Planning for the first days of school

Let us examine some key ideas for breaking the ice during the first days of school:

• Summer similarities. This back-to-school  correspondence provides the background for a first day activity. A week before school begins, program a questionnaire relating to summer; e.g., did you go on a vacation?; did you go swimming?; did you climb a tree?; did you play an instrument?; did you go to the movies; did you meet a new friend?, etc. Then mail each student a copy of the questionnaire and a welcome note instructing the student to bring the completed questionnaire to school on the first day. Prior to the activity, construct a large graph programmed with information from the questionnaire. On the first day, read each question aloud. If a student answered yes, write his/her name on the corresponding section of the graph. The completed graph will give each child an opportunity to find friends with similar interests. Your students may be surprised at how much they have in common.
• Personalised postcards.Remove students' first-day jitters by giving them an early glimpse at some of your interests. During the summer, collect a class supply of postcards that reflect something about you. For example, gather cards with a scene from you home state, from a vacation spot you visited, or of an animal or flower you like. Prior to the first day of school, mail a postcard to each of your students. Include a personal message about the upcoming school year, and ask each child to bring her/his postcard on the first day of school. During the first-day-introductions, ask each student to share her/his postcard and to tell the class something about you. Sharing bits of information about you will make your students feel special and in-the-know on the first day of school.
• Get-acquainted interviews. Use this fun and informative process to help students get better acquainted. Pair students, then give them ten minutes to question their partners -finding out as much as possible about each other. At the end of the interview time, ask a general question such as 'What is your partner's middle name?', 'What is your partner's favourite food?', 'What pets does your partner have?', 'How many brothers and sisters does your partner have?', How old is your partner?', 'When is your partner's birthday?, etc. Give each student a chance to answer the question, and let his partner confirm or deny the answer. After asking several questions, your students will feel well acquainted with their partners and other classmates, and you will know more about your students, too.
• Back-to-school Simon says. Try this twist on Simon Says for a great way to get to know your students. Have your students stand; then say a traditional Simon Says phrase, and add a request for information. For example, 'Simon says, stand on one foot and tell me your favourite food'. Say the phrases as quickly as possible and occasionally omit the words 'Simon says' to keep students alert.
• Information, please. Here is a beginning-of-the-year method for lining students up. It not only keeps students quiet and orderly while they get in line, but it helps you become familiar with their interests. Before you have your students get in line, ask a personal question such as, 'What is your favourite colour?'. Call on each student to answer the question. After each child answers, have her/him line up. Students will quietly listen to their classmates' answers, and before you know it, everyone is in line and ready to go.
• Take-home treats. After the first day of school, send your students home with special messages and treats from you. Create different novel notes for each of your students and attach the appropriate treat; e.g., 'I'm glad you're in my class! I'm nuts about you!', 'Here's a treat for a great job today! Keep the good work'; 'You're one terrific human being! I'm lucky to have you in my class'; 'I'm so happy to have you in my class. You're a very special student'. Then, distribute them to your students as they leave for the day to let them know how special they are. These treats will be such a hit that you will want to share them on other important occasions throughout the year.
• Paper-bag people. Use this proposal to help students get to know one another. During the first week of school, give each student a paper luch bag and a variety of scrap materials. Ask each student to transform his/her paper bag into a puppet that looks like himself/herself. Provide each student with a piece of paper containing several items students must write about; e.g., name, favourite colour, favourite book, things I like doing, a place I like going, etc. Once they have filled in the information, have each child cut the completed form on the solid line and glue it to the back of his/her paper-bag puppet. Have students use the finished puppets to introduce themselves to their classmates; then place the puppets in a centre for students to explore on their own. These puppets people will help students get acquainted without the usual inhibitions.
• Colourful welcome. Welcome your students back to school by preparing this colourful door display. Create three large sunflowers using green construction paper for leaves and black for the flowers' centers. Also make a class supply of yellow flower petals. Mount the leaves and flower centers on your classroom door. Label the flowers' centers as follows: 'WATCH', 'US', 'GROW'. As each student arrives on the first day of school, have her/him write her/his name on a petal and attach it to a flower on the door. By the time all your students have arrived, the colourful greeting will be complete.