new student welcome

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Home : 2005 : December : 15

new student welcome
By roo

Since you know in advance that the student is coming, you could try what I've done. I had my class write letters welcoming the child and telling them some things about the school, class, me, or themselves. (You can certainly
tie this in with writing standards.) I wrote a letter also. I had an extra copy of the class picture (or you could photocopy one) and I wrote everyone's name on it so they could familiarize themselves with names and faces if they wanted and allieviate the jitters a bit. I know my new students and parents have really appreciated this.
You could also do an activity I do on the

first day of school as an ice breaker. Everyone writes a question they could ask a classmate on an index card. I give them 10 seconds to find a partner. They each ask their partner the question on their card and give answers. Then they trade cards. I give them 10 seconds to find a new partner and it starts all over again. Quick, fun, and a good way for all of them to get to know each other better. (I didn't have them get to everybody, but maybe half the class in that time. I told them to try to find someone they didn't know very well and this helped.)