Party!
At the beginning of the new school year, I have a New Year's Party.  I buy theme napkins, etc. on clearance after January 1st and save them.  We celebrate being in a new grade and our goals.
Arleen Lopez ~ Davenport, Iowa

Me In A Bag
At the beginning of the year, I introduce myself using 'Me In A Bag.' I put a few items that represent me in a large paper sack. In my sack, I put a paintbrush because I'm an artist, my favorite book, my favorite food, pictures of my family and my pets, my favorite CD and a cookbook.  The children sit around me, and I explain the significance of each item as I pull it out of the bag. This discussion helps the kids get to know me as a person. Each child then has a turn to bring in his/her own 'Me In A Bag,' giving everyone in the class a chance to shine."
 Jan Formisano ~ Falls Church, Virginia

Open House
One year we had our preschool children bring in an old pair of pants and a shirt that they no longer wore. The children stuffed these with newspaper. We attached the pants to the shirts and then added paper bag heads that the children had decorated with markers and yarn. The evening of open house each of the "stuffed children" were in a chair at the table. In front of them we placed the artwork of each of the corresponding children!
Carisa

Open House Fun
When children arrive in my room with their parents for open house, they are handed a clue list with a circle next to each clue, challenging them to find items/places such as the bathroom, sink, paper towels, trashcan, classroom door, cubbies, etc. I hang a handprint and a card at each site telling the children and their parents what to do once they find it, such as 'Turn on the Water' and 'Wash Hands Using the Soap Dispenser.' I also wear a handprint to ensure that everyone gets a chance to talk to me. When the children find an item, they color the circle next to the clue on their paper. When all the spots are colored, they receive a sticker. The children that don't attend open house do this activity with a volunteer the first week of school. This saves an enormous amount of time teaching the children where things are in the classroom. We continue this theme the first week of school and find clues that lead us to the different parts of the building and introduce us to the people that work throughout the school.
Janet Shlegle
 Lovelille, Maryland

Back to School Kits
Give each child the following in a ziplock bag with the listed items:
Tissue -to remind you to dry someone's tears (or perhaps your own, so you can see the tears of others)
Button -to remind you to "button your lips" to keep from saying mean things about others or talking when it's not appropriate
Toothpick - to remind you to "pick out" the good qualities of everyone including you
Band Aid -to remind you of healing hurt feelings, either yours or someone else's
Candy Kiss- to remind you that everyone needs a nice treat occasionally
Gold Thread- to remind you that friendship is the golden thread that ties together the hearts of everyone
Eraser- to remind you that everyone makes mistakes sometimes, and that's all right
Lifesaver Candy- to remind you to think of me as YOUR "lifesaver".  Whenever you need to talk, feel free to come see me!
Mint- To remind you that you are worth a MINT to me!

The Giving Tree
Hang a tree or similar on the wall. On pre-cut apples, write specific needs your classroom has for the entire year, such as dry erase markers, film, $5, snacks, baby wipes, or anything you know you will eventually use.  The parents come in at Open House and take an apple off the tree. There is a poem that you can hang with it, but it is in storage! I usually let the parents know that these things are not needed by the next   day.  Most are overwhelmed by school supplies, anyway.  I try to think of things I will need at the end of the year, too.
Chris Gulotta
Tallahassee, FL

First Day of School
I take a picture of my kindergarteners on the very first day of school. I use one for a bulletin board before placing it in our "Friends" book (described in the Lesson Plan section under Books, Books, Books), and then I use the double print as a Christmas ornament that says, "My First Day of School".
Chris Gulotta
Tallahassee, FL

Name Games
I use this with kindergarteners during the first week of school.  I write the child's name on an index card.  I cut the letters apart and put them in an envelope that has their name on the outside. They have to spell their name.  They can look at the envelope for an example, if needed.  I also do this again and cut their name into a puzzle.  I start off with 3 pieces and when they can conquer this easily, I cut it into 6 pieces. The key to this is to use different colors, so that the kids at the same table don't mix their pieces.
Chris Gulotta
Tallahassee, FL

Slide Show
This is something you need to start at the beginning of the year. Take pictures all throughout the year. Near the end of the school year, turn your pictures into slides and have a slide show. Invite parents and faculty to come see it. Have music that goes with the pictures. This activity is sure to win the parents heart. Serve punch and cookies.
Heidi Straughan

There are computer programs that make word searches for you. I make them for many of the classes at my school with all the names of the students in the class. This way they get to learn the names of their classmates. I also make one for all of the teachers and administrators that the children will be in contact with (P.E., music, etc.).
SLCTA@aol.com

Survival Kit

Here's why:
Toothpick - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.
Rubber band - to remind you to be flexible, things might not always go the way you want, but it will work out.
Band Aid - to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else's.
Pencil - To remind you to list your blessings everyday.
Eraser - to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it's okay.
Chewing gum - to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything.
Mint - to remind you that you are worth a mint to your family and friends.
Candy Kiss - to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday.
Tea Bag - to remind you to relax daily and go over that list of your blessings.
This is my gift to you. May you be richly blessed. To the world, you may just be somebody...but to somebody, you may be the world.
Rick Haro
Miami, FL

It's A Kid's World
Pairing high school students with elementary students has pay-offs for all involved. The first week of school I get a list of members of an elementary school class-usually second graders. I pair each elementary student with a high school student. I take a photo of each high school student and attach it to a "bio" letter the student has written about himself to the elementary student.
Throughout the year we write on a regular basis back and forth. My journalism students even created a newspaper for the younger students! We also got to visit the elementary students twice during the year. This project focuses on character education as well as promoting literacy. The high school students serve as role models which improves their skills and demeanor as well as the younger students' desire to read and write better and to model positive behavior of a teenager!
Linda Evanchyk
 Ft. Walton Beach, FL

The Gingerbread Man
On the first day of school, I read "The Gingerbread Man" to my students. When the story is over, we go try to catch him. We go all over the school, and that is my way of giving the "grand tour". We talk about the rules and purposes of each place we visit (ex. the library, the cafeteria, etc.). When we return to class, we all "catch" the gingerbread man in our classrooms. (Little Debbie gingerbread men cookies work great!)
Dawn Pellegrin-Pre-Kindergarten teacher
Houma, Louisiana

On the first day of school I get all my students and take them out side, but before they get to go out side we talk about the importance of each room. then we always come in a different way to talk about that section of the school.
Janet Hartley

Scavenger Hunt
Each year I copy 3 maps of my school: one of the library, a floor plan of the whole school and an aerial plan of the schoolyard. Then I make up three scavenger hunts based on these maps. I am the librarian, so the scavenger hunt in the library is based on the level I am doing it with and reviews such things as finding a particular fiction novel, reference book, atlas, music CD etc. Classroom teachers could make one up within their classroom or use the one provided on this site. The hunt within the school reviews the location of the gym, the office, washrooms, library, custodian's office, Breakfast Club etc. as well as a few historical facts about the school which the children learn through examining plaques and trophies etc. on their journey throughout the school. They can also find out the names of various important people in the school if you tailor your questions to include an introduction to the secretary, custodian, Special Ed. teacher, principal etc. but be careful of overloading those people with constant interruptions during the busiest day of the year! The outdoor scavenger hunt not only gives the children a chance to stretch their legs, but it familiarizes them with the various areas of the schoolyard, the equipment available to each grade level, the school garden, parking area, sun shelter, nature path and dip-netting pond (that we are lucky enough to have). I always work in a few historical questions about the school, such as 'in which year was this school built?' which can be found out by examining the cornerstone at the front of the building. Scavenger hunts are an excellent way to keep those first few days interesting and appeal to attention spans shortened by the long, lazy days of summer.
Danielle Laporte- CA

I teach third grade.  We have an open house where the students can visit their new classroom.  I stand at the door and greet each child and shake their hand. I invite them in to find their desk and "discover" the room.  I do not go into the classroom. I purposely do not so the parents cannot corner me with a private mini-conference, usually saying how smart their child is or any concerns they might have.  If a parent does ask me at the door or starts a conversation I say,   " I would love to talk with you.  Please call me on my voice mail and we can set up a conference at a better time, so we can talk more thoroughly."  It works like a charm.  Good luck!
Connie Semler

Word Search
I do a word search with all the kids' names in my class on the first day. http://www.eduhelper.com/wordfind.htm
Chris Minch ~ Stuart, FL

Fourteen Great Activities for the First Days of School! (from Education World)

Fourteen MORE Activities for the First Days of School! (from Education World)

At the beginning of the year I take a digital picture of all my students.  Then I use these pictures for many things including desk tags to help the students learn their names and each other's names, they also help substitutes and visiting guests know where each child sits and puts a face with each name.  I also include the child's picture with their name on the word wall.  This also helps my kindergarteners learn each other's names as well as how to spell their own name.  I use their pictures on their hooks, job cards, and participation sticks ( popsicle sticks I use to make sure every child has a chance to be called on).  In addition, we have these pictures for fieldtrip tags, lunch tags, and as a visual record of what the student looked like at the beginning of the year.  The students love seeing themselves displayed all over the room and it encourages them to learn each other's names.
Lorri Lamm - Pt. St. Lucie, FL