I always take my class before AND after we go anywhere like computers, PE, lunch, and recess. To avoid potty accidents and get your students trained on trying to go before they have to go, take your class to the restroom often. At my school, we do not have bathrooms inside the classrooms and we only have one LARGE 14-stall bathroom on each floor! This means we do NOT go to the bathroom whenever we want to rather, we have a schedule. Next, most of the students in your classroom are used to going to the bathroom whenever they want to and this usually means they are not used to waiting even for one moment to get there. Additionally, our administration comes around to get parents gently out so we can begin our day. Our PTSO has a Tissues and Tea to introduce Kindergarten families to our school AND to get them out of our rooms. Reassure each parent you are there for their child. (I know because I am sending my littlest to PreK this year and I am about to cry myself.) Reassure each student that you are there for them. They take tons of pictures and videos! This is hard. (I mean, it is their first day of Kindergarten!) This is a hugely emotional moment for the parents as well. I usually have a least one crier… and I don’t mean just the students. Must do 4- Dry the tears… from the parents too In my school, a parent can not verbally tell you a transportation change, therefore it MUST be written down. I also ask each family to write in their child’s agenda how their student is supposed to go home. There is one list for the first day of school and another for every other day. I also make a chart for transportation needs that remains by the classroom door BEFORE the students arrive on day one. This is equally true if the students’ emergency consent cards contradict what a parent has written down. When in doubt, let the office know the situation and ask them to help find the correct way home for that child. Next, since I have each family fill out a Google Form for their initial information, I usually know how all the students are going home, but there is usually ONE student who shows up the day off without an address and without a way to get home. Give all the car riders one color name tag, then bus riders a different color.) Must do 3- Double check how they are going home (Sidenote… color coding students with transportation is a huge MUST do as well! These Avery Labels are great for color coding. This is a great double-check for transportation at the end of the day and it really helps me to learn their names quickly. If they do remove it, I attach it to their backs. I do place the name tags on their front shirt and ask them not to remove them. When I greet my new little loves, by name, of course, I add their name tag to them and double-check the information with their parent. I put each name tag down at their seat for when that student joins the classroom. If they are bus riders, I like to add the address they are going to ON their name tag since most Kinders can not recite their address on demand. Include their name and how they are getting home THAT day. Second, pre-make a name tag for each child.

Must do 2- Make sure they have their name labeled… and how they are going home. I like to place different types at each table like farm animals, mini motors, fruit counters, backyard bugs, and more! Since we use these regularly in the classroom, now is a great time to get students interested in them and get their minds off their tearful parents who are hopefully about to leave.

My favorite table attention span capturing activity is math manipulative.

Have something on the table to grab their attention and keep it for a few minutes. Please make sure you look into the faces of each student to greet them and address them by their name. Scratch that… their parents might let the kid have their own book bag but those parents have supplies and a million questions. They will have their book bag, supplies, and a million questions. The first must-do for the first day of kindergarten begins when your students walk in the door.

First day of kindergarten gifts