When did that happen? I can't believe that it is August already. Technically, I'm still on summer vacation, but it seems to be whizzing by me. I report back to school officially on August 18th, but I've already been in to my classroom organize some things. My students don't come back until September 2nd. Since I know some of you have already started back, and others are beginning soon, I decided now would be a great time to share my 1st day of school plans with you.
Anyone who has taught kindergarten knows that the first day of school is CRAZY!!!! So this isn't an exact science, its kind of more like a wish list for what I want the first day to look like.
Here is my (hopeful) plan:
7:30 - 7:45 My students arrive. I have pattern blocks with pictures at each table for my students to use to explore. This gives me time to talk to the parents and collect paperwork.
7:45 - 7:55 Announcements. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance. This year I purchased the Pledge of Allegiance poster from the KindergartenWorks TpT store. I'm going to use it to teach the Pledge to my kindergartners.
7:55 - 8:15 Go over our classroom rules with the story and poster in Monster Fun! Teaching Manners and Expectations by Growing Kinders. It is a freebie in her TpT store.
8:15 - 8:30 Take a wiggle break. Have the students sing some of our favorite songs, Dr. Jean's "McDonald's", "Five Little Monkeys", "Mother Gooney Bird", and the very favorite "Tooty-Ta".
8:30 - 8:45 Read a first day of school book. My favorite is "The Kissing Hand". Then discuss how each child felt on the first day of school. (This is a great way to begin to get to know each child in the classroom.)
8:45 - 9:15 Explain to students how to use classroom tools (i.e. pencils, crayons, scissors, glue sticks). Have students make First Day of School crowns. This is a freebie in My Heart Belongs in Kindergarten's store.
9:15 - 9:45 Snack time. (I teach the students our rules for snack time and our song. We sing the song before anyone can eat his/her snack.)
9:45 - 10:15 Discuss rules for in the hallway. Before we walk in the hall we say, "Peanut butter lips, marshmallow toes, hands down to your side and follow your nose". I learned this little saying from Jack Hartmann when I saw him at a conference in Chicago. Then I take the students outside for recess. When we get outside, I discuss the playground rules with them. After that, they have time to play.
10:15 - 10:30 Get drinks of water and go back into the classroom. Discuss rules for centers. Divide the students into 4 groups for centers.
10:30 - 11:30 The centers that I do on the first day of school allow my students to explore some of the things in our classroom and interact with each other. This center time also allows me to walk around the room and get to know my students by taking time to talk to each of them, one-on-one.
Centers - #1 Blocks #2 Puzzles #3 Legos #4 Playdough
11:30 - 11:40 Get ready for lunch.
11:40 - 12:10 Lunch
12:10 - 12:40 Recess
12:40 - 1:00 Quiet Time (I play quiet music while my students put their heads down and rest.)
1:00 - 1:20 Calendar Time - Teach the students the "Days of the Week" and "Months of the Year" song. Discuss what month it is. Count to the date. Place #1 on the hundreds chart, where we count the days we have been in school.
1:20 - 1:45 Read "Pete the Cat Rocking in my School Shoes". Sing the song on the website. Click here to go to the website.
1:45 - 2:15 Have students make a page for Pete the Cat Class Book. There is a freebie from Stacia Seagroves that has this page. It also has a student note you can print for the students to take home.
2:15 - 2:30 Explain the procedure for a fire drill. Go outside for a fire drill.
2:30 - 2:45 Explain the procedures for going home.
2:45 - 3:00 Get ready to go home.
3:00 - 3:10 Dismissal.
Take a deep breath. Go to the school secretary for reassurance that yes you will be able to get through the school year and that this class isn't any more immature than your class last year.
Get ready to do it again tomorrow.
I hope this helps with some ideas for your 1st day of school.
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