From: Jackie (for Teacher2Teacher Service)
Date: Sep 01, 2001 at 10:36:08
Subject: Re: What to do the first day of school - Elementary

Hi Cheryl,

On the first day of school in my 2nd-3rd grade blended class, the formal math 
lesson is a graphing activity that tells me how kids are going home from 
school (ie.by bus #, car, walking, daycare van). Not only do I introduce some
of the kinds of questions that help kids interpret information from the graph, 
it is an invaluable activity because it lets me know early in the day, which 
kids don't have a clue how they are getting home.
Then, I can check into student's mode of travel so that it doesn't hit me 
right when I'm trying to get students out the door.

At another time in the day, I use the notion of "Free Exploration" math
stations (originally from Math Their Way) to teach kids some of my 
expectations for handling materials, working in small groups, recording, and
cleanup, etc. It also sets me up to be able to do beginning of the year 
assessments on a student or two. I also spend time the first day establishing 
the activities related to the September calendar.

Jackie

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