First Day Fun

Every year I begin the school year the same way: asking myself what I will do the first day.  No lesson plans all year take me as long, there is no day that makes me as anxious.  No matter this was my seventh first day, I am perplexed every year by the idea of this big, first impression and how to make it a great experience for my students.

I shared this concern with my colleague and friend, Kristin LeClaire, who confessed to the same wonderings.  With that sentiment in mind, she asked me a terrific question.  It went something like this:  If you were a student in your class, what would make you feel excited that day?  Excited for the following class?  What would make you feel validated?  Like this class was worthwhile? 

Here is the list I came up with:

• I want to know my classmates enough so when I have group work, I have someone to work with. 
• I want to know them enough so when I walk in the room, they say "hi" to me and call me by name.
• I want to know the teacher a little as a subject enthusiast and as a person.
• I don't want to listen the whole time; I want to feel like someone wants to hear my voice and this is not just my teacher's show.
• I want to have an opportunity to get up and move around; this is the longest I've sat and listened for a long time.
• I want to learn a little about the class's content and why it matters or is interesting, why it applies to my life.  I want to be excited about that content because of relevancy, interest, or, preferably, both.
• I want to know my teacher knows a cares about me a little, even after just one day.

With these bullets in mind, I drafted my lesson plans and had a solid first day experience, but I am still wondering how others might answer those questions and what they do on that first day of school.