Saturday, August 23, 2014

Fantastic First Day Feats

Fantastic First Day Feats

Suggestions for making your first day of school successful and fun!
 
 
Dr. Wendy Ghiora – Posting #126
August 23, 2014
 
It’s that time again. Teachers around the world are about to start another school year.  The excitement is growing and we all have something in common; we want it to be the best year ever for our students!
After going through years of notes and also searching the Internet I came up with a few ideas which can be helpful and I would like to share them with you. Here are a few suggestions for the first day of school.
Start Learning Names Immediately
Many teachers will tell you that learning names quickly will help with discipline. This is certainly true, however;  I believe that rather than assisting in an authoritative way, it more importantly sends the message loudly and clearly that you are interested in your students on a personal level, and that you care.
Have Too Much and Too Many of Everything
Make extra copies, just in case of any prepared handouts. There is really nothing worse than being one or two copies short.  Need name tags or construction paper? Get the extra-large pack (you can use the leftovers for another project). Have a surplus of pens or pencils handy for those kids who have already misplaced or lost theirs.
Icebreakers/Learning Activities
Some teachers prefer to jump right into classroom rules and instruction. They think icebreakers are a waste of good instructional time. Thankfully, most teachers recognize the potential of icebreakers. Icebreakers can help teachers get to know their students. They can reveal who the class leaders might be, what skills and special abilities students possess, and how well students work together.
Teacher Ellen Berg used to rush into instruction on the first day of school. Getting down to business was a good way to get kids focused on learning right from the start. Berg's ideas about the importance of the first days of school have changed, however. "Because cooperative learning skills are essential and necessary for good community, I like to set up high-interest cooperative projects for the first days that allow my kids to practice group skills while allowing me to get a good picture of their strengths and weaknesses," said Berg, who teaches at Turner MEGA Magnet Middle School in St. Louis, Missouri.
One of Berg's favorite activities is a mini-lesson on scale drawing. After the lesson, she challenges students to work in groups to draw scaled-down maps of the school hallway. "The project allows my students to work together in small teams while it helps them learn where their core classes will be," said Berg. "It is exciting to see them with their yardsticks, heads bent together, debating measurements and how to deal with fractions." Lessons such as this one are great icebreakers, and they are great teaching lessons too, Berg added.
Anne Jolly agrees that icebreakers can be easily slanted to accomplish academic goals. Students could compile a class book by having each subject-area teacher focus an opening day icebreaker on the subject, Jolly suggested. "In science, kids might tell about the most catastrophic natural event that ever happened to them and how they felt," explained Jolly. "In language arts, they could tell about their favorite book character and why they like him or her. In history, they could tell about a place they've visited or would like to visit or name a historical figure they admire and tell why. In math, they could tell about a time when a knowledge of math was vital to them; it will probably have to do with money!" The students can keep a record of their responses as they go from class to class, said Jolly, a veteran grade-eight science teacher. Icebreakers are not good activities only for the start of the school year, Jolly added. When she was in the classroom, she found ways to use icebreaker activities throughout the year to reinforce the ideas of community and teamwork.
The Name Continuum
Put a sign that has a large A on it on one wall of the classroom. Put a sign that has a large Z on it on the opposite wall. Then have all participants arrange themselves in alphabetical order between the letters. You might do first name order first, then repeat for family name order. Variations: See whether students can do this without saying a word! You might have them organize themselves in order by birth date, height, or another piece of orderable information.
   Cliff Lightfoot, Nunthorpe Youth Centre, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England
Teach Your Best Lesson!
While all the other middle school or high school subject teachers are going over class rules and handing out books, make your class the one students remember at the end of the day! You can do that by teaching your best lesson on the first day of school. Choose a lesson that requires some previous knowledge but is something most students will be successful at. When they leave class on the first day, the kids feel positive about the subject you teach and they are excited about returning to class tomorrow. Add a homework assignment -- one that will excite and motivate them that they'll be eager to complete. Save those class rules, expectations, and syllabus for the second day of school.
   Julie Deppner, Chelsea High School, Chelsea, Michigan 
 I hope these ideas will be helpful to you in your endeavor.  I wish you all an exciting learning adventure with your students this year!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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