Getting to Know You

Back to school!  No matter how prepared you (think you) are, there is still a wave of panic that comes over you when your new students walk in through the classroom door.  What will they be like?  Will they go home saying they had a wonderful day?  Will they like me and be excited about the school year?  The first week of school is all about getting to know each other and getting familiar with the classroom and routines.  I always like to have a few fun things for the kids to do to get to know each other on that first day:

 * "Get to know" Dr. Jean.  I don't know what I would have done without her creative songs and ideas.  Check out this link for cool name games to play with little ones so that when they go home, and their parents ask, "Who did you sit by/play with/meet?", they will be able to actually give a name. 
http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2010/07_Jul/index.html

* A friend I worked with my first year of teaching taught me a variation on "Willoughby Walloby Woo" that helped me "get to know" my students, while praising good behavior.  It went something like this:
                     Willoughby, Walloby, Wace,
                     I like how you're sitting, Grace,
                     and Willoughby, Walloby, Waddy,
                     Thank you for listening, Maddy!
The kids loved this song, and it also helped them learn each other's names by identifying the rhyming words.  Check out this YouTube video for the tune: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dakz5lmEwR8&noredirect=1

*Another song idea:  I'm not sure where I got this, or if I made it up!  Have the kids sit in a circle, and teach them the rhyme to "Itsy Bitsy Spider".  Walk around as you are singing it and point at one of the students to sing about.   Kids love being the center of attention, and this gives them the opportunity to be in a song!  You can use the song in their poetry folder or as a class book by having them write their name and draw a picture of themselves under the spider.
Itsy Bitsy Spider


*K-2 students are all about Me! Me! Me!  So give them a chance to talk about themselves while finding friends who have things in common with them.  Here is a variation of a sheet that I've used a lot.   First have the kids color their hair and eye color and their favorite color, then draw their pet (if they have one) and their family.  Then let them walk around and find friends to sign their names on the paper. 
Find a Friend

Enjoy getting to know your little ones!  Before you know it, they (and you) will all be the best of friends!