Chad Donohue is a middle school teacher, blogger, and adjunct professor living in Snohomish, Washington. Remember that youre always loved by us. Let your students play! Your local public library might also have some goodies for you to include in the packet. How to Prepare Kids for the First Day of School: 6 Effective 10 Best Parental Control Apps to Ensure All-Time Safety for Kids. Having a high-achieving older sibling helps children, especially those from socioeconomically disadvantaged families, succeed academically, according to a new Yale-led study. educationfrom pre-school to university graduate programs. They'll love getting their fingers paint covered on the first day and bringing home these adorable school crafts. I put a copy of our handbook and our curriculum in the folder for orientation day, and have the parents take them home and return them the first day of school. Then head out dont linger (he cant get on with his day until you do). Write a 'Meet the Teacher' letter. 9. and Childcare Resources, anxiety about being separated from their families, brightwheel's daily activity report feature, celebrate your preschoolers' 100th day of school, first day of school self-portrait worksheet, How to Prepare Your Center for the 2023-2024 School Year, 7 Back-to-School Tips for Preschool Teachers, How to Choose the Best Childcare Curriculum Plan. First Days of School Activities It can be very difficult to get any type of activity accomplished in the first few days of school, especially if you teach in a half-day program. Tell me all about your day when you come back. Offer an Observation Day A great way to help parents learn about your preschool is to provide an opportunity to see what your program is all about through first hand experience. It's important to have enough activities planned for students to gain a better understanding of classroom expectations. Students will feel both loved and appreciated that teachers took the time out to ask and learn about how their first days went. This activity not only gets names circulating among the children but helps children learn their names and letters. Teachers prepare lessons, teaching many subjects. But will that excited anticipation translate into a smooth, stress-free transition on day one? The reasons vary from child to child, but kids tend to feel anxious about starting school. It's an easy first day of school read aloud and opens the door for talking about what the leaf sweeping might mean and how to manage our "leaf-sweeping" or overwhelming feelings. Heres a link to a First Day Fears Letter (originally from Ms. Bonthuis site). It's normal. Kids should be acquainted with the source material they will focus on for the year. Engage with our policy agendas, advocacy resources, and current initiatives. Kids can also feel anxious when its time to go to school in the mornings. Early education starts with choosing the right preschool. Amanda Rock, mom of three, has spent more than a decade of her professional career writing and editing for parents and children. If you take notes during the day, you can share specific positive observations in your message. Some children waltz right into preschool as happy as can be and everyone is content. / Crissy's Crafts. Work with students closely on this activity to help and guide them throughout the entire duration. Learn about and purchase the best books and resources to support young children's learning and development. To my horror, more than one student was caught in the embarrassing situation of getting shunned or shooed away from a seat supposedly being saved for a friend. He loves writing about his parenting experience, the lessons his kids teach him every day and parenting hacks and tricks hes picked up along the way. Children have a lot to learn about how preschool works, and it' important they learn the different routines you plan to institute before they're ready to learn the subject matter. It is best to be patient with children on their first day back to help them ease away their jitters. Personal stories make teachers appear more human and approachable to children. I'm Karen Cox, a Pre-K teacher in Georgia. I save these for their portfolios. First impressions matter especially on the first day of school. Support access to high-quality early childhood education programs and opportunities and resources for educators. Save This! Write out or draw (with space in the letters) each childs name large enough for them to put stickers on top of or inside of the letters. Can we sit here with you? With a little luck, the other parent will pick up on your idea and introduce her child. This eliminates the anxiety often associated with forgetting something to write with. Its nice to have a wide variety of materials in the centers for the children to use, but this can be overwhelming at the first of the year. Having them practice these skills at home can help significantly. Parents should help their children rediscover the joy of education, meeting new people, and participating in group activities. Purposeful Learning Activities for Young children. It will give all of your preschoolers a place to go throughout the classroom and set up before circle time. The Tree In Me by Corinna Luyken. It's always calming to work with paint and bright colors. Become a leader in your professional association. The first few school days can be quite warm, depending on your location. One-on-One Sessions. You now have a seating chart. The key is to make sure you are ready for your child to go to preschool. Find research-based resources, tips and ideas for familiesfrom child development to reading, writing, music, math, and more! My assistant takes half to the housekeeping center and I take half to the block center (afterwards, we switch). KELLY: Well, never fear. 3. Put out a small journal or set up a whiteboard or an easel with paper so current families can write messages to welcome newcomers. Parents can also frame mini-goals, such as reading books 7 to 9 times a month or finishing homework before dinner each day. I explain a little about the curriculum and briefly go over our handbook, then allow them time to ask questions. Water play will help students to take time to themselves or interact with others. I said if they still had the fake $5.00 on the last day of school, they could redeem it for treasures from a prize box. If things get out of hand in a particular center (safety issues or clean up issues), I close that center for a day, and we review the rules before using it again. You can share affirmations and positive messages such as Youre capable of anything you want to do. & Youre super-talented and can achieve anything.. Hell also get more face time with the teacher, too, which will be tougher to do once all the other kids are there to vie for her attention. All rights reserved. Brian Lee is a writer and parent of 3 spirited children. Make introducing yourself to preschoolers more memorable by playing a get to know me game. Gluing scraps is one of those activities that are perfect for students getting into the classroom setting. KELLY: So there you have it. Parents will quickly see that their kids are in the hands of a teacher who isnt merely going through the motions, but who cares enough to share his or her enthusiasm with families. She will meet new friends. The First Day. Use students' names from day one. Children are undoubtedly curious about you as the newly-acquainted adult theyll spend a lot of time with. MOGEL: If you can insulate yourself from vibrating along with your child in their pain, you can be a calm and calming presence. There are ways to manage first-day anxieties and avoid that tearful or difficult drop-off. Without further adieu, here is a list of 25 First Day of School activities that will make your first day successful! The back pocket has a monthly class calendar. Keep bringing her to school and dropping her off as per the teachers instructions. Just remember, its normal for kids to have a meltdown when its time to separate (though many dont). This, too, is very common. See what the school administrators are recommending about preparing the children for this unusual transition back to school. 7. Setting the right goals is another crucial step in the right direction. Apple Tag. You've done all the research and picked out the perfect preschool for your child. 2005-2023Everyday Health, Inc., a Ziff Davis company. Welcome to Preschool Plan It! Include this in your first day circle time activities plans because students will greatly appreciate it! This activity for students is perfect for working together and creating different colors! Reaching out at the end of the first day sets a precedent that emphasizes the value you place on communication. A day later on the Wednesday, he jetted off to Dagestan where he met with an adoring crowd and was photographed hugging and kissing children, posing for selfies and shaking hands. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. My assistant helps steer the wanderers back to the table to help keep the first day chaos down to a minimum. The books below can assist children in easing any anxiety about their first day of preschool and inspire them to embrace whats ahead. Try these 8 first-day preschool activity ideas for teachers. Here you'll learn how to do that. Find a sponsorship opportunity thats right for you and help support early childhood educators, parents, and other professionals. Preparing kids for the first day of school can be challenging as parents navigate setting early bedtimes, creating routines, and developing timely homework schedules. Take one. Can you think of other strategies for ensuring a welcoming first day of school? If you quickly realize that Tanner and Isabella should not be seated near each other, you can make adjustments. If you haven't memorized each student's name yet, have cue cards on the desk. Anxiety may be eating you up inside, but dont let on nerves are highly contagious. The best advice I got as a new teacher was to forget about apples and themes and any cutesy stuff for the first few weeks of school, and focus on teaching them how to use the centers and the materials in the classroom. This is not necessarily a bad thing; some anxiety is normal, even healthy. Follow it. This one requires a little preparation, but its a simple way for children to use their creativity and begin to introduce themselves. This will set a great tone for your child and make them realize that going to preschool is something they can and should look forward to. Don't panic. The more you put in, the more you get out of it! In a normal year, the first day of school can be anxiety-provoking for parents and children alike. Connect with professionals in your community at conferences, networking events, advocacy efforts, leadership opportunities and more! This is especially true for kids who have joined new schools or who havent yet met their classmates in person. That way, you wont have to hurry your child as he munches through his morning meal or risk being late because you had to tame your frazzled tots tantrum. Saying these words are the first step to teaching your kids about perseverance and work ethic. But then, out of nowhere, a few weeks into the school year, your child may start to cry when you leave. Try this shoe-lacing activity on the first day of preschool! As you plan for their first day, remember that your excitement is contagious, and your smile can help put children and parents at ease. The first day of preschool is a big day. A backpack stuffed with supplies like crayons, paper, and glue sticks is waiting by the front door. How we use the daily folders: The daily folders are used all year, and are brought to school every day. You'll present a lot of information during orientation, so remember to allow plenty of time for Q&A at the end of your presentation . Click here to access the class for your child. He has been teaching since 1993. No matter how old the story seems to you, it is brand new to your new class of students. Stay up-to-date on issues in early childhood education and hear perspectives from a wide range of educators. They shouldnt also be disconnected from the transition process and expect kids to figure it out themselves. In most cases, theyll encourage you to leave. Chances are they have a process in place to deal with this very situation. In any case, crying children is nothing new to a preschool teacher. September 7, 2018 by Sheryl Cooper Inside: Looking for toddler back to school classroom ideas? Okay, so I introduced a color mat into my classroom a few years ago, and the students loved it! Create a feeling of relaxation and understanding with this circle time activity. Bring Your Personality and Interests Into the Classroom, Effective Engagement Focuses on Getting Students to Care, 10 Challenges Facing Public Education Today, Implicit Bias, Microaggressions, and Stereotypes Resources, Copyright 2023 National Education Association. Dylan Dreyer is marking her son's last day of first grade with one final gourmet school lunch. Some tissue paper . When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. With the fun activities you plan, youll help children feel comfortable and adjust to their new environment. Rules & Examples, 20 Best Homeschool Books for Kids Engaging & Effective Learning, 150+ Compound Words That Your Students Can Start Learning Today, 250+ Sight Words for First Graders That Kids Can Easily Learn, What Is Reggio Emilia Approach? Allow parents to provide the introduction to school by helping children find their names. Become an organizational or corporate partner to inspire early childhood education at the local and national level. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Kids can feel more comfortable when they have already visited the school many times previously. Youre going to see your friends again, and your favorite teachers! Ask children to draw a picture of themselves on the first day of preschool. Theyre trying to teach you the right skills to help you learn better. Copyright 2021 NPR. Prepare your kids for the start of school with the right online learning tools! Remember how you built that great tower? That's where stations come in handy. Its normal. $270.00 $198.00. This is a strategy I learned the hard way. One thing's for sure: Kindergarten isn't what it used to be! National Association for the Education of Young Children, Curriculum, Assessment, Classroom Management, Supporting Emergent Bilingual Children: A Checklist for Early Childhood Educators, Personal Stories to Help Children Get Ready for School, Less Is More: Taking Distractions Out of the Physical Environment. professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of Login to the Early Learning Accreditation Portal to take charge of your accreditation process. Parents should not push their children too hard on the first day back. Use your student's favorite colors and create a few different jars and place them throughout the classroom. You're welcome to cry in the car. Simply number the seats. 1. This will help to set the expectations of students for the rest of the year. Rule number one? Becoming a member of the National Education Association connects you with a community of educators supporting each other. On the tables, I set out crayons and paper with the words I drew this on the first day of school printed on the bottom. This craft is so much fun for preschool students. public education. Say Hello and discuss, network, and connect with our interest forums and online communities. The flexibility and scale of the platform make it more engaging for young ones that want to have fun when learning. Puppets can contribute to a positive classroom environment and create a playful atmosphere. Whether you send your child to preschool or teach preschool at home, it is a special day. You can also read about our day in Pre-K and see our schedule. Water tables can include different letter recognition objects and even drops of food color to make it more exciting. I ask the parents to bring these to school on orientation day, and remind them of the date and time. Easy, right? Donate to help NAEYC advance a strong and dynamic early childhood profession and connect educators to cutting-edge resources.
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