Unpacking Name game Student 'find someone who' activity Read aloud Some goal setting Lunch, a special Fire drill practice Maybe a birthday glyph... Procedures/ create code of conduct 'the rules'
Unpacking Read Aloud Wemberly Worried Class Jobs introduction/routines and procedures talk Building walk (only four of 25 will have gone to my school last year) Practice Fire drill Four corners/getting to know you game Begin creating class rules Writing about first day of school I also keep several generic "getting to know your classmates" on standby in case we have time for them... but I've never actually needed them.
This may seem like a silly question, but I see that rules and procedures are not the first things on the list. Do you give basics like "Don't talk while I'm talking" right away and then get more in depth, or do you not mention any rules at all and use any rough patches as examples later when discussing the rules? I've only had one first day of school so far, and it was already planned out without me, I was kind of just along for the ride.
The kids spend most of the first day, more or less in awe of the whole "I'm back in school" experience. The next time I need to give any type of reprimand on the first day will be my first.
Pull out very first thing (10 minutes into the day!) Introductions Classroom expectations Group work activity Building Tour/ hallway expectations Find someone who Small creative writing Organize supplies (My school provides all supplies for all students, so I've already done most of this) Lunch/ Recess Read Aloud Make a group activity Classroom Scavenger Hunt
Mine wasn't necessarily in order of how I'll hit it, but I don't hit them with rules right away. They're third graders, they 'know school', and first day most are on good behavior . I've never started with rules regardless of grade level, in fact.
Today was my first day! This is what we did: -School tour (all my kids are new to the campus) -this post it activity (second picture) - I really recommend this, especially for upper grades. It's going to spur on a lot of good discussions this week. - Find Someone Who - Used post it activity to start talking about how we can have a successful year (we will create our class agreements in a more succinct way tomorrow). - Quick write about first day - Math scavenger hunt - Intro classroom library - Reading Survey - Previewed Wonder and began read aloud - Building challenge - I made random groups (I switched the groups up all day) and had them build the tallest structure they could with specific supplies. It was really fun! Oh, recess and lunch happened somewhere in there too. Oh, and we also shared our "me bags" throughout the day. I gave these out at meet the teacher. They just put 5 things in a big lunch bag and then they use them to share about themselves with the class. It was really successful today! I was impressed at the thought they put into it.
If you are using Daily 5, you don't have a ready made list for do's and don'ts, but will create them with the class as the need arises and as the subject is broached. Creating the procedures can be part of the classroom culture, complete with discussion and rationale. I love the suggestions already listed above!
