Any 1st grade teachers? Help please

I was recently hired to teach first grade Previously, I was teaching grades 3-5 math AIS. Now that I finally have moved into my own classroom I am totally at a loss as to how to begin my year. I know I am going to have to assess their reading and what not, but what are 1st graders actually able to do in the beginning of the year? I am at a total loss.. Any first day activities would be great. Thanks!

- Heather

Hey Heather- well i was student teaching first grade and was there to see what she did on the first day. Basically she just did the assessments (as many as she could do) and get their things ready- handed out text books , got organized, came up with some class rules ( we actually made up a class list using the kids suggestions and then we wrote them on chart paper ). She then did a cute acticity- she read to them brown bear brown bear and then she asked the kids to write down what they saw in the classroom..... she made that into a bulletin by having me make a huge brown bear and then putting their work up hope that helps a bit! GOOD LUCK!!!!!

I knew I loved you for a reason..

YOU ARE AWESOME!!!

There is actually another girl on the Knot that is in the same predicament.. We're trying to find out as much as possible to help each other.. She has it worse than I though.. She is being moved from teaching 6th allllll the way down to 1st.. Now THAT'S rough..

Thanks again Athena! I owe you big time!! If you think of anything else, let me know.. I'm going to the book store to get that book..

---

Posted by soon2bmrsVPT

I knew I loved you for a reason..

YOU ARE AWESOME!!!

There is actually another girl on the Knot that is in the same predicament.. We're trying to find out as much as possible to help each other.. She has it worse than I though.. She is being moved from teaching 6th allllll the way down to 1st.. Now THAT'S rough..

Thanks again Athena! I owe you big time!! If you think of anything else, let me know.. I'm going to the book store to get that book..

---

oh man wish her luck for me!!! I know its tough but youll pretty much go with the flow!!! Concentrate mostly on the assessments and then create baggies ( zip lock bags) with their levels. While you are doing this- you can give them a small assignment mybe like draw and describe how your summer was- you know just something to keep them busy while your are assesing
Dont get frustrated, most of the kids , at least in my school, didnt know how to read or write so they wrote jibberish but after you can have them share their work aloud.

OH! Also I dont know if you want to start word wall but she had like 5 words each week and each day there was a word for the day- we usually said the word them clapped it out to create rhythem so they can remember the spelling and then write it down in our notebooks. I dont know how soon you want to start that but i thought id throw it in there for ya

Love you girlie!! Youll be great!!!

OH! They sell those starter books at lakeshore go by and check them out for more info! Phew Im done with this novel !! I hope it helps you out and you have a GREATTTT first day!!! '
(Hey are they hiring anyone else? Im still in need of a job!!! hahahaha I figured id ask1

I taught kindergarten for awhile, so i can give you an idea of where they'll be in september....

going from high to low is hard... there is so much that you think they'll know but they don't, you have to MODEL and EXPLAIN everything! how to line up, how to walk through the halls, how to sit on the rug, etc. etc. etc. MODEL so they know what to expect. first gradrs need repetition... mornign meetings are great for this...c alendar, weather, day of the week, morning message, etc.

they are so hands on at this age... centers, table work, crafts, etc. are so good at this age.

book baggies are great for reading groups and will help you and the kids stay organized. once i leveled them, i would get them books on that level and they would be in that baggie for a few weeks. . . then next assessment you switch the books... hope this makes sense.

give them ownership of the room... emergent readers and writers can help you label, etc. color code everything... that will help the kids help you clean up and keep the room organized....

hmm...there's probably so much more that i'm missing, but good luck and you'll be fine! Me, i hated early childhood and moved from kindergarten to 5th... i LOVE it... but there are days i really miss the little ones... i don't miss the whining and the 'she's not my friend' but i miss their innocence, their excitement to learn, the joy of them figuring out how to read... it is great!

Thank you so much for all of your input, I'm literally printing all of these ideas out for different activities while I am assessing them.

Keep the ideas coming ladies! I truly appreciate it!

start hand delivering resumes to districts that are important to you. Aug. 1st was the state deadline for teachers to put in retirements/resignations.. Now is when they will be looking for last minute replacements..

Good luck!!