Spring Break for Teachers Running Away Funny

The first day of school can be an exciting time for teachers and students, but it can be an anxious time, too. What can you do to make sure your students (and you!) feel at home in the classroom on that first day?

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20 First Day of School Ideas

Here are 20 surefire tips that will make your first day back to school a success! Scroll to the comments to see even more ideas!

1. Read First Day Jitters by Julie Danneburg

First Day Jitters is a great book to break the ice with your students. To make it extra special, serve Jitter Juice!

Then, have students write YOU a letter with ideas on why you shouldn't be nervous. It'll get them thinking about their own jitters, and maybe they can help each other, too!

2. Do a classroom or school tour

Show your kiddos where all the classroom supplies are and help them to know what areas are for them, and what areas are for you only. Students new to the school?

Take them around and show them where the bathrooms are, the gym, the cafeteria, etc. Teach them the computer lab rules and lunchtime procedures. Incorporate a scavenger hunt and you've got a fun-filled day!

If your social studies standards include learning about maps, this is also a good time to lay a foundation for classroom and school maps. Take a look at this blog post for some good map skills ideas.

3. Make a picture keepsake

Don't forget this one! Take a picture of each student on their first day back to school, then take one on the last day of school. Turn it into a keepsake at the end of the year.

Better yet, let students draw a self-portrait on the first day, and then again on the last day. Compare! They might have changed, and their drawing skills will surely have, too!

4. One-on-one time

Spend a few minutes one-on-one with each student. Get to know them, introduce yourself, giggle, and encourage them. Making that personal connection on the first day is so important!

5. Back to School Craftivity

Ready for some downtime at the end of the first day? You might need some, too! This is one of my favorite activities for the first day of school.

It allows the kids to wind down and still be productive. In this Back-to-School Bus Craftivity Flap Book students tell about themselves, review the rules, reflect on their day, and think about being a good classmate.

It makes a fun keepsake, too. Parents will thank you!

6. Teacher Q&A

Have fun with this one in a couple of different ways. Sit in a circle with your students and let them ask you questions like: What's your favorite food? Color? Animal? Candy? Etc.

Or, make a quiz and see if they can guess the answers to these questions.

It's a great way for your students to know more about you, a very important person in their day.

7. Don't forget you!

This one's for you. If you haven't already done so, go to your classroom well before school starts, organize your desk, pour yourself that coffee, and put all that dark chocolate in your drawer.

This blog post about my favorite Teacher School Supplies will give you a few more ideas to add to your teacher area!

Walk through the school to get a feel for what the school climate will be, and meet the people you will be working with this year.

8. Make a classroom cheer

Who doesn't love a team cheer? Sit down with your students and brainstorm a catchy classroom cheer you can use throughout the year. Talk about team spirit!

9. Discuss classroom expectations

Do you know what your students expect out of the year? Do they? Make an activity with them to list their own personal goals for the school year.

This blog post has some great anchor charts that show how students define good friends, their role as a student, a teachers' role, and their parents' role. It's a great starting point for a discussion about classroom expectations

10. Build community

Make a mission statement or class pledge/promise, and recite this each morning. Making a class mission statement aligns well with student goal setting.

Once students define who they are as a community, they can set goals that align with the mission statement.

11. Name labels

Make name cards for desks, lockers, or cubbies. Allow students to write their own names, and let them decorate a border around it. Laminate, and voila!

Each desk or cubbie has a personal touch. At the end of the year, you could even add the name tags to students' portfolios.

12. Beach Ball Ice Breaker

Take a permanent marker and write questions on a beach ball. Sit in a circle with your students and toss the beach ball to each other. Each time a student catches the ball, they answer any of the questions visible, then toss it to someone else.

A fun way for students to get to know each other and you!

13. Survey Students

Create a blank bar graph on chart paper or better yet, create a horizontal and vertical bar graph. Use it throughout the day and week to survey students about various favorite things. Give each student a sticky note. As a question and have groups of students place their sticky note in the correct columns.

Your students will love the interactiveness of sticky notes and placing them on chart paper! This really is a cheat sheet for you to get to know your students better AND you can weave in some math skill work, too!

When I was a kid, I loved filling out little surveys that asked me all about me! Other than the standard questions about their hobbies, siblings, or their summers, don't forget to ask some silly questions, too, just to make it extra fun!

14. Encourage your Team

Be a team encourager! Put together a small gift for everyone on your team (or the whole school staff). Include a note wishing them the greatest year ever.

This Pinterest Board as a ton of ideas for Teacher Gifts.

15. Rules and Procedures

While you're busy making this the most fun first day ever for your students, don't forget the classroom rules and procedures.

Don't skip this.

It is an essential part to make sure your school year runs smoothly. Knowing what is expected of them is of great benefit to your students. And let's be honest, to you as well!

16. Party! Party! Party!

How exciting is the first day of school? Exciting enough for a welcome back party!

No, really! Why wait until the end of the year?

Serve baked goods, orange or apple juice (or jitter juice! See #1) and bananas and grapes.

Include circle time to share summer stories, and dance those jitters away!

17. Eat lunch with your students

Consider eating lunch with your students at least a couple of times a week. Especially on the first day, it is important to show your kids that your class is "family."

18. Read aloud – lots!

Reading out loud to your students often instills a lifelong love of reading in their hearts.

Choose quality books, ones that take their nervousness away, make them laugh, or build their self-esteem and team spirit.

Don't be afraid of classics with harder to understand language. Kids are able to fill in the gaps, it builds their vocabulary, and when the storyline is riveting, they will get it.

The first day back at school is a great time to relax with your students and just read to them.

19. Student Gifts

Give each student a gift at the end of the day, congratulating them on a great first day. If you have a classroom theme, you might want to consider a gift that matches that theme!

20. Smile

Last, but not least: Smile! Be a positive you. Be approachable, laugh, and enjoy yourself!

More Back-to-School Ideas

Are you looking for more back-to-school ideas? Here are a few more:

9 Ways to Start the Year Off Right
Five Things to Keep in Mind on the First Day of School
Cooperative Learning Activities for the First Day of School
3 Tips to Get Ready for Back to School
Teacher School Supplies You Can't Live Without
80 Sponge Activities: A Teacher's Guide to Making Every Minute Count

Do you have any go-to back-to-school traditions? Leave a comment below to share it with us!

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Source: https://www.whatihavelearnedteaching.com/20-teacher-inspired-ideas-first-day-of-school/