The first day of school is important on so many levels. Your first chance to establish relationships. Your first chance to foster a class culture. Your first chance to set the tone.
Do you want the first impression of your class to be lock-down procedures, syllabus reading, and rule recitation?
Heck no!
We want our students, after the first day, to want to come back the next day. We want them to talk about what they did with their friends and family. Not just that, we want a chance to get to know our students. Personally, I want to try and have a conversation with each student by the end of the week. If I can do it on the first day; even better!
The lesson I use the first day is an adaption of one described by Dave Burgess in Teach Like a Pirate. Check a description here.
There really is nothing like kids walking into the room on the first day and seeing Play-Doh or Legos on the desks. Below is the Google Slide I use for the activity.
I have students write a reflection about what they made in their science journal (see second slide). This enables those students who might be reluctant to share a chance to collect their thoughts. I can also read the reflection if I can't quite figure out what their build represents.
When doing this activity I give plenty of time during the last part of class to have students share stories about their summer, family, and really anything. Just get the conversations going and establish a rapport. You will quickly learn which students share and what interests are. It is so important at this point to be supportive and affirmative. I use the improv "yes and" strategy. Don't shoot down student passions and ideas.
Student: I play video games.
Teacher (DON'T SAY): Those are a waste of time.
Teacher (DO SAY): Neat. What is your favorite to play?
Remember be honest and true to yourself. Most importantly, HAVE FUN with this activity. No work involved here other than setting up the activity and breaking it down.
Featured on: https://sites.google.com/view/teacherandstudentprojects/home
