
Sesame Street’s Ready for School Challenge: First Grade
Starting first grade can be exciting…and sometimes scary! But Elmo and his friends are here to help.
The Very First Day
Making New Friends
Classroom Rules
Teacher Talk
All About Recess
Morning Routines
Together with your soon-to-be first grader, listen anytime, anywhere to real kids, real parents, a real teacher, and Elmo—all on the topic of first grade! In each episode, there’s also a teacher tip and an interactive game. Listen in any order:
- The Very First Day: Available Now!
- Making New Friends: Available Now!
- Classroom Rules: Available Now!
- Teacher Talk: Available Now!
- All About Recess: Now Available!
- Morning Routines: Now Available!
And consider these school readiness tips for anytime:
Talk & Listen. For little ones, so much of school success involves caring relationships—with their teachers, with other children, and with you! Chat together about starting school, and set the stage for a great year.
Tell Your Stories. Tell your child about your own school memories. Who was your favorite teacher? Your best friend? What was your favorite recess game?
Play Pretend. Act out school scenes using stuffed animals and dolls. Notice what your child is saying and doing, and use it as a starting point for conversation. For instance, “Hmm…how can the elephant introduce himself to the other animals he sees playing together?”
Talk it Through. Explain any new or unfamiliar morning or afternoon routines, such as who will be doing pick-up and drop-off.

My Classroom Circle
Children can create their own unique circle canvas to share their favorite things with their classroom community... and see what they may have in common.

Learning Party
When children feel welcome and included, school can feel like a learning party that they’re invited to each and every day!

C is for...
Classroom communities care, collaborate, show compassion… and celebrate!

Sing-Along: Learning Party
Every day can be a celebration of learning. Keep the music going!

Back to School
A video that explores ways parents can build bridges of communication between the home and the classroom.

Cookie Monster at Circle Time
A storybook about circle time, classroom community, caring friends, and... COOKIES!

Just for Teachers: The Magic of Circle Time
Learning is all about relationships!