First Day of School

Today was my first day of school! Actually, we have been at school since August 31st, but today was my first day with my new class. I am their Monday teacher. There are 28 grade 4 and 5 students. Having been a grade 6/7 teacher for so long, I was really afraid of frightening THEM! Especially as most are newly hatched from primary. It was fine. No one cried, not me or any of the students.

I started by showing them how to move their desks to the perimeter of the room in order to create a community circle. Thank goodness they do not have chairs attached to the desks, as in some of our classes. Once in Community Circle, we did some name games: the Koosh Ball game, I Sit in a Chair, and a new one I read about in Journey Toward the Caring Classroom (Laurie Frank): It's so easy! In the circle, have each student say their own first name, one at a time around the circle. Time them. The first time the kids did it it was 21 seconds. I told them I thought they could get it down to 15 seconds. It took about 5 tries, but they did it - 13 seconds! Reflection questions: What skills did you have to practice? What was hard/easy? How did you feel waiting for your turn? Extension: have one student start and the two on either side then pass their names- to the right, to the left... Which side will finish first?


After that we played Apple, Peach, Pear, Plum. I remembered to stress safety! We went over the Four Agreements. We started some "Get to Know Me Maps" that I`ll laminate. We did some spelling and some math and before I knew it the day was OVER!

I can`t wait until next Monday! There is so much to do, so little time! My daughter is in Mrs. Kelly`s class at BES and it was so great to hear about all of the Tribes activities Marian has already done - she has a orangutan called Tango, who watches from his perch - that reminded me to introduce the kids to Cosmo next week.

I will look forward to hearing from all of you about your classes and your great adventures in learning and being together!