Your demeanor in the morning can help set the tone for the entire day. Greet students warmly as they enter. Having a meeting on the carpet is a good way to begin. Ask the children to say their names and let them tell you something about themselves or ask you questions. Most kindergarteners are curious and friendly and have plenty of stories to share. You can start the day's routine after everyone has a chance to speak for a few minutes.
Most schools require the teacher to have a sub folder that includes the class roster and daily schedule. If this is not available, ask another kindergarten teacher for assistance. Kindergarten students thrive on routines. Teachers begin them early in the year and consistently abide by them. Refer to the schedule often so you can emulate a regular day as much as possible. It won't take long to spot the children who already know the schedule and can assist you.
Controlling students' behavior is one of the challenges of substituting. Inexperienced subs might expect that a class of 5-year-olds is easily manageable. However, just like older students, some kindergarteners quickly ascertain if they can manipulate the situation to their advantage. Before the day begins, you should refer to the teacher's behavior plan, which is usually posted on the wall. If you can't figure it out, ask another teacher. If you don't see any management system, resolve to be firm and praise good behavior. You might also look in the room for stickers or other items that you can give to the children as positive incentives.
If the teacher knows beforehand that she will be out of the room, she will usually leave worksheets along with instructions on how to present the lesson. Kindergarten teachers usually focus on reading, language and math. Most of the children's work will center around these three areas. If the teacher had no time to run off papers or leave instructions, you can still help the kids. Pass out paper for handwriting practice, call students up to the board to write numbers or letters or read aloud to them. Kindergartners enjoy having stories read to them, and the classroom should have many books available.
Substitutes sometimes exhaust their academic resources earlier than anticipated and find themselves scrambling for other things to do. If this happens, play a game with the children. Some favorites are "Simon Says," "I Spy" and "The Quiet Game." Kindergarteners also enjoy singing, and they probably already know many songs like "Twinkle, Twinkle" and "The Hokey-Pokey." After all these activities, most of the children will be glad to put their heads down for a short rest.