Those first moments when you see your class and they see you for the first time can be nerve-racking for students and teachers. How do you structure the first interaction with your new students? Do they wait for you in line or enter the classroom before the "official" start of school? What does this look, feel, and sound like?
I always make sure to over plan for the first two days, knowing that much of what I’ve planned may get moved into days three and beyond if we don’t get to it on the first two days.
I’m plan to teach routines and procedures and time to practice them 3-4 times without feeling rushed. Since I teach Kindergarten, I try to make everything into a game or fun activity to keep the first days fun and exciting!
I add a stack of read alouds to my desk so that if we do have extra time, I can always share a new book with my students.
I also try to get students into our daily schedule as soon as I’m able to start building that routine right away so that students know what to expect at each time of the day.
On our first days, our students are delivered to our classroom a few at a time as they depart their bus or car, so a few come in the classroom at a time and get their things put away. I have a hands-on and highly engaging set of STEM tubs out on their tables and invite them to start exploring right away while we wait for more friends to join us.
Kristen, I like that idea of only getting a few students at a time. It gives you a better opportunity to interact with each student.
Those first moments of interaction are very important. When the students see you waiting for them at the door, lets them know that you are excited to see them. Have an activity that they can be working on so that you can interact with the others. A couple of ideas might be having a scavenger hunt (this would allow them to move around and become familiar with the classroom). Another idea is to have them draw a self-portrait and write words on it that describe themself.
