1st year Kindergaten Teacher in Fort Lauderdale Any Ideas?

Question

I'M A RECENT GRAD AND I WILL TEACHING KINDERGARTEN IN THE FALL I WANTED TO HEAR FROM EXPERIENCED TEACHERS ABOUT HOW THEIR FIRST YEAR WENT AND WHAT WORKED AND WHAT DIDN'T WORK THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

well the first year is your trial an error year.  so you fill try alot of different things and you will know what works and what doesnt work.  you will probably spend alot of time planning and will be tired most days when the day is over.  but i do agree that routine is evrything!!! kids dont do well without one,  students need to know what they are expected to do when they get in the room and for bathroom breaks and for centers or whatever else you got goin.....i would suggest buy a journal of some kind and takes good notes.  take notes on what worked and what didnt work, also include why something worked or why something didnt work (because maybe you can tweek it a bit to make it work next year)  this journal will include lessons you taught, field trips u took, guest speakers you might have had, how u handled discipline, etc.  this will be your bible for next year...

Answer 2

Last year was my first year teaching too, congratulations to you!  The most important thing to focus on in the beginning is routine.  I teach them the routine, we practice it by playing games.  For example, I have several books separated by level in baskets.  I would set 2-3 books on each students desk, describe what was expected of them (put them back in the correctly labeled box, level A book belongs in the level A basket).  In college I had to read Harry Wong's "First Days of School."  That book was my guide in the first weeks.  I also prepared a classroom "handbook" to share with the families of my students.  Setting up the first days of school appropriately will be an excellent indicator of how the rest of the year will go.

I also kept very thorough records.  I had a file for each student, where I kept examples of student work, notes from parents, etc.  This is especially important if you have struggling students.  If you keep a thorough record of their behaviors, grades, etc, it is documentation for you!  I also recorded daily behavior.  I used a card system, green being a good day and red being the worst.  I tracked this all year to see if there were any events (going from mom to dads house, community acitivities, etc) that were affecting behavior and learning so that I could provide interventions as necessary!

Good luck!

feel free to email me if you have any questions

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