kindergarten-activities

I remember the first time I introduced the letter A to my group of four year olds... I brought out a basket filled with apples, airplanes, and my husband's (extremely heavy) accordion 😅 I wanted to make it memorable by connecting the letters to things they already know. Recognizing Uppercase Letters In my classroom, I’ve always started with uppercase letters. They're easier for kids to draw with straight lines and sharp angles. When we focused on the letter A, we practiced pointing it out in signs around the room. Each week, we pick a new letter and talk about what it looks like, what sound it makes, and where we’ve seen it before. I keep a collection of cards with pictures that start with the letter we’re working on, and we use them to play simple games like “I Spy” or “Find the Match.” Alphabet posters are also great to have handy! Teaching Lowercase Letters Once my students are familiar with uppercase letters, I start introducing their lowercase partners. This part can be trickier since lowercase letters are often curvier and less familiar. For the letter a, I brought in a book filled with animals and had the kids find all the animals whose names start with that letter. They circled armadillo, alligator, and ant (I have them shout out their finds lol). We also spend time coloring letters. One of my favorite activities is giving my students a big sheet filled with lowercase a’s and asking them to color only the a’s they can find. Lots of fun letter worksheets & activities here you can use. Tracing and Finding Letters There’s something special about seeing a student confidently draw a letter for the first time. To help them get there, I use tracing routines during our morning meeting.We “air write” the letters with our fingers, trace them on the carpet, and even draw them in sand trays... These tactile experiences make a big difference, especially for my more active students who need to move while learning. With the letter A, we played a fun game where I mixed up letters on the board and had the class come up and find all the A’s. Connecting Letters to Everyday Life I’ve learned that the best way to teach letters is to try and make them feel real.We talk about how we see letters everywhere (in our names, in books, on cereal boxes, etc). I bring in photos from home, like a picture of my dog named Archie, and use them to spark conversation about the letter A. Final Thoughts Teaching letters isn’t just about repetition... it’s about discovery. It’s about watching students make connections between what they’re learning and the world around them. Every letter brings a new opportunity to explore sounds, stories, and surprises. And honestly, I still get just as excited about it as they do. If you’re teaching letters at home or in the classroom, just remember: go slow, make it fun, and let the kids take the lead now and then.

As a kindergarten teacher, one of the most rewarding aspects of my job is helping my students develop the social and emotional skills that will guide them throughout their lives. These early years are quite important... not just for academic growth but also for building the foundation of emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-regulation. I've seen firsthand how critical it is for young children to learn how to understand their feelings, manage relationships, and resolve conflicts – all essential skills that go far beyond the classroom. Recognizing and understanding emotions In kindergarten, we begin by helping students identify and understand their own feelings. I remember a particular day when we used simple 2D and 3D facial expressions to teach the children about different emotions. We discussed how a frown or a smile can show if someone is sad or happy. I watched as my students pointed out the emotions on the faces in the pictures, and even more rewarding, they started recognizing these emotions in themselves and their classmates. This is a powerful first step in what I like to call "self-awareness." It’s important for kids to start recognizing what makes them happy, angry, or excited as they grow. I encourage my students to express these feelings through words, not actions, and we practice saying things like, “I feel upset because I lost my toy,” instead of showing frustration by throwing something. Over time, I've noticed that this simple practice helps them become more mindful of their emotions, improving their ability to self-regulate. Self control and making good choices Another key area we focus on is self-control. For many kids, practicing patience and managing their impulses can be a real challenge. I remember one of my students had a hard time waiting for his turn during group activities... He would get frustrated and shout when others were talking or playing, but with consistent encouragement and practice, he began to understand that his actions could affect those around him. We use various methods to help students practice self-discipline, like teaching them to take deep breaths when they feel frustrated or reminding them of the “quiet hand” when waiting for their turn. It’s amazing to watch them internaliize these methods and gain more control over their reactions. Navigating friendships and resolving conflicts Social skills are another area where I see so much growth in kindergarten. Kids are learning how to make friends, share, take turns, work together in groups, etc. One of the most powerful moments in the classroom is when students come to me to share something exciting, like “I made a new friend!” or “I shared my snack today!” These little milestones show that they are learning the importance of kindness and cooperation. Learning how to resolve conflicts can be a bit trickier, though. A quick example - two of my students fought over a toy last year. They were upset and didn’t know how to solve the problem. We took a break, sat down, and discussed different ways to approach the situation. I guided them through the steps of listening to each other’s feelings and finding a solution that  makes sense to both of them  (personally, I think this is key). By the end of the conversation, they were able to resolve their issue on their own and even gave each other a hug. The importance of good manners I feel like teaching good manners is overlooked, and is an important aspect of sel. Saying “please” and “thank you” or greeting friends with a smile, is super important. These small acts of kindness go a long way in creating meaningful & positive relationships... I try to reinforce this daily, but it's really important that us as parents (not just our kids' teachers) continue enforcing this at home. Kids mostly immediate what they see more than what they learn. Mindfulness and being present This might be a bit advanced for most kindergarteners, but in our busy world, taking a moment to pause and focus on the present is so important. I often ask my students to try closing their eyes and taking deep breaths, or noticing the sounds they hear around them. These small moments of mindfulness help my students become more aware of their bodies, their emotions, and the world around them. Even at a young age, I’ve seen how these moments of calm can make a big difference in their ability to focus and regulate their emotions. ---------- It’s my job to guide my students and give them the tools they need to succeed in life (not just academically, but emotionally and socially as well). Social and emotional learning is much more than just a set of skills, but daily habits that I’m privileged to build along with my students. I'm very thankful for what I do for a living, even when it can be quite overwhelming at times... and I hope to be an inspiration for other teachers in that sense as well :)

The last 10 minutes of our kindergarten day is my nemesis.... Backpacks are packed, we're waiting for the bell, and 22 five-year-olds have absolutely lost the ability to sit still or listen. If I let them play freely, they wind up so high that dismissal becomes mayhem. I've been relying on GoNoodle videos but my teacher mentor said I'm using "too much screen time." I need simple activities that: 1) require zero prep or materials since everything's packed up, 2) keep them engaged but not hyper, 3) can be dropped instantly when parents arrive for pickup. Yesterday I had them doing breathing exercises (thanks Wim Hof) and one of my kids literally fell asleep standing up. Any suggestions to bring order back to pre-dismissal chaos?

Hello! I’m looking for fun activities to help my kindergarten students with letter recognition... I’ve been doing some flashcards, but I’d love to try something more interactive. Any suggestions are welcome! 🙏

I'd love some advice... My son (in kindergarten) can read simple sentences, but having a hard time with comprehension. He can read the words, but when I ask him what the story was about, he either guesses or says he doesn't know. It feels like he doesn't really understand what he’s reading. Any suggestions / ideas for what might help him improve is ability to understand what he's actually reading? Also I’m looking for good printable worksheets with simple stories and questions that encourage thinking about what’s being read...

Hi everyone! I homeschool both my kids and I want to make sure we’re covering the right sight words. I know sight words are important for early reading, but there are so many lists! Which sight words should I focus on first? Also, do you have any suggestions for worksheets I can use? Thanks! 😊

Hi everyone, I'm looking for advice on how to help my daughter with math. She’s in kindergarten and could use a little extra support. I want to make sure she builds a strong foundation, but I’m not sure where to start. Would it be best to focus on basic counting first, or should I introduce simple addition and subtraction as well? Are there any specific types of worksheets or activities that have worked well for your kids / students? I’d really appreciate any recommendations or resources you can share! Thanks in advance!🙏

Hi all, I'm searching for simple and effective handwriting worksheets / activities / ideas to help my son improve his handwriting... any suggestions?

Hey all! I’m always looking for fun, hands on ways to build number sense in my kindergarten classroom. What are your favorite little / no prep math activities that keeps students busy? I’d love ideas for: • Counting practice (1-10, 1-20) • Subitizing games • Hands-on addition & subtraction • Fun ways to introduce ten frames Thanks in advance!

You know those days I'm talkin about… when you’re running on coffee and prayers, and need to come up with a quick activity to keep your class busy? What’s your go-to? 🤔