Pack a folder full of educational and fun worksheets for kindergartners to work on during the first few minutes of school. Include dot-to-dots, mazes, letter tracing and matching worksheets. Keep morning work worksheets focused on reviewing or practicing simple skills that kindergartners have almost mastered so that their transition from home to school is smooth. Add a few sheets of blank paper to their morning work worksheet folder for freehand coloring or practice. Check kindergartners folders on at least a weekly basis to comment on past work and add new worksheets.
Help kindergartners get settled into the day and get out the last of their wiggles by dashing up the board once before class even begins. Create problems with missing letters or numbers or matching scenarios on the black board and provide kindergartners with magnetized pieces containing the answers. Invite each kindergartner to place one or two answers on the board before class time begins to review important concepts. Place a series of numbers with several missing on the board and give each kindergartner a number to place at the correct spot in the sequence. Display pictures of sight words and ask kindergartners to place the word with the corresponding picture. Write upper case letters and ask students to match the lower case letter. Keep the board morning work to the same general theme or unit you are currently studying.
When kindergartners need more time or flexibility to transition from home to school, set up learning centers around your classroom and invite students to choose how to spend their first few minutes. Create an art center with an easel and paper, crayons or markers or set up a book corner filled with comfortable pillows and picture books. Make a manipulative corner filled with puzzles, math manipulatives, and building blocks to exercise kindergartner's brains before school ever starts, or stock a pretend corner with dress-up clothes and accessories such as a play kitchen or dolls to help kindergartners relax and get ready to learn.
If you have a lot to do to keep your classroom running smoothly like most teachers, set up a responsibility chart for kindergartners to complete during morning work time. Assign students chores like setting up or organizing centers, passing out paper or pencils or collecting papers from home. Students can also use morning work time to sharpen their pencils, arrange their supplies, put their snacks or drinks into the fridge if necessary, or stow backpacks, boots and jackets in their proper places. Assign one student each day or week to fill in a daily chart to make note of the day of the week, date and weather along with any special activities for the day like music or art. Keep kindergartners involved with the care of their classroom and daily routine during morning work time to keep them focused throughout the day.