Waiting for the First Day

First day jitters are real!  Although I'm starting my 26th year of teaching, those first day jitters have not gone away.  Just thinking about meeting my new students a week before school starts, makes me nervous.  I've made a checklist to make sure I have everything ready for them.

Starting to plan for those first days takes time, because you want to make sure everything is ready.  Some of the first day activities I do give me some insight into my kids.  The best activity I found is called: In a Million Words or Less.  The assignment basically asks students to tell me about them.  Some students will tell you everything, others are a little more reserved.    I also send one home for the parents and ask them to tell me about their child.  Parents love to tell you about their most prized possession.   The insight I gain for this activity lets me get to know my students from their view and their parents.  This year, I'm changing the student activity to, I Wish My Teacher Knew....  I can't wait to see what they wish I knew.  Along with this activity, I will make my version of I Wish My Students Knew to model for them.

Another activity I do with my students on the first few days of school is to discuss bullying.  This is not a topic students want to listen to or hear about for the most part.  However, I have done some different things to show them how strong words can be.  One way is to empty a tube of toothpaste and then ask them if I can get toothpaste back into the tube.  Of course not they will say.  I explain to them that is how words work.  Once you say them, text them, tweet them, facebook them, you can take them back.  Another activity is to have two apples and show them that they are they same.  However, before class, you have dropped one several times so it bruises the inside.  When your class arrives, you have them say mean things to the bruised apple (they don't know it is bruised).  Then they say things to the nice apple.  Then you discuss how the apples look the same on the inside, but when you cut them open, the one that they said mean things to will be  bruised.  These activities help me to discuss that we are team in the class.  Everyone will make mistakes, including me, but we have to help each other.

Then, there are procedures that need to be taught.  No matter what age of the student, procedures need to practiced and modeled.  I want my students to come in and start working immediately on their bell work.  So, on the first day, I will something for them to do when they walk in the room.  The directions will be on the board. While students are entering, if they do not follow the directions, I will have the class come back in the hall and explain again what I expect of them when they enter.  This must be practiced from day 1.  We will model and practice all the procedures during the first few days of school.
What are some first day activities  you plan for your students?