![]() ![]() It just honestly makes me sad to see this important aspect of learning not being prioritized in so many school districts. We do this without giving up dedicated free choice time along with three recesses every day. My students do all the academics–small guided reading groups, large group reading/vocabulary/phonics, hands-on math activities, hands-on literacy activities, guided and independent writing and they make huge growth throughout the year. ![]() It is also important for students to have that time to decompress from the rigors of what we are expecting them to accomplish each day. It is about early education teachers advocating for students and supporting their need to have the opportunity to learn to problem solve and socialize with guidance when needed. The over-scheduled time after school that kids are experiencing is not what I am referring to although that mindset speaks to the trend of removing play time from the school day. What I was pointing out is that the importance of providing time for self-directed play should also be highlighted as a priority in every kindergarten schedule. My intention was not to imply that academics are not developmentally appropriate for kindergarten students. ![]() I like to take notice of what is actually happening in my classroom and adjust my pace to match the needs of my students. Naturally, teachers can find research to help support their own beliefs. New research says the kids are all right. Kindergarten classes are getting more academic. Here is an article I most recently read that you may find helpful: ![]() The art of teaching happens when the teacher sees what each child needs and invites them to step into that new challenge. I would encourage you to openly explore academic articles that debunk the myth that students are not capable of having a happy, healthy, developmentally appropriate kindergarten that also provides academic growth. Then when they are given “free time to play” it often looks more like screentime. Yes, I agree, children are too structured as they are rushed from soccer to dance and then to piano lessons. Yes, I hear many teachers lament, “My kids don’t get to play.” which makes me worried about what type of activities that are happening in the classroom. We start with tracing the sentence at the beginning of the year. Then quickly move on to writing the sentence (around mid-September). I support them at first with reading the sentence (but I make them use the pictures to figure out the word “pencil”.) Soon, the students are independent and SO PROUD that they can read the sentences on their own. You can find a gazillion versions of these Read, Trace, Glue, Draw pages HERE… or snag the ENDLESS bundle HERE. Therefore, I usually have a few options that I rotate in throughout the week. It has to be predictable, engaging, and meaningful. So, my students walk in the door, anywhere between 8:00 and 8:30. Most of the students ride the bus, so they all arrive at different times. We also offer breakfast from 8:00 to 8:30, so students filter into the cafeteria. I really can’t have a lesson for this time, so I have “morning work” as part of our daily routine. that may be useful! But let’s start by looking at what my kindergarten classroom looked like during the last year I taught full day kindergarten. This post will be an overview of our day… If I went into great detail in this post… whew… it would read like a novel. At the end of this post, you will find additional information about the different components of our academic schedule. Here it is! That moment when kindergarten teachers look at all of your ideas and try to figure out HOW to fit it all in! Here are my tips for the BEST kindergarten schedule to start your school year off great! ![]()
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