I want to share an idea that has made my life so much easier this school year. Every school year I get a little flustered when new students unexpectedly show up in my classroom (sometimes in the middle of a lesson.
I want to be able to get them all the information they will need about our class with as little disruption to the class as possible. This summer, I had the brilliant idea to make up New Student folders containing all the information I hand out on the first day, a little note explaining what to do, and a piece of candy.
My note says something like this:
"Welcome to our class. Whether you are new to Paradise High School or you are just had a schedule change, change can be stressful. This packet will explain everything you need to know about this class. Please complete the following steps:
1. Fill out the student information sheet (yellow)
2. Please take home the Parent information sheet and have your parent (or guardian) fill out and return tomorrow
And so on . . .
Before school started, I made up 20 of these and boy, have I been using them! Just yesterday, I had three new students and I expect more to trickle in all this week.
That's a great idea! Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I have always stapled packets of these info sheets and kept them in a file for new students, but I never thought of including special instructions. The candy is a nice touch, too. What a great way to make new students feel welcome!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion. This is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI can even do this with the little ones in pre-k. I am going to try that out myself. One never knows when children get admitted or discharged throughout the school year.
Good idea! I started that my last year teaching (why does it take us so long to figure little things out?!) but you are nicer with the candy! I also gave the calendar, hall passes, etc b/c I always forgot to give those to the new kids.
ReplyDeleteI love this! Since I am at the end of a unit, I think I am going to take today's planning period and sort the files into a dozen piles and can the rest. This will be the beginning of my new student files.
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant. I'm a little annoyed that I didn't think of something like this myself.
ReplyDelete