questions re: first week of school

ok, so i worked all last year minus the 1st two weeks of school covering for someone on leave. so this year i've got the job permanently and realize that although i'm not worried about the year as a whole (since it doesn't really feel like my 1st year teaching) i am unsure how the first week of school goes. when do you actually start teaching and give homework. day 2? i teach 3rd grade by the way. i'm just trying to figure out my first week. i have lots planned for the first day, like give out books, going over rules, ice breaker, read aloud, etc. but what about the rest of the week. guidance please???

Re: questions re: first week of school

Well, I usually just do getting to know u lessons-I pair the students up and have them interview each other and then present to the class. I might give a review just to see where they are at-But I probably wont start my lessons until Monday. I buy those All About Me posters and they work on those too.

Re: questions re: first week of school

Icebreakers or getting-to-know-yous are definitely a good thing. You'll be spending all year together and you want to start on the right foot by creating a real team / family atmosphere.

But - make them do some work! Some writing at the very least. Nothing that will scare them away, but something that shows that you're the teacher and you're in charge. "You never get a second chance to make a first impression" and all that... show them that your class will be a mix of work and fun!

Re: questions re: first week of school

I'm having them make either a friendship quilt or a rules quilt.

We'll play first day bingo

We'll play the fire drill game where they practice lining up for the drills.

We'll heavily discuss rules and protocol and what to expect.

We'll also play a new game I made (saw in a magazine but made my own version). In small teams one child will hold up a picture and ask yes/no/maybe questions to his group to figure out what the picture is. IE: banana is it food? is it red? can you eat the skin? etc.

Re: questions re: first week of school

I have first grade and it is all about classroom management for at least the first month..I go into rules, expectations, but mostly set up the routines I want them to do the rest of the year. I tread lightly with heavy academics and most homework the first week is review from previous year to see where they are at, I have them bring in pictures of their family first night, next day they present the pics...great for oral language skills, thought process. Next day light math, again review. Mostly set up routines with them and do it over and over again so they understand that a pencil laying on the desk, a chair unpushed in is not acceptable...yeah I am a stickler for the rules but it pays when Nov comes and the child goes back to say..oh I forgot to put this or that away and then goes on the line.