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Kindergarten classroom tools can be a great way to ensure that all students in your classroom have what they need to be successful.

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Having tools available for students to use throughout the day is an integral part of a kindergarten classroom. Having your students access their own tools teaches them self-help and self-regulation skills.

I also love having students able to get and use their own tools- that way they don’t have to ask me!

What Are Classroom Tools?

For me, classroom tools are items that help students be successful. This can be items that are displayed (word walls or alphabet charts) or used by students (math manipulatives).

What is available in your classroom?

Think about your classroom. What do you have available to your students to help them when they are practicing new skills? Do you have:

• Tools for discovery (magnifying glass, scale)
• Tools for learning (alphabet chart). If learning a new concept, what tools do you have to support that?
• Tools for them to use (pencils, paper, abacus)

How available are the classroom tools?

Still thinking about your classroom. Where are these tools? If they are on the wall, are they in the line of sight of your students? Putting alphabet or letter charts high up on your wall makes it hard for students to be able to see it.

Instead, consider bringing them down to your students’ eye level or making them portable so that they can be used or displayed at the table.

Another thing to consider- do your students know that they can take the tools and use them? Show them where the tools are, and let them know that they are there for them to use.

Teach them how to use the tools

When you put new tools into your classroom, make sure that you are taking the time to introduce them to your students. You don’t want to just set them out and hope for the best.

I begin by modeling and explaining what each tool is, and how they can use it. If we are using counters to help us add, I will give them an example of me doing it.

Going back to review what each of the tools is with your students is also important. Often when I am explaining math centers, I will ask my students to point out where they can go if they need help (number chart, word wall, etc).

You want to keep these tools fresh in their mind, and give them the confidence to use all of them when they are needed.

Reflection

Take some time now to reflect on the tools that are in your classroom:

• What tools do you have/are accessible to students?
• What can you add/change for students to be more successful?

Let me know in the comments what your answers are!

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