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. We don't want to just stand in front of our students talking about rules and procedures (snore! zzzzzz). But jumping right in to curriculum can be a shock to the system...for everyone. I take the first few days of school and find a balance between fun community building activities and academic work to informally assess my new students.
I make sure that my first day and first week include the following:
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
In my school district, we start the first week of school on a Tuesday, with the first day of school as a minimum (short) day. We only have the kids for four hours which is just enough time to introduce them to meet their classmates, get settled into the classroom, and learn basic procedures.
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. For grades 3-5, I allow parents to come into the classroom if they are carrying extra supplies for their student. Otherwise, I encourage the parents to say good-bye at the door. I have the kids wave together and say, "Bye mom and dad! Have a great day!" I show the kids where they will enter the class and hang up their backpacks, but we DO NOT hang them up yet because they are filled with school supplies that the kids need to unpack.
I tell the kids to enter the room, look for the desk with their name on it, have a seat and wait for me to give them the next set of instructions.
TEACHER INTRODUCTION
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. Telling them about my dogs is a MUST. I make connections with students that may have had a brother or sister in my class. This is my opportunity to make a FIRST IMPRESSION and show the kids that I will care for them and support them.
DESK ORGANIZATION
The very first thing I have the kids do is to put away their supplies and set up their desks. This 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. When they are done, they hang up their back pack and can look at books in my library to read or simply wait until I give the next set of directions.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU...GETTING TO KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU...
There are numerous activities you can do as a "Get to Know You" for the kids. One of my favorites that we traditionally do with our 5th graders is to give them 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 yard of toilet paper. The directions to the activity are given once we are settled in the classroom. Students must state their name and then give us one interesting fact about them for each square of toilet paper. I take multiple squares and use it for my teacher introduction.
I have also done "Four Corners" and "Stand Up Sit Down" to get the kids talking, sharing, and moving. I have used products by Keep It Captivating. She has a lot of Brain Break resources.
BREAK TIME!
The kids get a recess/snack break in the middle of the day. I teach the students that 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.
FIRST DAY READ ALOUD
There are so many wonderful stories that can be read on the first day of school. Two of my favorites are First Day Jitters and You're Finally Here!
You're Finally Here! is no longer available in print, but you can access a reading of the book on You Tube. In addition there are great resources on TPT. The story is perfect for getting the kids to talk about their summer as the book asks, "Where have you been?" and "What took you so long?"
First Day Jitters is a great opportunity to talk about the kids' feelings about the first day of school. After reading the book we discuss all of the different feelings the kids may have had about summer ending and school beginning. I then have the kids complete a First Day Emojis writing activity. This assignment is a great way to informally assess the kids' writing abilities, spelling and usage of punctuation along with their ability to follow directions and the amount of effort they put into their work.
SMILE!! FIRST DAY PHOTO
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. The book begins with their first day of school pic.
DAY ONE IS DONE!
Students who finish their First Day Emojis activity hang it on our work wall. Those that are not done put it into their Unfinished Work Folder. I review the procedures for cleaning up the classroom and packing up to leave. Upper grade students typically know the pick up routine, but I always check to see if anyone, primarily new students, need any help getting to their destination (carpool/pick up line, after school care, etc.)
Phew! Day one is done, only 179 more to go!
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