First-Day Ideas
Posted by Debra Liverman on 13 Aug 2008 | Posted in: Teachers and Teaching, The Mailbox
By now you’ve probably heard that we updated The MAILBOX Intermediate starting with the August/September issue. (Take a peek here if you haven’t seen it.) We are all very excited about it! One of the newest departments that we added to that magazine is called “What Works for You?” The featured topic in the Aug/Sep issue was first-day ideas. Here is a look at the four ideas that Peggy (Managing Editor) selected for the magazine.
In just a few weeks (or days!), school bells will be ringing around the country. In order to get everyone ready, I’d love for you to share with other readers “What first-day activities work for YOU?”
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48 Responses to “First-Day Ideas”
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More Comments Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 » Show All Comments
I like the idea of using The Crayon Box That Talked. I think I’ll use that for my opening activity. I’d like to ask Michele to tell more about her Friendship Fruit salad. Sounds interesting.
Lawanna,
I also use the book titled, “The Crayon Box That Talked” and use it as a homework assignment. I have the kids think about “What Can I Learn From a Box of Crayons?” I have a pre-made poster that I bought from a teacher’s supply store and have that question written on the top. The students come to school the next day with all kinds of info such as: the name of the company that makes them, names of colors, etc. I then read the book and we talk about how our classroom is like a box of crayons, all different colors, shapes and sizes and the fact that we have a tight space to live together in peacefully. It really makes the kids think.
For a Back to school bulletin board, I cut out different colored fall leaves using an Ellison machine. I put the students’ names on a leaf and use the caption ” _____ grade or graders are unbe”leaf”able. We do this as a grade level and the students enjoy finding their names on the bulletin board.
I teach Early Childhood. Before school begins, I send each child a postcard describing the fun things we do at school: sing, dance, read stories, play,go to gym, meet new friends, etc. The children bring their supplies a day before school begins, so in the postcard I ask parents to take pictures of their child, their family, pets, favorite food, something they like to do and I send the parents home with a book to glue the pictures in called, “All About Me”. The children take turns sitting in front of the group on the first day of school and “read” the book with me to the class. This has been a great way to ease their anxiety and share with new friends.
On the first day of school I read a story called First Day Jitters about a girl who is nervous about attending her new school. We later find out that it was a teacher who is new to the school. We then talk about how we felt coming to school. The students are always surprised to find out that it is teacher that is nervous.
Another book that i read is I Like Me by Nancy Carlson. I then have the students write a response to I like me because . . .
In our preschool, each teacher visits her children in their home wearing the same outfit. The visit lasts about 20-30 minutes. We give them a book which we read to them. The day before school starts the parents, siblings and students come to open house - again we are wearing the same outfit. It’s a lot of work, but the children seem more comfortable on their first day.
For my bulletin board, I used the Mailbox train (I used the one from 1992, but I’m sure there are updated trains.) I took pictures on my visits and the children are looking out the train windows with their names under the picture. This also helps me in case I have forgotten a child’s name. All aboard for a fun year at preschool. On the first day of school, the children cut out train tracks. It’s crooked but cute.
Although The Mailbox ideas are not specifically targeted above Grade 6, many can be modified to work with students at those grade levels.
Hi these are great ideas but is there any upper grades 6th 7th or 8th grade activities for the first day of school?
Thank you Sylvia
In answer to Tasha’s question about the first day of school bulletin board, I put up a big rainbow and the words, “A Rainbow of Friends”. We read a story by the same title,discussing individual strengths and abilities, then they each draw and color a picture of themselves doing something fun with a friend. They are encouraged to add a sentence and a rainbow to their pictures. I hang the finished pictures on the rainbow bulletin board. The next day we read “The Rainbow Fish” to continue the theme.
Can anyone help me I need to plan a back to school bulletin board and can’t think or find anything cute to do? can anyone please give me an Idea?
Thank you
Before the first day of school our class meets for a short one hour “getting to know you” session. During this session I set out several magnifying glasses and a list of things to search for around the classroom. I title the list “Kindergarten Prep Detectives”. The list includes things like- “find a place where you can wash your hands before snack time”, “Find a soft place to sit and read stories”, “Find the place where you can build a race track and race hot wheels”, etc. This activity gets the children and the parents familiar with the room and gets them moving right away- no wall flowers!! The last thing on the list is to find the teacher and introduce yourself to her. I get to meet everyone this way!
I do a support activity for the story “The Kissing Hand” on the first day of class for my Head Start children. Each parent Mom or Dad is asked to trace their childs hand on a piece of cardstock then take the small amount of lipstick supplied off a piece of foil and place a kiss on the traced hand.
It is so fun to do this with the dads. I let them off the hook after a brief moment of panic and have them use a q-tip and draw a set of lips. We then cut out each hand and make a necklace for the children to wear all day. Have fun and I hope this is helpful for all of you.