Ah, the first day of school!  After twelve years of teaching and twelve “first days,” I still get butterflies in my stomach! I have so much I want to do and want to say, but the trick is making the first day moments count without overwhelming the children. This is why after twelve “first days” I have never planned the same “first day” twice! Each year I reevaluate, asking “What went well?” and “What can be improved upon?” and “What do the students want to do?” I used to go over classroom rules, playground rules….rules, rules rules! (This was until a kindergartener sweetly asked me, “Mrs. Delwiche, do you always talk this much?”) Granted, I do talk a lot, but I know that on that particular “first day,” I wanted to really make the rules clear. Needless to say, on the next “first day” the following year, I prepared more activities and did less talking!

So today we skipped the rules and got right to the fun part of Kindergarten. We had an all school meeting, let by Mr. Surber, who shared his tip of the week. We listened to the story The Night Before Kindergarten (learn more about this book: http://www.amazon.com/Night-Before-Kindergarten-Natasha-Wing/dp/0448425009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409802207&sr=8-1&keywords=the+night+before+kindergarten) and played a “getting to know you” game. The children drew a picture of themselves on their first day of Kindergarten. They even got to attend their first LEGO at Laguna class. We talked about walking quietly with marshmallow toes. After snack and recess, I read Give Up Gecko and students drew a picture of what they will work hard to accomplish this year. (Learn more about this book: http://www.amazon.com/Give-Gecko-Margaret-Read-MacDonald/dp/1477816356/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409802151&sr=8-1&keywords=give+up+gecko) Then it was off to music and finally, carline! The day zoomed by! Sure we discussed some general play ground rules, but the children innately know to be safe, be kind, be considerate, and HAVE FUN.

Three cheers for a VERY successful first day of school!

(Pictures of the kindergarteners will be added next week, as I receive permission from the new parents!)