Entering the Classroom Each Morning
At school, students should enter the classroom calmly and quietly, as well as get to work as soon as they receive a good morning hug, handshake, or high five from me.
- Walk into the classroom
- Make your lunch choice
- Place your lunch box in the lunch basket
- Place take-home folder in basket
- Return your library book in the book basket
- Place your coat and backpack in your cubby
- Start your morning work
Wanting to respond to the teacher and share with the class is natural, and we have a specific way to go about this in our classroom. These signals and expectations are taught starting the first day of school and reinforced every school day thereafter.
- Eyes and ears on the speaker with voices off
- Raise a quiet hand
- Give a thumbs up to indicate "I understand"
- Give a thumbs down to indicate "I don't get it"
- Follow teacher prompts (such as "1,2,3...eyes on me" or freezing when the doorbell sounds)
- Responding with sign language. In our classroom, we use the words "yes", "no", "same", and "different" on a daily basis.
Our school has strict expectations for all students as they move through the halls within our building. Of course, this is directly related to being safe and respecting students in other classrooms. Here is how we move through the hallways in kindergarten.
- Voices off
- Hands to yourself
- Walking feet
- Listen for your teacher's direction(s)
In kindergarten, we transition from multiple activities throughout the day. At the beginning of the school year, we practice transitions over and over and over. This type of purposeful practice at the start of the year grants us more effective and efficient work sessions during the rest of the school year.
- Wait for teacher's instruction
- Conversational (not shouting) voice when moving from one activity to the next
- If lining up, find your spot in line quickly, voices off, hands to yourself
- If transition instruction is not followed, student will repeat the action until he/she has completed the task per teacher's direction(s)
Young children have little to no concept of time. With this in mind, I believe they should not be asked to "hold it" unless absolutely necessary. I do ask that students are present for teacher-led lessons (unless it is an emergency). Other than that, students are free to use the restroom as needed.
- If there is a restroom break pass on the shelf, take one and place it on your table space
- If there is no pass, you need to wait until your classmate returns to the classroom
- When you come back into the classroom, place the pass back on the shelf
Specials
Health, Music, Art and PE classes take place in other classrooms. During these special class times, students are expected to follow our classroom rules: be safe, be responsible, be respectful. Should students choose to not follow our rules, the behavior will be documented, and they will miss the opportunity to go to specials in the future.
Preparing to Go Home
It is important to me that students leave my classroom each day as organized as possible and knowing I look forward to seeing them the next school day. Teaching the routine of preparing to leave is a critical step in teaching and modeling preparedness. Even though it is the end of our school day together, I am helping children figure out ways to be prepared for the next day. As each student lines up at the end of the day, they receive a good-bye hug, handshake, or high five from me -- their choice!
- Gather your things quietly
- Put on your coat and backpack
- Wait for your name to be called to line up
- Choose either a hug, high five, or handshake as you line up
