what if anything do you give your students on the 1st day?

I saw these cute apples with a poem on pinterest and saw some cute bags with poems but those had food.

Just trying to get some ideas of what other creative things people have given to their students.

 

A stern talkin-to

 

Last year I did bags of Lucky Charms with a header tag that said 'I'm so LUCKY that you're in my class!'

This year I'm thinking of goldfish crackers with a header tag that says 'Congratulations on your first o-fish-al day of third grade!'

 

Textbook, syllabus, assigned seats, and a few good laughs.

 

Hell

 

There's that ray of sunshine again...you warm my heart...

 

Good Lord! It's a JOKE! Get it, humor? Laughs? Never mind.............

 

I just saw lots of things on Pinterest, but normally I don't give anything since my former school had a "no food/candy policy". I might do something this year though. I like the Goldfish one, the Starburst one, and one with cookies. I know there's more ideas out there though, but that's what I pinned.

 

:lol:
Your posts and sarcasm make me laugh every time I visit this forum.



Any non-food ideas?

 

A welcome to # grade pencil

A back to school goodie bag:
http://www.proteacher.org/a/75413_Goody_Bags.html

 

Thank you for sharing this, czacza! I'm definitely going to use one of your cute ideas!

 

Yea! The Browns are going to suck again this year............

 

You are so darn funny..I'm ROFL...:lol:

 

I teach high school. I don't give them anything. I do a 10 minute spiel on the rules, then I teach... and give homework.

Those who receive 90's on tests will get stickers, but even I don't test on the first day.

 

Nothing.

Actually that isn't true. First thing is I give them the procedure for lining up for class and entering the room. I give the syllabus, state standards, supply list, welcome brochure that outlines expectations, grading policy, extra help times, etc.

 

A welcome to 1st grade pencil, a box of crayons, an eraser (more supplies are in the cabinet), but when they enter, on their desks are snack sized zip top bags with golf-ball sized balls of play dough. I tell the kiddos to play with the play dough and if it changes color, they'll have a great year. What they don't know is that I have inserted a drop of food coloring in the center of each ball, lol.

 

That's brilliant!

 

That is so cute!

 

Luv the playdough idea! I have erasers I recently purchased & need to figure out what else to give them. I'm wanting to bring in cake pops for them as well. We have to do Breakfast In the Classroom any way so it can be a special treat for Back to school they can enjoy first thing.

 

I either found the playdough idea at atoz or proteacher... I honestly don't remember, lol. The kiddos really enjoy it.

 

For Meet the Teacher night I had a little sucker on their desks that said "We're going to have a sweet year in second grade!". For our first day of school I am giving them a "Second graders are#1" pencil and a little frog eraser.

 

I do playdough as well - it's a great thing to keep handy that first week for quiet "down time" while I'm sorting out the chaos.

 

Why gimmicks? We're smart people. How about something along the lines of "you're going to learn stuff you never thought possible to learn?" Then again, teaching in a prison, I can't give out anything material, only ambition and hope at a successful second chance.

 

Wait...so you can't reward the student with the highest grade with a small handsaw?

 

My class mascot is the "monkey". So, while walking through Target, I found these breakfast bars that are "banana-fudge".

I figure on the first day of school...right before recess, I'm going to ask the kids what monkeys like to eat (and hope at least one gets the obvious "banana" ) and then I'll ask what do kids like to eat (and hope to get "chocolate"). I'll then pass these out.

(And they're not bad-tasting, either! )

 

I make learning FUN! The children who come into my class learn in a fun, relaxed, full of love, and cool atmosphere. I use a lot of music in my class activities. It's the best way for very young children to learn.
Music does a LOT of wonders!
I would show and tell them that I am there to teach them what is expected by the school, their parents, and me. I will give them a tour of the classroom so they can see where everything is at, and let them know that I expect them to keep the room in good order. We will make the rules as a class, and I will teach them the cool chant/song about how cool school is. Now! Anyone who learns this chant and can sing it with me by the afternoon, will get something out of my Star Box. They need to earn whatever they get in my class. I will show them my Star Chart and my Star Box, and let them know how they can earn the stuff.
A lot of children nowadays think that they can get stuff for nothing, because that's how they are raised, BUT it's not like that all the time in the real world. Anyways, it will be a fun day, and I hope they will look forward to coming back the next day.
Rebel1

 

Oh no! Much more subtle rewards, like a master key and a local map! hahahahahahahhaha

 

I like that approach a lot - music, the gift that keeps on giving! I just hope it isn't country! hahahhaaa

 

It's not a 'gimmick' toot...it's a welcome, it's starting with a smile it's something that says 'Im glad you're in my class, we're going to have a great year'...for elementary kids, who quite frankly are a little trepidatious and wondering about 'what is my teacher going to be like', it's reassuring.
And toot, we ALL give our students hope and ambition...

 

I don't think all teachers do, because some don't now how to or could care less, but I'm sure you do and most teachers do, which we must always be grateful for.

 

I think comparing suburban 3rd graders and prisoners makes it quite obvious that there will be more differences than similarities in terms of the teaching style.

 

:lol: I saw where you teach and had a sudden understanding with a song in my head that goes something like..."If you see my face, hope it gives you ____" (I leave that part out for my shy/demure/3rd grade teaching mind...LOL)





I'm giving mine a package of popcorn that I saw on Pinterest with a note that says "So Glad You POPPED into 3rd Grade!" (I couldn't think of anything else cute-sy to say.

 

I do a snack-y type thing mostly because I know some of them will be hungry in the afternoon since they'll have been able to have snacks throughout the day over the summer...

 

But let's figure those teachers who are looking to start the year off on a positive note-whether that be any combination of communicating clear expectations, pats on the back, gift bags, lollipops, etc-are doing so with goals of hope, connection, building motivation. Brushing those attempts off as 'gimmicks' is insulting...and regardless of the differences between where anyone teaches, there's no reason at all to belittle those practices.

 

Well said!

 

Such an open, eclectic mind! I suppose you missed the compliments I gave to the teachers here also? Thought so. I complimented YOU on a reply on this thread. Or do we need a "whipping boy" on occasion? I'm not the person you want.

 

Hahahahahahahahaha............ Thanks for having a sense of humor. That was just a joke when I put "hell." We all need a sense of humor in this business regardless where we teach or we'll get eaten up from the inside-out. I've been there, can't say I liked it. We laugh at stuff that would gross people out or cover their mouths and say, "Oh My GOD!!!!" What were we laughing at the other day? Ah, I can't remember know. It was twisted.

 

:thumb:

 

You set your self up..the ha ha ha, doesn't soften the rub, toot. You don't even try to understand or appreciate what others here do while NO ONE here has questioned for ONE MOMENT the good work you do...so stop joking around...offer something meaningful to the conversation ( beside that theorist whose name I can remember that you often quote)... Many of us take this work of education seriously...yes we laugh together, and discuss shampoos, and share recipes...but unless someone is denigrating children or acting unprofessionally,we don't generally question.and WE NEVER MOCK -which you humor edges upon...****...I'm so angry about ending that with a preposition...

 

No, it's part of my nature to joke. I have no disrespect for anyone here and no argument with anyone here. So no, I won't stop joking around. I'm a peer, not one of your students, so spare me the condescending approach.