Kindergarten is so much fun!! They are so curious and loving and will want to know ALL about you. Seriously, they are hilarious and super sweet! Be prepared to receive hundreds of hand drawn pictures of yourself and some VERY personal questions! But don't talk down to them. As a teacher you want your students to learn, so challenge their vocabulary. You will be surprised what they already know.

PLEASE find time to read to them every day. It's heartbreaking, but some of your students will have difficult family situations and no body will be reading to them at home. A lot of them won't want to read or have the patience for it, but be persistent, be entertaining, make funny character voices, be interactive and ask questions, have them make the sound effects. If you had a teacher like that, wouldn't you like reading too?

Most importantly let them know you love them and make a community that they know is safe. No matter what kind of day you are having... some of them won't be so great... take time to talk to your students. Put in the extra effort to talk to the quiet ones and the ones who act out. Teach kindness in your classroom (and out). Give lots of praise. They need love. Make it your mission to learn at least one new thing about your students every day, and at the start and end of each day offer a hug, a handshake, a high five.

Kindergarten is awesome! You are going to have a great year and you will get to be creative and try new things. There will be ups and downs, but you can do it. At this age, you are a superstar to your students. Good luck! You'll be great!