The first week of Pre-K is a whirlwind of emotions—excitement, nerves, tears, and lots of hugs. As teachers, our goal is to build trust, confidence, and a classroom community that feels safe and joyful. The best way to do that? Keep things simple.
I’m sharing my go-to first week favorites—low-prep, high-connection activities that help students ease in, feel successful, and start forming relationships right away.
🎶 1. Movement Songs with Visuals
Start your day with music! Songs like Sticky Bubble Gum or Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes build routine and body awareness while giving students a predictable structure.
Pair songs with visual cards or posters so students can follow along, even if they’re new to group time.
🔗 Read: Sing, Move, Learn – Summer Songs and Movement Activities
📚 2. Adapted Books for Back-to-School
Interactive books with velcro pieces and visuals help students feel successful, even if they’re still learning how to sit for a story.
My favorites for Week 1:
- Old MacDonald
- Brown Bear
- Counting and Letter Sound book
🔗 Read: Back to School with Adapted Books
🧸 3. Name & Picture Matching Activities
Help students recognize their name (and each other’s!) with:
- Name puzzles
- Visual check-in boards
- Pocket chart songs using student photos
These help build classroom belonging and support language development too.
🧠 4. Visual Routines & Schedules
Use visuals to help students understand daily routines and reduce uncertainty. Things like:
- First/Then boards
- Picture schedules
- “All Done” checklists
Keep them posted at student eye-level and refer to them often.
🔗 Read: Using Visuals in Pre-K
💬 5. Simple Social Stories
Short, illustrated social stories help set expectations and give students language for what they’re experiencing.
Try stories like:
- “I Go to School”
- “I Can Raise My Hand”
- “I Take Turns with Friends”
