Kindergarten is more than just an opportunity for children to socialize and learn about colors and shapes.  This is an important year in the life of a young child!  A well-run classroom should offer kids developmentally-appropriate learning opportunities, without pushing them beyond what they can handle, while continuing to challenging them.  It should also provide them with playtime, as well as a chance to recharge and refuel their bodies.

Above all, kindergarten is the time when kids acquire early educational skills so that they're not only ready -- but also excited -- to move on to first grade.  Children within this age group are like little sponges.  They love learning, and they are eager to do so.  Preserving this mindset is one of the most important tasks a kindergarten teacher should accomplish. (And, it's something that parents, babysitter, nannies, and any other child care provider can help with at home, too!)