YAY! IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
It's the first day of school and what do you do? Teachers are always looking for ideas and suggestions on how to begin the school year. The first day of school is the start of ALL THE THINGS: Rules, Procedures, Building Relationships, and Classroom Community with students.
LET THE DAY BEGIN!
In my school district, we start the first week of school on a Tuesday which is scheduled as a minimum (short) day. We only have the kids for four hours which is just enough time to meet them, have them meet their new classmates, get settled into the classroom, and learn basic RULES AND PROCEDURES.
Some schools have a “Meet the Teacher” event before the first day of school. My school does not. We get our class rosters the day before school starts and meet our students on the first day of school. Our students line up outside in a designated area by teacher. The teaching staff goes out 10-20 minutes early (prior to the start of school) to "meet and greet" the kids in their class. When the bell rings, kids are then invited to walk to the classroom. Parents are allowed to come into the classroom if they are carrying extra supplies for their student. Otherwise, I encourage the parents to say goodbye at the door. The kids wave together and say, "Bye mom and dad! Have a great day!"
ENTERING THE CLASSROOM - PROCEDURES & FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ACTIVITY
This is when ROUTINES AND PROCEDURES BEGIN!! I show the kids how to hang up their backpacks and explain my expectations for entering the classroom. When students enter my room, they have a specific activity to complete. For the first day of school, the activity is finding their desk with their name tag on it and waiting for me to begin the day. For this day only, students DO NOT hang their backpacks because they are filled with school supplies that the kids need to unpack inside the classroom.
TEACHER INTRODUCTION - BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
Once the kids are settled at their desks I give them a brief introduction of me and who I am. There are many opportunities during that first day and week for me to give them tidbits of information. I make sure to start with the pronunciation of my name. I have a difficult name to pronounce, therefore I make sure they understand the proper pronunciation.
I let the kids know what grades I have taught and how many years I have been teaching. I tell them that my husband is also a teacher and I have two adult sons. I make connections with students that may have had a brother or sister in my class during a previous school year.
This is my opportunity to make a FIRST IMPRESSION and show the kids that I will care for them and support them. OR you can do a WHOLE CLASS GETTING TO KNOW YOU activity.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU - BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
There are numerous activities you can do as a "Get to Know You" for the kids. One of my favorites that I’ve traditionally done with upper graders is to have them take toilet paper. As they enter the classroom, I hold out a roll of toilet paper and tell them, "Take what you need." I get confused looks and giggles. Some students take 1 square, others take a whole yard of toilet paper. The directions to the activity are given once we are settled in the classroom. Students must state their names and then give us one interesting fact about them for each square of toilet paper. I take multiple squares and use them for my teacher's introduction.
DESK ORGANIZATION - PROCEDURES
The very first thing I have the kids do is put away their supplies and set up their desks. This is your first informal assessment!! It is a perfect way to see:
1. Who can follow directions
2. Who has brought supplies (parents on the ball and/or economically stable) and who has not (parents not on the ball and/or economically disadvantaged)
3. Who can complete a task quickly and who takes their time
4. Who has a good system of organization and who does not
5. Who keeps to themselves and who helps others.
6. Who works quietly and who is a "talker"
SO MUCH CAN BE LEARNED and I just OBSERVE (and answer questions of course). If students have extra supplies, a pack of 4 glue sticks for example, I collect the extras to distribute as classroom supplies during the school year. Be sure to provide students with a visual reminder of what should be inside their desks and inside their pencil boxes. When students are done, they hang up their backpacks and can look at books in my library to read or simply wait until I give the next set of directions.
FIRST DAY READ ALOUD - PROCEDURES & BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS: TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!
There are so many wonderful stories that can be read on
the first day of school. One of my favorites is First Day Jitters. If you choose to read this book on the first day, it lends itself to a discussion topic at your FIRST CLASSROOM MEETING.
Gather students on the floor to read the story out loud. The main character in the story is scared/nervous about the first day of school. Once you have read the story, engage in discussion with your students about how THEY felt coming to school that day.
This is the PERFECT time to introduce your expectations and PROCEDURE for classroom meetings. Share how you felt, as a teacher, beginning a new school year. Use the information students share to learn more about them as people. RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILDING! A great follow-up activity for First Day Jitters is:
BREAK TIME- PROCEDURES
Each time the students have a recess/snack break on the first day, we practice how they will be excused to recess (I excuse them to recess, they are not excused by the bell). I show them where our assigned snack/lunch tables are and where to line up after recess. When I pick the kids up from recess, I go over the rules for lining up and walking back to class. Students must be sitting in line when I arrive for pick-up. They do not get up until invited by me. I may need to speak to a student or another teacher and they need to wait until I am ready. Students must walk back to class in a line. They are welcome to chat with each other, but there is no playing or running allowed.
SMILE! FIRST DAY PHOTOS - CLASSROOM COMMUNITY
While the kids are working on their First Day Emojis and chatting with classmates, I pull each of them to take a "First Day of School Photo". We make memory books for the kids to take home at the end of the school year. Their memory book begins with their first day of school picture. SMILE!!
DAY ONE IS DONE - END-OF-DAY PROCEDURES
As we wrap up the first day of school, this is the perfect opportunity to teach your end-of-day PROCEDURES:
Where to put finished work and unfinished work
How to clean up the classroom
How to pack up for the day
How to exit the classroom
Where to go for pick-up (Buses, Carpool Lane, Pick-up Zone)
Phew! Day one is done, and SOOOO much learning has already taken place!!
Only 179 more days to go!!
Click for access to First Day of School Resources:
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