Print out a comic-book template, then have kids illustrate what they did throughout the day. You want them to feel connected to the class, to each other, and to you. This article provides tips for creating a physical learning environment through different configurations of students' desks. We do a scavenger hunt type activity to let the kids and teachers get to know each other. A few things I always do for BTS are first day selfies , some team building activities, what I want my teacher to know and of course READ! Love to see how they change! This is often accompanied by a discussion and an art/writing activity. First Day Jitters is a great book to break the ice with your students. Its a great way for students to see what they have in common with others. We have the kids introduce themselves. I also always have them draw a picture of themselves. Why wait until the end of the year? Then, I would baptize each one by blowing bubbles on them until they popped. The Ultimate GUIDE For First Day of School Activities! This fun game has students guess a category of the list of items they are taking on a picnic. What do they want to be when they grow up. I also start building a strong classroom community. Have them write kind messages and color their squares. This activity has students pair up and ask each other a series of creative questions. Print a Time Capsule Template for students to fill out, and stow them away in small plastic or glass jars (baby food jars work well!) We asked teachers for the best books to read on the first day of school. I also start to read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Most first day of school activities are for elementary, but I included a few as well for middle school students and high school students. Create a lapbook of memories with this printable activity. On the first day of school I give my students a large index card to make a personalized name tag. First-Day-of-School Writing Prompts & Back-to-School Writing Paper. We also do a tour of our books, and afterwards, we will organize our supplies and desks. Kids will love seeing their art work displayed in their classroom after the first day. First Day of School Activities - Teacher Inspired Ideas 20 Teacher-Inspired Ideas for the First Day of School Activities The first day of school can be an exciting time for teachers and students, but it can be an anxious time, too. Great way to share information and have the students engaged. Iva C. says, I had my second graders draw a picture of themselves, head to toe. 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. I also play Bingo with student names to help us get familiar seeing names in print. Do they? First Day of School | Quick and Easy Things to Do Now, First Day of School 16 Easy Tips for Teachers to Make the Day Run Smoothly, A Visual Story of ME! We take our first day slow and go over our class rules and my expectations for the year. I always read about Chester in The Kissing Hand with my forties & do an art project tracing their hand, cutting it, & gluing a heart inside while folding the fingers down. Once everyones ideas are one the poster, I break students into groups to do a sort of the ideas, grouping the same one or closely related ideas together. It lets them have fun on a day with a lot of procedures and routines an is a quick check for me to see who can write! They love to see how bad their handwriting and sentences were and its great to see how proud they are of their growth. Every year on the first day of school I play get to know you games and the name game. Classroom morning greetings are so important when it comes to setting the tone for the day, and greeting students on the first day of school with the start to your morning routines is a must. I LOVE MY MOM! On the first day, I greet my kids at the door with a big smile and warm hug. I always start with growth mindset activities. 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. I pass them out on the first day of school and my new students read and keep them. We do routines, lockers, and get to know you games. and cut it out. Use this classroom activity with older students. I usually take one at the end of the year, too, so they can each see how much theyve changed! Then we do a short scavenger hunt so they have a sense of where the office, gym, library, cafeteria, nurse..etc. We refer back to this quite often, especially when they have stated my job is to teach and their job is to learn. Each square should say something like Flew on an airplane, plays the piano, plays soccer, etc. It is crucial to provide students time to decompress and process the new information they are learning. On the first day, I always share with my classes how nervous I am! Getting to know the students and friend banners so they can get to know each other! At the beginning of every school year I gather my 2nd grade friends at the group carpet. 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. But most important we have fun on the first day. This allows my students to tell me what they think is important for me to know, which helps me to learn about them and the various things that might be going on in their lives. Here are 20 Back to School Teacher Gift Ideas that really fit the bill. I have my kids do team building and get to know gig activities. With many people learning online, this First Day of School Laptop craft is an adorable way to mark the beginning of school. 35 Ways to Teach Chinese New Year With Your Kids! I definitely want to make this a tradition! It is the silliest, goofiest way to keep your students active and giggling. 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) This past year I had a student who hated reading and always had. This article offers advice to help new teachers prepare for the first days of school. I always read First Day Jitters and we make and drink Jitter Juice to wash those nerves. I always have my students take a quiz about me to introduce myself. Whether you're a first-year teacher or a seasoned educator, this checklist offers guidance that will make organizing and managing your days smoother. I prefer groups. The kids always have some many questions about who I am. It helps me the first few weeks and any subs in my class with pick up. On the first day of school, I always have my students write a letter to themselves that they receive on the last day of school. 30 Back-to-School Activities for Teachers on First Day of School Im excited! I take pictures of my students to give to parents at conference time. This name tent is kept in their binder and is used all year. first day of school | ProTeacher Collection In this A Visual Story of ME Timeline Project, students apply their knowledge of timelines while sharing and celebrating their own life journeys! I do this so I am not just telling them rules and so we can make sure everyone has a comfortable learning environment. These activities give your students a voice and an opportunity to share information about the things that they love, their interests, and information about their families. One thing I always do on the first day of school is discuss procedures and discuss what students need to be successful at school. Lori I love this as a first year teacher I would love to copy your idea and make it my new annual tradition please!! Take your class on an educational adventure over multiple lessons. Im a second year teacher and so far each year we have had a class motto. Practice your expectations around raised hands and positive peer support through this game. Make the sentences start with things like I feel appreciated when or I feel ___ when ___. Log in, 11 Free Math Sites for Kids: Math Websites for Students. For after-school care, take a picture of the student, the parent that will pick them up, and the school mascot. Fold along the bold lines to create an accordion. First day jitters more for me! Each year I set the tone by telling my students that if they are honest with me I will not get mad and yell, and I never do! Before the day starts, I sit at my desk and specifically say each students name and pray that I will be able to reach them and to keep them and their families safe. It also discusses the benefits of getting parents involved in their children's school. Ask your students to write a letter to themselves. I use these for books, name games, crafts, center board etc. They might have changed, and their drawing skills will surely have, too! Im going to let my students decorate bookmarks and laminate them. I always get stuck with the computer lab. I switch them up every year, but I like to lighten things up and let the kids get to know me a little bit too! Take a look through 4 very popular first day of school books for kids and try out a craft to go along with them. Make sure you remind your students to take the letter home in their folders for their adults at home! Parents will thank you! One thing I always do on the first day is icebreaker activities. Establishing these has to be done. I always spend a good chunk of time welcoming students with at least one book (maybe two) First Day Jitters is what Ive read the last few years or The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups. 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? 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. For younger students, use pictures, for older students, you can brainstorm a list of questions and they can choose which ones they write down. This way the kids know what they have in common and it is a great ice-breaker. I love that the first time they see the staff its us happy to see them and already applauding them!. I always do a Getting to Know Your Teacher Quiz. I read the book to them. I collect these sheets and each week one is pulled and I read the answers. 25 Foolproof First Day of School Activities - Teaching Expertise 40 Fun and Creative Back-to-School Activities for Kids to Enjoy the First Week of Classes. As a mom, I love finding new first day of school ideas to mark the occasion and prepare at home. Interview Another Student The interview is pretty simple. Write a 'Meet the Teacher' letter. We also talk about if we had any jitters. JFlowers I teach 5th grade. I always begin our first novel read-aloud. You may need to do a tour of the school, especially if you have new students in your classroom. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Students brainstorm and then take their bags home and come back and begin sharing. So do kids! We go over rules and procedures. I have the students write a letter to themselves that I will return to them the last week of school. Getting Organized from the Get Go with Lists! Prepare for some really off-the-wall answers and lots of laughter. Customize and create your own teaching resources and display materials. We describe the way it looks, feels, smells, tastes and sounds. Its fun to hear their reactions when they see both self portraits in front of them. and I want to start reading First Day Jitters this year and do the Jitter Juice with them =). Kids have all kinds of crazy answers! Word searches are always fun for kids and they dont realize theyre learning. This simple activity will help students get to know their classmates, the school grounds, and the teacher better all while having fun! Allow students to write their own names, and let them decorate a border around it. I have always wanted to play a super fun game that the students would talk about at home and help them look forward to being in class. Ive only completed one full year of teaching, but for the last two years, Ive started the school year our by sitting on the floor with my students to reassure them that I care about them, will respect them, and will always try my best to foster their learning in fresh ways. One person starts by telling something they did over summer. This can be done as a whole class by using the QR Code School to Library Scavenger Hunt. Then we discuss the book, write down all our fears then ball the paper up and throw our fears away. Every year I have students decorate their name for a door or bulletin board decoration. Its a beautiful book, and students have very different reactions (all wonderful) on the two days I read it. Adults love to feel important and to know that they are seen. This is an excellent way to help kids tell parents the story of their first day of school. I have them do a questionnaire online with Google forms later in the week for the more personal stuff, so I can compile it on a goggle spreadsheet for every class. 1.) We always have a snowball fight! An example statement may be reading in front of the class. We have shortened periods the first day, so the teaching period goes very fast. Designate one section of your room to be the measuring wall. Community circles also provide opportunities for teachers to guide conversations by introducing topics and raising questions that will help strengthen relationships. I have been teaching kindergarten and first grade. I introduced them to the centers and each classrooms in the school. After they find out how they got their name, have them write about it. 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. This would also be a great activity to try at home to have some fun with children starting school. One thing I always do in the first day of school is a get to know me Q and A. We take them out throughout the day. On the first day of school, I always have students work together to help create our class rules. They put their printed name on the first one and cursive on the last. A 3-D lantern template to use with students at the beginning of the year. I then let them ask (nearly) anything they want about me. We go through a list of questions as a group and they circle comfort zone, challenge zone, or panic zone. They love the hand signals I use in my classroom- its like a secret code that only takes a nod of the head and they dont have to be embarrassed about asking to go. Tbis is my second year teaching. Create your own giant puzzle pieces, or save time and sanity and get this one. Have students share their creations on a bulletin board. Youll have to plan ahead for this one, but itll be worth it. Im probably more excited for the first day of school than my students but I have been looking for a teaching job for a long time. We share. FAQs for the First Days of School. Every year I take first day of school picture of the class & then put it in a frame that sits on a shelf next to a picture of my family. The first thing I always do on the first day of school is to have a welcome back party. This year will be my second year teaching, and I am going to start my first day with an all about me page! I always tell them how excited I am to be their teacher, and have them complete an All About Me page to help me get to know them. Bundles that you can download with one click. Im totally doing that! The new students love it. This ones for you. Its a hoot! Hold a Social Idea by Farrah, Kindergarten Teacher, Nanuet, NY Each year, before the first day of school, we hold a "Back-to-School Kindergarten Social." At that time, parents and students can come in to meet me, greet classmates, and explore the classroom while I help soothe any jitters. Jean your comment is 100% correct! I always play a Name game to break the ice. This is a fun icebreaker game to play. Im a first year teacher so I have lots of ideas on what I want to do on the first day. Display on your classroom door so the rest of the school can see! Create a blank bar graph on chart paper or better yet, create a horizontal and vertical bar graph. I always teach the students a simple math game on the first day of school like Tens Go Fish. If your kids love to make slime, this is the perfect back to school activity. Teachers First Day of School Checklist for 2023-2024 I teach Kindergarten and on the first day I always let the kiddos write in shaving cream! They have to talk about what they are looking forward to, nervous about and how they are feeling so far. A fun game that I have used at various elementary grades and now in middle school is Just Like Me. Here are a few more blog posts and ideas to get you started during the first few weeks of school: Your email address will not be published. I start making connections, getting to know them/they me, and modeling school expectations (respect self, others and property.) I always take a photo of the students plus write a note to their parents about their adventures of the first day . Then I ask someone to take them away and hide in the principles office. Sit in a circle with your students and let them ask you questions like: Whats your favorite food? Your students! On the first day of school we play some getting to know you games and we start to learn everyones name. Of course, we eat the cookies! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 29 Best Birthday Party Ideas that Kids Will Love, Best Back to School Kindness Activity for Kids, How to Make a Time Capsule for Kids Ideas, Memorable First Day of School Activity Kids Will Love, Best Friendship Wheel Art Project for Kids - Hands-On Teaching Ideas. Kids are just as curious about their teachers as you are about them. Its a great insight into their hobbies and interests. Get inspired by these 17 fun, creative first day of school activities and try them out yourself. 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. A community circle creates a safe, non-threatening space for students to discuss their ideas and feelings with each other. Id love to try this! After they share with a partner, and the class, I staple them to my bulletin board as the students line up. Simple crafts like this are ideal for the first day of school because every child can feel successful when making it. I also have an entrance ticket where they have to write down one thing they know about me (before we take the quiz) and then an exit ticket that allows them to ask me something they still want to know about me. I use a lot of music in our classroom, starting on the very first day. Its always a hit because kids love to talk about parties, presents, celebrations, etc., and we get to know each other., This one is popular in foreign language classes. First Day of School and Back to School Ideas for Teachers I always introduce myself to the whole class. Its a great way for players to find commonalities with classmates! This is my first year that I know EXACTLY who and what I am teaching! I always read First Day Jitters. The kid love discovering that the teacher, not a little girl, was the one with jitters. First Day of School Shirt for Teachers - Etsy We get to know each other and start the year with math at the same time. Invite students to fill out a reading survey and while they are doing that, call groups one by one to the library. Use thisAll About Me Lanterntemplate as a fun getting to know you display that helps students identify common interests among their peers. These books are ideal to read and discuss together at school. I always make sure my students get to know each other and know that they are welcome and accepted on the first day! 1 thing I always do on the first day is read, First Day Jitters. On my first day with students I go over procedures and get to know them as readers. On the 1st day I always have the students fill in an all about me form so I know what name they like to be called, their birthrate, who they live with, what subjects they really like and what hobbies they like or sports they play. Every year on the first day of school I have my students write a letter to themselves. I make a list on a poster and post it on the wall. I like to walk around and talk to each one of them and see how they are doing. I always try to make time to meet every student and try to learn their name when they arrive. Rhea V. likes to gather the class for a group photo to show we are a family and are each others support on the campus. It doesnt have to be a traditional photo. Im a special education teacher and have always done this in a small group-smaller class size up to 12. Stay away from overly vulnerable or potentially sensitive questions for this one. We discuss it in adult terms and kid terms. I always play some team building games with my students. We revisit these in January and call them our New Years Resolutions. This way children are introduced to their new room in a fun way. They can help with what we call the whos going where? sheet. Place the letters on student desks on the first day of school. Their dreams might surprise you! Then, I have them tooth picks that they have to use to get all the toothpaste back into the tube. Not sure which one to pick? What are your students dreams? Since I typically have largely the same group of kids every year and know the students entering my room we usually spend the first hour + doing some sharing about our summer and spending time together. Understood I do to! We have share time and I take them on a tour around the school. I always read The Kissing Hand and later in the week we make Chester. This year Im teaching growth mindset, but that book still works! It asks questions like what is their favoritecolor, animal, food, dessert, candy bar, book, television show. Choose an active game and an icebreaker. I tell them its magic play dough and because it turned colors it means we are going to have a magical year! This is definitely not the time to catch up with colleagues you haven't seen all summer. Tackle the jitters by having students write down something that makes them nervous about starting schoolno names! On the first day of school my 4th graders will draw a picture of a person or animal and we will talk about what a friend is. What makes each student unique?

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