Can we talk about the first week of school? There are three types of teachers when it comes to planning for the first week.
TEACHER #1: I plan to use all the “Get to Know Me” worksheets & Crafts to fill my days. I will read a few “First Day Jitters” books. I am going to ease my class back into the school year.
TEACHER #2: I am going to hit the ground running. “Open your textbook to page 2 and let’s get started.” The curriculum is my best friend & I will start using it on day 1. No time for fluff!
TEACHER #3: I use engaging and meaningful activities that incorporate content to help build my classroom community with strong routines and procedures.
Which Teacher Are You? There isn’t a correct answer, BUT in this blog post, I will share my preferred method along with my favorite read-aloud books for the first week of school. (This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I earn a small commission when you purchase from the links in this post at no cost to you.)
Which Teacher Am I?
I am teacher #3. I am really big on specific and purposeful activities. In other words, I don’t like to waste time. During the first week of school, every minute is spent with the purpose to set up my classroom routines & procedures. Here is what the first ten minutes of school would look like for me.
I would start by greeting my class outside in the hallway. I will introduce myself & tell them there are three things I would like them to learn before they enter the classroom.
First, I will explain the importance of lining up quickly & quietly when the bell rings. I would ask the class to show me a straight & quiet line and then, compliment students for meeting my expectations.
Second, I will teach them how to get my attention. I would quickly explain the importance of raising their hand and waiting for me to respond. I will also show them how to communicate with me using a thumbs up or thumbs down.
Finally, I will teach the class how to enter the classroom. On the first day, they will line up in the front of the room so I can show them how to walk to their seat and place their backpack on their chair.
This is all within the first ten minutes of school. It goes quickly, but it sets the tone for the classroom and sets them up so this procedure becomes a routine much faster. Check out this blog post for more routines & procedures.
So, how is this different from Teacher #1 and Teacher #2? In Teacher #1’s class, the students may enter, find their desks, and begin a “Self Portrait” or “10 Things About Me” task. Teacher #2 may have the class enter and complete a pre-assessment. Like I said earlier, there is no right way. It all depends on the teacher’s style and preference.
Which Books Should I Read?
Each day we read a new book & complete an activity which you can find in my TpT store. While I am reading, the class also practices rug procedures, engages in partner talk, and more! The books below are linked if you would like to purchase them.
“What If Everybody Did That?” by Ellen Javernick is an important back-to-school read-aloud. This book is great for discussing the importance of following the rules at home & at school. Each day, I read a portion of this book and introduce one rule in our class. At the end of the week, I allow the class to create rules that we will categorize and turn into our first Good Citizen Essay.
On day two, I like to introduce the class to Jeremy in “Those Shoes” by Maribeth Boelts. This book teaches children about compassion, empathy, & generosity. Students can learn many lessons from reading this book that will propel their classroom community into a loving and understanding environment. For example, in the middle of the book, Jeremy notices that his friend Antonio’s shoes are taped together. This is a great stopping point to discuss what they would do & what they think Jeremy will do. There are many other opportunities to stop and discuss Jeremy’s actions.
I try to read “The Wednesday Surprise” by Even Bunting on a Wednesday. I use this book to teach children how to Synthesize while reading. This book also teaches children about determination & perseverance. In this book, the young girl teaches her grandmother how to read as a surprise for her Dad’s birthday. Throughout the book, children assume the Grandmother is teaching the young girl. There are so many opportunities for their thinking to change, which makes it great for teaching them how to synthesize while reading.
“Thank you, Mr. Falker” by Patricia Polacco is a teacher favorite. There are so many great lessons that can be taught using this book. On our first read, I like to teach the class how to make connections while reading and focus on the hardships of learning how to read. In this book, Tricia struggles to learn how to read which is something that most students can relate to. Students are excited and shocked when it is revealed that this is a true story about the author, Patricia Polacco.
“More Than Anything Else” by Marie Brady is another great book about a young boy that wants to learn how to read. It is a fictionalized story about the life of a young Booker T. Washington living in a West Virginia settlement after emancipation. While reading this book, I model how to make connections to “Thank you, Mr. Falker. In both books, the children want to learn how to read. This opens up the conversation for the class to share something they may struggle with & how we would like to be treated when we struggle.
A Resource for You!
These are the 5 books that I read during the first week of school. They help set the tone for my classroom community while incorporating a few important reading strategies and classroom procedures. You can find the activities and anchor charts in my back-to-school pack in my TpT store.
Thanks for stopping by!
