Managing a classroom full of energetic kindergarteners isn’t just about keeping things running smoothly inside your four walls— it’s about setting students up for success EVERYWHERE they go. That’s where Classroom Promises come in. These kid-friendly expectations are a powerful way to support kindergarten classroom management at every point of your school day. Check out these easy ways to support your students in the bathroom, cafeteria, and assemblies:
Classroom Promises are a great chance for students to take ownership of their behavior in a positive way. Using “promises” instead of “rules” feels like a shared agreement instead of a command. This simple shift in language fosters greater trust between students and you.
Check out last month’s post if you’re looking for ways to support learning and classroom management using Classroom Promises in the classroom.
Kindergarteners thrive on routines and consistency, so extending “promises” into other areas of the school, like the bathroom, cafeteria, and school assemblies, helps prevent confusion and behavior issues before they ever begin.
Classroom Promises are proactive classroom management at its finest— teaching expectations BEFORE the need to redirect negative or distracting behaviors.
Students will feel safe, confident, and empowered to make good choices wherever they are!
The bathroom is one of the first areas outside of the classroom where kindergarteners are expected to be independent. They are expected to wait their turn, use a quiet voice, and wash their hands properly.
Use the Bathroom Promises resource to teach expectations to your students before they ever step foot into the hallway to go to the bathroom.
This resource includes everything you need to set students up for success as they learn bathroom rules for health and safety:
If you’re implementing these expectations at the start of the school year, teach and act out Bathroom Promises together as a class before the first group bathroom break. If you’re adjusting your management system after the school year has begun, start any Monday morning by explaining this new system and work diligently to reinforce it until a new routine is set.
Next up— the cafeteria! This space is usually loud and busy for little ones. Kindergarteners often struggle to remember expectations in this space that is full of distractions. Cue the Cafeteria Promises resource!
Instead of waiting to react to dropped trays or loud voices from your students, use the Cafeteria Promises resource to teach students how to act and make good choices at lunchtime. It includes:
This sorting activity is a great way to get your kids moving while they learn appropriate rules and expectations for the cafeteria!
Role play is another fun way to reinforce learning! Coordinate with your cafeteria staff to borrow trays for practice in your classroom, or schedule a time before lunch is served to role-play in the cafeteria.
Practice walking calmly in a line, holding trays, and raising hands for help.
And finally, don’t forget school assemblies! These events are most likely new– and sometimes very overwhelming– experiences for little ones. Without a good plan in place, even your calmest kindergartens might struggle to follow directions or stay focused in such an exciting and crowded space.
Introduce Assembly Promises before the first school-wide event.
This resource includes:
The activities included in this resource are a great way to teach and review school rules and procedures. With activities for sorting, movement, and writing, you’ll also be building a strong classroom community as your students have fun together!
Host a “mini-assembly” in your classroom or in a shared learning space at school with other kindergarten classes to practice these expectations before the big school-wide assembly.
Use the School Promises Bundle to teach your favorite learners all about positive behavior expectations in the classroom, bathroom, cafeteria, and assemblies.
And be on the lookout for next month’s post about using Playground Promises!
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These activities will get your students working cooperatively in no time!
Whether you’re just getting started with kindergarten classroom management or fine-tuning your current system, school promises are a great way to create a calm and consistent learning environment, no matter where you are in school! By teaching and reviewing promises for the bathroom, cafeteria, and assemblies, you’re helping your kindergarteners grow into confident, respectful, and independent little learners. A little bit of effort and a positive attitude will help you incorporate these tools into your current classroom system with ease!
I’m a teacher who believes in creating a classroom kids love and activities that keep them engaged all day!
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