Any Kindergarten teachers out there?? UPDATE - GOT THE JOB!!

[SDFgirl]

Just got called for an interview for a Kindergarten teacher position! It's Monday...z'm so excited!

I've got several years of experience teaching 3rd grade, but would love to know more about teaching the little ones!

If any teachers would care to share their experiences, I'd appreciate it. Challenges, rewards? Any special issues to know about? Thanks!

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I teach Kindergarten! I love it!
Is the position in a full day or half day program? I teach full day so it is very academic which presents it's own challenges in addition to wrangling 5 year olds all day. Gone are the days of finger painting, snacks, and naps. It has been replaced with writing, learning to read (early stages of course), and math. Free playtime is included in there too (hopefully in your school) for gross motor and social development.
My favorite part of being a K teacher is that kinders make you feel like you are the best teacher ever, even when they are making poor choices. They love you unconditionally and always love a hug.
Challenges? Well, as with any grade there are always challenges. I would say staying patient. When they arrive in the fall they are babies. They have to be taught how to do everything we take for granted in upper grades like lining up, sitting still, keeping hands to self, etc. They can do very little independently in the beginning and your lessons often change every 15 minutes or so since that is about all the attention you will get from them on any one topic. BUT, as the months go on, they grow into bright, talented, creative children, who you will be so proud of as they head to 1st grade.

Good luck!!!!! If you get this position, I am sure you will love kindergarten. I know I do.

 

[SDFgirl]

I teach Kindergarten! I love it!
Is the position in a full day or half day program? I teach full day so it is very academic which presents it's own challenges in addition to wrangling 5 year olds all day. Gone are the days of finger painting, snacks, and naps. It has been replaced with writing, learning to read (early stages of course), and math. Free playtime is included in there too (hopefully in your school) for gross motor and social development.
My favorite part of being a K teacher is that kinders make you feel like you are the best teacher ever, even when they are making poor choices. They love you unconditionally and always love a hug.
Challenges? Well, as with any grade there are always challenges. I would say staying patient. When they arrive in the fall they are babies. They have to be taught how to do everything we take for granted in upper grades like lining up, sitting still, keeping hands to self, etc. They can do very little independently in the beginning and your lessons often change every 15 minutes or so since that is about all the attention you will get from them on any one topic. BUT, as the months go on, they grow into bright, talented, creative children, who you will be so proud of as they head to 1st grade.

Good luck!!!!! If you get this position, I am sure you will love kindergarten. I know I do.

Thanks so much! I appreciate your input.

This is a Traditional School, which, in our district means an increased focus on academics, routine, self-reliance, and discipline. I am assuming that, even in Kindergarten, it is much more academically-oriented than in the past.

In many ways, I like that. Behavior issues in this school are practically non-existent. I would love to focus on mostly teaching, instead of worrying that one disruptive student is going to ruin the lesson for the rest.

On the other hand, I worry sometimes that the fun is being sucked out of education, especially for the youngsters.

I'm pretty good at having fun that is still curriculum related, though. I mean, I think you'd *have* to with Kindergarten kids, wouldn't you?

 

[vettechick99]

I've taught every elementary level. The one thing I can tell you about the little ones is that they are so loving. I get tons and tons of hugs, and notes, and "I love yous" and I teach 1st grade!

You will also see that they are more obedient. One disapproving look and they change their behavior. However, they tattle on each other like crazy and need a lot of hand-holding. You have to explain things more often and read everything to them. It's a lot more work in that respect. 3rd graders are pretty self-reliant.

In our school they do a lot of standards-based teaching, but also a lot of crafts and centers.

GL!

 

[SDFgirl]

Thank you!

I remember when I was teaching 3rd grade, I passed a bunch of Kindy kids in the hallway. One of them whispered to me, "I'm the line leader!" I said, "Oh, that's wonderful!" and as I was walking away, she yelled, "I LOVE YOU!"

I was completely charmed by that (except for the yelling in the hall, of course. )

How about assessments? Is there a lot of take-home work to grade, or can most of it be finished in school? (I've heard that one of the plusses of moving down a grade is less grading!)

 

[vettechick99]

Thank you!

I remember when I was teaching 3rd grade, I passed a bunch of Kindy kids in the hallway. One of them whispered to me, "I'm the line leader!" I said, "Oh, that's wonderful!" and as I was walking away, she yelled, "I LOVE YOU!"

I was completely charmed by that (except for the yelling in the hall, of course. )

How about assessments? Is there a lot of take-home work to grade, or can most of it be finished in school? (I've heard that one of the plusses of moving down a grade is less grading!)

Awww, isn't that the sweetest! It's hard to walk down the hall without being stopped for a dozen hugs. And they don't even know you!

As far as I know, we don't give our Ks homework except to study sight words. And if you have a parapro, that should take care of your paper grading!

Next year I am looping up with my kids and going to second grade. Should be interesting and fun!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I am almost done with my 2nd year of teaching kindergarten and I absolutely love it- If it was my choice, i would never leave this age group!
In my class, we send home homework Monday-Thursday--it is one sheet (usually math) that should only take them 5-10 minutes to complete. For assessing, we have DRA and portfolios that we complete.

Good luck!

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Thank you!

I remember when I was teaching 3rd grade, I passed a bunch of Kindy kids in the hallway. One of them whispered to me, "I'm the line leader!" I said, "Oh, that's wonderful!" and as I was walking away, she yelled, "I LOVE YOU!"

I was completely charmed by that (except for the yelling in the hall, of course. )

How about assessments? Is there a lot of take-home work to grade, or can most of it be finished in school? (I've heard that one of the plusses of moving down a grade is less grading!)

I just finished up student teaching with K, not sure if I could do it w/o and aid haha, I'd need more hands to help me.
As far as assessments go, none of the teacher's books that they had had actual formal assessments to go with them, so my co-op teacher made her own assessments that she did each marking period with them.
She had them do their alphabet (uppercase and lower)
write numbers
Those she did each marking period
then she'd pull them aside one by one during snack time or playtime and have them identify each letter, give the sound it makes, then a word that begins with that sound (checking everything off as they went). Then there was a math assessment they had to identify shapes, numbers (up to 20), left from right, complete a pattern, count items, etc. Those assessments she did the first 2 marking periods.
Then the last 2 marking periods they began more with reading and some addition so the assessments were based on that more.

She also gave little projects that were formal assessments. She read them Flat Stanley before Spring Break, then before they left for Spring Break they had to make their own Stanley, we laminated them, and then they had to take Stanley with them wherever they were going, take pics and then make a poster board and a little story about their spring break with Stanley (or course with mom n dad's help).

I wouldn't say there's a lot of take home things to grade, I found that I did a lot of prep work, cutting out shapes, creating my own manipulatives, making charts,graphs, etc.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

 

[PollyannaMom]

(Background: I sub, so I've experienced both grades - but not deeply.)

My general impression is that the younger the grade, the easier the day is mentally and harder it is physically. -- So don't worry if you’re more tired at the end of the days at first in kindergarten. That doesn’t mean it didn’t go well!

What I love about K days:
They still want to behave just for the sake of pleasing you.
They’re eager to learn (and easy to impress).
They’re just so adorable!

What I don’t love:
How much they still need done for them - tying shoes, collecting lunch money, etc.
When one cries, and you don’t really know what’s wrong.


(This part from talking to other teachers-)

Day-to-day correcting is easier in K, but be forwarned that report cards may not be. - In our school, there are many more categories you have to mark than in the older grades, and if you teach half days, you will have two sets to do, not just one. (That goes for conferences, too.)

But, you can often do so much more with your room! - Our K's are the biggest rooms, and have the smallest class sizes, so it gives you a lot of creativity in arrangement and decorating.

 

[SDFgirl]

Just wanted to thank you all for your input! I got the job and I'm so excited about teaching Kindergarten!

Thanks again.

 

[golfgal]

Just wanted to thank you all for your input! I got the job and I'm so excited about teaching Kindergarten!

Thanks again.

Congratulations, especially in this job market for teachers!!!

 

[torinsmom]

I teach preK/K in a public school. Kindergarten is definitely not what it used to be. Kids in our district are expected to be reading when the move to first grade. They are expected to be writing to a prompt. They are expected to count, write and recognize numbers to 100. And lots more, of course. We have assessments to do every quarter. They are all laid out for us and we can just follow a script if we need to.

Pros: The kids are young and still want you to like them, so they behave most of the time. Sometimes mine will cry when they get in trouble, even though I am not yelling or mad, just serious. You can be more flexible than with older kids. If you bend a rule for one situation, it doesn't create that feeling of "we can do whatever we want, there are no rules!" You usually have more leeway in how you teach things, and you can make it more fun. Most of the kids are cute

Cons: Tattle taling(but that is with the older kids as well), whining, parents who cannot understand that there child is FINE and not a baby anymore. Students are too young to have an IEP yet, so it can be frustrating to see a child who needs help, but trying to get it for them is a job in itself.

I wouldn't teach any other grade!

Marsha

 

[tonilea]

After two years of subbing, I am going back to school this fall to get my teaching degree.

The little guys love you. They think you are beautiful AND brillliant! The older kids.... they know better. lol

I have to say the first two weeks of kindergarten are INSANE! I ended up subbing the first week this year - teacher had jury duty and I volunteered to help in a new teacher's class on the first day of school. I was amazed at what they didn't know. The first month or so will run you ragged. It takes a special person to be a kindergarten teacher.

I love subbing in kindergarten.... after the first month.

I don't know who mentioned it, but it certainly feels true to me.... they younger kids are more physical work, but I would much rather spend time with them than say HS or middle school.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Congratlations!

 

[Sinderelli]

Awww, isn't that the sweetest! It's hard to walk down the hall without being stopped for a dozen hugs. And they don't even know you!

As far as I know, we don't give our Ks homework except to study sight words. And if you have a parapro, that should take care of your paper grading!

Next year I am looping up with my kids and going to second grade. Should be interesting and fun!

I teach 1st grade and have thought often about looping-I know my principal would go for it. Have you done this before? Would love to get some feedback from you!

OP, congrats on getting the job! I taught Kindergarten for 3 years and loved it (although I LOVE 1st grade even more!) One thing that cannot be stressed enough is the importance of routine. When your students know what to expect behavior problems are few and far between. I have a morning routine which is stressed the first weeks of school. Although it gets boring going over the SAME thing, the rewards pay off the rest of the year while my students are actively engaged while I take care of morning business (no assistant).

Also, one of the things that drove me nuts when I first started teaching was the constant requests to use the bathroom- one student would ask, and then another, etc. It caused constant disruptions. So, I created laminated "bathroom passes". The students would pick up 2 passes upon entering the classroom. We have a silent signal for bathroom requests- this way, no more interruptions! I would nod yes or shake my head no, the student would put his bathroom pass in the bucket, pick up the classroom pass and put it on his/her desk (this way, if we have a fire drill I can quickly scan the room and see who is missing), and go to the bathroom.

Students know not to give me the signal if I am in front of them teaching or if someone already has the bathroom pass on their desk. This works!!! It has minimized disractions tremendously! Also, we use 2 passes but you could always use more- I also allow them to use the bathroom at lunch and recess without forfeiting one of their passes. If a student uses his/her 2 passes and has to go to the bathroom, of course I allow that.

One other thing- don't be surprised if your lessons in the first few weeks take much longer or finish quicker than what you have planned. Always have back ups!!!

 

[torinsmom]

As a PP said, you will need to spend a lot of time on routines the first few weeks of school. We practice sitting on our circle criss-cross applesauce, walking quietly in a line, raising hands if they have a question, how to interrupt the teacher or another student, how to tuck in chairs, how to roll rugs(for floor works), how to save unfinished work, classroom rules, playground rules, where to put their take-home folder and lunchbox each morning, etc. I also give group lessons on works that are on the shelves. I also introduce songs we will sing each day and calendar concepts. One thing I have started that is good for getting the kids quiet at circle time is a small old fashioned music box with a crank. I just stand in front and start playing it. As one child hears it, they get quiet and then another child is able to hear it and so on. The kids really like it and if there are really lucky, they get to play the music.

Marsha

 

[OceanAnnie]

Congratulations! Great news!

 

[vettechick99]

Awesome! You are going to love it!