First Day Activities:

1. Meet and Greet Students - They will be nervous so a warm welcome from the teachers is very important.  When they come into class, have a folder with their name on it on a desk or table where they will sit. A few simple worksheets (coloring sheets, dot-to-dot, wordsearches, etc. will give them something to do right away. In the meantime, you can greet students and parents and collect all the necessary supplies, forms, etc.  I usually place the forms that come in a box to sort out later that day. 

2. After all the students have arrived, gather the students together for the first Morning Meeting. Here you will greet the students again and introduce yourself and anyone else who works in the room with you at this time. Here you can begin doing some name and getting acquainted activities. 

3. Next, it would be a good time for your first read aloud. I like to start with a simple and short back to school theme book.  This would be a good time to go over what you expect for them while you are reading aloud.

4. Bathroom routines and Snack

5. Hallway behavior - go on a tour of the school. Visit important places!

6. When you get back from the "tour", have the students draw and write about their favorite place in the school.

7. Have the students go to their individual desks or tables to work on their folders (independent seatwork). 

8. Before going to lunch and recess, gather as a whole group and go over the routines and procedures.

9. After lunch and recess, read aloud another book with a Back to School theme.  If there is time you can start having them brainstorm the rules of the classroom. If not the second day is good for this, too.

10. Introduce a few math tubs and have them work on these.

11. IMPORTANT - Some time during the day, take pictures of the kids, individually and the whole group. This is essential!