Same Old, Same New...School Year

The return to school means earlier bedtimes, earlier wake times and inevitably, the feeling that we never left for summer.  Throughout TMS classrooms today, we've engaged students in back to school activities which help them connect to each other, us, the building, and of course, learning.  Check out these great examples...

Using QR codes as an introductory activity.

Getting to know one another:  "Would you rather????" requires that students make a choice and justify it with examples.  It's a good introduction to thinking processes.

Numbers that are important to you...But wait!  You have to make it an equation for someone else to solve.  This is a great example of integrating content and getting to know you activities.

A Letter to Me:  By having students begin writing on the first day of school, we set the tone for learning and give them an opportunity to express their first-day anxieties and excitement.

What does it take to be successful in math?  Here, students are thinking about how to be good mathematicians and setting goals for learning.

You can't hear, but this classroom's soothing atmosphere and expressive activities are enhanced by music.

Figuring it out:  students in this class are making predictions about the German language as an introduction to their new content.

Team building and problem-solving are the foundation to a successful science lab - it just makes sense to start the school year with such activities.

Students feel comfortable getting to know their neighbors and introducing them to other students in the class.

Perfect for 6th graders:  a book about the first day of school and anxiety that sometimes comes with a new school.

Student Rotations:  Students practice their logins, check in with their teacher, take notes, and in general, become familiar with the logistics of technology.

Building relationships starts on day one.  Here, students are showing one another what's important to them.  This is especially important in an intervention class when students often don't feel success.

It's never too early for safety!

Students are self-identifying their struggle with writing -- this is a great way to build buy-in for an intervention class!