I always have a fun ice breaker activity. I have students write answers to four questions about how they want to be treated by me, by their peers, how I want to be treated, and how to solve conflicts. You can't go wrong with a game of Kahoot! But most important we have fun on the first day. The product includes a very detailed lesson plan with everything I make sure to reinforce, teach and do on the first day. 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. In the end, most kids just want to know that their teacher is glad to see them. They are surprised by how much they have in common and I get to learn a lot about them as well! So even though many are not new to the school, they are new to our side and may not know where everything is in relation to their new classroom. Now that I am moving to K-5th grade from HS, I am still trying to pin down exactly what I will do. I am a math teacher so all the answers are numbers. I hang these on a bulletin board with their goals for 4th grade! Have each student write something on it that they would love to learn during the school year. Do you have any tips for making great event graphics as designs? If you are looking for more hands-on learning activities, below are a collection of some of my favorite, and most popular activities and ideas from my classroom. These are important lessons, and discussions especially at the start of school. Choose an active game and an icebreaker. I love the first day of school because everything is so fresh! Incorporate it throughout the day. When they find someone, they write that persons name over the square. The students get so excited when they get the answers correct. Ive got 67 for you! First Day Of School Gift Teaching Resources | TPT They love that! How cute is this apple craft? This list of 8 things a teacher must do on the first day of school contains back to school activity ideas, tips for classroom management and organization strategies to use right away, and suggestions for building strong home to school relationships right from the start. are located with regard to my classroom. Its impossible, just like they cannot take back the hurtful words they say to each other or about one another. I teach kindergarten and we always read The Kissing Hand and make a special hand to take home for our familiesand I send a hand cutout home for each family to decorate and send back with a photo of their family to put in a book in our classroom library. I Shouldn't Have to Accept Being in Deepfake Porn - The Atlantic These printable back to school hats are perfect for teachers, homeschooling parents or just for fun at home. Hang them up in the hallway as part of a large poster that introduces them as your students. 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. A scavenger hunt can also be used as a creative way for teachers to introduce themselves and have students share information about themselves. Ready for this year! JFlowers My first read aloud is always The Little Red Hen. It is really great to look back on these when doing last day pictures. The owner then reveals themselves if no one selected them. I always take a picture of each student on the first day to use on our end of year scrapbooks! Children are excited about fall and the changing season. I also like to play a simplified version of Bunko because it is forced interaction between classmatesthe kind of interaction all kids want but dont know how to do themselves. We do a conversation circle, too so that students can learn about each other. I always eat lunch with my students! It has worked beautifully every year. Plus, check out these great picture books to read during the first weeks of school. One thing I always do on the first day of school is have a longer morning meeting. This way, no one wanders around unsure of where to go. I read First Day Jitter and go over classroom procedures. One thing that I always do is go over my classroom expectations so that the students know how I will hold them accountable, but also so students and parents know how they can expect to hold me accountable as well. First Day of School Teacher Coffee Gift is a great way to start the school year off right. I always read First Day Jitters and The Teacher from the Black Lagoon! One thing I always do on the first day of school is begin procedures. One thing I do on the first day of school is take pictures of the students. 20 First-Day-of-School Traditions Your Students Will Love - WeAreTeachers We have share time and I take them on a tour around the school. This may be a fun way to roll out Chromebooks or IPads on Day 1. I take a photo of each student holding a first day of kindergarten sign. First Day of School and Back to School Ideas for Teachers The first day of school, I have the students complete a who am I activity. Use this template to create an accordion by following these simple steps: Direct each student to create anAll About Me Pennant. After a morning circle in which we begin to learn each others names and have some fun, I have them rewrite their daily schedule from a computer print out to something they can follow. I really love reading First Day Jitters on the first day of school and having students write a letter to the teacher about why she shouldnt be scared! The students have to guess if it is a truth or a fib. My kids and I go looking for them. A classic icebreaker game! Customize and create your own teaching resources and display materials. I get on their level, look them in the eye, and try very hard to make a real connection with what they are saying. Motivator to read and perhaps something they can keep for years to come! I find that establishing this first helps them know what to do and how to do it so the rest of the year runs smooth in no time! I always take my kids on a school tour, too, since we have a large building and a somewhat transient population. On first day of school I try to greet everyone with a smile and label all supplies brought in with students name. The answer is 8 states and then I tell about each state I lived in and when. Theyll learn and appreciate their own name, plus the names of their classmates. This activity has students pair up and ask each other a series of creative questions. Its so cute when the kids walk through the cafeteria with their pretend lunch trays and lunch boxes! Heres to another fun and productive year, everyone! Do they want to be a doctor, an astronaut, a Lego designer? I always make sure to teach my kiddos about how to ask to go to the bathroom, and the procedures for communicating that with me! Toss the ball around the circle. Thanks for this great post. When I begin my first year of teaching, I plan on creating an all about me bag and then having the students create one to share with the group during our morning meetings. Another thing I do is read the book The Name Jar and then send home an activity for them to do with their families so they can find out how they got their name. Ive been doing this for three years now, and it has been great. where they meet and interact with staff. Then we discuss as a group. This article suggests several fun, educational activities that will build community in your classroom and help you establish a strong student-teacher rapport. These printables and songs would be a wonderful addition to any classroom. This method works wonders and will stick with students! On the first day, we tour the classroom and the school. Set up signs with various morning greetings that your kiddos can choose from for a fun experience every morning. I also take photos of each of the students to put up on the wall. We go through a list of questions as a group and they circle comfort zone, challenge zone, or panic zone. If you are looking for a fun, inexpensive, and easy way to make name tags for your child or classroom, these vibrant back to school name tags are a great choice! Print off multiple copies (1 for every student). I always read First Day Jitters and the kids draw a picture of themselves on the first day 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. A whole class active game that encourages teamwork. The best way to do this is plan some fun activities that help you all get to know each other, the school, routines, and have your students buzzing about coming back the next day! Teacher Gifts First Day of School - Etsy I give them a multiple-choice quiz about me. It always works! By open house the students can see how much theyve grown! So do kids! A whole class active game that encourages cognitive processing skills, physical activity, and social skills. Getting Organized from the Get Go with Lists! Subscribe to our curated library of teacher-designed resources and tools for one easy price. Be approachable, laugh, and enjoy yourself! Its so important to develop those relationships! I usually serve a variety of donut holes, orange or apple juice and bananas and grapes. 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. This chapter on Writing Prompts may give the teacher some ideas on how to incorporate writing into this . I find that giving my students the time to share at the beginning of the day helps instructions go smoother later in the day. One thing I always do on the first day of school is read First Day Jitters. My students and I always have a great conversation after about how even teachers can be nervous for the first day. Preparing for Your First Day as a New Teacher - TeacherVision It may sound silly, but I always do a tour of our school. Print off an enlarged copy or work with a digital image. Most first day of school activities are for elementary, but I included a few as well for middle school students and high school students. Then, I give it back to them at the end of the year. Introduce yourself, learn their name, and make this a positive start of their day. Planning those first day of school activities can really set the tone for the rest of the year. This is a fun icebreaker game to play. Im totally doing that! The game continues until every student has had a chance to tell something that they did. Tbis is my second year teaching. The kids guess what the answer for each question will be. For a quick and easy way to connect with your students on the first day of school, take a selfie with your new class. 8. Take a look through 4 very popular first day of school books for kids and try out a craft to go along with them. I also let them know that after meeting them I felt much better knowing that my learning family included each one of them. I always start with an intro of myself. First Day of School Shirt for Teachers (1 - 40 of 5,000+ results) Price ($) Shipping All Sellers More colors Teaching Future Leaders, 2nd Grade Teacher Shirt, for Teacher, Teaching Gift, Cute 2nd Grade Teacher Shirt, New Teacher Gift, First Day BellaAndOak (3,289) $21.00 $26.25 (20% off) The booklet is designed with young children in mind because it is simple and gives kids lots of room to draw. But dont sit your students down and speak for hours on end about this. I let them know I didnt sleep well the night before, my stomach may have been nervous, and I was anxious to begin. It marks the beginning of a new adventure as children explore new ideas, make new friends, and learn to navigate their ever-growing independence. I also do get to know you games to build community, read Gingerbread Baby (because I love Gingerbread men and they think it is so funny to read it now!) One thing I always do for fun is read Arnie the Doughnut. The kids then receive a donut to name and eat of their own. Some kids just need to hear that over, and over, and over. First Day of School Ideas for Teachers - BrightHub Education Welcome toThird Grade! We also overview procedures as they come up and CHAMPS expectations for things like restroom, hallway, etc. In that past, I would repurpose these characters as a cover for an All About Me book for the end of the year. They love to talk! Then we take a picture of the child and pick up person together for a card for the sub, if the child is a busser we hold up my bus sign with number and take a picture and if they are after school care we have a panther(our mascot) and a picture. I taught Spanish, and each student would get a Spanish name, hopefully their English equivalent, Neil F. explains. Display the four posters in a prominent place and tell your students that this is the Social Contract of the class. On the first day of school I always give my students a welcome bag with a snack and some little gifts! Here are some first-day-of-school printables and first-day-of-school activities that are easy to plan and execute but also make for a memorable return to the classroom. My favorite activity is making jitter juice and taking the kids on a gingerbread hunt around the school. Its fun to see what kind of questions they come up with! The first day of school is without a doubt one of my favorite days of the year . First day jitters is always a must as wellcant forget that jitter juice ;p. I always do self-portraits! 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!!! We have shortened periods the first day, so the teaching period goes very fast. I want to start the school year with a blessed classroom and blessed students! One student stands and tells the class something that they did over the summer (or over the weekend, if you play this at different times during the year) like I flew on an airplane, or I went to the beach.. Chances are, your students love it, too. Jill Staake is a Contributing Editor with WeAreTeachers. Interactive Modeling Choosing a Partner (Interactive Modeling) Practice interactive modeling to teach students key routines for your class. Rob H. keeps it simple: I shake every pupils hand, welcome them, repeating their name to the class, and share with them that I look forward to working with them, with a big smile.. Grab a free printable interview sheet at the link above, pair students, and have them introduce each other to the class. I then give a tour of the classroom. Dont forget you on the first day of class! I get to my classroom really early and pray over each seat and the little heart that will occupy said seat. I always start a read aloud sharing the importance of reading every day!! Learn how to set first-day goals, and find an effective teaching stance that fits your personality. I love read alouds! This article includes tips on outlining the syllabus, ideas for homework assignments, and suggestions for fun activities. Tghe students love to look at them at the end of the year! Interview Another Student The interview is pretty simple. Its such an informal quick glance at who my students are! 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. We always partner with someone else to create a Venn Diagram to learn what we have in common with someone else in the room. Kids love them too, which is a bonus! On the first day, I greet each student work a smile at the door. I finally found books that he loved!! I like to do a little get to know you activity called truths and fibs. Teachers First Day of School Checklist for 2023-2024 On the first day of school, I play a get to know you game and then go over expectations. Im excited! Just like them I am that crazy combination of nervous and excited, and I just can't wait for the year to begin! Your students will love the interactiveness of sticky notes and placing them on chart paper! This is such a cute idea for teachers! Get children doing a bit of writing, either at home to review for school, or in the classroom on the first few days. I allow students to share if they want but they do not have to. Dont forget about math on your first day of school. Be smart and choose an activity that is easy for your students to complete independently and without much teacher instruction. Finally we go over the class routines, rules, and expectations. I have a giant metal bowl that the students sit in one at a time. Learn how to get off to a great start communicating with parents during the first week of school. While the first week tends to be filled with enthusiasm, it's important students get to know their new classmates, but you don't want to overwhelm them with too much at once! Our first writing sample of the year is How I Spent My Summer Vacation. I leave it open ended saying something like please tell me anything you would like me to know about most parents give me good incite to kids background etc. Alleviate your nervousness as a new teacher and calm your students' fears by focusing on four areas: personality, building a community, routines and schedules, and self-determination. My para brings the kids to the different locations and teach staff member is assigned an area to teach. This game can be played after summer, after a weekend, as an about me type of game (I play the piano.), and so on. The kids always have some many questions about who I am. The children color their portion of the quilt with a kind message then we put all our pieces together to make one beautiful quilt with kind words for the year. I out it in a time capsule. Then at the end of the year, we open the time capsule and see how much their drawing and writing has changed. Are you ready? For me, practicing how to get your students attention in the classroom and developing whole class rules are musts on the first day! Five or more teachers. Then we try to smooth out the wrinkles and make it new again, like the hurtful things were never said. On the first day of school, I like to have my students write a short letter to me telling me one thing (or many) that they would like me to know about them. On the first day of school I share my owl Oliver with my class and we talk about wise and unwise choices. However, I am moving to Second Grade and dont know what I am doing yet : /. After they finish decorating, you can sit in circle time or have students sit at their desks. Take a look at the following sections to identify what you still need for the first day. I am From Poems make for a beautiful, literary way to learn about each others' backgrounds. Classroom Crest This fun activity further builds a sense of unity and belonging in this new space. If youve got a collection of broken crayons around the house or classroom, this is a great way to reuse them. The one tradition I want to start with my kids is a kindness quilt. Then, I have them create a name tent on card stock (folded horizontally). What can you do to make sure your students (and you!) We play Four People on the Couch, a game I learned when I was in Youth Ministry. On the first day of school I always have my first graders draw self portraits. I want them to love reading as much as I do!! Then we make the class essential agreements and the students sign the anchor chart like I sign mine. These All About Me booklets are a great and easy, way to record special things about your child. I usually have the students participate in getting to know you activities, a group challenge to work together cooperatively, and general rules and procedures are introduced. I always get stuck with the computer lab. Very excited about this year. One thing I always do is take my mom with meShe is a retired teacher so she is wonderful help to me but she is also a mom, and a grandma so she is great at giving hugs to anyone who might be nervous!!! Lori I love this as a first year teacher I would love to copy your idea and make it my new annual tradition please!! On one of the last days of school, we give the letters out and share again!! The owner is then the student of the week. Discuss "just-right" books with them and have students take books back to their seats. And procedures. Required fields are marked *. For many children the first day may be their first time on the bus. You can then update your attendance and other records with these preferences. Sit in a circle with your students and toss the beach ball to each other. For students that have parents picking them up right away, take their picture with the parent. The student chooses a positive I AM statement and we cut out letters and glue them onto the picture. Bonus: These make a great end-of-school year gift to take home to their parents/guardians. Use icebreakers during the first few weeks of school to help students get to know you and each other. Rather, I ask students what they read or learned over the summer. I always read lots of fun books, and go over routines and take their picture. As a Kindergarten teacher for the last few years I always read a Pete the Cat book and took a tour of the school while looking for Pete. Our class pledge is read ever day at the beginning of school, during morning meetings! I have them draw a small picture and label for each fact. Toddler Back to School Classroom Ideas - Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds Here's a great list of Would You Rather questions that will have students breaking the ice with each other. I then collect all the cards and use them all year to call on students. What makes each student unique? I give each student a card that corresponds to one of the stops on our tour. Tackle the jitters by having students write down something that makes them nervous about starting schoolno names! The Wheels on the Bus is a great song for the first day of school. Also, we get to practice our hallway expectations right off the bat! I also share that I have jitters on the first day of school each year. The one thing I did last year was say hello to every student at the door. And Im a well known teacher So my first day tradition is a chemistry experiment and discovering together what makes for good classroom chemistry. If youve got a collection of pencils ready for the school year, this STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) challenge is a great, hands-on activity for the first day of school. Take a fun selfie of yourself with your new class behind you. My favorite first day activity is to do a 5 senses activity using Pop rocks. Send it home to show parents how their little one did the first day back. First Day of School Ideas | Mrs. E Teaches Math I also always talk about the word EXPECTATIONS! I always sing a song with the kids name. We get to know each other and start the year with math at the same time. One thing I do on the first day of school is have students choose 3 books from our class library that interest them. 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) Some kids might be shy, so try putting them in groups. When I was a kid, I loved filling out little surveys that asked me all about me! Then we do a short scavenger hunt so they have a sense of where the office, gym, library, cafeteria, nurse..etc. As students squish their play dough it starts changing colors and they get excited! I always take their picture and we talk about being bucket fillers in and out of the classroom. 8 First Day of Preschool Activity Ideas for Teachers Get a demo 8 First Day of Preschool Activity Ideas for Teachers Want to make a child's first day of preschool memorable? We love taking our back to school pictures then circle up for introductions & procedures. Read First Day Jitters by Julie Danneburg. They have a blast reading those letters. The kids love to see their pictures on the wall. At the beginning of every school year I gather my 2nd grade friends at the group carpet. Terms of Service apply. On the first day of school I always take a picture of each child with a 1st day sign, we put this on the first page of their memory book and they write the sentence On the first day of school I felt. I always like to talk about expectations and I plan to read first day jitters and schools first day of school.