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Planning for the First Day of School: 3 Activities to Start the Year Right!

August 9, 2022 by Krejci Creations

Back-to-school season along with the anticipation of the first day of school is unlike any other time of year.

Whether you are setting up your classroom, purchasing materials, creating class lists, making seating charts, or preparing for the first day of school, the work is never finished! As a teacher, you learn to prioritize, and first-day lesson plans are the one thing that just has to wait until it’s absolutely necessary.

When you do sit down to plan out that first day of school, keep in mind your students will be very curious, and many will feel anxious. They want to know more about their classmates, teachers, grade level, and their daily schedule (like when are lunch and recess exactly?) Plan activities around these curiosities and you’ll have an attentive and engaged group of students.

Here are my favorite icebreakers and lessons for the first day of school.

First Day Icebreaker #1

One of my favorite activities to use on the first day of school is called Find A Friend.

This activity is ideal for upper elementary students and allows them to move around while learning about each other.

Students simply sign their initials on a friend’s paper when something is true about themselves (loves to dance, likes country music, has been to another country, has a cat for a pet, etc.)

For timid students, it’s great because they don’t have to do much talking but can still interact. Be sure to grab a paper for yourself and complete the activity right along with your students!

First Day Icebreaker #2

This next activity, Would You Rather, is perfect to use as a time filler or when you feel students need a short break. They are absorbing a ton of information on the first day of school, so breaking it up with this fun question game is always appreciated!

This icebreaker comes in digital and printable formats. I love using it during dismissal to keep them quiet and entertained. You can even let a few student volunteers read the questions!

First Day Activity: Classroom A vs. B

Now, onto actual lessons. On the first full day of school, I teach students a lesson called “Classroom A vs. Classroom B.” The objective is for students to understand how their actions can determine what activities we can do as a class. If you listen to podcasts, this lesson was the first topic I covered on Elementary Math Chat!

EP 1: How to Take Control of Your Classroom on Day 1

First, we begin with Classroom A. If our principal walked into Classroom A, he or she would be amazed and proud! Students in this room are engaged, on task, responsible, kind, productive, and enjoy learning. Classroom A stands for Classroom AWESOME.

Then, we move to Classroom B. If our principal walked into Classroom B, he or she would have major concerns. Students in this room are not paying attention, shouting out during the lesson, not completing their work, are bossy and mean to each other, and are not enjoying school. Classroom B stands for Classroom BAD.

We then discuss how students hold the power and how they can determine which classroom we will be. If they don’t believe me, I simply remind them how outnumbered I am. There’s only 1 teacher and 20+ of them!

Classroom "Bad"

Next, we discuss what our year would look like as Classroom A vs. Classroom B. I do get pretty serious during this section of the lesson. I want them to understand how their behavior is directly related to the classroom we will be.

If we have a classroom full of the behaviors listed on the left, what would that look and feel like? What kinds of activities could we do?

I jot down student responses in the right column: distracting, frustrating, getting in trouble, not learning, not fun, failing, unfinished work, and extra homework are typically mentioned.

By the way, I always point out that homework is never a punishment. But if they can’t get work done in Classroom B, they may have to finish it at home.

I explain to my students that Classroom B won’t play games if I can’t trust them to be responsible and get along. They won’t be able to work around the room, do outdoor activities, or have choices with these behaviors.

We then discuss how it feels to imagine being in Classroom B. The mood drops a bit, and they get very quiet. I pose the question, who wants to be part of Classroom B? Not a single student raises their hand. I remind them of how their behaviors and actions determine which classroom we will be.

Classroom "Amazing"!

Here’s where the lesson takes an exciting turn. Imagine if we had an entire classroom full of students who show the behaviors listed on the left. What would that look like and feel like? What kinds of activities could we do this year?

I jot down student responses in the right column: happy, lots of learning, having choices, making friends, experiments, games, electronics, rewards, and freedom are often mentioned.

I then have them raise their hand if they want to be part of Classroom A. The hands shoot up with excitement!

Wrapping up the lesson

To wrap up the lesson, I reinforce the main idea: In order for students to have Classroom A privileges, they must show me Classroom A behaviors. So, what happens when they don’t?

Unfortunately, this might occur. In the beginning, it’s important to say things like “Classroom A will get to play a math game today for practice. Classroom B will have to work in the workbook instead. Refer back to the chart you made on Day 1.

Finally, make sure you follow through with your expectations. I have ended certain activities because there were too many Classroom B behaviors. Instead of doing a hands-on science experiment, they had to read out of the textbook instead. However, I’m happy to say that I’ve never had to do this twice in the same year! They learn from mistakes and take future warnings and prompts more seriously.

Click HERE or on the image below to grab a FREE copy of this editable PowerPoint lesson, perfect for back-to-school season!

I hope you found these first day of school tips helpful! For more info on the resources mentioned, click below.

Find A Friend

Would You Rather

Enjoy getting to know your students, and have a wonderful school year!

Until next time,

Happy Teaching!
-Annamarie

P.S. If you’re looking for 4th grade math lessons for the first week, read this BLOG POST with helpful tips and resources!

Place Value Tips for 4th Grade Teachers

July 26, 2022 by Krejci Creations

Chances are, place value is the very first unit you teach every school year. There’s no doubt that teaching math lessons on top of establishing routines, classroom procedures, and expectations is challenging. Here’s how I break down place value concepts along with a few place value tips to make the first week manageable and successful.

Place value Lesson 1: Reading Large Numbers (Day 1)

Do you really know someone well if you don’t know their name? Likewise, if students are expected to understand place value within 7-digit numbers, they must know how to read their names! While this may not be the first lesson in your scope and sequence, it’s crucial to incorporate reading numbers as early as possible. For me, it is the very first thing I teach!

Students might feel overwhelmed when faced with a 7-digit number. Therefore, it’s important to break it down for them. Color-coding and chunking numbers into periods will help students get a grasp on large numbers.

By doing so, they never have to read more than 3 digits at a time. If students can read a 3-digit number, they can read a 7-digit number, and so on!

Another tip is to use numbers that have meaning behind them. How many people live in your city? How many McDonald’s Happy Meals are sold each day? Students will be more engaged and interested if they understand what the numbers represent.

Place Value Lesson 2: Place Value vs. Value (Day 1)

Next, I move on to value and place value. We continue to read the numbers as we identify value and place value positions. I use the same work mat as shown above for both skills. This lesson is short and sweet, which is why there is time to incorporate reading numbers.

Place Value Lesson 3: Place Value Relationships (Day 2)

This work mat reinforces important skills such as value and expanded form and helps students understand that each place value position has a value ten times greater than the position to its right.

Writing this in a multiplication equation prepares them for multiplicative comparisons, which is not too far down the road. The following video shows a sample of this lesson from start to finish.

slow and Steady Wins the Race

Students are learning so many things the first week back. Because of this, I often remind myself to slow down, relax, and take it one day and one lesson at a time. If I’m feeling overwhelmed, chances are they are too! These skills are the foundation for 4th grade…slow and steady will help them win the race.

4th Grade Place Value PowerPoint Lessons and Activities

All work mats and activities in this blog post are from my Place Value Unit. These lessons were created for the busy teacher who wants their students to be engaged and excited about learning but doesn’t have the time to start from scratch.

All lessons are editable (woohoo!) and come with printable activities to use during and after the lesson. My hope is for these lessons to save you time and relieve you from the stress that back-to-school season can bring. They are teacher-tested and student-approved as I’ve been using them with my 4th graders for years!

Now, if I left you wanting even more place value tips, head to your favorite podcast listening app and check out Episode 8 of Elementary Math Chat. I share tips for planning your place value lessons, strategies to help students overcome the most challenging place value skills, and small group activities your students will love.

Until next time,
Happy Teaching!

P.S. If you’re new to using work mats, THIS BLOG POST is a must-read!

7 Classroom Supplies Every Elementary Teacher Needs

August 3, 2019 by Krejci Creations

Raise your hand if you are ready to go back to school!?!? Well, ready or not, here it comes…and the more organized and prepared you can be from the start, the better.

Making your list of classroom supplies, however, can feel like registering for a wedding. You want all the things! How do you narrow it down?

You’ll still need certain necessities like post-it notes and pencils, but here are 7 nontraditional classroom supplies you might want to consider adding to your list.

*The links provided are Amazon affiliate links. There is no extra cost to you, but purchasing through these links helps support my small business. 😉

Classroom Supplies #1: Magic eraser Sponges

I will NEVER go back to using traditional erasers after using magic eraser sponges. They are exactly as advertised…MAGIC! They make erasing on laminated materials, such as task cards, so much easier and are used every single day in my classroom.

To assure I never run out of these little gifts from heaven, I always put them on my wish list. I even cut them in half to make them last longer. This pack of 50 from Amazon might even last you the entire year!

Classroom Supplies #2: Clear Sheet Protectors

I seriously could not live without sheet protectors. I use them ALL THE TIME. They are a great alternative to laminating and are perfect for holding math work mats, student choice boards, and math games.

You can even place a sheet of white card stock inside and they instantly become a dry-erase board! I literally have hundreds of sheet protectors and use them in so many different ways. In my opinion, they take less time to prep and work better than laminating.

The Amazon sheet protectors and Office Depot sheet protectors are my favorite! The most common way I use sheet protectors is for work mats, which means I can reuse them year after year. Talk about a time-saver! I store work mats in binders and organize them by chapter.

Classroom Supplies #3: Ultra Fine Dry Erase Markers

During a whole group lesson, my students use traditional (chisel tip) dry-erase markers on their whiteboards. These are my preferred markers because the larger size allows me to see their work from a distance.

Unfortunately, traditional markers are too thick for task cards. So instead, I’ll have my students use markers with ultra-fine tips. Because they are so thin, it’s much easier for them to show their work on the task card.

I store these at my small group table and remind students they can only use them when they are with me. It’s a great way to distinguish their materials from mine. Plus, they are super easy to erase from laminated materials.

If you have a hard time finding ultra-fine tips, check out Office Depot or Amazon.

Classroom Supplies #4: Student Eraser Pads

I’ve tried many different methods when it comes to student erasers: old socks, small hand towels, and magnetic erasers to name a few. Nothing has worked better than these facial pads!

I grabbed this idea from another teacher’s blog years ago. They last forever and can even be washed. In fact, I’m reusing mine this year after a good run through the washing machine. Just look at all the fun colors!

You can find these at Dollar Tree and Amazon, which I’ve linked for you.

Classroom supplies #5: 9 x 12 Manilla Envelopes

You are not alone if you struggle to organize and store math centers. I used to struggle with this until I began using manila envelopes. They take up little room and can be labeled with product covers and answer keys.

I recommend laminating the envelopes to keep them in good shape for future use. I also organize them by chapter, making resources easy to find when I’m in a hurry!

Classroom Supplies #7: White out Tape

If you’re like me, you love using flair pens and skinny markers to grade papers. If you’re also like me, you make mistakes often.

Instead of scratching out my writing and making a mess, white-out tape allows me to neatly write over my mistakes. It’s much cleaner and easier than liquid white-out. I will never go back!

In addition, white-out tape is a great way to make accommodations to a test. For example, I often use it to eliminate an answer choice or a Part B to a question.

You can find white-out tape just about anywhere, including Amazon!

Classroom Supplies #7: Cardstock

If you plan on using an activity more than a few times, cardstock is a must. It can withstand the use and abuse of elementary students, especially when laminated.

Cardstock works well for task cards, games, math work mats, bulletin board letters, and name tags. My preferred brand is Neenah Bright Cardstock and of course, Astrobrights! I love using bright colors with my math centers.

Take a look at the video below to see how these colors really spruced up this Factors and Multiples Sort!

Whether you put these classroom supplies on your shopping list or on your wish list, I hope you find as much success with them as I have. I wish you a happy and healthy school year ahead!

Until next time,
Happy Teaching!

P.S. If you are interested in other work mats, see my previous blog post on teaching long division!