ALL TEACHERS...advice please

Ive just been hired for the fall...it will either be a 4th or 5th grade position.

What are some of the things Ill need to buy for my room before the first day?


Also, what are the things that need to be done before the first student walks in the room?



Ive only been a substitute before this so im scared ill forget something big.


Thanks for your help!

Sincerely, A Real honest to goodness TEACHER!

Congrats!!!

I can send you a bunch of stuff I use the first few days... I taught fourth for a year and have been in fifth since!

Stuff you need to buy... First year is the worse- you spend a FORTUNE!!! Let's see... backing paper, borders and stuff for bulletin boards... a big calendar... some posters to decorate, rules chart and birthday chart... Maybe a clock (our school doesn't supply them! )... electric pencil sharpener... Books for a class library (hit garage sales and e-bay, then use Scholastic in the classroom- you get SO many free books that way!)... extra notebooks, pens, pencils... baskets for the kids to hand papers in... red pens , I could probably keep going on... part of it depends what your district supplies too!

Before the kids come in you really just have to have your room setup and some kind of game plan for when they come in. Usually the first day I let the kids choose their own seats and explain to them that at this age they should be able to sit near a friend without talking... usually lasts a few days and then I change their seats Makes them feel like they have some control though. On the first day I also have the kids come up with the classroom rules, again, if they write them themselves, they are more likely to follow them. I also have them come up with rewards and punishments... I explain how I like my classroom to work, and usually give them some kind of 'get to know me' work so they learn about me, and vice versa. I can send you some of that stuff if you want- I have it all saved. I am pretty good with learning all their names the first day as well. I just keep going around the room until I know them, and then I have the kids switch seats to see if I can still do it

A plus I have found (and it depends on your district) is that I make a class website on Scholastic.com, with the weekly homework and upcoming events on it... If you have the time and are allowed to do it- parents LOVE it! I also allow them to e-mail me but I use a different account than I use for everything else. Communication is always a good thing!!

I'll keep thinking and get back to you if I can think of anything else... Let me know if you want any of my stuff!

Thanks for the advice and good wishes.
Im gonna need them!

Congratulations! This is going to be my fourth year teaching 4th grade

Before you buy too much, especially in terms of books, check out your classroom and speak with your colleagues in terms of what supplies your school has. I made the mistake of buying big pads of chart paper to find out that my school buys it in bulk for us.

Some things I plan on getting: a plan book (free at Lakeshore with a $20 purchase), record book, 10 or so boxes of washable markers, class sets of crayons (I work in a low income area), name plates for the desk, packing tape, a welcome sign for the door, a new calendar for the board.

Your principal, or other supervisor, should give you a checklist of what needs to be done in the room before the kids arrive. That is how it works in my building anyway.

backing paper and borders, maybe letters
posters
planner and record book (hint-give every kid a number based upon the last name alpha-numerical and have them write their number on everything. when they are to hand in their work, have someone collect it in number order, albeit a test or hw, and it will be a hell of a lot easier to mark/check their work!!!)
crayons
markers -staples is having a huge sale right now and look out for teacher appreciation night

lakeshore is awesome!

laminate your charts. lakesure is like 20cents a foot!
baskets
paper
pencil sharpener
minifrig or microwave!
hanger for your coat
the chalk holder to keep chalk dust off your fingers!!!!
overhead transparencies
dry or wet erase markers
books (garage sales, ebay, amazon, thrift stores, go!!!)
also, books for ideas. such as mental math activities or creative thinking stuff.
subscribe to the mailbox and you'll get tons of activity ideas
a candy stash! and a little basket or bag of 'stuff' for emergencies. i have tampons, pads, floss, a nail file, breath mints, toothbrush, etc.

magnets. i love clip magnets for the weekly flyer to refer to.

a 'where are we sign' and little tags to decorate your door and display the class room #
some kind of incentive reward system

scissors. michaels has great sales on the decorative edge scissors. these are great for when the kids publish their works.
i also love a daily planner to keep me sane regarding things i need to do. i keep it seperate from my lesson planner

i had a sign that was 'instead of said' or various ways to say...blah blah blah. the kids 5th graders, likes that.

good luck!!!

Before you go out and get anything, definitely go and visit your classroom.....many teachers who retire leave things in the classroom - this can save you a bunch of $$$$$$ b/c believe me you will spend a TON of money! Congratulations and good luck!

I HIGHLY recommend you get the book called
The First Days of School by Wong and Wong. It helped me a LOT in my first year and I continue to refer to it at the beginning of each school year.

Congrats on landing a job! :)

Yes! That is a GREAT book! While you are at the bookstore, pick up a great first day of school read aloud. I love First Day Jitters. My kids were talking about that book until June.

The girls already names a ton of stuff hmmm...I'm trying to think of things that weren't named yet...make sure you get a lot of file folders (I like the multi-coloed ones), a few sharpie markers, post-its, different colored pens for marking, extra looseleaf the list goes one and on. Honestly, take a morning and walk up and down the aisle of Staples and make a list of what you might need. I always hit the dollar store and buy little baskets and bins to organize student work, books, markers, etc.
As far as planning goes, have something ready for them to do as soon as they get in because you will have to do attendance and don't want the students sitting there doing nothing. You can make up a crossword puzzle or wordsearch (I teach third grade and make a word search with each student's name on it) for them to start with. Acrostic poems are also a good first week getting to know you activity.
Have fun...you will always remember your first day, first class!!!!!!!

I read (skim) First Days Of School every summer before I go back. I recommend it very highly. I will think of more things you need :)

Congratulations, Jen!!!!!

Oh my Gosh!

Thank you all so much for the tips and advice.
Im going to look for that book tomorrow!

I worked in the school Ill be at for a year last year as a permanent sub but I know there arent alot of supplies to go around.

Teachers even go so far as to raid others' boxes and rooms the last day to take stuff :(
Not nice.

I still Dont know what to even plan for the first week...how long do you guys take before starting actual lessons?