I told my principal I will no longer use the phrase “get ready for first grade.”

I teach kindergarten. The phrase “get ready for first grade” has been used for years on my campus. For the last five years, I have used the phrase. I have NEVER liked it. When we say “get ready for first grade,” we are sending kids a message that first grade is something to be feared. We are also sending the message that we are only preparing them for first grade and not for life. <br><br>Last month, I told my principal I will no longer use the phrase “get ready for first grade.” She agreed. The kids in my classroom and on the campus have not heard me say this phrase in weeks. Instead, we say “you are getting ready to be a first grader, and you’re going to love it!” and “you are becoming a first grader and it’s going to be an incredible time in your life.” We also tell them they are already incredible and amazing, and they already bring so much joy into the world. I want my kindergarten students to feel proud of who they are and who they are becoming. <br><br>I want my students (and yours) to feel confident and excited for first grade! *Let’s send our students into the world with a positive view of themselves and the future. ?