There is nothing quite like the first day of school! New backpacks, freshly sharpened pencils, nervous smiles, excited chatter—and a classroom full of little learners wondering what this new year will bring.
And while our students may be feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves, we teachers know there are plenty of first-day feelings on our side, too!
That is exactly why I love First Day, Hooray! by Nancy Poydar for kicking off the school year.
A Read-Aloud That Opens the Door to First-Day Feelings
One of my favorite things about this story is that it shows children that they aren’t the only ones with first-day feelings. The adults preparing for school have feelings, too!
That creates such a natural opportunity to talk with students about being excited, nervous, happy, or even a little scared—and how those feelings can change as we become more comfortable at school.
Before reading, I like to keep the conversation simple:
What do you think this story will be about?
How do you think the characters might feel about the first day of school?
How did you feel coming to school today?
Three little questions can lead to some wonderful first-day conversations!
Literacy Without Overwhelming the First Day
The first day is definitely not the day I want to pull out ten worksheets and keep my new students sitting at their desks!
Instead, I created this resource with choices.
The included 60–75 minute literacy lesson walks teachers through a manageable first-day read-aloud with prediction, character feelings, story elements, sequencing, vocabulary, speaking and listening, and personal response writing.
After reading, students can explore the characters and setting, sequence the beginning, middle, and end, discuss how the characters’ feelings changed, and make connections between the story and their own first day.
A Little Word Work, Too!
I like to keep word work light and fun on Day One.
There are several choices so teachers can select what works best for their new group of learners, including:
- ABC Order
- Making Words
- Syllable Sorting
- Noun Identification
- Vocabulary & Definition Matching
That flexibility is especially helpful on the first day when we are still figuring out what our students can do independently.
Writing About Their Very First Day
Those first-day memories are priceless!
Students have several opportunities to draw and write about their experiences. They might complete “On my first day of school…”, write about their teacher or a new friend, share the best thing about school, or respond to prompts about what they saw, heard, felt, and wished.
These pages also make sweet keepsakes to tuck away and pull back out at the end of the year.
Get Up and Explore!
Of course, first graders need to MOVE!
One of my favorite additions to this resource is the school scavenger hunt. As you take your class on that all-important first tour of the school, students can search for important locations and connect the people they meet in their own school to the people in the story.
Now your school tour becomes part of the literacy experience!
A Sneaky Little First-Day Assessment
The first day gives us so much information about our students—if we know what to watch for.
I’ve included a simple student checklist that can be kept nearby while students complete their activities. It provides a quick place to note students who may need support with things such as following directions, working independently, and writing ideas.
No formal testing needed. You’re simply watching, learning, and beginning to get to know your new little learners.
And Finally…HIP HIP HOORAY!
I wanted the day to end with the same excitement with which it began.
Add the First Day Hooray headband to students’ desks as a fun name tag, use the scavenger hunt during your school tour, and finish the day with a special treat and Hip Hip Hooray tag.
Before dismissal, gather everyone together one more time and ask:
“One thing that made my first day hooray-worthy was…”
Let a few students share.
Then celebrate.
They found their classroom.
They met their teacher.
They made new friends.
They learned new things.
And most importantly…
They finished their very first day of school!
🎉 HIP HIP HOORAY! 🎉
