First grade teachers....I need help!

[JoyG]

Help!

Today was my first day of school as a 1st grade teacher and it was awful! It was the hardest first day I've had in 10 years (I'm moving down from 3rd grade).

I was totally unprepared...not because I hadn't put in time getting ready...but because a million things that I never thought of popped up! Such as how to figure out bus transportation when the student has no bus tag, no phone number on file, and can't remember his last name!

So, in a nutshell, please post your most important or helpful teaching hint. Something you think all new 1st grade teachers should know, but might not think to ask.

That seems to have been my problem today, I didn't know what questions to ask beforehand.

Tomorrow WILL be better (couldn't possibly get worse, LOL).

Any advice for this veteran teacher who was taken totally off guard?

 

[kirbydog48]

No advice here (I'm not a teacher), but thanks for doing what you do and caring so much. Oh, and your boys are absolutely adorable! Take deep breaths!

 

[luvmy3]

No advice here (I'm not a teacher), but thanks for doing what you do and caring so much. Oh, and your boys are absolutely adorable! Take deep breaths!

I second this!!
My youngest had his first day of 1st grade today. It was really his first full day of school ever, his kindergarten class was only 2 1/2 hours. I can only imagine what the 1st grade teachers went through today. Just know, no matter how things go in your class, you have parents who are grateful for what you do for their kids.

 

[minniebeth]

Take one day at a time and everything does not have to be perfect right from the start. You will figure it out as you go along. You will find the answers and the things that work. You've done it before, you can do it again.
The nice thing about 1st graders is that they don't always know if things aren't going as planned and if they do catch on to it, you can laugh and be silly with them as to get through it!
Hang in there!

 

[JoyG]

Awww, thanks guys.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

I'm not a teacher, but have little ones myself. I say hands down the most important thing is getting everyone home safely.

Do you have anything at home you can make bus rider/car rider tags with tonight? Any string you can thread through some index cards and make long necklaces for everyone? Even large sticky office type labels would do in a pinch.
I'd make EVERYONE a tag with their name and contact information, then in the morning find out how everyone is getting home and put either car rider or bus rider on the top of everyones tag. Then make sure you hand them out a little before dismisal. Have then lined up in seperate groups too.....

The rest will fall into place, but as a mom to little ones going to school this year, the whole pick up/drop off/bus rider/non bus rider situation stresses me out!!

 

[JoyG]

Take one day at a time and everything does not have to be perfect right from the start. You will figure it out as you go along.

That's what bothered me. My 3rd grade ran like a well oiled machine right from the first day. It's been a long time since I felt this awkward in front of kids.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[M&N]

I don't know if a teacher can ever be fully prepared! Especially with those 1st graders...but it will get better. My school had a mentor system with a veteran teacher pairing up with a new one. Do you have another 1st gr teacher in your building? Ask for help!
I was an elem librarian for 35 yrs. 1st graders just need directions repeated over and over. Get the basics down pat...like raising hands, what to do as soon as they walk in your room in the morning, how to hand in papers or notes from parents, bathroom rules. I felt like there needed to be 10 of me at times...they all wanted help at the same time.
You will get to know the kids and they will get to know you. The first day is a little more disorgainzed for the little ones...remember they are new at 1st grade too. Before too long you will be telling them they are almost 2nd graders.

 

[HsvTeacher]

Help!

Today was my first day of school as a 1st grade teacher and it was awful! It was the hardest first day I've had in 10 years (I'm moving down from 3rd grade).

I was totally unprepared...not because I hadn't put in time getting ready...but because a million things that I never thought of popped up! Such as how to figure out bus transportation when the student has no bus tag, no phone number on file, and can't remember his last name!

So, in a nutshell, please post your most important or helpful teaching hint. Something you think all new 1st grade teachers should know, but might not think to ask.

That seems to have been my problem today, I didn't know what questions to ask beforehand.

Tomorrow WILL be better (couldn't possibly get worse, LOL).

Any advice for this veteran teacher who was taken totally off guard?

I just wanted to give you a big ol' ! A few years ago, I moved down to 1st grade after teaching 3rd grade for five years. On that first day, I went home in tears and cried all night! I honestly thought about not going back.

I'm an extremely organized person, and although I thought I had planned for every possible scenario, things always came up that threw me for a loop. It did get better, though. Once I had the kids in a routine, things improved.

I only spent that one year teaching 1st grade, then I moved up to 2nd grade. That, to me, is the perfect grade! They are more independent but still love coming to school.

 

[tiggger1]

Such as how to figure out bus transportation when the student has no bus tag, no phone number on file, and can't remember his last name!

That happened to me when I worked at a summer camp for physically and mentally disabled kids 10 years ago. The counselors needed to get there 30 minutes before the kids did but there were always people waiting for us as soon as we got there. The first day of one session, the director and I were in the main building when saw a van leaving the grounds and when we reached the pavilion we saw a boy around 8 years old who autistic and non verbal left alone ( this was about 40 minutes before camp opened) The director didn't recognize him. He had no backpack, no lunch, nothing with his name on it and completely non verbal...We had no idea if he had allergies, needed meds or who he was. We ended up calling the police who called all the bus companies and after about 4 hours found out that the boy parents paid for bus transportation but forgot to register him for camp so when the bus showed up they sent him anyways...the parents got in trouble, the van driver got in trouble... it was a mess....

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

I just wanted to offer a hug. I teach first, second, and third grade! Yep, I have them all at once. Since they're all in my room the difference between first graders and third graders is so striking. First graders obviously require more help...with everything! I bought bracelets at a party type store. They're the type of bracelets that they use at WDW for extra magic hours. I put one on every child's backpack. I wrote on them with sharpie. It says how they get home and if they're a bus rider it has their bus number. I included parent phone number if I was able. I also put one of these bracelets around their wrist and asked that parents leave them on the first week of school. That way, even once they're out of my room if they get confused any adult should be able to help them.

Week 1 homework was for every child to memorize their phone number and their address. I had small prizes for those who could do this and it's already come in handy several times.

Hang in there! The little ones are so great once they get settled in! Tomorrow will be better, and the next day will be even better than that!

 

[Buckalew11]

Just want to say "hi'' and I miss you around here.

Tomorrow will be a better day.

 

[golfgal]

I would last about 10 minutes in a first grade classroom so you did way better then I would have.

People don't understand how important 1st grade is and all the "stuff" kids have to learn-like their last name, that is kind of a big deal in the real world . I remember watching the kindergarten teachers spending a day teaching kids how to walk in a line. It doesn't sound like it should be that hard, but it is when you are 5.

My advice, have a good stiff drink tonight and wing it again tomorrow. Just remember, you are bigger then they are.

Oh, and when the mom with the kid that doesn't know his last name calls you complaining because he got on the wrong bus just know that there are those of us that don't automatically assume the teacher is wrong and we will stick up for you

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I just wanted to offer a word of encouragement. I taught 3rd grade for three years before moving down to first. I was so shocked on the first day! I found myself giving multi-step directions and the kids just looked at me like I was an alien! It really is amazing how different the two ages are!

I would say, take a deep breath, and just break everything down and simplify your expectations (for yourself and the kids) and your routines as much as possible. Talk with the other first grade teachers in your building and learn the procedures that work well for them.

After I recovered from the shock, I loved first grade, and I hope you will too!

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

LOL after our kindergarteners got lost at the beginning of school, one K teacher picked up a bunch of name tags (just paper stick on basic ones) from Walmart, and puts them on each kid every day. The kids were having BIG problems playing with them and pulling them off, so she rewarded the kids who kept them on with shaving cream fun at the end of the day (squirt the shaving cream on their desk/table and let them go to town!).

I teach music K-6, and to me 1st graders want to be big kids are are just big kindergarteners at this point in the year. They are MUCH better at school basics (walking in line, remembering where things are) but still not pros. Repetition is great, LOTS of positive praise!

To get their attention, I find that calling out the good kids works wonders, speak QUIETLY and they will get quiet and listen, stop talking and they will look up and wonder what is going on...continue when they are looking up, do as much as you can interactively. If you are giving directions, have them do movements or repeat after you, they will be much more on task! For example, when I was trying to learn names, I would have each student stand up/sit down when their name was called, as opposed to me just looking at them. They were all paying attention because they were waiting for their turn to stand up (super fun times for 1st graders!).

One great idea that our 1st grade teachers do is have a marble jar- the kids earn a marble for each positive comment they receive from an adult at the school. This can include you! For ex, you can say "I am excited to see students who are pushing in their chairs, because then I can compliment the whole class on being responsible, and you can earn a marble!" If I compliment the class on their behavior in music, line in the hallway, etc, they will earn marbles. A full jar equals a fun activity or something.

LOL sorry for the long e-mail...good luck, and I promise it will get easier. The kids will LOVE you by the end of the week (they probably already do!)

 

[DeluxePrincess]

The best part of first grade is that you can really see progress throughout the year. In the beginning, they are really babies that need routine established. Everything needs a system. How will they sharpen pencils? How do they get a tissue? How do you open and close a desk? You decide how things are done and then teach it to them...over and over again. Teaching routine may cut into class time, but it will be well worth it. By Christmas, you will see them mature and become more responsible.

When I had bus riders, they each had their own tag with name, homeroom, and bus # on it. They wore it on their way out and put it in their homework folders when they got home. I make things into a contest like, those who have their tags at Christmas time get a prize. I do the same with nametags on desks.

Good luck to you! 1st grade is one of the toughest grades to teach, but probably the most rewarding.

 

[Just Jan]

Remember the old commercial that said," Never let 'em see you sweat"

As You are well aware Routine is very important especially to the little ones. They are still like kindergardeners the first few weeks
.
As they arrive to the classroom have them immediately hang up jackets (which I'm sure you do) and then have them go to morning meeting circle WITH their backpacks. Have them take out their home to school folders and have it in their laps Even if it is empty. This is when you can collect all notes/homework/lunch money etc. This way if Johnny forgets his note you have all day to figure out how he will get home.When everyone has been checked they can then put away their backpaks (not all at once ...total kaos time)
As a pp stated have bus tags for them to wear with a safety pin backing with their names and bus # written on it.

Have them go to meeting circle after recess to for a story so they can settle back down.

Make a class list to attach to a clipboard with a pen or pencil and hang this on a nail near the door to grab in case os a fire drill or other emergency that the building needs to be evacuated. This will be worth its weight in gold for you and a sub.

A list of food allergies.
Extra sweat pants for spills and accidents (one parent always bought a package of boys and girls underpants for the nurse's office and sent in out grown sweats too).

And always have your sense of humor, they smell fear you know.
Just remember things will fall apart at bus time. Johnny will suddenly remember a note that was in his backpack, but not the home to school folder with his change of plan for the day.

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi! 1st grade teacher here (19 years doing this)..

My advice..take it very slowlyyyy right now. Better to just get a few things done well each day, rather than trying to rush, rush, rush, getting alot of things done & have everything go wrong.

Don't sweat about pacing guides right now. That math page will always be there tomorrow.

Right now, you just need to teach them how to do things. It takes us 30 min. just to get all the pencils sharpened in the morning. Completing a morning work page is another 30 minutes. Today we did our 1st Journal writing assignment (just ONE sentence & a picture) and that took another 30 minutes.

Good luck with your 2nd day!!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I agree with the PPs who said to focus on routines and procedures and to TAKE IT SLOWLY.

Show them what you want them to do, EXACTLY how you want it done and narrate it as you do it. (Be EXTREMELY explicit...I'm standing up, I'm pushing in my chair, I'm WALKING to the rug, I'm sitting down QUIETLY, I'm folding my hands, I'm looking forward, I'm not talking, etc...) Then, have one or two students (or a table/group) model it and narrate it as they do it. ("Who thinks they can remember all the steps to show us?") Then, call on students who were watching to reflect on what they did right (and if they need to correct anything). Then, do it with the next group until the whole class has tried it. Then, run through it again as a class in a more normal pace. If it's done wrong, have them try it again so they can have another chance to get it right. ("Wow, I see you did MOST of the things the right way, go back and try it again so you can do ALL of the steps correctly.")

It will be s l o w at first...that is okay. Their solid knowledge of the routines and procedures is what is MOST important right now.

And as for dismissal...start that routine at LEAST 30 minutes before the dismissal time. If you finish early, you can call on students while they are waiting in the line to leave to answer some questions. Things like what did they like best about the day or even quiz them with basic math facts or simple spelling words or letter sounds.

Tomorrow is a new day and it will be better!

 

[bushdianee]

I agree with many others , take things slowly and do lots of repetitions. Also don't assume anything when it comes to first graders and what you think they do or should know/do. Be prepared for anything and everything!
a tip for next year, our district has a Safe walk/Meet the Teacher Night before school opens. I put out a sheet asking where the kiddos go at dismissal, bus, kids club, which parking lot, etc. It doesn't work for those who don't attend but I usually get well over half. Also our teachers who unload the buses put stickers on the kids as they got off the bus in the morning, so I was able to add to my list.