Terms of Service apply. Be a positive you. On my first day I will read Bono the Monkey book. I always go over the rules and class procedures. I always read First Day Jitters and The Teacher From the Black Lagoon. I always take their picture and we talk about being bucket fillers in and out of the classroom. Greet Your Students. (For what?) After we introduce ourselves and do a small introduction activity, I have the group make classroom rules all together. Im a first year teacher so I have lots of ideas on what I want to do on the first day. Alternatively, I can share with them weaknesses and goals I have to help meet their ideal teacher wishlist . The students write about their personal and academic goals, fears, dreams, hopes for their 8th grade year and beyond, and one thing they want to learn during the course of the year. It also gives a quick assessment of their writing ability. Curriculum-aligned resources to engage and inspire your class. We have some editable labels wed love for you to feature if youre doing a post update for 2018! Doing a bit of printing and writing is important to start right away in the classroom. On the first day I always like to do an Ice Breaker activity to get to know each other, then I have them fill out a Who am I questionnaire. These are important lessons, and discussions especially at the start of school. I always do a team-building activity so the kids get to do some hands-on fun in the midst of all the rules and new information. We always do First Day Selfies! What are your students dreams? Here are some teacher-inspired first day of school activities for primary school children and ideas that teachers can use in their classrooms this back-to-school season. Throughout the first few days I read the cards and we try to guess who the card belongs to and which one is the lie. Incorporate it throughout the day. Prepare yourself for your first day of teaching at the elementary level with the suggestions and activities in this article. Kids love that book and so do I. I like the fact that it is something familiar to most of them and they feel more comfortable with something they are familiar with. Here's a great list of Would You Rather questions that will have students breaking the ice with each other. . ) I always have them pick a book to read on the very first day of school. They love it and I learn a lot about them fast! No sense in putting it off. Booksandgiggles.com has created a great list of Best Read Aloud Books, perfect to help get you started. Take your class on an educational adventure over multiple lessons. Just like them I am that crazy combination of nervous and excited, and I just can't wait for the year to begin! A fun way for students to get to know each other and you! I teach English Language Learners in middle school. The product includes a very detailed lesson plan with everything I make sure to reinforce, teach and do on the first day. Discuss "just-right" books with them and have students take books back to their seats. Then, they write their name on a piece of puzzle and decorate it as their own before we combine them to build a big class puzzle. No, but I am firm. I always give out tons of hugs and lots of high fives! I take a picture of each child on the first day with a My First Day Sign and let them fill out a paper with what they hope to learn and what they want to be when the grow up. I teach them class rules first and then we play! I take the kids pictures holding a frame that says Official First Grader in big glitter letters. Who is the person they most admire. On the first day of school I like to take the kiddos on a tour of the school. We then talk about their jitters (or do an activity). I have them try and write about how they felt on their way to school that day. I also take a picture of each student holding a cute first day sign and send it to their parent to help those grown-up jitters. I wasn't shocked. , I teach third grade, usually I know most of them or their brothers/sisters but I made them fill some worksheets about themselves and their vacations, the things they likebut this year I will use lapbooks. Subjects: Back to School, Graphic Arts, Holidays/Seasonal. When we started with a detective theme we would have a mystery case to solve. This would also be a great activity to try at home to have some fun with children starting school. so your students get a choice of their classroom job and have buy-in on the process. Its a fun, investigative activity they can do with their families. It is crucial to provide students time to decompress and process the new information they are learning. Here are their favorite children's books for back-to-school time! The kids are usually very impressed that I can sing the abc song backwards without looking. Then go around and have each group introduce a different section of the classroom. Create a card with your child for their teacher. They love this book and gets everyone laughing! This resource includes classroom organization labels, classroom management ideas, fun back to school crafts and printables! We go over the rules & the each student fills out an All About Me sheet which they share. It allows for a greater understanding and appreciation of different perspectives, which can help reduce conflict in the classroom. Getting to know the students and friend banners so they can get to know each other! We always have a snowball fight! I always start a read aloud sharing the importance of reading every day!! One person starts by telling something they did over summer. We also set goals for the quarter. With primary students in mind,we have created a Starting School Paper Fortune Teller. I taught 6-8 Math Resource this past year and gave each grade level a color and used the labels for workbook bins, class schedules and turn-in drawers to help students remember where to look for their grade level. These activities can create an exciting and positive atmosphere on the first day of school, and help students feel comfortable and excited to start the new school year. Ask each student and listen to their answers. I Spy games also involve lots of learning! I always have them write a letter to themselves that I hand back during the last week of school. Every year we get to introduce ourselves and get to know each other. You can use it as a calm-down time activity, either in circle time or at their desks. I always start with getting to know you activities and then some stem challenges. Then I go over each answer so the kids can get to know me better. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. I also love getting that first day hug or high five. I dont think there are many people who would not love a free gift. It is a class favorite and is often requested, especially when we have new students join us throughout the year. On my first day with students I go over procedures and get to know them as readers. Whether you're a first-year teacher or a seasoned educator, this checklist offers guidance that will make organizing and managing your days smoother. Structure and routine need to be established right away, and in between practice we build community and have fun! Each student gets to sit in it, we say their name and spin them in the bowl to get to know each others names. I take them to different important places at school (nurses office, music classroom, library, etc.) I call this, Dear Younger Me. My school is very small (10 kids per grade!) Kids get a kick out of it. Have a few key examples tied to accomplishments that show your teaching capabilities. I love having my students make a little time capsule. I have a paper for them to fill out about things they like, etc, then we hide it away until the end of school. Take a look at the following sections to identify what you still need for the first day. and I have a Find-Someone-Who activity that they complete. They love to talk! This allows me to get to know them quicker. Some years Ill have them trace their hand, well measure them and even take pics. Instead, download a time-savingMeet The Teacher Letterprintabletemplate (its editable). We have a great day and the principal helps cook a BBQ for everyone to enjoy! This is one of my favorite activities to do on the first few days of school with my class. One thing I always do is make a social contract with my students. And lets be honest, with you as well! On the first day of school, I always introduce myself with a quick slide show (Google Slides). You may get some teacher inspiration and insights into your students that you can use all year long! To get you started on your first day of school, you can download a FREE All About Me page for children to fill out. I hope it will be. The new students love it. One first thing I always do is tell my students how important and special they are and let them know tgat I chose them to be in my classroom. There are several activities for the first-day jitters book. Write on students desks and leave a note about what you love about each student. I always start with growth mindset activities. Keep the letters and give them back to the students on the last day of the year. They can bring it out at indoor/outdoor recess or during breaks throughout the year. Lots of fun! I let the kiddos pick where they sit on the first day. It is important to provide communal games during recess for the first few days of school. Back to School "Would You Rather?" Activity - Everyone loves a good game of Would You Rather! Introduce yourself, learn their name, and make this a positive start of their day. I then make about 15 copies of each one and use these for file folder games, getting to know you activities, future artwork, and a whole lot of writing activities. I teach first grade, and I always do a tour of the classroom. This would be great for children in the primary grades and it creates a beautiful foldable mini book all about each child. With the right attitude and preparation, however, the first day of any grade in elementary school can be a wonderful experience that sets the tone for a successful year full of growth and exploration. Below are a collection of printable products ideal for preparing for the first day of school. It included MANY more ideas in the comments! On the first day I always read the students the book First Day Jitters! It is a bingo type of set up where the students have to find someone who fits the square description and have them sign it. I then collect all the cards and use them all year to call on students. How cute is this apple craft? We see how it changes throughout the year! It could be a pencil or a treat or just a little note. Turn it into a keepsake at the end of the year. Its the kiddos first year in the main part of the school because Kinders are in a separate area. I give each student a card that corresponds to one of the stops on our tour. Parents will thank you! I tell them that we will always walk down the hallways like marshmallows. We practice by popping the whole thing in our mouths and taking a walk around the school! On the first day, we complete how we go home graphs. I always read First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg so students realize that new beginnings cause many people, even teachers, to feel nervous. Display in the classroom by hanging with pegs along a length of a string. We typically use them for organization, but love the idea of using them for names too. It gives the kids a chance to work together and get comfortable, and it gives me the potential to get to know what kind of learners I have right off the bat! However they want to draw themselves, let them. Each student decorates their piece with their favorite things. This can be done as a whole class by using the, From line leader to technology monitor, there is a lot of, in your classroom to empower them and help them learn about being part of a community. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and I make a simple play dough recipe and then roll enough balls for each student to have one. Take it a step further and create a scavenger hunt for students. Theyll have to teach me the procedures and whereabouts in the classroom, making sure that I know where the bathrooms are, and how to line up for lunch, etc. I teach Middle School so I always do a ice breaker on the first day. That way we all have our agreements to follow for the year. The kids will likely be surprised at how many answers are similar. This name tent is kept in their binder and is used all year. Knowing what is expected of them is of great benefit to your students. CREATED BY: TeacherVision Staff LAST UPDATED: November 15, 2019 Get ready for your first day teaching at the secondary level with these tips on everything from outlining the syllabus to starting a fun and hands-on project. It starts the class with a smile from everyone. This article describes ways to introduce yourself to parents, and offers helpful tips for writing letters to send home with students. I saw an earlier post, that the teacher teaches a mini lesson which contains some first-day-of-school content . Create a lapbook of memories with this printable activity. I always begin our first novel read-aloud. Did they learn how to ride a bike? This activity has students pair up and ask each other a series of creative questions. First day jitters more for me! I teach them the I love you sign in sign language & give them a note with a chocolate kiss at the end of the day. Hang them up in the hallway as part of a large poster that introduces them as your students. Then, I give it back to them at the end of the year. Make a mission statement or class pledge/promise, and recite this each morning. I tell my kids were going to tell 2 truths and 1 lie about ourselves. We make if fun by skipping, jumping, taking tiny steps to the next area. Eventually, these drawings go in their portfolios. They answer one idea per sticky note and then and it to the poster with the appropriate question. Secondary Summer Reading and Writing Enrichment Activity Packet. There are plenty of terrific reads that are perfect for the first day of school. They work with a partner to collect two cards that add to ten. Since its the first day of school, I start with a dance party to help take some of their nerves away the kids love it!!! Print the free cards right from home. Put yourself at ease with our favorite teaching tips and advice. One thing I always do on the first day of school is send home a note to parents asking for their input about their child. Plus, check out these great picture books to read during the first weeks of school. Every year, I have students design a name tag as their first assignment walking in the door. For the first day of school, school supplies, certificates or a small treat is a great idea to put in the box. The first day every year I begin with the song Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Bumble-Bee, Tell us what your name should be It is a chant of sorts, where the students echo the chosen students name, clap it, snap it, and whisper it, as well. I try to make sure we color, cut, and glue on that first day. On the first day of school, we visit about our summers. I always make sure that my students feel welcome in the classroom by greeting them at the door and then by doing a morning meeting where everyone gets a chance to tell a little about themselves! You will receive insight into your childrens personalities that will help with individualizing your attention, care, and understanding of each student. Provide stickers or magazines to cut out for students who don't feel comfortable drawing. Add a little bit of math as you prepare your little ones for first day of school with this hands-on apple tree activity. I would also love to win the gift card. I allow students to share if they want but they do not have to. Include circle time to share summer stories, and dance those jitters away! They're easy, free, and guaranteed to ease the tension on a busy, hectic first day of school. Replace Fear with Trust On the first day of school, within the first two minutes, I discuss this issue with the children What kind of teacher are you? Students love the illustrations and humor. The possibilities are endless! Are you ready for the first day of school? We revisit these in January and call them our New Years Resolutions. Show your kiddos where all the classroom supplies are and help them to know what areas are for them, and what areas are for you only. Another great community building activity. Discover a variety of options you can offer students when it comes to classroom assignments, presentations, assessment, and homework. We sit in a circle and I start (by holding a ball of yarn) by telling them something that they may not know about me. We always read First Day Jitters and drink jitter juice. TeacherVision's Favorite Tips & Advice for the First Day of School. Try to keep it simple, but meaningful. It is really great to look back on these when doing last day pictures. Recently, a Google Alert informed me that I am the subject of deepfake pornography. Working together, following directions and a little bit of math makes this a fun way to start the year. The questions should be something like How do I want to be treated by the teacher?, How do I want to be treated by other students?, How do I treat the teacher?, and How do we solve conflicts?. Thanks for the great resources! to introduce yourself to your students and their parents on the first day of school. Time capsules. We do our own painting and hopefully its mess free! Find more back-to-school books here. Its a great starting point for a discussion about classroom expectations. I always have my students write a letter to themselves about what happened over the course of the year. Required fields are marked *. I get to my classroom really early and pray over each seat and the little heart that will occupy said seat. Then roll it up and put it away until its time to compare at the end of the year. At the end of every school year, I have my students write letters to the new students who will be in my class the next year. Teacher Gifts First Day of School (1 - 60 of 5,000+ results) Price ($) Shipping All Sellers New Show Digital Downloads Retro First Grade Teacher Shirt | 1st Grade Team Teach Groovy TShirt | Back to School Gift Teacher Thank You Tee | Elementary End of Year (9.2k) $10.78 $12.68 (15% off) Sure its the first day of school, but that doesnt mean you cant think about the end of the school year already! Students brainstorm and then take their bags home and come back and begin sharing. On the first day, I always share with my classes how nervous I am! Hang the quilt up in the room as a kindness reminder. In fact, Ive tried to have them pick a book at Open House so they dive right into that book first thing when they come in on that very first day. This is such a cute idea for teachers! A non-contact greeting song to use at the beginning of the day. See #1), and bananas and grapes. We take our first day slow and go over our class rules and my expectations for the year. We use this as their first writing of the school then document growth throughout the year. Invite students to fill out a reading survey and while they are doing that, call groups one by one to the library. The Places Youll Go. 1 Meet the Teacher Activities Before the students arrived at school, I prepared a booklet about myself with pictures that captivated my class.