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posted by: Alix
| August 08, 2012, 05:56 PM
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Welcome to August, Teachers! With the first day of school right around the corner, you are likely making preparations for the lesson plan that will kick-off your entire school year. The first day of school is more about planning than it is about teaching, and it’s particularly important to spend some time introducing your subject and getting to know your students. Depending on your subject and age group, consider using some of these activities to help start your year off right.
- Make a time capsule with your students. According to one teacher, “During the first week of school my second graders make a time capsule. First I ask them to bring an empty paper-towel roll from home. We cover the rolls with construction paper, on which the children draw pictures and write their names. Capsule contents include a picture of the child, a hand tracing, and a completed questionnaire that asks about favorite books, TV shows, friends, and so on. It also asks them to write three things that they want to learn during the year. I measure each student's height with a piece of string, and the string is also put into the time capsule. Then I collect the capsules and hide them. On the last day of school we have a fun ‘reopening’ ceremony, during which the children compare their earlier choices and goals (and height!) with how they feel now.”
- Create a class mission statement. Have your students collaborate in groups to come up with a mission for the class. The mission should be something that students can agree to accomplish on each day of the school year. Perhaps your class mission is to be the most environmentally friendly classroom in the school, or maybe your class decides to be the class known for random acts of kindness. What does your class want to be known for? How will your class implement it throughout the year?
- Come up with class rules. Given, this one is a little dangerous, but I did this in my classroom and we all really seemed to enjoy and benefit from this. As an elementary music teacher, I remember brainstorming with my 2nd graders about what kinds of things we can do in music class to make music class meaningful and musical. We’re not looking for constitutional law answers here; we’re looking for something as basic as “I will share the gong with my music partner” or “I will have my parents sign the practice sheet.” Warning: don’t let your class come up with rules that are contrary to the classroom rules you will institute regardless. The idea is to assess their compass, and, in doing this, you get a sense of how you can go about accomplishing your classroom goals. You might find out that your class is very studious, or you might find out that you have your work cut-out for you. Either way, hold them to the rules they created.
- Play a game. English teachers, math teachers, 3rd grade classroom teachers: you all have games that you like to play with your class, even if it’s just something as basic as an ice breaker. Pick a game that really demonstrates what your subject is – and please, unless you are teaching a class in this subject, don’t pick “Heads Up, Seven Up!” For example, one of my favorite games to play with my younger students on the first day of school was a singing game. I would sing, “Hello, [student’s name]” and the student would have to sing, “Hello, [Teacher’s name]” and then turn to her neighbor and sing, “Hello, [neighbor’s name].” The pitches were never anything crazy; something as simple as Do-Mi-Do does just fine. Added bonus with this game: you get to take attendance while they’re singing.
- Incorporate your philosophy of education. My philosophy of music education held that I teach children, not just music. I incorporated my philosophy of music education into my classroom by helping students outside of their designated music time. Doing this demonstrated that I cared about student learning and appreciated the fact that one student might need a little more time in a particular area than another. My focus was on quality student learning, not on grilling everyone to ensure that “Hot Cross Buns” was perfectly played. How will you integrate your philosophy of education into your classroom this year?
Teachers, what kinds of activities do you like to do in your classroom on the first day?
Comment below.
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