Cow Classroom Helpers

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The beginning of the year can be crazy and very stressful working on getting your classroom set up and organized, figuring out lesson plans to start with, what to do to manage it, and helping your children learn the classroom rules and how you want things to be done. That is why I wanted to create these Cow Classroom Helpers printable.

Introducing the idea of using classroom helpers at the very beginning was something I always liked to start the new school year with, explaining to my preschoolers what being a classroom helper meant and how we were going to select the helpers every week or month.

I discovered over the years that children love to have chores in the classroom (not so much at home!) It gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment in the help they are providing. Having classroom jobs also teaches them responsibility and teamwork.

Importance of Assigning Classroom Jobs for Preschool

When you include assigning classroom jobs as part of your daily, weekly, or monthly routine, you are showing your preschoolers that they matter. It also helps them understand that they belong to a classroom community, with the bonus of making your job so much easier, because they help you keep the classroom running smoothly.

Those classroom helpers and their jobs not only are important to your entire classroom community, but also help them acquire important life skills, independence, and responsibility. Your children will learn to work together and take protect the materials in your classroom and also help you maintain order and organization.

Cow Classroom Helpers

This cute printable includes nine types of jobs, some of them have two pictures, one for boys and one for girls. The jobs included are:

Line Leader – this helper will be at the front of the line and will guide the rest of the class on where to go.

Bathroom Monitor – this helper will make sure that the restroom in your class is clean and organized.

Door Holder – this helper will keep the door open when the class is going out to the playground, and back to the classroom.

Line Monitor – this helper will make sure that children are lining up in an orderly fashion, and not skipping their position.

Pencil Monitor – this helper will pass along the pencils, and collect them after the activity is finished.

Messenger – this helper will help the teacher pass along spreadsheets, crayons, markers, and other items for the different activities.

Sweeper – this helper will sweep after meals or other types of trash on the floor.

Table Washer – this helper will clean the tables after meals or during art activities.

Trash Can Monitor – this helper will make sure the trash can is being used when needed.

How to Use the Cow Classroom Helpers Printable

To get these signs ready, you only need to download the Cow Classroom Helpers printable found at the bottom of the post, print out your favorite version on white cardstock, cut out the signs, and laminate them for durability. There are actually two different versions of the printable, one is smaller and has four job signs per sheet, and the second one is larger, with two per sheet.

You can purchase a pocket chart, make your own classroom jobs chart, or use a bulletin board to place the signs. Whatever works best for your classroom. Then you can use clothespins with the preschoolers’ names and/or pictures, to clip them on the different jobs, making it super easy to change the assignments. Another way to do it is using library pockets, where you can glue the different job signs on the front of the pockets, and use popsicle sticks instead of clothespins with their names and/or pictures to put inside the pockets.

Reading Storybooks

Reading to your children is an excellent way to introduce the school year, and get them to start communicating their thoughts and ideas. Below are some storybooks you can use. If you don’t have any available, you can go to your local library, or used book store. If you want to purchase some, my links on the titles will take you to Amazon very quickly. Get as many as you can, read them to your preschoolers, and fill your library and centers with them.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. Is a classic book that uses lively alphabet rhyme.

Who’s the Beast? by Keith Baker. This cute story talks about a friendly tiger who is confused by jungle animals fleeing from a beast until he discovers he is the beast.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. This classic book uses repetitive language, pretty illustrations, and cut-out pages with different types of food, that children love.

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr. With this book children will chant the rhythmic words, make the sounds the animals make, and pretend to be the zoo animals featured in the book.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. With unforgettable characters and signature rhymes, kids will love the terrific tongue twisters as the list of places to enjoy green eggs and ham gets longer and longer.

The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle. This multi-sensory board book allows children to feel the pictures as well as see them, and with its rhythmic text, becomes an experience to touch, to see, and to hear.

The Baby Beebee Bird by Diane Redfield Massie. This is a fun story about a baby beebee bird, new to the zoo, who is singing his song all night long, and the animals cannot sleep until they come up with a plan to teach the baby beebee bird that nighttime is best for sleeping.

Dr. Seuss’s Book of Colors by Dr. Seuss. This simple rhymed riff about color is illustrated with art from some of the most beloved books by this author.

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle. Using repetitive text, the authors address the important topic of animal conservation, using different types of wild animals, rhythmic text, and vibrant images.

Chicka Chicka 123 by Bill Martin Jr. Children will have fun learning numbers and counting with this joyous book.

Pin It For Later

If you are in a rush and don’t have time to read the post and download the printable but want to save it for later, pin this to one of your Pinterest boards.