What I can say from the experiences is that the careful planning and keeping assistant teachers on task with the way to sustain a positive classroom takes careful monitoring just as well. It is important to monitor each student and how they react in a scenario. The younger the child, the more influenced they are by their peers to be distracted. Keeping the focus means you need to have many different tricks up your sleeve, and planning can help you do just that by providing meaningful activities.
Clear instruction is very important. During my circle time, I go over the activity of the morning. If needed, I demonstrate the activity prior to initiation to monitor not only recall of information but to provide the students with a clear instruction of how to complete the activity. Since they are unable to recognize letters or words, this demonstration is key to success in the activity, so when the children are completing the activity, the teachers in the classroom can focus on fixing behaviors that are inappropriate.
Sources:
Jones, V. & Jones, L. (2010). Comprehensive classroom management: Creating communities of support and solving problems (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.