After 12 years of teaching, These are the three most important tips I can give you for the First Day of School! I know, I know, where is teach procedures? Of course you will teach procedures, but chances are if you try to put too much information into one day, the kids will be on information overload and forget half of what you taught them. Just teach the procedures as you go, naturally.
Number 1 - How do your students get home???
So many times, students will go home one way on the first day of school and then they will go home another way on the 2nd day. So confusing, right??? So on the first day of school, when parents bring their child to my class, I have a clipboard with a signature sheet for the parents to sign with their child's transportation for that day. (They give you this information at meet the teacher night, but sometimes it changes or they give you wrong information) It never hurts to double check. This saves me a lot of phone calls during my planning time. If you get them home the right way, your day was a success!
Number 2 - Play dough
I always have play dough on the desks for the students to play with when they walk through the door that first day. It helps make for an easier transition for the students that do not want to come to school. It also keeps them busy while you are talking to parents and collecting school supplies.
Number 3 - Have Fun!
Make sure you have some fun with your students! You want their first day to be fun so that they will want to come back tomorrow. I want my students to love coming to school to learn new things. Keep them coming back for more!
