First Day of School Activities

• Fold cardstock “hamburger” style
• Write your name in the center
• At each of the 4 corners draw or write something that makes you outstanding, you like to do, defines you, or is important for you (pictures encouraged)
• Share with the class

Take the first letter of your first, middle or last name and put a word or phrase with it. Teacher participates too. You can give this as an assignment or complete it in class and then have students read what they have prepared. For example:

L Loves teaching

E Enjoys playing basketball

N NASA supporter

N Nebraska football fan

Y Young at heart

Video description of why names are important and samples.

1. Write your name in big letters and decorate it.

2. Write a few sentences telling the story of how you got your name and what it means.

3. Tell what you like about your name.

• Talk about the intersection of three circles in relation to similarities and differences.
• Divide into groups of three and have each person label a circle with their name.
• Have them find at least one characteristic that fits into each of the intersecting areas.
• The intersection of all three circles indicates a characteristic that all three people share.
• Students can introduce their partners to the rest of the class.
• Once students understand the format of the Venn diagram it can be expanded to be used in the content area.
• Examples might be the three branches of government, types of animals (reptiles, mammals, birds, or tennis, volleyball and ping pong.

Venn Diagram Templates

Have each student write three things about themselves on a piece of paper. Collect the papers, read what is written and have the class guess which person is being described.

Have students write three things about themselves, two true and one false. Students have to guess which is which. Be sure you participate.

• Have students stand in a circle.
• Teacher will state a characteristic, “Do you have a brother or sister?”
• Students will then step forward if they have a brother or sister.
• The teacher continues to ask questions about characteristics or activities the students have participated in during the summer.
• Try to ask a variety of questions that will allow each student an opportunity to step forward.
• Teachers should also participate by stepping forward for characteristics that pertain the them.
• Students want to get to know you as a person.
• Allow students to ask questions as well. This will help students see how they are similar to or different from their classmates.

Template for Activity

Have the students fill in this poem and then have them read it to the class. I used the information at the bottom for my own use.

I Wish My Teacher Knew Video

This video of an assignment from a teacher provides examples of why it is important to get to know your students. Another question to ask, "Is there something that I don't know that I should?"

Additional resources can be found here.

Students answer questions about themselves, their feelings toward class, how they learn and more.

Prompts

This is similar to Math and Me but with some different questions.

Sometimes during the first three weeks of school contact parents by phone. Introduce yourself, what you teach, looking forward to having son/daughter in class, and express a willingness to be contacted by phone, email, or at an event. Please contact me if you have any concerns, questions, or something that I should know about your child. More than likely first positive phone call received from school.

Divide into groups. Have students identify 10 things they have in common. Eliminate trivial characteristics. (no body parts, clothing)

First days of school picture books from Tony Vincent. (Elementary)

21 activities for the first week of school from blog post Math=Love (MS or HS)

Another activity from Math=Love

Ask your students to provide ideas of what they think makes a terrific teacher.

Use a scavenger hunt to help students find resources that will be needed in your classroom or building. Locate whiteboards, markers, scratch paper, scissors, and more.

Have students create or fill in “round the clock partners”. Have them make sure that the 12 o’clock partner is someone they depend on. This person then becomes responsible for getting handouts, assignments, etc when their partner is gone. When a student comes back after an absence have them contact their 12 o’clock partner to find their assignments.

Take a picture of each student in your class with characteristics of the student written behind the student. Might be words from the student or words provided by other students.

Create a bingo card with spaces like: find someone who has 2 brothers, who has a baby in the family, and other traits.

Here is the website: http://ww1.wordle.com/

• The more times a word is used the larger it appears in Wordle.
• Have students list their first name, 5 words to describe you, 5 things you value, 1 unique think about you, and last name in a document.
• To make words appear larger copy and paste the words or retype them several times.
• If you want two or more words to stay together, 4 wheeler, type them 4~wheeler.
• To get the design you like continue to randomize the picture until you get one that you like.

Students stand or sit in a circle. With a ball of string or rope the teacher begins by introducing themselves and tells one or two things about themselves. The string is then thrown to someone across the circle. Depending on level the next person repeats the name of the previous person and then introduces themselves and tells one or two things about themselves. Continue until everyone is introduced. The “spider web” represents the connection, network, and support of the whole class. Depending on the type of string it is possible to have a student lay in the middle of the circle on top of the string and actually be lifted off the ground when everyone tightens the strings.

Have each student create a “team pennant” with information about themselves.

At open house take pictures of the students and parents and then use these to remember the parents of students at parent teacher conferences.

Have a small refrigerator magnet with the teacher’s name, email, and webpage to give each student.

This article has several ideas for getting to know your students better and using this information to create a seating chart. Students go through a different activity for the first 4 days of class, arranged by birthday, alphabetical, etc. As the student interact the teacher observers the interaction and uses this information to strategically group the students.

Arrange to have lunch with each student or group of students during the first week of school.

Elementary: Share a picture when you were in the grade you were teaching or of your class picture for that year.

Create a time capsule from beginning of year. Include hand point, height with a piece of yarn, favorite activities and then put in tube or box to open at the end of the year.

Have students create a “personal museum” and bring to class. Have students give a 2 minute presentation. Teacher models the presentation. May use rubric to provide expectations. Provide items and characteristics about themselves; bring artifacts from their life, things they value, some accomplishments, their interest, what you do in your spare time.

Math is like ……. because

• Complete the simile and provide a rationale. Student responses can provide insights into the perceptions of students.
• Math is like a skyscraper, because it can take you to great heights.
• Math is like a set of Lincoln logs. You have to build a good foundation so everything doesn’t come tumbling down.
• Math is like a lollipop it sucks.
• Math is like a hula hoop because once you learn some basics, they just keep coming round and round.

Create a welcome bag for each student like the one in this ABC article .

Choose 5 numbers that are significant for you. Share the numbers and what they represent.

Challenge the students to pick 1 word that they can focus on personally throughout the year. Get ideas from John Gordon's Website and Book.

Culture Boxes Middle Web Post A creative way to learn about your students is through the use of Culture Boxes. At the beginning of the year, ask your students to put 7–10 items that represent different aspects of who they are into a shoebox. Your students will love this activity, so get lots of boxes of varying sizes. “These objects reflect their family heritage, origins, ethnicity, language, religion, hobbies, and likes (foods, music, literature, movies, sports, etc.). The outsides of the boxes are decorated with pictures, symbols, and words/phrases to further explain who they are. Then the students share their culture boxes with the class.

Student Interest Survey

• What is the best thing you remember learning about last year? Why is it so memorable?
• If you could choose one famous person (living or not) to be the substitute teacher for a day, who would choose? What would you hope to learn from them?
• Favorite subject, favorite book, movie and/or TV show
• Favorite song and/or musical artist
• What do you enjoy doing when you are not in school? (any hobbies, talents, sports you play, etc.)
• List three words that describe you.
• What one word best describes how you usually feel about school?
• Think about the best teachers you ever had. List the three words that describe great teacher.
• As your teacher, how can I help you to be successful.
• What are you most excited about in this school year?
• What is one goal you have for the school year? What is something you hope to accomplish?
• What else should I know about you that I might not think to ask about?

To help students see the advantage of working together in groups try this 1-100 activity from Sara VanDerWerf

You can receive a lot of information concerning students and also established communications by sending a letter to the parents. All parents are proud of their children and want the best education possible for them. Ask the question is there something about your child that I should know? Be sure that if parents share something that you note that and can refer to it when interacting with the student and during parent teacher conferences. Getting parents to work with you and feel free to contact you is important. I would also send a copy of my class expectations for the parents to see. See sample letter from Lenny VerMaas

Blog from MiddleWeb on strategies to building relationships with parents.