I get many requests from teachers asking me what they should do that first "stressful" week of the school year.The first week of school is so importan...
I get many requests from teachers asking me what they should do that first "stressful" week of the school year.
The first week of school is so important,
it can set the tone for the beginning of the school year and quite possibly the whole year.
Thinking about the beginning of each school year always gave me mixed emotions. I was excited to get going but had some butterflies and felt slightly stressed with the work to be done to get the year started off right. I always had trouble sleeping the night before starting school.
I usually went in to school towards the end of August, as many teachers do, to set up my classroom and get organized.
Each teacher has their own routine, some don't set up their classroom until school begins, but whatever you do, you must know what you're doing that first week of school because your students are evaluating you as you are evaluating them.
So here are some of my suggestions to get the year started off right.
1. Classroom Layout
A classroom that is comfortable, friendly and colorful creates a very positive learning and social environment for your students.
You can make your classroom a place where your students want to be with your classroom decorations, classroom displays and bulletin boards. Displaying a student's work for others to see, is also a great way for you to build up their motivation and self esteem.
You can set up your student seating arrangements in different ways, although personally I organized the students desks in groups of 4-6. Eventually you have to socialize and work with all types of people later on in life, why not start now!!
Once your students are settled, allow them to take part in some of the decisions on the classroom layout, displays and seating arrangements, although you should keep in mind and they should know, that you have the final word.
2. Classroom Supplies
Each teacher's back to school supply list for their classroom supplies will vary depending upon the grade they teach. Discount school supplies are always nice to find.
Here's a basic list of must haves for all elementary school teachers.
* Lots of blue pens
* Markers
* Large Scissors
* Staplers (3-4)
* One/Three Hole Punch
* A Timer
* Different Sized Lined Padded Paper
* Recipe Cards (5"x8" or 3"x5")
* Scotch and Masking Tape Dispensers
* Stickers with different themes.
Remember, everyone is different. What's important to one teacher may not be for another.
The first day of school, certain back to school supplies are given out to each student to keep in their desks, to be used throughout the school year.
* Pencils and Pens (for the older grades)
* Eraser
* Ruler
* Notebooks
* Small Glue Stick
* student size scissors
* Box of 8 crayons
* One Highlighter
To me, these are necessary supplies that all students will use on a daily basis and should be on their student school supply list.
3. Classroom Activities
During the first week of school, I have three goals.
1. My most important goal is to get to know my students(a little bit about their personality)and for them to get to know me. I do this through various classroom games and activities.
Here's one example.
One really fun activity I do, I call "Have You Ever". Each student has a sheet of 30 statements. For example:
* Flown in an airplane
* Been on a championship team
* Had an operation
* Ridden a horse
* Been really proud of yourself
* Been to the CN Tower (a Toronto landmark)
Students walk around the class looking for 3 other students (include yourself as well) who have done the activity. When they find one they print thye student's name beside the statement. This activity can take 20 - 30 minutes and then we have a class discussion about things such as, which statement was hard/easy to fill in, whose names are printed most often, etc.
"Have You Ever" is an absolutely wonderful activity and what a great way for every one to get to know each other, including you.
2. Th next goal of mine was to get my students focused back on school work after a full summer of vacation. I started with a review of their previous year's work. For example, I would have made up 15 math questions or give the students a spelling review of previous year's words, grammar sheets, etc.
3. My last objective for the first week was to set the classroom rules, explain the student agenda, and make sure the students understood what was be expected of them for the year.
So a few final words - Be prepared, be organized, be yourself. But most of all be thankful that you have a job you love or really like and ENJOY!!
