Kindergarten

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Home : 2004 : January : 27

Kindergarten
By Ally

When I subbed, I tried to have a few fun sheets that would be appropriate for varying ages so if I was stuck for an activity, I could make copies at recess and be ready to go.

I have not taught Kindergarten, but coloring
sheet with shapes (color the trinagle blue, the circle red etc) or sheets where they trace over numbers or letters would most likely work for them. And why not bring a story book or two to read if you need to fill in time. I would always try to find a book that was not well known so there is less of a chance they have heard it before...but on the other hand, my own kids love the same

books being read to them again and again.

What about "Brown Bear, Brown Bear"? Most will probably know it, and could choral read with you, which I am sure they would enjoy. Then you could turn it into a game, where each child pretends to be an animal as they recite the book.

Another filler is graphing...pick a topic like favorite healthy snacks and then have the kids brainstorm 5 choices or so. Make a graph on the chalkboard and then have each child "vote" for their fav snack while you fill in the graph. You could follow up with the kids drawing their favorite snack alongside the one most popular with their classmates. With older kids, they can actually make the graph themselves.

I also did not enjoy the singalong but you are right you do become more comfortable as time goes on. Use tapes if they are available so it is not just your voice...or pick songs the kids really know well so you will not be warbling out the tune alone! But really I don't think the kids really care how well you sing...

If you are stuck at the end of the day, playing a clean up game might be fun for the kids and have the added bonus of making their regular teacher happy when he/she returns. Tell them since you are new, you are not sure where everything goes, so while they clean up you will walk around and watch to see who is the best "cleaner-upper"...Have fun with those little ones...Ally