Bring on the Kinders! First Day 2013

Ok- #1 Blogger slacker here.  I have lots of Kinder D5 items to post at some point.  For now, I want to share some first day items.

Day 1

Armed with name tags, a pile of first day of Kindergarten books, and of course my teacher "bag of tricks" (the invisible one), I started off my year with 17 new friends (#18 hasn't arrived yet).

Schedule "routine" items for day 1:
Supply sorting, cubby routines (lunchbox on top, backpack on the hook), bathroom "how to," School Listening Look, School Walking Style, cafeteria rules, school tour, classroom tour, preview of Choice Time (teacher selected choice), quiet time with books, and lots of extra time for dismissal!  I saved a few items for day 2: Playground rules, quiet sign, attention getter ("bump-ba-da-bump-bump" is the only one I use), clean up bell, fire drill, morning meeting, and jobs.

Activites for day 1:
Every year I create a book of self portraits that each student draws, monthly.  The first entry in each book is a drawing from the first day of Kindergarten (the last page is for the last day of Kindergarten).  Before students complete this activity we explore the crayons.  We look at the crayons and talk about what we do and don't do with them.  There is a space on the portrait page for writing- this is not an expectation but I want to provide an opportunity for students who are ready to write or at least ready to try.  My first day portrait paper: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By1GkRIpToipQ2lsZnBQUlJBWXM/edit?usp=sharing

Books for day 1:

Day 1 "things to send home":
I send home a first day letter to the parents letting them know of some classroom policies and procedures that I need to share prior to Back to School Night (in late September).  Mainly, I let them know about my birthday policy.  I ask that families do not send in gift bags and that if they would like to send something in they can send in something for classroom, preferably a book.   As far as "celebrating" birthdays, I ask that parents send in a special book (they are also welcome to come in and read the book).  Attached to the letter is a copy of the supply list/ wish list, a dismissal log, and an allergy alert (from the nurse).  I also send home a small home project, a "me bag."  Each student is asked to bring in 3-4 small items in the bag to share the following week.  Lastly, a small postcard from me, saying some of the things we did on our first day.

I had a great, exhausting day with my new batch of Kinders and I hope everyone else did, too!


Happy School Year!