Celebrate Going Back to School!
I do consider going back to school a kind of "celebration!" Don't misunderstand me...I hate to see the lazy days of summer end, the days of sleeping in (a little!), spending time reading (non-school books!), being with my family and not having to make school lunches! But there is always that excitement that comes from the thought of a new school year. It's a time of sharpened pencils, brand-new crayons and unlimited possibilities. On this page I will share with you some of the things that I do as I prepare for another school year.
This is going to sound crazy, but I actually prepare for the new school year beginning in June! Because I've taught first grade for several years now, I know how busy the first few weeks are, and I also know what I want to accomplish. So, I spend June getting some of my September materials copied. Also, as I'm "closing down" my classroom for the summer, I make sure certain areas of the room are organized for the beginning of the school year. For example, I gather my decorations for September and put them in a handy spot. I also rearrange my bookshelves, making sure my seasonal books are organized chronologically. I do the same with my calendar pieces and word wall words.
As I'm putting things away, I try to have my September materials in an easy-to-access place, so that I can quickly find them and place them in their proper spaces for the beginning of school.
Like most teachers, I do some prep work over the summer. Not too much -- just enough to make things a little easier come late August. Some years I take home my filing and reorganize; other years I work on creating or updating centers. But trust me, MOST of my summer is spent enjoying the time off!
In our district, we do not receive our class list until mid to late August, so I cannot do any prep work that requires children's names. I'm envious of those of you who get your class list early! I usually go into my classroom several times over the summer (I live so close!) to drop off materials that I've been working on (or buying!!). In mid-August, when my room has been cleaned, I begin the setting up process. I like to have my room almost completely set up before I receive my class list. Then I can spend the last week before school putting names on items, making desk tags, etc.
I keep a list at home of things that require students' names. Of course, things like name tags for the desks and workbooks need names on them, but I also list the "little" things, like the cards I use for my helpers chart and the sticks we use for making lunch choices.
Once I receive my class list and addresses, I send out my back to school letter and shopping list. You can find them elsewhere on this site. Most years we invite the students to visit our rooms the day before school and they bring with them many of their supplies. This helps TREMENDOUSLY with the putting away of items...one less thing to do on that crazy first day of school! When the children arrive with their parent on visiting day, I have a poster listing everything that they need to do and where to put each item that they brought with them (so I don't have to repeat it 20 times!) Then the child and parent work on a ME glyph which they give to me before they leave and the glyphs make our first bulletin board!
On the child's desk is a folder of TONS of paperwork that the parent takes with them. In it I have a welcoming letter, a letter about our school policies, a homework guide and various forms that they must fill out. They are asked to return this on the FIRST day of school (I call it "parent homework" and the kids get a kick out of that!) and then I just take the forms from each child and sort them out during my prep time. This works out so much better than having to hand out tons of paperwork on the first day of school, and parents have a little time to read through the information.
Also in the folder is a name tag that the child is asked to wear on the first day of school. It lists their name, my name and their bus route, which is most important. My name on the tag is important, too, because when the student gets off the bus, the bus duty teachers can easily read the name tag and direct the child to my classroom. Believe it or not, sometimes the children forget who their teacher is on that first day of school!
Of course, before that first day of school, I like to make sure MY desk is ready for the craziness that comes in September! I often say that I could live out of my desk...I have so many "just in case I need them" items in there! I couldn't do without my handcream and Tylenol (two most-used items in my desk!), bandaids and Neosporin (for me...the children are taken care of by our nurse), sewing kit, safety pins, hairbrush, mirror, deodorant, Purell, toothbrush and paste, mouthwash, breathmints, nail clipper, Static Guard, fresh pair of undies, feminine hygiene products, extra pair of mittens and a hat, extra pair of hose, clear nail polish for runs and so much more! I like to be PREPARED!
In my closet I have a change of clothes and shoes (just in case), extra sweaters, a raincoat,umbrella and even an out-of-style-but-still-warm winter coat. My co-workers laugh when they see my collection, but I'm ready if I get Gogurt squirted on me or if I step in a mud puddle or if I have unplanned duty on a really cold day (all have happened!)
Well, it looks like we're ready for the BIG day...the first day of school! That morning I do a "once over," making sure I have everything just so. I check their desks to see if their spacesaver boxes (better than pencil cases) are filled with their crayons, gluesticks, Elmer's glue, eraser, pencils, chalk, and scissors. I check to make sure they each have a plastic stay-in-school folder (one I buy at Staples because I want them all uniform and these last all year) with some handwriting sheets inside. I make certain their math and Write One workbooks are inside, as well as an individual chalkboard. Each child should have two inexpensive folders that we'll use as Privacy Folders.
I also make sure that when they visited they put a can of Play-Doh in their desk (some years I provide the mini cans) and I also look to see that they have a plastic bag of pattern blocks and building fish that I've provided. These last items are for those times when the student is done but you're not quite ready for them to begin something else. I find these especially useful in the beginning of the year, before they become familiar with the routines and are still dependent upon you. If they are finished, I can always say "Take out your Play-doh, pattern blocks or building fish (a cute manipulative from Oriental Trading) while you wait."
Well, now you know how I get ready for that wonderful FIRST day of FIRST grade!
Our First Day of First Grade!
Back Home!