First Day of Kindergarten Plan with Timestamps
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
Go slow to go fast.
Take your time. Model. Practice. Practice again.
After 12 years in the classroom, I still write out my first-day plan with timestamps. Will I actually follow those times perfectly? Absolutely not. We might get off track, spend much longer practicing a procedure than I expected, or not get to everything on the list.
But on the first day of school, I'd much rather have too many activities planned than have to come up with something on the fly when my brain is already at beginning-of-the-year capacity!
The biggest thing to remember is that the routines and procedures ARE the lessons right now.
Here's what I prep, what my first day of kindergarten looks like, and the routines I teach along the way.
Activities to Prep:
Mini Playdough at each seat- This is a great item to have at each desk so fast finishers have something to do throughout the day (and week) as we get into routines and rhythms.
First Day Feelings Graph- 3x5 cards cut in half, chart graph
Name Art- Black cardstock, outline names in white crayon, torn multicolor papers
8:00- Come in find seat. First Day of School coloring sheet. Play with mini playdough when finished.
8:20- Timer. Freeze hands on head. Eyes on teacher. Wave bye to any parents still in room
Model clean up, stand up, push in chair and walk to carpet.
8:30- Welcome. My name my job is to keep you safe and help you learn. We're going to have so much fun learning. We’re so lucky to be in this special class and I’m so excited to be your teacher.
Teach bathroom sign and what to do with bathroom sign on door. Bathroom rules.
8:40- Go over the visual schedule of the day
Circle time- Hickety Pickety Bumble Bee. Pass talking piece stuffed animal
Model Whole Body Listening
Brain Break- Head Shoulder Knees and Toes
9:00- Pass out halved 3x5 card to each student. They will write their name in marker and draw a picture of themselves on it. Collect Pictures.
9:20- Read Aloud- First Day Jitters
First Day of School Feelings Graph. Each student comes up to add their self portrait to the graph and share how they are feeling on the first day of school.
9:40- Model getting ready for recess and expectations. Line up. Get snack.
9:50- Walk outside to yard and go over playground rules. Rules 1) sit to eat snack 2) play safely 3) go down slide 4) when you hear the whistle kneel, listen for directions and then get in line.
10:20- Recess is over and students line up on dot.
Put snack away and come inside quietly. Sit at table, put head down, play music for 1 min.
10:30- Practice coming to carpet again.
Class Rules with hand motions (I changed Rule # 3 to Keep your hands to yourself.)
10:40- Classroom scavenger hunt
Come back to carpet. Read Aloud- Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes
10:50- School Tour- Scavenger Hunt . This is a great way for students to get the lay of the campus, where the bathrooms are, office, specials classes, etc.
11:15- Back to class to review lunch expectations social story
11:30- Get ready for lunch- Wash hands, line up, get lunch box or lunch card. Walk to lunch.
12:40- Pick up from lunch.
Put lunch and waters away. Come into the class quietly with lights off. Head down with music for 1 min.
Model and review coming to the carpet. Have 1-2 students model coming to the carpet again
Practice class rules again.
12:50- Read Aloud- Too Much Glue. Model name glue activity.
1:00-Name Art activity
1:30 Model free choice. How we take out and clean up when the timer rings.
Free play time. During this time take individual pictures of each student against plain wall or backdrop.
1:50- Clean up. Sit on the carpet. Go over dismissal routine . Prep for dismissal.
2:10- Dismissal - I will call your name and you can walk out the gate. Remember to give me a hug or high five before you leave!
Happy First Day!
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