first day

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first day
By maryellen

Grade One children are QUITE excited on their first day of school - so are their parents. I always have something simple on their desks to do as they come in, giving me time to greet them at the door and get the important
info - how they get home, bus number, who/where they meet, lunch plans, allergies....things I need to know right away.
Our first theme is color words/rainbow, so I have rainbows for them to color, then they cut them out, also clouds. This year I'm going to let them hang down multicolored strips of crepe paper from the end of the rainbow. You'll learn a lot about their skills, but

they don't need much guidance for most of the project. After all have arrived, we gather for introductions, discuss some nervous stomaches (mine too) and the differences btw K and Gr 1. Also one or two very basic classroom behavior expectations. If they're new to the bldg you'll want to tour. We have our first story (Kissing Hand) and do some scribing about their reaction to the first day. First day I always do a writing activity, first story in our reader, and a math patterning and counting activity. We also have the hand shaped cookie before recess. It is in the back of my mind that I have one day for them to fall in love with me, and lose their fears, so I am the merriest person I can be, still expecting top quality behaviors. Watch as they leave the room for recess or lunch. Remember many are used to half day, and they plan to start home at this time - you'll want to catch that