Grade 2 teachers come in......

In Sept I will be teaching 2nd grade......I am going on my 9th year teaching and this is my first time teaching 2nd and I can't believe I'm nervous......I guess it's just the idea of being in a new grade when you were so comfortable and sure of yourself in the other grade....so I was hoping someone could share some good first day activities that you do or anything else that would be helpful to know. Thanks

Re: Grade 2 teachers come in......

I teach 2nd grade and I absolutely love it. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the two teachers who were with me on the grade my first year, who made me feel at home and included me in decisions.

I'm curious as to the other grades you used to teach. Nonethesless, you have to really remember that they are babies, just out of first grade. They are ready for more responsibility, but need everything modeled for them. The first month for me is rules of behavior, how to act in the classroom, and modeling then doing with them the literacy activites they will do when I am in guided reading.

Do you teach in NYC? If so, we have to follow the TC writing curriculum, but I also make sure they relearn penmanship skills and writing in sentences in paragraphs.

As for first day, I am also looking for new ideas and activities, as I'm kind of bored with what I've been doing. I have been successful in the past with a bulletin board called "All About Summer Me", a spinoff of "All About Me." They make a little booklet finishing sentences about how life was different for them during the summer.

Again, I adore second grade. The kids are wonderful, and you don't have as much pressure as you do in the testing grades.

Re: Grade 2 teachers come in......

Second grade is AWESOME! I love it...the only thing is that they are very chatty at this age. One activity I give them on the first day is an All About Me Bag...they bring home the bag and fill it with 3 things that tell about themselves...for example a baseball to represent a team they like. The rules are it can only be 3 things and each item has to fit in the bag. The kids love it and it helps all of us learn something about the child. We share a few a day. I also do a Scavenger Hunt - find someone who...has blue eyes, went away over the summer, is the oldest, lost a tooth, etc. etc. That is a fun activity too.

Re: Grade 2 teachers come in......

I taught Pre-k, Kindergarten, 5th, SETSS, and was a writing cluster for a year which covered grades 2-4.

ETA that Kindergarten was my absolute favorite

Message edited 8/7/2008 10:51:06 PM.