first week

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first week
By Helen

I have taught first grade for over 25 years...yup, I think I can help you some.
I do not carve my lessons in stone the first week. I am getting to know my children and they are learning me. During this week, set your
rules. Let the children know what you expect and where to put things..let them learn your routine. Take them on walks over the school so that they will know where things are...cafeteria/library/office/other first grades etc. You will have to shift activities with them frequently. They have been at home all summer and are not used to sitting still for long periods or to being silent!!LOL

Vary your routine by doing about 15-20 minutes of work and then sing/exercise/do calendar chants etc. Then you might read a story about the first of school. I like IT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE and THE TEACHER FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, etc. There are multitudes of others. During these writing sessions you might have them write their alphabet and their numbers as far as they can go..don't pressure, you are just getting a picture of where they are. Do a worksheet with the color words on it and have them color a shape beside the word that color...You are looking to see who can read color words and who has the fine motor skills for coloring between the lines. You should also give them a chance to draw a picture..maybe something they did this summer , and write a sentence or word or even just a letter to tell about it..any one of those responses gives you the info you are looking for. You really might want to keep the papers you collect this first week. Makes excellent documentation to show "growth over time". You may begin to slowly introduce centers if the children have not done them in Kindergarten. Play name games with them so that they learn each other (and you learn) more quickly. After you have assessed the numbers and color words then you may begin to teach them.
We use a basic sight word list of 100 words and we have the beginning first graders read as many as possible to us..We hi-lite the ones they can read. Surprisingly most can do several and they feel so proud 'cause they can read. (We do this again at the end of each grading period). You also take this week to reassure your first grade repeaters, your new (to the school) students, and to open lines of communication with the rest of your children. Take a few seconds to talk with/not to, each of your students. They will benefit from the attention and you will learn about them. Whew! I did it again. I get started and forget to stop!!! Hope I don't overload my student teacher this fall!!!! LoL Good luck!