The First Day of School Agenda & Script
Any direct script to be used will be included in quotation marks.
Greet & Welcome Students (7:55-8:00)
VALUE to this part:
Students will feel welcomed and secure when they enter my classroom. They will be reminded that they are in the correct class and that they will have a teacher that cares about them. I believe, that the first greeting - the very first words you say to the student will set you up for the rest of the entire year.
Classroom Puzzle (8:00-8:30) (Barthelemy, 2013)
VALUE to this part:
This activity will be completed at the end of the day. It is to show the students that even though they are individuals (and should be valued for that), they also are a vital part to our classroom. Each person (piece) is needed in order for our classroom (puzzle) to be complete. We will join together, just like in a puzzle, and expect the best care, help, and hard work from each other.
Teacher Introduction (8:30-8:45) (Honour, 2007)
Value to this part:
There are two main important aspects to this activity. One is to introduce myself to the students to let them know both small facts about my life but most importantly how I intend to teach them throughout the year. The second is to introduce the KWL strategy on the first day of school so that it can be used throughout the entire school year.
Paper Bag Sharing (8:45-9:00) (Scalf, 2013)
2. Quiet mouths are zipped shut
3. Listening ears are turned on
Value to this part:
This activity provides students the opportunity to share safely in our classroom and to begin to feel like a part of our class. It also gives other students the chance to hear everyone's name and get to know each of their classmates. Lastly, it gives students a chance to see the differences between everybody and how everyone is unique and important.
SPECIALS ARE DONE HERE (9:00-9:30)
Read-Aloud (9:30-10:00)
This allows students to practice their listening skills. It also allows us to see how important the aspect of respect is in our classroom. The students will be held responsible for any misbehavior or disrespect they choose to use in my classroom and that, just like Miss Nelson, I expect the best from my students.
Procedures/Rules Handout Run-Through (10:00-10:15 & 10:30-11:15)
Value to this part:
This part is one of the MOST IMPORTANT part of the entire day. This is the time that my students will learn the procedures we will be using through our entire year. Like Harry and Rosemary Wong say (2009), setting up these procedures on the first day will help to "maintain an optimum environment in which instruction and learning can occur." (p. 167). I believe that in order for students to feel comfortable and secure in their classroom they must know every procedure possible.
RECESS (10:15 - 10:30)
Tour of the Classroom (11:15-11:45)
Front Board/ Teachers Desk
Reading Area
Pencils/ Highlighter/ Desk Work Hand-in Area
Computer Area
Centers
Value to this part:
This activity allows the students to not only get up and out of their seats, but also allows them an opportunity to explore the classroom that they will be spending the rest of the school year in. It is also a time to clarify any questions the students may have about the classroom environment.
Review Game for Procedures (11:45-12:00)
Value to this part:
Through this activity I am allowing students to see how games will be used for educational purposes in our classroom. This will re-enforce the procedures before and allow the students another opportunity to store those procedures in their memory.
LUNCH (12:00-12:35)
Creation of the "Classroom Promise" (12:35-1:00)
Value to this part:
Linda Albert, creator of the Cooperative Discipline Model, believes that teachers should work alongside students and parents to create classroom norms to avoid or deal with classroom behavioral problems (Albert, 2005). I agree with this aspect of her model and in order to implement it into my own classroom I am having students write a "Classroom Promise". This will show that the student's opinions and learning needs matter to me and allow for the teaching of collaboration skills between my students.
Power Point Presentation "What We Will Learn"(1:30-2:00)
Value of this part:
This will give the students an opportunity to get excited for the school year and learning that will take place in my classroom. It will not only prepare them for the objectives we will be covering but will begin building up their enthusiasm for learning.
Response Voting (2:00-2:30)
"All Set?" "You Bet!"
"Holy Moley!" "Guacamole"
"Ba da ba ba ba" "I'm Lovin' It!" (McDonald's Theme Song)
Value of this part:
There will be many times where my classroom may get loud due to activities or academic conversations between my students. In this case, I will need an effective way to quickly get my students attention. This gives the students an opportunity to place their opinion in my classroom. It also reinforces the idea of holding responsibility for their own learning. If they are creating or choosing the response, they should remember to use it more often.
Putting Together our Classroom Puzzle (2:30-2:40) (Barthelemy, 2013)
Value of this part:
I chose this activity to be done at the end of the day to bring a closing idea of how our classroom will be run to my students. I want each individual to feel like they play an important role in my classroom and to feel a sense of belonging. I want each student to know that I care about their education and that I only want the best of them throughout the year. I want each student to feel connected and as a contributing factor in my classroom. This puzzle represents how everyone will work together to make our class the most effective it can be.
End of the Day Procedure (2:40-3:00)
- Greeting students with a smile and a big welcome will allow my students to see that I am someone who will take care of them throughout the year
- I will say the following as each student comes to my door:
VALUE to this part:
Students will feel welcomed and secure when they enter my classroom. They will be reminded that they are in the correct class and that they will have a teacher that cares about them. I believe, that the first greeting - the very first words you say to the student will set you up for the rest of the entire year.
Classroom Puzzle (8:00-8:30) (Barthelemy, 2013)
- Students complete puzzles as the classroom fills up with students
- As soon as everyone is in the classroom, I will tell the students why they are decorating these puzzle pieces
- At this time, we will go over Miss Gascho's Classroom Rules
- I will tell students that they are expected to follow these rules today
- I will then have students gather in the carpet area of the classroom
VALUE to this part:
This activity will be completed at the end of the day. It is to show the students that even though they are individuals (and should be valued for that), they also are a vital part to our classroom. Each person (piece) is needed in order for our classroom (puzzle) to be complete. We will join together, just like in a puzzle, and expect the best care, help, and hard work from each other.
Teacher Introduction (8:30-8:45) (Honour, 2007)
- A KWL chart will be on the board in the carpet area of the classroom
- I will ask students if they have ever seen a KWL chart before in a previous grade
- I will tell students they will use it today to learn about who I am, but also in the future when we have lessons on math, social studies, science, and language arts
- First, I will ask the students what they KNOW about me - brown hair, teacher, etc.
- Then I will ask the students WHAT they think they will learn about me
- I will explain that after I show them what is in my brown bag and tell them more about myself, they will be able to fill out the what they have LEARNED part of the KWL chart
- I will pull my four items out of my paper bag and share why they are important to me.
- Add in any extra information the students need to know
- Explain to the students what kind of teacher I will be and why
- Finally, I will have students fill in the L part of the chart
Value to this part:
There are two main important aspects to this activity. One is to introduce myself to the students to let them know both small facts about my life but most importantly how I intend to teach them throughout the year. The second is to introduce the KWL strategy on the first day of school so that it can be used throughout the entire school year.
Paper Bag Sharing (8:45-9:00) (Scalf, 2013)
- Students and their parents will receive a Welcome Letter one week before school begins in which they are told to bring a paper bag filled with four items that represent who they are to the first day of school with them
- One by one the students say their name and share what is in their bag and why in Show-And-Tell style
- At this time our class will practice our LISTENING skills and need to remember three things
2. Quiet mouths are zipped shut
3. Listening ears are turned on
- Once everyone is introduced I will say
Value to this part:
This activity provides students the opportunity to share safely in our classroom and to begin to feel like a part of our class. It also gives other students the chance to hear everyone's name and get to know each of their classmates. Lastly, it gives students a chance to see the differences between everybody and how everyone is unique and important.
SPECIALS ARE DONE HERE (9:00-9:30)
Read-Aloud (9:30-10:00)
- I will read the book "Miss Nelson is Missing!" to the students
- We will then have a discussion as to how Miss Nelsons students acted before she disappeared and how they act after she returned. We will discuss responsibility and respect and then transition into our first procedures
This allows students to practice their listening skills. It also allows us to see how important the aspect of respect is in our classroom. The students will be held responsible for any misbehavior or disrespect they choose to use in my classroom and that, just like Miss Nelson, I expect the best from my students.
Procedures/Rules Handout Run-Through (10:00-10:15 & 10:30-11:15)
- Students will return to seats and pull out their student folders located on their desks
- They will then pull out their Procedures Packets from their folders to review for our run-through of procedures. Click HERE to open the procedure packet document.
- I will tell students to pay close attention to the procedures and rules because we will be playing a game with them later in the day
- We will go over the Morning Procedure before leaving for recess
- After recess we will go over the rest of the procedures, running through each one until each student has mastered them
- I will remind students that for the first couple of weeks I will remind them of how the procedures are done if they ever forget, but they are expected to work hard at remembering each one
Value to this part:
This part is one of the MOST IMPORTANT part of the entire day. This is the time that my students will learn the procedures we will be using through our entire year. Like Harry and Rosemary Wong say (2009), setting up these procedures on the first day will help to "maintain an optimum environment in which instruction and learning can occur." (p. 167). I believe that in order for students to feel comfortable and secure in their classroom they must know every procedure possible.
RECESS (10:15 - 10:30)
Tour of the Classroom (11:15-11:45)
- At this time the class will take a tour around the classroom visiting each of these areas (A link to the classroom layout can be found HERE)
Front Board/ Teachers Desk
Reading Area
Pencils/ Highlighter/ Desk Work Hand-in Area
Computer Area
Centers
- The students will then return to their seats and I will point out the schedule on the front board
- I will show students each part of the schedule including when subject areas will be covered and when lunch, recess, and specials are
- I will ask the students if they have any questions about the different parts of our classroom and answer them
Value to this part:
This activity allows the students to not only get up and out of their seats, but also allows them an opportunity to explore the classroom that they will be spending the rest of the school year in. It is also a time to clarify any questions the students may have about the classroom environment.
Review Game for Procedures (11:45-12:00)
- At this time the class will play a game of BINGO about how to do certain procedures or about rules in our classroom. Click HERE to access the Bingo cards
- I will call certain parts of a procedure and the procedure name will be on the Bingo card
- Or, I could call a classroom rule and the students would place a Bingo chip on the "MISS GASCHO'S RULES" place on their card
Value to this part:
Through this activity I am allowing students to see how games will be used for educational purposes in our classroom. This will re-enforce the procedures before and allow the students another opportunity to store those procedures in their memory.
LUNCH (12:00-12:35)
Creation of the "Classroom Promise" (12:35-1:00)
- This time will be spent creating the "Classroom Promise" discussed on my Norms page
- I will tell the students their opinion matters in this classroom and that as creators and learners in the classroom they should come up with some ways they will hold each other accountable in our classroom. We will talk about how we want each other to act in our classroom and how we should respect each other. This includes asking some of these questions:
- What makes you feel safe?
- If you wanted to share your writing what would you want your classmates to do?
- Would it be nice to be loud or quiet while Miss Gascho or another classmate is speaking?
- How do you feel when other people touch or take your things? What should we do to make sure this doesn't happen in our classroom?
- What things do people do to you that make you feel like they are nice people?
- Why do we come to school?
- What would you like me to do for you during your time in the classroom?
- What do we need in our classroom to make you smile?
- I will discuss with students why this Promise is important and what will happen if the promise is broken - which can be found on my Norms page
Value to this part:
Linda Albert, creator of the Cooperative Discipline Model, believes that teachers should work alongside students and parents to create classroom norms to avoid or deal with classroom behavioral problems (Albert, 2005). I agree with this aspect of her model and in order to implement it into my own classroom I am having students write a "Classroom Promise". This will show that the student's opinions and learning needs matter to me and allow for the teaching of collaboration skills between my students.
Power Point Presentation "What We Will Learn"(1:30-2:00)
- I will create a PowerPoint Presentation including activities and lessons we will be learning throughout the year to show and excite the students
- This PowerPoint will be created based on the standards the school system uses
Value of this part:
This will give the students an opportunity to get excited for the school year and learning that will take place in my classroom. It will not only prepare them for the objectives we will be covering but will begin building up their enthusiasm for learning.
Response Voting (2:00-2:30)
- At this time we as a class will chose a response system to use throughout the year when I need to get the student's attention
- The three choices they can choose from include:
"All Set?" "You Bet!"
"Holy Moley!" "Guacamole"
"Ba da ba ba ba" "I'm Lovin' It!" (McDonald's Theme Song)
- Once the response is decided we will run through it by having the students work in groups to complete and discuss their Back to School Survey (Provini, 2013). Click HERE to open the Back to School Survey document.
- As the students are beginning to finish up call their attention with the saying and have students respond with the response
Value of this part:
There will be many times where my classroom may get loud due to activities or academic conversations between my students. In this case, I will need an effective way to quickly get my students attention. This gives the students an opportunity to place their opinion in my classroom. It also reinforces the idea of holding responsibility for their own learning. If they are creating or choosing the response, they should remember to use it more often.
Putting Together our Classroom Puzzle (2:30-2:40) (Barthelemy, 2013)
- We will use this time to put our puzzle pieces together on the front bulletin board
- We will discuss that this shows how we are each individuals but are a necessary part to our classroom in order for it to be whole
Value of this part:
I chose this activity to be done at the end of the day to bring a closing idea of how our classroom will be run to my students. I want each individual to feel like they play an important role in my classroom and to feel a sense of belonging. I want each student to know that I care about their education and that I only want the best of them throughout the year. I want each student to feel connected and as a contributing factor in my classroom. This puzzle represents how everyone will work together to make our class the most effective it can be.
End of the Day Procedure (2:40-3:00)
- The end of the day procedure will be reviewed at this time as we get ready to leave our classroom
- I will have each student share what they are excited about this year on their I'm A Smartie papers for the day.