I like to try to send something home in each child's hot little hand on the first day, so this is what I sent this year.
After a quick circle time where I try to get everyone sitting "criss cross applesauce" (using Herm, of course) and a story (Usually Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle), I let the kids go play. Because let's face it, play is all they really want to do at the beginning! So while they are playing, I circulate around, getting to know them, helping to solve problems, keeping voices at the "inside voice" level. While I am doing this, my aide calls the students one at a time to paint their handprint and place it on the paper of their choice. I have a large variety of colors available and have the tags with the poem already tied on. This year I used raffia for the tying. In the past I have usually used roving yarn, but we have a shortage of roving yarn at my school, and I have a giant box of raffia left over from the 90's just begging to be used up!
The poem says:
Welcome, welcome, school has begun.
Time for work. Time for fun.
I use my hands for fun and play
School has started just today.
(Date)
So, what do you do on the first day of school?
13 comments:
On our first day of school, I give the students a 12 x 18 sheet of white paper and they get to draw themselves- I give very little guidance. Some draw themselves 2" tall and some take up the whole paper. Then, I cut around them and mount them on different colored papers to display. I do not put student names on the front, only numbers. On open house night, parents need to guess "Who's your baby?" It is a pretty fun thing for the parents....
On the first day I try to survive. Considering I'm in a class of 26 4 and 5 year olds with no aide. But your ideas are really cute in a perfect world.
I usually read the Kissing Hand, and give each student a red heart sticker for their hand. This is to remind them that "Mommy loves you"
That's not legal anywhere 1:26 ratio of 4/5 year olds. What state/country are you in? I think a call to your state licencing rep/ agency is required
In NZ I have taught 27 five and six year olds alone. It was not difficult! Now I am in an under resourced International School in Egypt with a class of 19 five and six year olds and a teacher aide that isnt actually trained properly...I'd much rather prefer to teach without an assistant to be honest!
A class of 26 five year olds is average in NY.
Thank your for sharing your adorable project! Love the poem too!
Thanks for sharing this adorable idea!
Love this idea! I'm going to give it a go :-)
Nice ideea kconrad...
During the first week of school (3/4yrs), I ask the children to draw themselves and also write their name. If they can't write their name yet I write it in highlighter and have them trace it the best they can.
During the last week of school I ask them to do the same thing again. It really shows their growth through the year.
We have the old fashion scrapbooks for these moments and the children take it home on the last day of school.
I also place a first and last day of school photo in their scrapbooks.
I agree with nhardy28, no way should you be put in that position! And if you're putting yourself in it, get out now before something happens!
Not illegal at all, nhardy28! I have typically had 24 - 26 4&5 year olds in my class, and we do not employ aids. This year, I have 31 expected. Over 32+, I will get a small stipend. Should be against the law, but it is not.
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