by Janine
Starting the new school year off on the right foot is very important for both teachers and their students. Some children may be excited and ready to learn while others may be a bit more reserved or even nervous about what to expect.
Here are a few fun ideas to welcome your class back to school!
Welcoming Gifts
Fill a bag with Lucky Charms and include a note telling the child how “lucky” you are that they are in your class!
Tell the children what a “bright” year they will be having in your glass with some glow sticks.
Give each child a care package to help set the tone for your classroom. Here are a few items to include:
- an eraser — because mistakes are opportunities for learning
- Smarties candies — because we all have different kinds of “smarts”
- a pencil — because I know that you are sharp
- a stick of gum — because we are going to stick together as a team
- a Hershey kiss — because we have a safe and caring classroom
- candy — because we are sweet and respectful towards each other
Welcoming Activities
All About Me! Have your students draw and color their name and a picture of themselves on a large sheet of paper. They add things about themselves, including their birthdays and their favorite things to do. The posters are then displayed on the wall in the classroom.
Getting-to-Know-You Friendship Web – Have the children sit in a circle. The teacher starts with the ball of yarn, says their name and something about themselves then tosses or rolls it to a student holding on to the end of the yarn. Continue the activity, creating a web of new friends until everyone in the class has hard a turn.
Classroom Scavenger Hunt – Create a list of simple words (or pictures) of classroom supplies that the children must locate in your room to help them feel comfortable in their new surroundings.
School Pictures –Decorate a large frame for the children to hold in front of their faces so you can take their picture in it. Save the frame and re-decorate it for other memorable dates and events in your class such as the 1st day of school, the 100th day of school, the last day of school, the child’s birthday, etc. Create a personalized photo album for each child to gift them at the end of the school year.
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Remember, the school year is what YOU make of it! You have the power to get your class excited to learn and have them looking forward to the adventures that await them throughout the rest of the school year!
If you have any additional ideas for the first day of school, we’d love to hear them! Please share in the comments below.
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