poems for the first day...

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Home : 2004 : August : 20

poems for the first day...
By Kelly

This is my favorite poem for parents of K’s. I usually give it out at back to school night, but there is no reason not to pass it out the first day of school:

There's Nothing in My Bag Today

Today I did my math and
science;
I toasted bread.
I halved and quartered.
I counted, measured, used my eyes,
and ears and head.
I added and subtracted on the way,
I used a magnet, blocks, and memory tray.
I learnt about a rainbow and how to weigh.
So please don't say, anything in your bag today?
You see I'm sharing as I play.
I learned to listen and
speak clearly when I

talk,
to wait my turn, and when inside to walk.
To put my thoughts into a phrase,
to guide a crayon through a maze.

To find my name and write it down,
to do it with a smile and not a frown.
To put my pasting brush away,
So please don't say, what, nothing in your bag today?

I've learned about a snail and a worm,
remembering how to take my turn.
Helped a friend when he was stuck,
learnt that water runs off a duck.
I looked at words from left to right,
agreed to differ, not to fight.
So please don't say, did you only play today?

I included some other first day ideas for K that I have collected through the years. Hope this helps!

Here are my hands with ten fingers in all-
My first mark in school to hang on the wall.
As years go by, I’ll remember and say,
“My hands and I had a very good day!”

I have the following poem on chart paper,
attached to the front chalkboard all year long:

We raise our hands to speak.
We work quietly at our seats.
We use voices soft and sweet.
We keep our places tidy and neat.
We are helpful, friendly, and fair.
We take turns and willingly share.

We usually agree on the following rules for our class:
Be nice.
Do what you know is right.
Those two rules seem to cover most situations, and they're easy to remember.

I add three other important rules:
1. Listen to the teacher and follow directions.
2. Do not interrupt Mrs. X when she is working with another student
unless you are having a "B Emergency." B Emergencies are bathroom, blood, and barf.

The kids love this rule, and it's one they respect from the very beginning.
No one has ever had an "accident" in my classroom, after learning this rule.

3.Only Mrs. Smith may use the classroom sink. Students must go to the restroom to wash their hands and get drinks. I have this rule so that I will have a sanitary place to wash and disinfect my hands, which keeps me from catching their colds and runny noses.

Important Rules
(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle)
Here are some rules for you and me,
See how important they can be.
Always be honest, be kind and fair,
Always be good and willing to share.
These are rules we all should know,
We follow these rules wherever we go.