Easy After Lunch Routines For The Kindergarten and First Grade Classroom
Vložit
- čas přidán 2. 08. 2024
- Grab these tried-and-true techniques for your K-1 classroom, after lunch routines.
In this video, we delve into the world of kindergarten and first-grade after-lunch routines, focusing on how to create a calm environment using lights and music, while fostering independence and choice among children. Turn this hectic part of your day into a favorite part of your day.
I’ll guide you through how to set a calm mood with music and lighting as well as my favorite hack on how to mix up the seating chart to accommodate a peaceful and independent after lunch time.
Discover how the elements of calm, consistent and choice elements, help create a serene ambiance, allowing children to unwind and refocus their energy, resulting in a more productive and peaceful learning environment.
So get ready to create an environment where children eagerly look forward to their after-lunch routine, knowing they have the freedom to choose activities that spark their interests and the opportunity to collaborate with their peers.
Oh, and you’re going to have some time to do something that you NEVER have time to do. What is it? I could make you watch the video but I won’t…. It’s individual assessments. It’s the perfect time to pull a few students to do a quick check on skills.
Subscribe to Teachers Making The Basics Fun channel and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest videos.
Together, we can make learning a truly enjoyable journey for every child!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Thanks to:
**Special thanks to Dawn The Singing Nurse for the awesome music. Check out her channel. / dawnginese
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Store: Making The Basics Fun Shop: shop.makingthebasicsfun.com/
Got Games? 60+ Independent (and fun) learning games for K-1 Students- Print and Play-
The Early Finisher Solution -Games & More Learning System for Busy Teachers:
-(Look for your free sample game by clicking the link)--
pages.makingthebasicsfun.com/...
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Listen To Podcasts?
Catch my podcast Rockin’ This Teacher Thing to help you in your teacher life. Made just for the early primary teacher.
Find me on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and more.
or
Come to www.makingthebasicsfun.com/podcast to listen.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
DISCLAIMER: All opinions are always 100% my own. This video is not professional advice. I’m sharing my view point and opinions as a retired teacher.
This video and description MAY contain affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. Please understand that I have experience with, or have seen the value of all of these resources, and I recommend them because they are helpful. Do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals. Your support of this channel allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!
#AfterLunchRoutine #KindergartenActivities #FirstGradeLearning #CalmEnvironment #IndependentPlay #CollaborativePlay
Hi Angie!! I liked all of it! The name dots, setting the quiet, calming ambiance of course, a few moments to begin w simple quiet, then moving on to choices--read a book, color sheet, individual activity. And the LIT notebook is phenomenal, also their choice to be w a partner for a few of the activities. Using the time for indiv. assessments. Yeah, all of it. Even as I reflect on this transition period for 4th graders of my past, I can see how this could have been tweeked. Yes, we had the dimmed lights and water break and calming moments of quiet, but the brief independent activities would have been great so that, yes, I could have fit in indiv. assessments. Whew! Thanks.
Wow. You summarize it perfectly. I’m glad you can find a way to tweak it for 4th grade. I taught fourth grade too. Love that age group. They would love some quiet independent project time. ❤
I like this! This past year students would come in arguing, telling me all of what happened at recess. Some would be crying. Some days were just rough. I like the dots and giving the kids choice. And it gives you extra time as well. Thank you for the tips! 😊
I feel the frustration. This routine is going to help. I hope these ideas help. Let me know if you have any questions. 🙂
This was very helpful to me. I have taught 2nd grade for several years now. Next year, I will be teaching first grade and I feel like I'm about to enter a whole new world. I haven't taught first grade in 20 years and I'm a little nervous, so I'm immersing myself in your videos and other 1st grade/littles/content here on CZcams. Thank you!
You are going to be amazing. While the difference between a beginning of the year 1st grader is totally different from an end of the year first grader you have the amazing advantage of knowing what they need for second grade.
Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for watching.
Fantastic idea Angie. I’m a sub and even I can use this idea. Thanks.
I’m glad it helps with subbing. That’s a really hard job.
@@TeachersMakingTheBasicsFun I love it and in fact queen of Grades 1 and 2. And pretty popular too😄
🌺 I liked the quiet music & talking softly. You are so right on ms Angie!
🎵💜 D
Hello Dawn!! Hope all is well with you. 💕
@@TeachersMakingTheBasicsFun yes mam, 🎵💜🌺
Angie, you are such a wealth of helpful information! Thank you for all the truly fantastic ideas! I'm going to implement the dots with their names and the quiet activities, as well as turning the lights down and classical music.
Yahoo. I’m glad it’s helpful. Remember you need to tweak it to make it your own and to meet the needs of your students. Always remember that you need to do you. I learned that the hard way. 🙂
Im SO thankful for these videos! I will be teaching my first class ever starting in September and you have been a wealth of information. God bless you!
Yahoo. So exciting. I’m glad you are getting some ideas. 🙂
After lunch we have an hour of nap time on nap mats. I hope the never take this time away from kindergarten where I live. Thats when I get important things done!! If it ever came down to it though, I would do something like this.
Thanks for sharing your schedule. Sounds like that extended rest time is a gift to you and your students.
Another amazing helpful video. I am heading back into the teaching profession after taking some time off and binge watching all of your content. You do the most high quality helpful teaching content I’ve seen. THANK YOU SO MUCH😄. You need to be teaching a college teacher prep course!!
You are kind. I’m so glad it’s helpful. Maybe some day I’ll teach college. It might be fun. 🙂
Excellent Recomendations❤👌.
Thank You , very much!
I’m so glad it is helpful.
❤ This was so helpful
I’m glad. 🙂
I loved your ideas. I'm going to try the spots and lower the lights. I do the books and choices, but they still get a little rowdy so I will add your ideas and see if we can't improve.
Yahooooo. Thanks for sharing. And yep. Sometimes it does get a bit loud. Sometimes you need a cue to say it’s too much. Like “whisper please “. And when they hear that they can echo back in a whisper, “like butterfly wings.” Then they know that’s a warning. Sometimes they don’t even realize they’re getting too loud. It’s just part of being a young learner.
I appreciate all of your videos. I am moving from middle school (7-8th) to a Primary campus (Pre-K -1st.) as an art teacher. Do you have any tips about how that will look and what you liked when taking kids to specials?
Your voice is so calming. I hope this works out.
Kids are so excited to go to art. I would set the mood with lights low and some calm music.
I would set a routine for the first few minutes. First, I would greet them at the door and set the tone before they come in. Each class is going to have a different energy and set of needs. So setting the expectations before they come in is important. It might look like an attention getter followed be directions and expectations.
Then as they come in have something simple for them to do. Maybe clay or a drawing transformation (I can tell you more about this if you want.). You have to train them how to conduct themselves. So that means your first class will probably be showing them what that looks like.
Again let me know if you want to know about transformation activities.
I think it would be helpful to know how you teach the expectation to be quiet. My kiddos come back from lunch bouncing off the walls sometimes
Yes. That after lunch times has a different energy level. Setting up those expectations and routines helps to get things calm.
Yes. I can do a video on that. I’ll definitely put it on the list.
Basically it’s goes like this 1) I have to decide exactly what I want to happen. What does it look like, sound like. I get it really clear in my own mind. 2) I give them cues. I like to use music or chats to trigger the desired response. 3) Practice, Praise and reward. We practice exactly what the expectation is. I tell them how great they are doing and guide them in the areas that are rough. The rough areas are usually the spots where I did give clear directions. I also reward efforts and progress. Especially at the beginning. The rewards usually looked like points for extra recess or something like that. 4) revisit the expectations and use the training to teach the next routine and expectation.
Please note that with the rewards I don’t take points away and I don’t say “oh we didn’t get the points because this kid isn’t getting it right.” Instead I say, I’m seeing so many people getting it right. This kid and this kid or table did a great job with this part and they just earned a point for us to get extra recess.” And if I have a kid who is being difficult I whisper to them “We are going to practice this again. Would you like to show me the right way to do it and earn a point for the class?” If they say “yes” then we practice and they earn a point for the class. They feel great. If they say “no” I say ok and either ignore the behavior or I say. “ no problem. Go ahead and sit and watch how others do it right and when you feel ready I’d like to see you give it a try. “.
So there you go. It’s pretty simplified but that’s the general gist.
I will make a video soon for you. 🙂
Hi There! I just want to say I have been binge watching all your videos because I start teaching kinder in August! I am so excited! I have a question, I was hoping to get your thoughts on. I have been considering flexible seating but wanted the opinion of someone who has more experience! If you are able to share your thoughts, thank you in advance!
Flexible seating is fun and essential for some kids. With that said I would advise to take it slow. The first few weeks are going to have some challenges. Adding in the excitement and expectation and everything that goes with flexible seating is best left for later on.
Then when you do decide it’s time, start slowly.
One of the best flexible seating options to start with is the option of laying on the floor with a clipboard or work tray.
Starting slowly and really teaching the who and how and when and why and where of flexible seating is important.
So excited for you teaching kindergarten. It’s so fun. I will put a “flexible seating” video on my to-do list. 🙂
@@TeachersMakingTheBasicsFun thank you so much!! I truly appreciate your reply!
Does it cause problems if they search for their dot ?
Nope. It goes really well - and fast. Seems like they help each other if there’s problems. 👍