Grade
K
Characteristics of Great Kindergarten Classrooms
Here are the things that make up the sights, sounds, and feelings of thriving kindergartens.
Kindergarten is more than just a year of play. Kids this age work hard and learn a lot in a very short time—but they don’t do so by sitting silently at their desks all day. Rather, great kindergarten classrooms give children the opportunity to grow and develop through play, which is how children learn best.
As teacher Sharon Taylor describes it, kindergarten “is a time for children to expand their love of learning, build knowledge, develop their ability to get along with others, and explore ways of reaching out to the world.”
So what should you see, hear, and feel upon entering a classroom where all these things are happening? Here are Taylor’s top tips.
When you enter a great kindergarten classroom, you should see children playing and working with materials such as magnifying glasses, puzzles, magnets, and more. These manipulatives may be fun, but they also help students learn valuable lessons as they experiment and problem-solve, independently and in groups.
There should be learning centers set up around the classroom for students to explore. The classroom should also have an abundance of books, words, letters, numbers, and other instructional aids. Student work should be neatly displayed throughout the room, which gives children a sense of accomplishment and makes the classroom feel more like their own.
At times, you will be meeting with small groups of students to address their individual needs. Differentiated instruction should be evident, and activities should be designed to meet the needs of all students in the classroom.
You shouldn’t expect silence, as great kindergarten classrooms are rarely quiet! Kindergarteners have rapidly growing vocabularies, and many are developing the power to express ideas. When you provide young children with opportunities to talk about what they are learning, they are better able to construct meaning and learn from their experiences.
You should hear children working together, problem-solving, and sharing ideas and activities. Music should also be part of a thriving kindergarten classroom as children love to sing and chant songs, poems, and more. If you use a song to teach a concept, kids tend to remember it, and they are better able to retain the skills they’ve learned.
And of course, you should aim to read to students throughout the day. One of the most important things you can do to prepare children for success in school is to read aloud to them.
Read-alouds help build listening skills, comprehension skills, and so much more. At other times, you should hear students reading to themselves, to other students, or to the teacher.
Above all else, you should hear giggles—because learning in kindergarten is lots of fun!
A great kindergarten classroom should feel warm and welcoming. The development of self-esteem is an essential goal of kindergarten, and each student should feel that what they have to offer is important.
The right classroom environment should help students feel good about who they are and confident in their ability to tackle the challenges of learning.
The classroom should be neat and orderly so everyone can feel comfortable and at ease. Above all, kindergarten should be a friendly, non-threatening place where students feel safe and secure. Kindergarten teachers must be sure to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect where everyone can thrive.
When the sights, sounds, and feelings of kindergarten align, they lay the foundation for learning. Great kindergarten classrooms—and the teachers who lead them—help prepare children for success in elementary school and far beyond.
Shop popular kindergarten essentials below! You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store.
Because of an acorn, a tree grows, a bird nests, a seed becomes a flower. Enchanting die-cuts illustrate the vital connections between the layers of an ecosystem in this magical book.
Emily Elizabeth is starting kindergarten and she's a little nervous. Good thing that the teacher sent a note home that says each child can bring something from home to make the transition a little easier. But the teacher didn't bet on a child bringing something—or someone—as big as Clifford!
A touching story of first-day jitters and hopes, Tony Johnston's rhyming text is paired with Melissa Sweet's delightful illustrations!
The complexity of mixed feelings are addressed in this brightly colored, empathetic picture book with a section for caregivers.
This upbeat tale features easy-to-follow rhyming text, expressive illustrations, and familiar classroom scenes that will help get little ones excited for their first day of school.
Let the countdown to kindergarten begin! This engaging picture book captures a child's excitement as the big day nears.
In this picture book reinvention of the Tweleve days of Christmas, a five-year-old recounts the cool new things she got to do in the first twelve days of kindergarten.
This clever picture book will prepare young explorers to boldly go where they have never gone before: Planet Kindergarten. Suit up for a daring adventure as this young hero navigates the unknown reaches and alien inhabitants of a strange new world. Hilarious and confidence-boosting, this exciting story will have new kindergarteners ready for liftoff!
Turn little pouts into big smiles! Mr. Pout-Pout Fish is nervously awaiting his first day of school, and he frets about not knowing how to write his name, how to draw shapes, and how to do math - until he's reassured that school is the perfect place to learn how to master all of these new skills.
It's the first day of school and Froggy is more than a little nervous. When he tries to pour the milk on his breakfast bowl of flies, the carton flies out of his hands. Will he ever pull himself together in time to make it to the classroom?
Biscuit wants to go to school. He wants to go to class, have a snack in the cafeteria, and hear a story in the library. Most of all, Biscuit wants to meet the teacher! But dogs aren't allowed in school. What will happen when the teacher discovers Biscuit?
The little yellow puppy's adventure perfectly captures the excitement of a young child's first day at school!
A girl in a red hat finds the courage to be kind to the new student in class. Her kindness spreads, until her whole community experiences the magical shift that happens when people understand what it means to be kind, and act on their best impulses!
David's teacher has her hands full. From running in the halls to chewing gum in class, David's high-energy antics fill each school day with trouble, and are sure to bring a smile to even the best-behaved reader.
In this companion to the Caldecott Honor Book No, David!, David is back for a wild, unruly romp through a school day. David - running, yelling, and pushing with abandon - soon tries the patience of his teacher, but his day ends sunnily with some kind words of encouragement.
Full-color photo cards include 10 subject cards, 5 blank cards, and 1 title card. Also includes a 2-page activity guide.
Two-color cards include 3 place-value cards, 30 number cards, and 1 title card. Also includes 200 plastic straws, plus a 2-page activity guide. Pocket chart features a storage pocket for cards and straws.
Full-color photo cards include 12 month cards, 33 date cards, 7 week days, 4 birthdays, 2 field trips, and 2 special days. Also includes a 2-page activity guide.
Convenient and sturdy plastic bins for storing books and teaching materials help keep your classroom resources neat and organized!
Reproducible pages on the back of each chart! Plastic-coated for color-fastness and durability! Write-on, wipe-off surface!
Reproducible pages on the back of each chart! Plastic-coated for color-fastness and durability! Write-on, wipe-off surface!
Reproducible pages on the back of each chart! Plastic-coated for color-fastness and durability! Write-on, wipe-off surface!
