5 Things You Need Before School Starts

As the new kindergarten school year approaches, it’s essential to ensure that you have everything you need to start the year off right. Here are 5 Things You Need Before School Starts that every kindergarten teacher should have before the school begins to ensure a successful start to the new school year.

Starting off the school year on the right foot is important for teachers and students alike. From decorations to parent forms, curriculum and supplies, here are the 5 must-have items that every kindergarten teacher should have before the school year begins.

#1 Printable Mega List For Kindergarten Teachers

As a new kindergarten teacher, I would have appreciated a detailed list of classroom necessities from experienced educators. Unfortunately, I had to sift through numerous dos and don’ts to find what I needed. That’s why I’ve compiled this list to help you. Of course, you can use what works best for you. This guide aims to assist you in stocking your classroom with the essential items required for an efficient and effective kindergarten learning environment.

• Go to “The Printable Mega List of Kindergarten Classroom Must Haves” for the **FREEBIE** printable list.

Having a clear idea of all the necessary items is essential to create a fun, engaging, well-stocked, and well-run kindergarten classroom. I hope this checklist helps you tackle this task with ease.

#2 Parent/Grown-up Forms

To ensure a smooth start to the school year, it’s important to have all necessary parent/grown-up paperwork readily available. Here are some tips to help you get organized:

• Collect all required parent/grown-up paperwork before the first day of school.
• Keep the paperwork in an easily accessible location.
• Send out reminders to parents/grown-ups to complete any outstanding forms.
• Review the completed paperwork to make sure everything is in order.
• Back to School Editable Kit: This is the BEST Back to School Editable Kit for Teachers! This kit is complete with customizable forms and letters in both color and black/white. Perfect for Meet the Teacher, Open House, Orientation, or welcoming new students, this kit has everything you need to start the year off right.

By following these steps and downloading this kit, you can set yourself up for success and make the first few days of school run more smoothly.

#3 Decorations

When designing a kindergarten classroom, it’s important to keep in mind that your little learners may not have been in an academic learning environment before. Therefore, it’s crucial to create a welcoming and engaging atmosphere that encourages learning and growth.

• Enhance your space with vibrant colors and patterns to create a lively atmosphere that captures attention, utilize bright colors and patterns. (see Kindergarten Classroom Reveal Pictures)
• For wall décor and academic instruction, consider using Alphabet posters that feature both clip art, real pictures, and numbers.
• Set up different areas around the classroom for station activities, such as Literacy Station, Library Station, Puzzle Station, Writing Station, ABC Work With Letters Station, and Sensory Table Station.
• Make sure there is plenty of natural light and comfortable seating for the students to sit and work.
• Add a Light Box for visual schedule reminder as well as decorative fun.

Remember, the goal is to create a space that feels welcoming and encourages your little learners to explore and learn in a fun and engaging way.

#3 A Guide on How to Use School Supplies

Want to start the school year off on the right foot? Here’s a guide that can help. Ensure your litle learners know the rules, procedures, and expectations for each supply before they begin using them. Teach them how to use each school supply, and you’ll be setting them up for a successful year!

• How To Use School Supplies: A must-have for the beginning of the new kindergarten school year!!

@kindergarten_chaos

Reply to @jeremypeterson126 How to explicitly teach about School Supplies in a developmentally appropriate way! Do you use interactive anchor charts? #kindergartenchaos #kindergarten #teacherpd #classroommanagement

♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) – 山口夕依

Properly instructing your little learners on the correct use of school supplies is essential at the beginning of the school year. This helpful resource with clip art for anchor chart instruction and printable practice sheets for each school supply can aid in this process.

#5 Name Activities

For kindergarten teachers, teaching name recognition and writing is a top priority. Much of the time, new kindergartners have not yet learned how to recognize, spell, or write their own name. Fortunately, there are many activities that can help develop these skills.

• Playdoh Name Mats— Looking for a way to help your little learners practice their names or a unique gift idea? These name mats are perfect for both! With a fun name poem included, the mats can be edited to suit each individual student. (DIY no cook Playdough recipe)
• Build Your Name Activity–**FREEBIE**–This name activity is straightforward and incorporates math as well! Your little learners will write their name, placing each letter in its respective box, tallying the letters, and marking the number on a number line.
• Name puzzles: To make a name puzzle, use a sentence strip or construction paper to write the student’s name and create cutting lines between each letter. After cutting the name apart, your students can practice reassembling the puzzle to spell out their name. (Check out “The Best Name Activities for Kindergarten for more.)

Go to “4 Name Activities Perfect For Little Learners From TikTok” for more engaging and purposeful name activities for your little learners.

Getting ready for a new school year can be daunting. But with the right preparations, you can ease the transition for both you and your little learners. I’m confident that this list will provide you with the necessary tools and resources to kick off the year with ease.

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