What kind of prep work do I need to do in the summer before I start my first year as a first grade teacher?

Question

Hello. I've recently accepted a position to teach the first grade for next year. (Though it will be my first year teaching, I have already worked at my school as a co-teacher.) What do I need to do over the summer to start preparing for the next year's material? I have several ideas like having a summer tea party (for parent & child & teacher orientation), classroom management plan, google discussion group (for teachers), birthday presents, lesson plan, etc. Anything I'm missing and need to consider? Your input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Answer 1

You are going to be so overwhelmed when the year gets going. You need to do as much prep work as you can to insure that you have a successful school year.
First, get all of your teacher's editions and look through them carefully. List the topics that need to be studied.
Start googling everything that you can about the topics and copy them. Make an alphabetized set of manilla folders arranged by topic for easy access.
Also find as much as you can on holidays and major events and make a file for those too.
Look in your reading books, etc. for the lessons studied and plan how you will teach them. Reading is so important in first grade. Are you using four block, reading first, etc. What theories does your district use. Get updated and figure out how you can best use your language arts block to insure reading success.
Make word flashcards
Make number and math flashcards
Make games for math and reading
Centers in bags...so that you don't have to set up during the year
begin sharpening pencils.....believe me it is never too early and you will be thankful you did it now.
make a pamphlet and opening letter for your parents or a back to school pack stating your objectives, expectations, school schedule, rules, etc.
go to garage sales and start collecting items that will be needed in the classroom
Call for speakers, field trips, etc. pertaining the the content matter for first grade
Arrange to have guest readers come in...school board members et c.
Staple writing journals with paper and construction paper
Prepare bulletin boards and store them in cardboard boxes so that they are ready...do it by months
Focus on the curriculum............it will really be overwhelming if you don't have enough materials or content to teach

Answer 2

Get your helper chart system worked out. Line leader, door holder, etc. from Day 1. I used an alphabetical order system that kids always accepted as fair. I did it by the day. first person in abc order is line leader on day 1. Day 2, they become the door holder, and second person is line leader.
Day 3, first line leader becomes line ender, second line leader becomes door holder, and third person becomes
line leader. After they have "worked" for 3 days, they are "off"! Line leader gets to do the office run, anything else
that is asked that day.

Take your vitamins and plan to do nothing after school the first week except sleep. Get a few meals planned ahead,
get your first week's clothes lined up, and have some
aspirin or pain killer (In child proof container) in your desk.
Have extra pencils and erasers already sharpened. A system I liked was when I sharpened all the pencils--and I had 3 per student in the cup, so if they needed a sharp pencil, all they did was hold it up, and I could keep talking or whatever and just bring them the cup, or nod and they could go exchange it themselves. Anyone who needs to be excused holds up their hand in a fist shape, and I can just look at them and nod or shake my head and say in a minute. I had a rule that I would not give permission if I was talking--giving directions.

Thank you for taking on this important work, and Good Luck!

Answer 3

My Dad gave me some great advice before I started my first job as first grade teacher: Buy several boxes of Kleenex. That sounds silly, but he was right ! I was unprepared for all the little things that happen in the classroom, like a child getting sick or paste everywhere or even those"accidents" that sometimes happen with little ones. You already know WHAT to do, just ask your Mom or another Mom about the things that their kids do at home and be prepared for them. ( I like the idea about sending out an introductory letter too.)

Answer 4

Don't laugh, but if your school has buses, the most important thing the very first day is to go over and over and over what bus they are going to ride home , make lists so they have buddies to go with, line them up very early to go to the bus, you could even practice this during the day. I taught 1st for many years, and truly this is the most important. If you wait until the end of the day you are going to get crying kids and bad scenes of kids on wrong buses getting off at wrong locations completely lost. If you are going to meet them before school, I would suggest you do it in smaller groups orif you have time on your hands,one by one with parent for 20 minutes.We used to ask for pre-first day parent conferences but they never gave them to us. It really settles the jitters for everyone and I would have these in the classroom where you will be teaching. then the kids will get a feel for it. Pat Fellers used to teach Peaceful procedures and you might be able to buy a copy of her books somewhere, they cover everything so so well. And remember this, every teacher you know survived their first day :) You will be exhausted and glad it is over. If you have been a co-teacher but didn't start the year, that is a whole different thing. I student taught the fall term so luckily I learned how 1st graders start. Take it very slow and very easy, you are dealing with an age that really doesn't like being treated in a group and are used to one on one contact.
I don't like to cut and paste sites on here for safety for you,so type in Peaceful-procedures and you will get the site and the info. It is FANTASTIC

Answer 5

Hey... John.. quit dissing the teachers! They do the most important job of anyone! After the age of 6, they collectively see our kids more than we do! So pay some respect dude!

get a frequent buyer card at your local wine store!

Seriously... One of the coolest things a teacher ever did for my kids was to mail them a letter introducing themselves and saying how much she was looking forward to having them in her class. It came personally addressed to her, and she couldn't have been more thrilled!

Also, on the first day of classes, she recruited a parent volunteer (me!) to deal with the supplies, so she could spend time getting to know the kids... But she let them put away the stuff in their desks (ownership, u know!) and then explained that I would be storing their extra supplies in a specially labeled area so that they would have them when necessary! Kids might wonder about their "stuff" otherwise!

Make sure you have a colorful bulletin board or door display to welcome them on the first day...

EG... Mrs. G's Catch of the day.. and a fishing net with a fish with each child's name on it... (Just remember to have extra "fish" for the kid you forgot or who registers on the first day of school)...

EG... Ms. M's shining stars... a universe theme with each kid's name on a star (again , keep extra!)

Pick a theme that goes with what you will be doing in September...

My son's grade 2 teacher did an "apple" theme and the bulletin board was something like "the apples of my eye"

You get the idea.. Kids that age love to see their name displayed!

Answer 6

Read this book: The First Days of School by Wong

http://www.amazon.com/First-Days-School-Effective-Teacher/dp/0962936065/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-9222674-7666218?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180059901&sr=8-1

Answer 7

John doesn't realize that we don't actually learn more than skimming the surface in college education classes. It is creative experienced teachers telling us novices how, that is the real way to learn to teach. And then you add your personal stamp to what you were told, and pass it on someday.

I am about to begin student teaching in K, and so I am watching to see the answers to this quesitoin. Thanks for asking it!

Answer 8

You spent 4 years in school to learn to be a teacher and you spent some time in on the job training and you have to ask a question like that.