The+First+Day

The first day of shool is one of the most important days in the school year, especially for first year teachers. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. From the very moment you open your classroom doors, you and your idea of an effective classroom environment are on display. Parents will be wandering around the room to see if the learning environment is going to suit their son o daughter.

Furthermore, the first day of school is vitally important in establishing a well-managed classroom. There are a few different techniques and ideas on the best ways to spend this first day of school...

//__Getting to know your students__// Getting to know your students should be your number 1 priority on the first day of school. This can be done through ice breaker activities and getting-to-know-you activities. This could be as easy as asking students to tell you about their family or tell you their favourite sport. It is important as a teacher that you can find out what interests students as this will help you build on lessons that would interest the students. Several fabulous resource matrials are out there to assist you in developing engaging activities, here are just a few: - book "Best-Ever Back-To-School activities" by Elaine Israel - [] - []

It is undoubtly important that the you get to know your students but another important step during the first day of class is introducing yourself to students, welcoming them to the class and helping them begin the process of getting to know one another as well.

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//__Creating Boundaries__// Students need to know the boundaries that exist in your classroom, what behaviour is acceptable and what is not. Therefore, the first day is a great chance to set the rules and procedures that will be followed for the rest of the school year. This can bedone the following way; 1. Set the stage by telling the students how important rules nd procedures are to follow 2. Come up with a classroom motto together with the students 3. Allow the students to come up with the classroom rules Involving the students in these discions is vital because it helps to build their buy-in and resnsibility for the overall classroom envrionment.

Another way to demonstrate to children what behaviour is acceptable and not is to undertake a roe play; it engages students in practicing and demonstrating behaviour that works and behaviour that doesn't work. Furthermore, you could facilitate a discussion about when it's appropriate and not appropriate for students to call out in class, emphasising the importance of demonstrating politeness and respect for others.

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Having up on the whiteboard a daily schedule of the day’s activities gives students an idea of what is expected from them throughout the day. There are no real surprises when they come to school in the morning. It will give students structure they need and also help them feel that the classroom is a safe and predictable place.

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