kindergarten survival Archives

7 Must-Have Activities for the First Day of School in Kindergarten and First Grade

July 25, 2025 teachersbrain Back to School, kindergarten survival, Teaching Tips

The first day of school in kindergarten or first grade is a whirlwind of emotions for both students and teachers! Excitement, nerves, big hugs (and sometimes a few tears) are all part of the day. The key to a smooth start is having a plan packed with simple, engaging activities that build routines, calm nerves, and make students feel welcome.

Here are 7 must-have first day of school activities that are fun, purposeful, and perfect for early elementary classrooms:

1. Follow a Ready-to-Go Lesson Plan

Having an organized plan helps you feel confident, even when the unexpected pops up. These editable plans are packed with engaging, developmentally appropriate activities:

Each plan includes a full day of learning, fun, and community-building!

2. Kick Things Off with a Crown

Start the day by celebrating! Let students decorate and wear their own First Day of School Hats. These hats make adorable photo ops and help everyone feel special from the moment they walk in.

3. Calm First-Day Nerves with Jitter Glitter

A little sparkle goes a long way! Make Jitter Glitter or Slime as a quick science activity that doubles as an emotional support tool students can take home.

4. Incorporate Simple, Engaging Activities

Need low-prep tasks that keep kids focused while you handle logistics? These First Day of School Activities for Kindergarten include fine motor, writing, and name activities that are perfect for little hands and big feelings.

5. Create a First Day Banner

Have students complete their own pennant and string them together to create a class banner! This First Day of School Pennant Banner makes a sweet keepsake and doubles as your first bulletin board.

6. Practice Simple Routines

Use songs, visuals, and modeling to introduce classroom routines like lining up, snack time, or using supplies. Keep it simple and repeat often!

7. End the Day with a Celebration

Wrap things up with a first-day certificate, group picture, or dance party to end on a high note. The goal? Make sure students are excited to come back tomorrow!

With a little planning and the right resources, your first day can be both memorable and manageable.

🎉 Check out all my first day of school activities here!
Looking for more back to school ideas? Check out my post here!

How to Foster Independence in Kindergarten Starting with Morning Work

July 4, 2025 teachersbrain kindergarten survival

One of the most powerful things you can teach in kindergarten isn’t just letters or numbers, it’s independence. And one of the best ways to start building it? A consistent and simple kindergarten morning work routine.

Having a predictable structure each morning gives students the confidence to begin their day with purpose. And when they know what to expect, they can take ownership of their learning, without constantly needing help.

Here’s how you can use independent morning work for kindergarten to help your students become more confident and capable from day one:

1. Stick to a Predictable Format

Young learners thrive on routine. When your morning work follows a consistent format, students quickly learn the expectations and can begin working without your step-by-step guidance. I use monthly journals that combine math and literacy morning work so everything is in one spot and easy to manage.

2. Model and Scaffold Early On

In the first week of school, take time to introduce each type of activity. Use visual supports, model your thinking, and gradually release responsibility. By the second or third week, you’ll be amazed at how many of your students can complete their morning work on their own, and how proud they feel doing it!

3. Reinforce Effort and Progress

Remember: building independence in kindergarten takes time. Morning work should be a low-pressure space for students to try, make mistakes, and grow. Celebrate effort, not perfection. Give positive feedback for trying their best, finishing tasks, and staying focused.

4. Use a Tool That Grows With Them

If you want something ready-to-go and thoughtfully designed for K learners, I recommend this Kindergarten Morning Work Yearlong Math and Literacy Bundle.
It includes:

40 weeks worth of morning work
Developmentally appropriate math and literacy practice
Print-and-go pages that build in difficulty as the year progresses

It’s a simple and effective way to build student confidence and save yourself prep time each morning.

Adding independent morning work for kindergarten to your routine sets the tone for a productive day. It creates calm, structure, and space for students to take charge of their learning, all while giving you time to take attendance, check folders, or prep for small groups. For more morning work tips, check out my post here! 🎉 Click here to explore the Kindergarten Morning Work Bundle

10 Must-Haves for a Smooth First Week of Kindergarten

June 27, 2025 teachersbrain kindergarten survival, Teacher's Pay Teachers

The first week of kindergarten is exciting, busy, and—let’s be honest—a little chaotic. Between managing emotions (theirs and yours!), setting routines, and building classroom community, there’s a lot to juggle.

But with the right tools and mindset, that first week can be smooth, successful, and even fun.

Here are 10 must-haves to help you and your kinders start the year off right:

1. A Visual Schedule

Young learners thrive on routine. Having a simple visual schedule helps ease anxiety and allows students to anticipate what’s coming next, even if they can’t read yet.

Try this one!

2. Name Activities

Start the year with engaging name practice! Use name puzzles, tracing activities, or art projects that help students recognize and spell their own names.

Check out this option!

3. Plenty of Brain Breaks

The first week is not the time to expect long attention spans. Plan short, movement-based brain breaks every 15–20 minutes to help reset and refocus.

Check out these fun brain breaks!

4. Books That Build Classroom Community

Read-alouds like The Kissing Hand or Our Class is a Family are perfect for starting conversations about emotions, friendship, and working together.

5. Simple Routines Taught Step-by-Step

Whether it’s lining up, using glue sticks, or putting away backpacks, model, practice, and praise routines clearly and often.

6. Hands-On Centers

Introduce your center rotation system with low-pressure, hands-on activities like building blocks, puzzles, or playdough. Focus on getting the routine down before adding academic tasks.

7. Interactive Songs and Transitions

Use music to teach transitions, clean-up time, and circle time routines. Songs can turn chaos into calm when used consistently!

8. Kindness Activities

Kick off your classroom culture with lessons on being a kind friend. Anchor charts, role-play, and simple art projects help set the tone for the year.

9. Introductory Science Lessons

Yes, you can teach science the first week, and your students will love it! Try a simple, hands-on lesson from this Yearlong Kindergarten and First Grade Science Curriculum Bundle. It’s packed with easy-to-follow units that integrate literacy, vocabulary, and critical thinking, which is perfect for starting strong!

10. A Whole Lot of Patience (and Snacks!)

Remember: this week is all about building trust, making connections, and learning how to be part of a classroom. Keep expectations clear but flexible and give yourself grace. You’re doing amazing work.

With a little planning and the right tools in your teacher toolbox, the first week of kindergarten can be a joyful beginning to an amazing year.🎉 Ready to make science part of your weekly routine? Grab the full year of K–1 science lessons here »

For more kindergarten success ideas, check out my post here!

Easy Prep, High-Impact Alphabet Centers Your Students Will Love

April 18, 2025 teachersbrain kindergarten survival, Teacher's Pay Teachers

Teaching the alphabet is one of the most exciting (and important!) parts of early childhood education. Those foundational letter skills set the stage for future reading success—but keeping young learners engaged while building those skills can be a challenge. That’s where hands-on, easy-to-prep alphabet centers come in!

If you’re looking for fresh ideas to make your literacy block more effective and fun, setting up engaging alphabet centers is the way to go. Whether you’re working with preschoolers or kindergarteners, alphabet centers give students the chance to explore letters in a meaningful and playful way.

Why Use Alphabet Centers?

Alphabet centers offer so many benefits for early learners:

Repetition and practice in a variety of formats to help reinforce letter recognition and sounds.
Fine motor development through cutting, gluing, tracing, and writing.
Opportunities for independence, allowing students to work at their own pace.
Built-in differentiation, especially when you provide a mix of writing worksheets and craft activities.

But let’s be real—setting up quality centers every week can be time-consuming. That’s why having a go-to resource that’s packed with variety and requires minimal prep is a total game-changer.

A One-Stop Bundle for Alphabet Fun

The Alphabet Activities Preschool & Kindergarten Writing Worksheets & Crafts Bundle is a teacher favorite for a reason. This all-in-one bundle includes everything you need to create engaging alphabet centers that your students will look forward to every week.

Here’s what’s inside:

26 letter crafts (one for each letter of the alphabet) that let students create something fun while reinforcing letter sounds.
Matching handwriting worksheets for every letter, including both uppercase and lowercase practice.
Coloring pages and letter activities to build letter recognition and fine motor skills.
Activities designed with preschool and kindergarten learners in mind—simple, visual, and easy to follow.

All the materials are print-and-go, making prep super quick. You can use these as part of your daily centers, small groups, or even as independent work during morning tubs or rotations.

Make Your Centers Work Smarter, Not Harder

Alphabet learning doesn’t have to mean worksheets alone or complicated prep. With this bundle, you get a wide variety of hands-on activities that are as effective as they are fun. Your students will love the crafts, and you’ll love how easy it is to keep them engaged and learning!

👉 Grab the Alphabet Activities Bundle here and get everything you need to set up alphabet centers that truly make an impact!

Looking for more alphabet activities for kids? Check out my post here for more ideas!