First Day Powerpoint

I mentioned that I have a powerpoint that I use for the first day of school, to keep me organized.  I wanted to share what I have on it today.  Maybe it can give you some ideas if you are interested.  

First screen is what is up when they are entering the room, since I'm greeting by the door.  Just some visual directions and a hint of our class signal.  We practice this a lot the first week of school.  

A quick glance at the day's schedule.  

Getting some paperwork out of the way.  In the past the backpacks either go under their own desk or under the back table, keeps things out of the aisles and falling off their chairs.  I think that this year everything will have to stay close to their own spot.

Since my own kids have gone there, the kids usually know me. So I start off with a little quiz, and then go over the answers afterward.  This lends itself well to play a 2 truths and a lie with the kids later.  

I have a slide of family pictures and also a slide of pictures with the other 5th grade teachers.  

Next up I give a mini classroom tour.  If everything is really back to normal, then the kids will have access to get paper and supplies out of drawers.  We'll see.  Then we head outside to walk around the campus, practicing walking in a line, and see the sights - especially for the new to the school kids.  

We usually have some morning activities to attend, and when there is a moment we have our first read aloud.

Then it's time to go over a bunch of Random Memes.  I googled what I needed and added them to a powerpoint so they were all added to the same first day share.  

things about doing their best...

things about the importance of listening...

the importance of staying home if you are not well...

the importance of using your time wisely...

the importance of following directions the first time...

the importance of paying attention...

and the importance of knowing that I don't do attitude or excuses... just tell the truth.

After we go through the memes, then we have a chat about our class rules.  To me, it all boils down to respect.  Respect yourself, others, and our school.  We brainstorm - sounds like/looks like for all 3 in groups, and then share aloud.  

We read Juice Box Bully, sign the pledge, and brainstorm what we want our classroom to be like.

We go over Class Dojo and then brainstorm examples for our Class Motto: Work Hard and Be Kind.

Before lunch, we go over what are Houses, and then if we are able to meet we usually meet in the afternoon of the first day. Houses are when we mix up the kids, about 1/4 from each class, and then during that time we usually do our Social Emotional curriculum. 

I really hope we are able to do this... but may have to push it out to later on in the year. We'll see...

Afternoon, we take our Important Book list from the morning and create an art project with our hand.

And that's how we usually end our time together.  Quick reminders at the end about supply donations, paperwork, and class codes.  Hope this helps!

I Picked Up My New Planner!!!

What is it about a new planner? It just makes me feel hopeful.  

I'm not writing it in yet, just admiring how empty it is, the colors, and kind of figuring out how I'm going to do things different for next year.  I did print out the school calendar for next year, I couldn't remember what day I have to head back... ahhh, summer brain. :)  Yesterday I also forgot the day of the week.  Ha!

I've gone through quite a few different ones over the past 21 years, this blog has seen me through a lot of them.

When I first started teaching I used the Scholastic and Teacher's Press versions.  They were thin and got the job done. Those were the days that I would go into a teacher supply store and compare them in person. Oh, I miss the teacher supply stores. It was a happy place full of stickers and bulletin board sets.

Then I switched to printed pages in a binder. I could customize it all. My team planned together so we all had the same plan. 

Then I started the blog and found out about Erin Condren.  Y'all made me do it.  I went through the EC phase for years. Colors and prettiness. 

Then I went through the Plum Paper phase when I saw them on Etsy - where I could completely customize everything inside with the colors. What layout, what subjects and times already printed, what start date, it came dated too!

Then I went through the Blue Sky phase when I wanted something thin again. It also came dated. Had everything I really needed. The link is for the coming year.  

Then I started the Bloom phase where I get the colors I want, it's a vertical layout so I don't have to flip the book during the day, but I'm back to having to write everything in.  But as we've all learned, things can drastically change from one day to the next... The lines are big and since I write huge, well it works for me.  

My teammates really like the Happy Planner. Other friends really like Planbook.com. It's nice there are so many options out there.  

This is the one I had last year.  

Anyhow, this is the one I chose for this coming year. I'm in a chalk board mood. Not that I ever want to have to write on or clean a real one again... I like that it comes with an extra clear cover for extra protection. Here's the link if you want to check it out. Love Amazon Prime.

And, like I say a lot - not an ad, just sharing because I like to share... 

Hope you have a great day!

First Week Lesson Plans

My first week almost always looks the same as past years.  A little tweak here and there, but mainly the same concepts - building a class community through a bunch of team building activities, learning about student work habits and personalities, and of course a lot of practice of routines, rules, and expectations.

Please don't judge my handwriting... :) Here are my main go to activities/read alouds for my 4th grade classroom.  Many of these ideas can be used in multiple grade levels. 

Read Alouds:

*Have You Filled a Bucket (My intro. into our rules)

*First Day Jitters (Mentor Text for First Week)

*G is for Golden 

(CA History Intro.)

*7 Habits of Happy Kids (I read one habit per day the first 2 weeks of school, then we brainstorm how we can model that behavior.)

Team Building Activities

*Save Fred (teamwork with a partner - involves gummy worms, peach rings, paper clips, and plastic cups)

*Puzzle Races (teamwork with a small group using small boxes of puzzles)

*Fourth Day of Fourth Grade (teamwork with a small group, centers practice)

Math Activities

*Find Someone Who

*Math About Me

*Practice MATH Workshop Routine

(Not full speed, practice rules/expectations, one station per day)

M= Math Facts

A = At Seat

T = Teacher Time (I save this until later on)

H = Hands On 

Writing Activities

*Welcome Booklet (Great filler for those first days of school)

*Set Up our Grammar Notebook

(Mentor Sentences, Word of the Day, Parts of Speech)

*I am Poem (I hang these up as an easy bulletin board for BTSN)

*Heart Map (What do they love?  Great look into what's important to them, and then we put into our classwork folder for quick write options)

*Start Mentor Sentences

Reading Activities

*Set up our Reading Notebook

(Genres, Strategies, Themes)

*Start my version of Daily 5

(IPICK lesson, What does Read to Self look like, What does Read to Someone look like)

It's a busy week, but a memorable one.  :)  I hope this helped someone.  In case you haven't heard, today and tomorrow there is a TPT Best Year Ever Teacher Appreciation Sale going on.  My store is also on sale, including all the bundles, and you can get an additional 10% off with the code BESTYEAR.  :)

Have a great day!