5 Ways to Start the Day
Teaching Kindergarteners (ESL)
It is important to start the day the right way. Kids need a positive, loving and comfortable environment to optimize learning and development. Each class of students is different, make sure you are willing and able to adapt to your kids and the types of learners that they are. Here are 5 ways I like to start the day with my kids. These things work for me, like anything, try different things and see what works best for you and your students.
1. Good Morning Chants
This is a great way to wake the kids up and to make sure you have their attention.
First, introduce a “cheer”, or “echo call”, you can say, “Teacher says, ________!” Then say, “Students say, ________!” For example, a super easy one I do with my class is…
Teacher: “Good”
Students: “Morning!”
Repeat it about 2-3 times then do one like
Teacher : “Wake”
Students: “UP!”
*Repeat it about 3 times or until all the kids catch on and everyone is participating.
Next, I go around the room to each student, give them a high five and say good morning to them in different languages
“Good Morning, Lily…What’s up, Justin? …Hola, Jamie…Aloha, Emily…Jambo, Leo… Hey, David…”
Each student should be replying back, “Good morning, Miss E!”, “Jambo, Miss E!” It is something so simple and basic, but my kids love it when we do it. They can’t wait for their turn, and everyone is watching to see what the next student will say or do.
2. Individualized Attention
This is simple, easy, and purposeful. When the kids come in, they should have a routine already set. It’s up to you to decide what that routine is. When they complete their morning routine, give them a star, brownie point, sticker or whatever you do for rewarding good behavior. After they have completed that task, ask them individually what they did over the weekend or the day before. Ask if they had sports afterschool, or sometimes just ask how they are feeling.
Give your students individual one-on-one attention early in the morning; you want the first greeting to be a positive one, you want your students to see you first thing and know that you see them and care about them. Just asking the class as a whole isn’t personal or meaningful. Make it like a mini one-on-one moment between you and your student. This will show them that you care about them as an individual and will help them feel like they matter. Asking the kids allows them to express themselves. Too many times we are shushing them, shutting them down, and keeping them disciplined and quiet. If there is one thing we should do, it is to let these kids know that they matter, that they are people too, and they should be allowed to express themselves. Eventually, the kids will come in and volunteer information about the weekend, especially, if they did something exciting and unique. Note: Some classes are bigger than others and sometimes you may not have the time to talk to each individual student in the morning. Do your best to scatter the attention and don’t just talk to the kids that talk the most. Seek each student out individually. Don’t forget about the quiet kids or the lower leveled kids…sometimes this is the only time when a student feels safe and comfortable.
3. Quote of the Month
Have a quote of the month. Make it simple. It can be something you make up, or an actual quote. Teach the class the quote and have a time in the morning when you repeat it. Once you have the quote established and the routine of saying it everyday at a certain time. You can mix it up and get the “teachers helper” to lead the class in saying/reading the quote. Anytime a student gets to lead the class or be “the teacher” they love and value that time. A quote that I’ve come up with for my class is “I am smart (kids point to their brains) I am strong (kids flex their muscles) and I am brave (kids do superhero pose hands on hips). If you are at a Christian school you can use this time to learn a short bible quote, verse, or prayer (my personal favorite Psalms 5:3).
4. Reward, Reward, Reward, Routine
Set a morning routine from day one. Make it clear to the students and make sure they understand the routine. Make sure they do it the right way every time. If they mess it up, they have to do it again until they get it right. No need to get angry or impatient, just continue to guide them and remind them in the right direction. You will have to remind your students everyday for about the first 3 moths. It will be annoying, but it will be totally worth it. Eventually, the routine will be a habit for them. Make sure you find ways to reward them when they complete their routines. In my class, my kids always finish their morning routine by washing their hands. Once they do this and sit down, I give them a star and serve them their morning snack. Using star or sticker charts can be super helpful, especially when it comes to getting the behavior you want. It’s important to stick to your system, and that the kids understand the system. It is especially helpful when you feel tension or that you are losing control of a student or a classroom. If the kids don’t find any value in your system, however, it won’t work well…especially, for the disruptive kids. Remember to constantly reward good behavior and especially at the beginning. Don’t lose patience, trust yourself, and believe in the kids. (for more on star charts, motivation, and rewards click here).
5. Movement
In some foreign countries, like South Korea where I taught, the parents, grandparents, students, and community take education very seriously. They value their education, are competitive, and expect the best. The kids I taught in Seoul, only got 45 minutes of gym class twice a week. Other than gym, the most physical activity they got was walking to and from the bathroom. The kids were always moving around, moving their bodies, and jumping around trying to get everything out before heading back to the classroom. We would very rarely go outside, and they had no recess. A lot of what the students at these types of schools do is sit at a desk and work. Therefore, anytime you can incorporate movement into a lesson it’s extremely beneficial. Something as simple as the “stand up, sit down” game will help. Any time I had extra time, I would try to think of different ways that we could get up and move. Any “follow the leader” activities “Jumping Jack Spelling” exercises or “teacher says” games will help. After implementing movement into the classroom, you will find that their focus and the quality of their work is better. Do your best to start off the day with some movement, and try to continue moving throughout the day. Be careful, however, playing games and getting the kids to move is great, but once the kids become competitive or too excited, some behavioral issues may occur. Make sure the kids understand the rules, be firm and consistent when disciplining, give them warnings, and hold them accountable.
Conclusion:
I believe in starting the day off on the right foot. It is important for these kids to have a positive vibe when they walk into the classroom. We want them to enjoy school not fear it. We want them to know they matter. We want them to express themselves. We want them to start the day with a smile. This may be the only time that they can be free to express themselves. Have fun. Please don’t march into the classroom and start the day screaming at a kid because they forgot something. Don’t let their first impression of you be one of fear or anger. They are kids, they mess up, that’s what they do, they are growing and learning. Don’t scare a kid into doing what you want, don’t control their every move. Don’t make them live in fear or be motivated by it. Instead, be positive, reward good behavior. Move around, have fun. Understand, that no matter how young or little they may be, they are people too. Above all, stay patient and love them.
