First Day of Preschool Teacher Jitters
The first day of preschool can be very anxiety-producing. Tomorrow will be my 11th first day of school as a teacher and I’m nervous! I’ll be facing 17 three-year-olds at 8:30 in the morning. I’ve been doing this long enough to know that some kids will cry. There will also be those who wander aimlessly around the room. Because they are so little, some will be so shy they may not speak. And then there are the runners…oh my gosh, it is a lot!. Those adorable kids don’t know the first thing about being in a classroom. It’s up to ME to bring them up to speed! however, it’s been a year since I’ve had to do this…honestly I’m not sure I remember how.
So, I figure if this veteran teacher is having heart palpitations about the first day…how must the new teachers be feeling? Guys…I’ve got to process this out! I’ve got to help all the new preschool teachers, and figure out how I’m going to survive the day myself.
Simplify the first day of preschool…and the first week!
I know from past experience that if I plan activities that the kids aren’t ready for, I’m doomed! Therefore, I have decided to make things as simple as can be for the first week. I have a lesson plan, but I know all too well that it will most likely implode. Because my first class is so young and so big I’ve got to bring it all down to the simplest, most basic level. As one of my favorite preschool bloggers, Jamie White of Play to Learn Preschool says, “The most important thing to remember about the beginning of school is that we have to teach our students how to do school before we can teach them any skills or content at school.” I couldn’t agree more!
So, let’s keep it simple!
Keep it Simple Tip #1
The first days of school need to be all about practicing. Practice using all the materials in your classroom. Therefore, you should teach and practice the rules of every center for a short time each day. Each day you should have different materials at each center. Practice using materials in the math, literacy, and writing center too. As a result, as you practice using the materials you can mentally assess and get to know the kids. Make sure you teach how to handle and put away everything you use. The kids will feel a sense of pride, and you will feel confident that they know “how to do school“!
Keep it Simple Tip #2
Have 2-3 simple rules to follow and repeat them constantly throughout the day. Little ones can’t remember a laundry list of things to do. Consequently, I have 2 rules that the kids know are the most important from day one!
- ONLY walking feet in the classroom
- Keep your hands to yourself at all times
However, you should try to keep those 2 simple rules phrased in the positive. It’s important to avoid saying “Don’t run!”, or “Don’t touch friends!”, as kids will tune out the word “don’t”. Whereas stating things in the positive will have a better chance of getting their attention. (Using an inside voice is another good one to add in as time goes on)
Keep it Simple Tip #3
When you teach your students how you want them to behave during transitions, you will have a great first day, first week, and year! To begin with, you should have clear and simple transition routines ready. First, have a simple song that you will use every day to bring your class to the rug. Second, have a line-up procedure and rules ready for the first day. Repeat the procedure the exact same way each day. Third, you should have a routine in place for when you need their attention. In my classroom, we turn the lights out when it is time to clean up centers. Then, everyone will freeze, listen to instructions, and begin cleaning up! I do this on the first day and every day after
I think I feel better already!
Last but not least, the most important thing you can do that first day and week is to connect with your students. Look them in the eyes, smile at them, ask them questions, be silly, and enjoy yourself. You are passionate about what you do and you sincerely love working with kids. They are going to love you, and it’s going to be a great year!
Let’s do this!
