A lot of teachers are unsure about what to do the first week of school. It can be a scary thing...even to veteran teachers. As standards, parents, expectations, and students change from year to year, it can be nerve wracking to the point that you are so anxious the night before you can't sleep! In my experience I feel a lot better knowing that my classroom is ready, my lesson plans are ready, my activities are copied and ready to go, because the last thing you want on the first week of school is to still be decorating, copying and running around crazy because you don't have everything finished!
In this blog post I'm going to share with you some of my mentor texts, anchor charts, craftivities, interactive notebooks, science investigations and graphing activities that I do during the first week. Maybe this post will help you get some ideas so you're not so anxious...well, maybe just a little! LOL
FIRST DAY of SCHOOL:
Set the stage for the entire year. The second the students walk in, greet them with a hug or a hand shake. Smile and be excited! Even though you're nervous, try not to show it. The parents are nervous too! You're going to have their child for many, many hours this year and they want to be re-assured that you are the best fit for their child.
On my student's desks I have a blank piece of white construction paper, a small tub of play-do and their name tag. I tell the students to build something that resembles an activity or vacation they experienced over the summer. After they build their object, then they are going to color a picture using 8 crayons. I tell them this because it helps to give them a longer task to work on so I can meet and greet parents and students who are coming in late. This activity takes a good 20 minutes. Its just enough time for me to get everyone in, take pictures, greet parents and take everyone to their desk. Here is a pic of my desks on the first day of school:
I make a power point of all my classroom rules, procedures and expectations. I sit all the students on the carpet and we go over all the rules. This might take 2-3 sittings, but it is so worth it. I put pictures on my power point of my class from last year so they can see what it looks like. We practice these routines:
1.) Sitting on the carpet: criss-cross applesauce
2.) Sitting in our desks: with tummies up
3.) Putting our backpack on our chair with both straps down
4.) Exchanging pencils from the pencil pails
5.) Raising our hand to speak and not blurting out
6.) Mr. Clicker Attention Getter: the students all look at me when I click Mr. Clicker- so they freeze and stop talking. We practice this about 100 times the first week!
7.) Counting down from 10: all tummies are pushed in and the students have their thumbs up ready to listen.
8.) Organizing their community tubs and what's inside of them.
9.) Using the restroom and flushing and washing our hands.
10.) Pushing our chairs in when we get up.
11.) Walking quietly to line up, with our wings and bubbles.
12.) Walking in the hallway quietly for secret walker.
13.) Earning bonus bucks for the treasure box.
14.) Saying "Thank you" when called on.
15.) Bird Contest: what is looks like and sounds like
If you're interested in reading about my Behavior Management Tips and Tricks, click here.
Or, if you're interested in seeing my Behavior Management resource, click here.
These are just a few of the rules and procedures we discuss. Now, on to the academic and fun part! I think it would be easier for me to show you activities, mentor texts and craftivities for each subject. Let's start with reading!
Reading Mentor Texts:
I like doing a Kevin Henkes Author Study at the beginning of the year. I have his picture and photos of books on my Author Study center. In the colored bins I have all of his books and book buddies.
If you're interested in checking out some of my Kevin Henkes linking literature resources, click here for Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, and click here for Chrysanthemum.
If you're interested in checking out my Kevin Henkes Author Study resource, click here
Here are some anchor charts that I use for reading:
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| I Can't with The Little Engine That Could |
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| How to Treat Books with Reading Makes You Feel Good |
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| What is Schema with Word Wizard |
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| Text to Self Connection with The Kissing Hand If you're interested in checking out my Reader's Workshop resource, click here. |
Here are some interactive notebooks that I do for reading. I have a schema notebook that we use for reading/writing. This was done on the first day of school.
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| Schema Notebook with The Kissing Hand |
Here are some craftivities that we do the first week for reading:
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| Chester's Heart from The Kissing Hand If you're interested in checking out my linking literature resource for The Kissing Hand, click here.
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