Teacher Tips

First Day of School Morning Work

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We survived the first day of school!! And I’m still standing (barely) and alive to blog about it. (also barely) Nobody cried, nobody got lost, nobody had an accident. I’m in love with my new bunch and all in all, I’m calling day one a smashing success! That said, the first day is still the first day. It’s jam packed from the moment we walk in until the moment we leave. I think the two most hectic times of day on the first day of school are when the kids are first arriving and then again when they’re packing up to leave. I offer no grand insight about the latter…pray!? But the entering part, that I might be able to help you out with. 😉

{Click HERE to snag graph for your class}

When my kids walked in this morning, this is what they found waiting at their tables. The table caddies hold enough crayons for the kids to share and also a handful of sharpened pencils. Also, a cup of pattern blocks and their first morning worksheet. I have all the kids bring their backpacks with them to their desk and help them find their name tags. Then, I quickly go over the directions for this activity, before letting them get busy. My favorite part about this very basic activity is that when they’re done, they can build and create patterns with the blocks. This keeps them happy and busy at their seats while I take attendance, call tables over for breakfast, and bag all the supplies that are about to burst out of their backpacks…

“Sorting through all the supplies that come in the first day of school takes no time at all…”

SAID NO TEACHER EVER!

I loathe the supply collection process the first day of school. My mission is just to grab it, bag it, and sort through it after school when the kids are gone. While my kids are working on their morning work, I quickly start scooping up backpacks and putting everything inside into super market bags. (I bring a ton to school the first day.) On a scrap piece of paper I write the name of the student whose bag I just emptied and put that into the bag too. Then I set it to the side and move on to the next bag. Any supplies I need my students to have day one I have ready to go so that I don’t have to worry about individual student supplies until I have the time to sort them.

It works for me. 🙂

{Instagram @Fallingintofirst}

We did lots of other activities today. And stop the world- I remembered to take pictures!!!

But I think I’ll save the details for a first week recap this weekend.

Right now I have a one track mind.

Shower. Food. Sleep.

Because it’s training season all over again!!! 😉

http://feeds.feedburner.com/ FallingIntoFirst

Stephanie Stewart

Hi, I' Stephanie! I’m always looking for new ways to put a creative twist on the standards and I love helping primary teachers do the same in their classroom. Think of me as your virtual teaching partner right down the hall. I can’t wait to share new lesson ideas, teaching tips, and engaging K-2 resources with you!

5 Responses

Where the Wild Things Learn says:

August 28, 2013 at 1:44 am

HAHA LOVE that ecard!! Looks like you had such a successful first day.. go you!! Hope the rest of your week goes well 🙂

Amelia
wherethewildthingslearn
Mrs. Hennessy says:

August 28, 2013 at 2:28 am

Thanks for sharing the graph!! I am looking for math activities to get them used to using the manipulatives and this is perfect for my pattern block box!!! You rock!!! =)
Mrs Cupcake says:

August 28, 2013 at 3:42 am

So glad you had a great first day! Can't wait to hear more!
❤Teri
A Cupcake for the Teacher
Carolyn Kisloski says:

August 28, 2013 at 11:12 am

I love your graphing idea! LOVE IT! Oh my goodness I am SO with you on the supplies. That is the downer of the first day for me. For some reason I always forget how much time it takes- and how much room it takes to store everything. Poor little guys are all weighed down with STUFF- and then seem to throw it up all over the room for me to put away! 🙂
Sounds like your off to a great year!
Carolyn
Kindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together
Mrs. Yazzie's Classroom News says:

September 7, 2013 at 2:58 pm

I love your idea and will remember it for next year's first (or second) day. Since I'm a month past that now, I'm going to use this next week for their math journal. Thanks so much!

Welcome

Hi, I’ Stephanie! I’m always looking for new ways to put a creative twist on the standards and I love helping primary teachers do the same in their classroom. Think of me as your virtual teaching partner right down the hall. I can’t wait to share new lesson ideas, teaching tips, and engaging K-2 resources with you!