How to Teach VPK in the First Week of School (and Set the Tone for the Year)

Andrea Alvarez
Aug 10
2 min read

The first week of VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) is an exciting and critical time for both students and teachers. It’s when young learners start building routines, making friends, and developing the confidence they need to thrive in school.

As a VPK teacher, your goal in Week 1 isn’t just to teach — it’s to create a welcoming classroom environment where students feel safe, curious, and ready to learn. Here are some tried-and-true strategies and first-week VPK lesson ideas to help you start the year strong.

1. Teach Classroom Routines From Day One

Before diving into academics, focus on helping children understand daily routines. Practice:

Morning greetings and attendance
How to line up and transition between activities
Cleaning up centers and materials

Clear routines make your VPK classroom calmer and give students the confidence to participate.

2. Build Relationships Through Fun Activities

Relationships are the heart of a successful VPK program. Use the first week to:

Learn students’ names with fun name games
Share “All About Me” books or posters
Do partner activities so children meet new friends

When children feel connected to you and their classmates, learning comes naturally.

3. Make Learning Hands-On

In VPK, play is learning. Your first week activities can mix fun and academics, like:

Literacy: Read aloud and have students retell the story with puppets
Math: Sort objects by color, shape, or size
Fine Motor: Playdough, cutting strips, and lacing cards

Hands-on learning keeps students engaged while developing key pre-kindergarten skills.

4. Use Weekly Themes to Organize Lessons

Themes help you connect literacy, math, science, and art in a way that feels cohesive for students. A “Back to School” theme could include:

Writing/drawing about the first day of school
Counting and sorting school supplies
Creating name tags for cubbies and tables

5. Save Time With a Ready-Made VPK Curriculum supplement.

Let’s be honest — searching for lesson plans and activities can eat up hours of your personal time. That’s why having a complete, ready-to-use VPK curriculum can be a game-changer.

My VPK Curriculum Bundle includes:

10 months of lesson plans aligned with Florida VPK standards
Literacy and math activities for every week
Hands-on center ideas and assessment prep
Activities designed to make your first week — and every week — run smoothly

It’s perfect for teachers who want to spend less time planning and more time teaching.

6. Celebrate the First Week

End your first week with something special:

A “Look What We Learned” board
Show-and-tell time
A fun snack or mini-party

Celebrations make students proud of their progress and excited for what’s next.

Final Tip for VPK Teachers

The first week of VPK is about setting expectations, building relationships, and creating a love for learning. With the right tools and a little planning, you can make this week both productive and joyful.

If you’re ready to simplify planning and start the year feeling prepared, check out my VPK Curriculum guide and lesson plans— it’s everything you need to teach VPK with confidence, all in one place.