Overcoming Kindergarten Misconceptions

My first day as a kindergarten intern was very enlightening. Considering the students were only in their 3rd week of school, I was imagining 20 five and six year olds running wild and chattering away while their teacher tried desperately to teach her lesson. Instead, what I found was the exact opposite, and I was quite impressed. I paid close attention to all of Mrs. Cecco’s classroom management techniques, which yielded a class full of well-behaved, young students. Of course, there were students who occasionally pushed the limits of misbehavior. For the most part, students were too focused on achieving tiny laminated treasure boxes that would eventually accumulate and could be cashed in for prizes. Mrs. Cecco, at every moment, was very detailed in her instructions, constantly reminding the students of what good behavior should look like. Subsequently, students would check themselves to make sure their actions matched their teacher’s descriptions. Even at times when the class volume was on the rise, Mrs. Cecco never once felt the need to speak over them. Instead she would gain their attention by simply calling out different variations of “Class, Oh Class!” which the students responded with “Yes, Oh Yes!”

I look forward to this semester with Mrs. Cecco, and her kindergarten class. I can already tell she is an awesome teacher whose techniques you may find in my own classroom one day!