As an experienced teacher with more than thirty-five "First Days" to my credit, I am all too aware of just how important the first day of school can be for teachers and students alike. In the writing that I am doing right at the moment, revising the second edition of
First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide, I focus on the first day and how teachers, both experienced and novice, can make that day as special as possible and get their students' year off to a fantastic start.
In this post, you will find three exerpts from what will be the new book next spring. One is just some ideas that may help you plan a good first day, another is a template you can tweak to help you plan that day, and the third is a checklist of things that you will have to manage on the first day.
I hope these make your first day a positive one for you and for your students!
“ACTIVITIES FOR THE FIRST DAY
In addition to the
day’s lesson and class expectations, your first day of class can include many
other activities to engage students in meaningful work. Using the planning
template in Teacher Worksheet 4.3: Planning
Template for the First Day of School and the checklist in Teacher Worksheet 4.4: Checklist for the
First Day will both make it easier for you to make sure that the first day
of school will be a productive and positive one
for your students. When you
are trying to decide just what you want your students to do on the first day,
consider some of these activities:
- Fill out forms together. While you are
explaining your class expectations, students can fill in the information
on a handout instead of just listening passively.
- Photograph students in their new school
clothes on the first day of class. This is a good way to begin your class
scrapbook.
- Show examples of the supplies they need.
- Pass out colorful paper, and ask students
to write on it what they can contribute to make the class a better one for
everyone. Display the papers in a giant collage.
- Issue textbooks, and have students skim
their new texts, looking for items in a textbook treasure hunt.
- Have students work with a partner,
telling that person one thing that they can do well and one thing that
they would like to learn how to do. Have partners introduce each other to
the class by sharing this information.
- Ask students to write you a brief note,
telling you three things you need to know about them so that you can teach
them well.
- Place a large sheet of paper on the wall.
Hand students old newspapers or magazines, and have them tear out words
and photos that describe their strengths and talents. Focus on what students
have in common. Glue the photos and words in place to create an instant
piece of art that will interest every student.
- Have students jot down what they already
know about the subject you are teaching and then share this information
with the class.
- Have students fill out one of the student
inventories you’ll find later on in this section.
- Give students handouts with questions
directing them to find out what they have in common with their classmates.
Some possible areas to explore are hometowns, hobbies, favorite movies,
pets, vacations, and sports. Go beyond the obvious and include attitudes
for success, goals, or other mental traits.
- Have older students create bookmarks with
inspirational messages for younger students.
- Have students play a people bingo game
where they try to discover interesting facts about each other. Items to
include on the bingo board could include types of pets, hobbies, past
school experiences, favorite colors or foods, siblings, strengths, or
favorite sports just to name a few.
- Ask older students to recount a memory
from their earlier first days of school.
- Put a quotation or unusual word related
to the day’s lesson on the board, and ask students to tell you what they
think about it.
- Have students write exit slips explaining
what they learned in class on their first day.
TEACHER WORKSHEET 4.3: PLANNING TEMPLATE FOR THE FIRST
DAY OF SCHOOL
While not all of these items may be applicable for your
class and for your students, this template can give you some idea of how you
will want to plan for your first day.
Opening Exercise (Time Allotted: _____________)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Supplies, Materials, Books to Be Issued (Time Allotted:
_____________)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Student Information Forms and Inventories to Be Used (Time Allotted: _____________)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rules, Policies, Procedures (Time Allotted: _____________)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction of Self
(Time Allotted: _____________)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Welcome to Class Activity
(Time Allotted: _____________)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Forms that Need to Be Sent Home (Time Allotted: _____________)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fees to Be Collected (Time Allotted: _____________)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Icebreaker Activity
(Time Allotted: _____________)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lesson (Time
Allotted: _____________)
Teacher input________________________________________________________________
Student
activity______________________________________________________________
Closing (Time
Allotted: _____________)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
TEACHER WORKSHEET 4.4: CHECKLIST FOR THE FIRST DAY
In this checklist of the most important things you must
accomplish on the first day, you will find reminders of the tasks you will have
to manage.
o
Stand at your classroom door to
offer your assistance to those students who may need help in finding their new
classrooms.
o
Meet every student at the door
and direct them to their assigned seats.
o
Begin learning your students
names as quickly as you can.
o
Introduce yourself to your
students.
o
Teach an exciting lesson
guaranteed to make your students want to learn more.
o
Begin building a classroom
community among your students.
o
Set about creating a positive identity for your class.
o
Help your students get to know
each other.
o
Distribute the necessary forms
and the welcome packet that your students must take home.
o
Project an attitude of enthusiasm and
positivity about the class, the year ahead, and your students.
o
Begin gathering data about your
student’s levels of readiness, learning styles, and knowledge of the material
in the course.
o
Begin teaching the rules,
procedures, policies, and expectations for your class.
o
Make every student feel
comfortable and welcome.
o
Assign an appropriate homework
assignment to help students transition from vacation back to school.”
