The first day is all about setting up routines and how you want your class to run. I also like to play a few get to know you games and I show the students some fun things I did during the summer. I teach middle school so my classes are short (45 min). I love those first few days but I am really loving summer right now and am not looking forward to going back to school.
I'm reading Robyn comment, and it makes me laugh at how different we all are about perspective. When I saw the question, I went back to the perspective of my childhood. All my life I have looked at the first day of school as a transition from summer to work, and I wasn't going without a fight. (Which makes less sense when you know that I had summer employment since I was 13.) I grew up next to a lake, and every year on the first day of school I would get up early enough to go swimming. I know that little act of defiance was strictly between Nature and me, but it made the day go better.
I have gone from dreading the first day of school to loving it. I think it is so fun to see those nervous 2nd grade student come into class. I am usually their first boy teacher and they are quite nervous. I know most of them from the year before and I make sure I greet each one as they come in. It is a fun time. Thanks for the question. I can't believe it is almost starting time again.
As much as I didn't want to, teaching juniors, I found it best to act authoritarian for the first week. That allowed me to loosen up. It is so much harder to get tough later than when starting out that way. I would always through fun and funny things in, even at the start, but I quickly returned to serious mode.
The first day is all about setting up routines and how you want your class to run. I also like to play a few get to know you games and I show the students some fun things I did during the summer. I teach middle school so my classes are short (45 min). I love those first few days but I am really loving summer right now and am not looking forward to going back to school.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Robyn comment, and it makes me laugh at how different we all are about perspective. When I saw the question, I went back to the perspective of my childhood.
ReplyDeleteAll my life I have looked at the first day of school as a transition from summer to work, and I wasn't going without a fight. (Which makes less sense when you know that I had summer employment since I was 13.) I grew up next to a lake, and every year on the first day of school I would get up early enough to go swimming. I know that little act of defiance was strictly between Nature and me, but it made the day go better.
I have gone from dreading the first day of school to loving it. I think it is so fun to see those nervous 2nd grade student come into class. I am usually their first boy teacher and they are quite nervous. I know most of them from the year before and I make sure I greet each one as they come in. It is a fun time. Thanks for the question. I can't believe it is almost starting time again.
ReplyDeleteAs a counselor the first day of school is a big pain. I spend all day tracking students and fixing schedules. One good thing is that it goes fast.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I didn't want to, teaching juniors, I found it best to act authoritarian for the first week. That allowed me to loosen up. It is so much harder to get tough later than when starting out that way. I would always through fun and funny things in, even at the start, but I quickly returned to serious mode.
ReplyDeleteTrying to send you the New Beginnings artwork but you didn't give me your email.
ReplyDeletewrite back on my blog and let me know.-Lori
ReplyDeletealso- check out my teacherspayteachers website. i am new at this but would love some traffic onto my site.
ReplyDeletethis is the link.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Buttercup-Sketches
thank you!
-Lori Sume