A lot I need to know I learned by teaching Kindergarten

A lot I need to know I learned by teaching Kindergarten.

(a play on the poem “all I really need to know, I learned in Kindergarten" by Robert F)

I taught Kindergarten for a couple of years and these are some things I’ve learned.

Please don’t try to tell me that everyone is born “good”. Clearly you have been not been in a kindergarten class for more than an hour. Children need to be taught kindness and sharing. If left to their own devices, within minutes there will be grabbing, mean words, pushing, shoving etc.  If you don’t believe me, God says it: All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Children are amazing and when taught how to love, they respond.

Children have a sense of justice. Often, I hear “that’s not fair, he took my block”.  Children have a keen sense of justice. Once again, we walk through how to resolve situations like this during centers time.

Children are quick to forgive. Even though they may fight throughout the day, once “student a” tells “student b” “I’m sorry." That's it. There's no bringing up the past, they move on! They are quick to forgive!

Friendship is everything. When I say that we are going to have partners for an activity, they won’t hear a thing I say after that. They are already clinging onto their bff for dear life. Then I tell them: I’m putting you in partners today and I’m putting boys with girls. There is silence. Birthday parties, centers, recess… life completely revolves around friends. It is the most important thing in their lives.

Small joys are of infinite importance. If I mention there will be a sticker at the end of the day or a ribbon for Km club, I will literally have 20 children asking me at 10 minutes intervals throughout the day: is it time for the ribbon yet?? The smallest things bring them the greatest joys.

Speaking of little things, they will notice: the small ant crawling, a tiny pin that fell from the wall. It’s a great thing for adults to remember to observe the simple things.

Stories. No matter how old we are, everyone enjoys a good story and a good story teller. Every day we read stories. I ask things like: can anyone make a connection? Has something similar ever happened to you? This is when most hands will raise and they tell me things completely unrelated to any part of the story. They are simply sharing what’s important to them. “Mme. Did you know my grandma is coming to visit?” Meanwhile the story was about dinosaurs or a dog.

Paint. Only paint in small groups at a time.  A couple times, I made the mistake of painting with the whole class at the same time. That’s fine teacher, if you want to spend the next 48 hours cleaning every table, chair, floor, sink, students hands and clothes. Never ever paint with the whole group at once.

Take time to breath. I teach Kindergarten French Immersion and by the end of the day my brain is fried from behaviour management, teaching and speaking in a second language.  I was coaching track and field to the grade 5’s after school outside and said to them “everyone sit on the carpet”. They informed me we were on the grass. Then I started the warm ups “cinq, quatre, trois, deux.” They informed me: it’s after school, we speak English.   That day, I needed to breathe.

Scrapes and cuts are monumental. Tears flow. Somehow a band aid solves everything.

Infact, in kindergarten expect about 1 student in tears a day. With full day kindergarten, a few are overtired by the afternoon and I often hear “I’m tired” by one or two.  Sleep is important (for children AND adults!!)

Children are amazing and loving. The best part of kindergarten are the hugs. Charlotte’s Diamond’s classic “4 hugs a day” doesn’t come close to my class. On a given day, I’m given 20 hugs and it’s the sweetest thing. Often I have to remind them that in the middle of a math lesson, it is not the best time to hug. At the right times, it’s very sweet.

Kindergarten parents are awesome. I have the best Kindergarten parents helpers. They help read to the class and help me do science/art projects once a week.  I have great respect for them.

Children love exploring and discovering in nature. All of my students shared that they're favourite part of the day is GOING OUTSIDE. It’s fascinating watching them play and discover and create through nature. Adults usually come alive outside too.

Children are CREATIVE. During centers (play time) children want to build, paint, draw, invent. Anything that's new and creative. We are made in God's image and He is Creator. So it makes sense that we were born to create and be creative.

Children are teachable, amazing, forgiving, loving, explorers, creative, discoverers. Teaching these kids helped teach me a lot about life.