I love Back to School! New backpack, new lunch box, new supplies, and a new class! It really is a time of new beginnings and new challenges.
At my school, class placements are not permanent until after the first two weeks of school. There have been years in which a teacher may start as a combo, then become a regular class, or start as a fifth grade teacher, and then get moved to first grade at another school because of numbers. It’s a part of the life of a teacher!
For that reason, I like to have a variety of engaging activities on hand that do not necessarily rely on our curriculum. Activities such as, “All About Me” activities are perfect because they are student-centered and the playing field is leveled. Anyone can do an “All About Me” activity regardless of skill level. I love using these “All About Me Banners” because they offer a blank template for students to fill in with what is important to them. They also make a gorgeous project to hang up right away!
To teach my students my procedures for independent work, I love using activities that students can complete with little direction from myself. These independent activities give me so much information on my new student’s work type. Are they fast finishers, easily distractable, chatters, quiet workers? Do they follow through and finish the coloring? Do they just do the minimal? Or do they really put their heart and soul into their work? These independent work times at the beginning of the year are priceless! Not to mention, you may even get a little work done yourself!
Teaching students how to work collaboratively is another must during the first two weeks of school! If my students and I don’t get this right, I am in for a year of chatting, goofing off, and arguing!
To start them off right, I use a variety of collaborative activities. Three Truths and a Fib is a tried and true favorite. Students write three truths about themselves and one fib. They are then put into groups of four to six and the other students have to guess which statements are the truths and which is not.
Toss and Talk is a class favorite because, well… they get to talk. Students are placed in groups of three or four students. They each get a turn to roll the dice and they answer the corresponding “Would you rather?” question. The best part about this activity is that it gives me the opportunity to elaborate the norm in our classroom that everyone’s opinion counts, not just the one that you agree with!
As we are getting to know each other, my students and I love playing Tap and Tell! Again, it gives students a chance to talk about themselves and myself a chance to teach norms and to also get to know them better. With Tap and Tell, I play music while my students mingle around the room. When the music stops, they stop and “tap”, either tap elbows or toes, with the person next to them. They take turns asking the question on their cards to each other and listen, I mean really listen, to their partners answer. Again, a great time to teach polite listening skills!
Finally, I love for students to get as many chances as possible to speak in front of each other. Public speaking is one of humanities biggest fears (mine too!) and I want to help my students with this important skill. First and foremost, I teach my students how to be polite and active listeners. I emphasize that this classroom is a safe space to make mistakes and be ourselves. We do not judge or make fun of anyone! With that, I then pair up my students and let them interview each other. When finished, they introduce each other to the class. It is amazing the bonds and friendships this activity can lead to!
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Thank you for coming by! I hope this gave you some great ideas to start your year off right! As a thank you, grab this BACK TO SCHOOL BOOKLET FREEBIE!
Happy Back to School!
~tina
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