Moving Up Day: Transitioning to First Grade

The Need for a Moving Up Day

As kindergarten teachers, we might expect some tears on the first day, but how about on the last?

It’s easy to forget that as we are counting down the days, there are children whose anxiety is rising at the very thought of leaving their safe, predictable kindergarten “nest.”

I remember one year in particular, when only minutes after the last bus pulled out, a parent returned with her teary-eyed daughter for one last goodbye.  I promised to write over the summer and still think of Zoe every June as I prepare to close out the year!

This is why I now set aside a special day, known to us as Moving Up Day, in those last weeks of school, to prepare children for this transition.

Here is the 5-step plan we use on that day, while creating our own transition journal titled, We Are (Almost) in First Grade! 

Our Moving Up Day Plan

Step 1: Find Out How They Are Feeling

We begin by exploring our feelings and writing what we are most excited and/or nervous about when we think about moving up to the next grade.

Next, we create a Venn diagram, so we can compare our feelings as a whole class. Kids can see that they are not the only one having those feelings and that it is even possible to feel both excited AND nervous about moving up to the next grade.

Step 2: Take Time for Questions

The children then write down a question they have about moving up to first grade.  These often include questions about practical things such as desks, lunches, specials, and recess.  But they also wonder about who their teacher will be, will he/she be “nice,” and if they will make new friends.

Step 3: Plan a First Grade Field Trip

I make arrangements ahead of time for us to take a first grade “field trip” on our Moving Up Day, where we visit the classroom, interview the teacher, and listen to the current students tell us what they loved most about their first grade year.

We also bring our questions with us and ask both the teacher and students.

The teacher always shares several things that they do in first grade that we don’t do in kindergarten.  Things like having desks, reading chapter books, keeping poetry notebooks, and taking a field trip are all things the kids get excited about  and can begin to look forward to.

Step 4: Tell About Yourself

There is also a spot in our books to write a “text message” to our new teacher to tell them something we want them to know about us!  What they write here might be as simple as telling the teacher one of their “favorites,” (i.e food, tv show, game, etc.), or they can share something more personal such as something they struggle with or are afraid of.

Step 5: Picture Yourself in First Grade

The last step is to spend a few minutes visualizing ourselves on that first day of school.  I ask kids to close their eyes and “picture” themselves in their new classroom.  I tell them to think about what they are wearing and how they feel on that day. We then draw a “selfie” on the front of our books that reflect the image we saw in our heads.

When Moving Up Day Ends

At the end of the Moving Up Day, we return to our Venn diagram and kids are given the chance to once again share how they feel about going to first grade.  Some move their  “sticky star,” while others keep it where it is.  After several years of doing this, I have noticed that many children move from nervous to excited, now that they know a little bit more about what’s ahead for them.

As for me, I find I have a better handle on how my kiddos are feeling and can make additional arrangements for specific students who might need a little bit more to ease their anxiety.

If you think your group of kinders might also benefit from having a special moving up day, you can find everything you’ll need in We Are (Almost) in First Grade!