“And then, quite suddenly, summer was over.
He knew it first when walking downtown. Tom grabbed his arm and pointed gasping, at the dimestore window. They stood there unable to move because of the things from another world displayed so neatly, so innocently, so frighteningly, there.
“Pencils, Doug, ten thousand pencils!”
“Oh, my gosh!”
“Nickel tablets, dime tablets, notebooks, erasers, water colors, rulers, compasses, a hundred thousand of them!”
“Don’t look. Maybe it’s just a mirage.”
“No,” moaned Tom in despair. “School. School straight on ahead! Why, why do dime stores show things like that in windows before summer’s even over! Ruin half the vacation!”
― Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine
It’s hard to believe that the end of July is here. Let the lament begin and the dirge of summer’s dog days ring across districts nationwide. Or at least local districts here in Florida since we usually go back to school a month before the North does. Where has summer gone? I have not traveled anywhere, but the time has been packed with the everyday things that always need doing. It’s just nice to do these everyday things without the racing around like everything is on fire.
English teachers. We have a little flare for the written rhetorical theatrics. X)
But really, the thoughts of the rapidly impending—I mean approaching—school year have arrived. I generally resist checking any work email on weekends and breaks, but now is a little different. Rosters are being loaded. Schedules are being created. Nothing is final of course, it is still too early. Well, even the first week of school, so experience has taught me, is still too early for anything to be final. But my friends and I certainly want to checkout what has been populated anyway. This, of course, allows us to see if we have any younger siblings of former students or any who are often on the disciplinary emails. Yikes, hahaha.
The eve of school starting always creates a little stirring of nerves. The unknown, incoming personalities are certainly a factor, but mostly…I really hate not knowing their names. I used to learn names very quickly. Before the end of week two, I would know all 120 plus student names. Alas, something changed over the last four years or so, and now it is just a struggle. It can be the start of the fourth week and sometimes I am still saying things like, Child in the green shirt, would you please…. Generally, they’re quite good natured about these things, though sometimes one can be a bit touchy about not remembering their name. Therefore, I now do many more icebreaking and get-to-know-you activities in the first week than I ever used to. When I get to know little personal quirks and charms about the students, even if it’s something small such as they like to roller skate, it just helps me remember their names so much better. In fact, the girl who told me she likes to roller skate graduated in 2019 and I still remember her name.
I have several activities that are great for getting to know students, but my Getting to Know You Walk-About is one of my favorites. It’s a very simple activity that allows students to be creative with coloring a handout and adding information about themselves. And it comes with the added bonus of a musical walk-about when students are done filling in their own demographics. It is a quick and easy activity that I have always had students enjoy. They color, they listen to music, they walk-about the classroom and they exchange information! Bam! Fun and done!
I am not one of the teachers who tries to build a family-type of environment; those types of classes organically grow and they are very rare. However, I certainly want students to know each others’ names and start off the year with respectful interaction to help build a positive learning foundation. There is absolutely zero reason why we should be 102 days into the school year and I say, Jeff, please hand this to Connor, to which Jeff says, Who’s Connor? I have had this happen in the past. It is a normal classroom faux pas, but it still sparks a polite diatribe with irritation so well masked that I should be up for an Oscar—or an Emmy at the very least. After all, I do put on the same play five times a day, only the cast changes.
Over the years I have refined my Beginning of the Year, Back to School, activities and those issues have almost vanished. Though there is always a student who comes mid-year and missed the early on rapport building, but, for the most part the boorish immaturities, very thankfully, get weeded out early on.
If you, or someone you know, has experienced this situation and you need some back-to-school resources, or just want to add some new variety to your school year kickoff, please check my products out here, on TpT. Or, if you just want an easy freebie, I have one of those, too!
Here is to a wonderful and relaxing remainder of Summer Break! Go team!
