The first days of kindergarten are about so much more than learning routines; they’re about helping young children feel safe, seen, and connected in a brand-new world.
Social-emotional learning during this time lays the foundation for everything else. In the classroom, they are having so much fun meeting new friends and learning about the rules and routines of both their classroom and the school building. Through gentle instruction, patient modeling, and playful learning (Free Choice), students are building the endurance to manage their bodies, enjoy time with peers, and explore new activities.
Mr. Pfeifer reports, “we've already created a stoplight and a school bus based on stories we’ve read, which sparked great conversations about safety, responsibility, and working together. These early experiences are teaching us not just how to follow directions and stay focused, but how to be part of a caring classroom community.”
Those small moments waiting patiently, sharing materials, or saying “please” and “thank you” may seem simple, but they shape who these children are becoming.
With intentional guidance, the classroom becomes more than just a place to learn letters and numbers; it becomes a space where every child learns they belong.