad behavior is: "Johnny, I notice that you are throwing blocks. Throwing blocks is not safe, you might hurt someone. You can sit at the thinking table for two minutes now or at recess, it's your choice, what will it be?" No voices were raised, no lights were turned off, and no unkind words were exchanged, it's very firm but still very kind. Being firm but kind will help you establish a bond with your students and they will learn to respect and trust you. By being too nice or too unkind you do not gain the respect or trust from your students necessary to be an effective teacher.
Use lots of MUSIC! I can't emphasize enough how important music is in a Pre-K or Kinder classroom. Using music in the classroom is one of the single most important daily routines of any Pre-K or Kinder classroom, you can never use enough music. Have you heard the saying from that Kevin Costner movie "If you build it, they will come?", well the very same thing is true with music "If you sing, they will listen!". The repetition that we often hear in music is the type of repetition that children need to hear again and again to learn new concepts or reinforce routines. Some examples of ways to use music in your classroom to engage your students are: clean-up songs, good morning songs, good-bye songs, days of the week song, months of the year song, number song, ABC songs (lots of different ones out there), leader of the day song, basic concept songs such as shapes, patterns, and colors, birthday songs, thematic songs (Old MacDonald during the farm unit), lining up songs, going to lunch songs, walking in a line songs, washing hands songs, waiting songs etc. Scroll down to the resource section at the bottom of this page for a link to recommended music for early childhood classrooms. Dr. Jean also has a fantastic CD titled All Day Long that features music for reinforcing daily routines in the classroom, scroll down to the resource section of this page for a link to her site.

Our Picture Schedule

Click on the picture to enlarge

What about center time? How can I make my centers run smoothly?

When it comes to center time, always remember that less is more. In the beginning of the year it is best to have very little out for the students, you can gradually put out more things as you introduce each center and the children learn the procedures and routines of center time. I introduce only one or two centers a day in the beginning of the year. Each center has a set of rules and we review these rules each day at the beginning of center time for the first few months. Check the resource section at the bottom of this page for a link to pictures of all of the centers in my classroom as well as my center management page and my Center Introduction instructions. I have listed below what I have available for students in my centers in the very beginning of the year:

Block Center: foam blocks to make an easy and quiet clean-up.
Writing Center: Crayons and paper
Home Center: Baby dolls, a few play dishes
Math Center: I cover this shelf with butcher paper and cut out two squares to reveal two tubs of manipulatives only. You will know they are ready for more tubs when they demonstrate that they know how to clean-up the items independently, put them in the correct tubs, and back on the correct shelf.
Science Center: I don't introduce this center until late September, it remains turned toward the wall. When I do reveal it it is hugely popular because by then the students have mastered the other centers and are ready for something new.
Library Center: One tub of books. Make sure the books are all "disposable" ones you won't miss if they are ruined. Once you have demonstrated that they know how to properly care for books (after repeated modeling) and return them to the box nicely then you may reveal the other boxes.
ABC Center: Magnetic letters in a tub and individual white boards.
Puppet Center: I don't introduce this until late September just like science.
Playdough Center: I provide full access to this center, it is a good beginning of the year center and is very popular.
Sensory Table: Full access, also another good beginning of the year center and wildly popular.
Puzzle Center: Only a few of the simplest puzzles are put out at the beginning of the year. If the puzzles are too complicated the students won't be able to complete them and they will become frustrated and try to put them away unfinished and you will lose pieces.
Quiet Toys: Potato Heads and Legos are great toys for fine motor manipulatives at the beginning of the year. I cover up most of the tubs and reveal only the Potato Heads and Legos.

Transitions are so hard! How do you get them to do anything?

It's true, transitions are the most difficult part of the day for any kinder or pre-k classroom. The key to making your transitions run smoothly is to model, model, model. Never take it for granted that your students know how to "line up" or "walk quietly", you need to show them exactly what you mean and what it looks like. I have included some transition tips below for you:

Lining up: Model it! Pretend you are a student and walk to the line, place your hands behind your back (or wherever you want them to put their hands when they are walking) and then walk around the room quietly. Next, invite a few students to line up and walk with you while the rest of the class is watching, continue to walk around the room quietly in a line. Gradually add more students until the whole class is walking around the room in a nice straight line. Remember to give lot of praise, praise, praise to those who are following directions!
Bathroom procedures: If you must take whole class trips to the bathroom like we do you will need something to keep your students busy while they are waiting for their turn or for the rest of the class to finish. Keep index cards with short fingerplays or songs written on them with you and start singing softly with the children. Make sure to use lots of hand gestures and movement in your fingerplays to keep their interest and take their mind off waiting their turn.
Cleaning up: This is one of the most difficult transitions for any child to make. Never take it for granted that any child knows what you mean when you say the words "clean up". He or she may have never heard those words at home, or they may have an entirely different understanding of what those words mean than you do. Again, it's always best to model, model, model how to clean up. I highly recommend practicing clean-up daily for the first few weeks, I usually model how to clean up for several weeks before I see the results I want. Here are the steps I use below

Start by selecting your clean-up signal- either a bell or music will work fine but I very strongly discourage using a lights out signal as many children may find it frightening.
Introduce your clean-up signal to the children BEFORE you introduce centers for the first time. Explain that when they hear this sound they need to STOP what they are doing and put the toys away and then tell them what to do after they have cleaned-up -where do you want them to go now?
Next you can show the class what "cleaning up" looks like to you. Select one student to come to the front with one tub of toys and model for the class. Sit down on the floor with the student and "pretend" to play with the toys. After a few moments play the clean-up signal (if you use a music signal having a remote control for your stereo is helpful) and model for the entire class how to clean up and what to do when you are done. Praise the student who helped clean-up.
Next, call two different students to play with the tub of toys, this time the teacher is an observer instead of a participant. When you play your clean-up signal make sure to praise the two students.
Finally, allow the entire class to play in one small area with a few pre-selected items and practice cleaning up using your signal after a few minutes. Praise the entire class for a job well done.

Recess:

Recess is no different from any other part of your classroom, you must model, model, model!

Have your students stand around each piece of playground equipment as you demonstrate exactly what is acceptable usage and what is not. For example, if you want them sliding down the slide only on their bottoms then demonstrate it or have a child demonstrate for the whole class.

Make sure to let them know the consequences for improper equipment usage.

After you are finished demonstrating each piece of equipment explain the playground boundaries. If your playground has certain areas they are and are not allowed to go make it perfectly clear to them where they are allowed to go and where they are not allowed to go and the consequences.

Last but certainly not least, explain in detail what your line-up signal is going to be. Make sure they are very clear about what to do when they hear or see your line-up signal and what the consequences are for not lining-up.