Fill a special folder for each of your kindergartners with blank paper, handwriting paper, coloring sheets, dot-to-dots and other educational or creative activity sheets to work on as they gear up to start school activities for the day. Students can work on these activities as the rest of the class arrives and settles in. The goal is to help them start to focus and transition into the kindergarten classroom instead of getting wound up wandering the room aimlessly or getting frustrated trying to jump right into an academic activity. Change the contents of your students' folders frequently, and always include lots of blank paper for kids who just want to freely color as a way to settle down and relax.
After children have stowed their backpacks, coats and other gear, have them join you on a comfortable rug or pillows for circle time. Kindergartners thrive on routine and community, so bringing the whole class together for announcements, a song, poem recitation or an introduction to the days lesson will leave children feeling settled and secure. Encourage students to quiet down by playing Quiet as a Mouse, proclaiming each child a mouse in turn as he becomes silent and still. Greet each child by name while clapping out the syllables to welcome them to school. Circle time can be as simple or as detailed as you like, but keep it consistent so children know what to expect.
Children arrive at your classroom bursting with stories to tell. So set aside time for sharing before school activities start, and you'll help avoid disruptive outbursts during lessons. Invite one or two children to bring in a special item to share with the class or allow a child to tell a special story. Use this time to get to know each other better, helping the kindergartners build trust in you before you begin regular learning activities. Make sure you participate in show and tell, choosing an object pertinent to the day's lesson to segue into the day's learning activities.
Kindergartners love stories, so begin your school day with a read-aloud session to get students focused and settled. Choose a story that pertains to your lessons for the day or week to get kindergartners thinking about the school activities ahead or remind them of previous lessons. If students start the day full of energy, consider choosing an active story that lets them participate to get those wiggles out before it is time to sit down at desks. Make use of a felt board to illustrate your story to really get students involved in this crucial morning transition time.
Start each kindergarten day by gathering your students to update a calendar displayed on a bulletin board or felt board with the day of the week, date and weather, as well as corresponding pictures, when appropriate, if your kindergartner's are pre-readers. Ask students to make observations about the day; this will help them begin to focus on school activities while practicing observation and listening skills. Make this a part of your daily routine, so students know that calendar time marks the beginning of learning activities.