Tag: new class

green and gray scissors
Teaching

Back to School Activities for Your Primary Class

mindstogrow

If you are looking for some simple and printable back to school activities for your primary class, then look no further! Keep on reading to learn about my top four printable activities for the new school year!

First Day of School Booklet

back to school activities; first day of school booklet

This back to school activity booklet, “My First Day of School” is a simple way for students to document the memory of the day.

This quick first day of school activity requires teachers to print, staple, and start. Two sheets of paper required for each student (e.g., print back-to-back on two sheets of paper, and then staple).

This activity is most suitable for Grade 1 and 2.

To view a video of the pages, please click here to visit my listing on Teachers Pay Teachers.

All About Me Activities

The Get to Know Me! worksheets are simple and fun to use as a Back to School activity. 

These pages are geared for Kindergarten to Grade 1 students. Students can use these pages to introduce themselves to fellow classmates and have fun learning about their new friends, too.

The pages can be used individually or compiled as a booklet.

To learn more about the various back to school activities in this resource, please click here to visit the listing on Teachers Pay Teachers.

My Name Is Super!

My Name is Super! is a simple worksheet that is a perfect activity for the first day of school / back to school. 

Young learners will enjoy using different colours to write their super name.

Suitable for Pre-K – Grade 1 students or early writers. Quick tips included.

To learn more about this activity, please click here to visit the listing on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Back to School Activity Bundle

If you like all three resources shared above, then they can be purchased in this bundle!

If you prefer that a copy be added to your Google Drive, you can purchase the bundle here.

This Back to School bundle includes three resources from my shop.

This is most suitable for Grades 1 – 2. To view each resource in more detail, click here for more information.

To learn more about this activity, please click here to visit the listing on Teachers Pay Teachers.

A FREEBIE for You!

This FREE digital choice board is especially useful on the first day or week of school.

It’s a great way way for parents to engage their child in conversation about their new class!

Click below to get your copy!

Stay Connected!

Let’s chat on social media! Stay connected with Minds to Grow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. You can also keep in touch with linktr.ee/mindstogrow.

laptop showing a digital Back to School Choice board for Kindergarten to Grade 2 by Minds to Grow
This photo shows a blackboard with the words, "Hello! My name is ______" written by someone in chalk
Teaching

Teacher Tip: Celebrate Our Names

mindstogrow

During the first few weeks of school, one of the main things I aim to do is help my students learn each other’s names. In order for me to do this, I use a few different types of activities to help them celebrate our names. I also enjoy using some picture books to share the important message that our names are special and that we can show respect and care to others when we learn to say their names correctly.

Why Is This Important?

As teachers, we can help our students develop a positive view of themselves and others. We can help students learn that their names makes them special. We can help them learn to genuinely appreciate the names of other people, too.

Many years ago, I remember reading a new student’s name on the first day of school. I pronounced it as I saw it on the paper and naturally, students started calling her in the same way, too. Going forward, whenever we played name games, this student would pronounce her way in the same way as I had introduced her.

For months, I wondered why this student would often not respond when I called her name during the day. It wasn’t until the latter part of the school year, when this student very kindly and bravely said: “Why are you saying my name like that? That’s not my name. It’s _____________.” My mouth dropped open. I felt absolutely horrible! For such a long time, I mispronounced her name, her beautiful name! No wonder she didn’t respond. She didn’t recognize it as her name because it wasn’t how her name was pronounced! I immediately re-introduced her to the class and apologized for my great mistake.

I share this story because I have been on both sides of the fence when it comes to names! I have obviously, as outlined above, unfortunately mispronounced a student’s amazing name. I have also had my name mispronounced as well, even up to today as a grown-up!

It’s important for us to take the necessary time to listen carefully and learn how to pronounce the names of our students. It is equally as important to give our students the opportunity to practice saying the names of their peers. It’s also valuable to let each student know that it’s more than okay to politely correct others, whether it’s a fellow student or teacher, if their name is mispronounced. Yes, it may sometimes take some practice, but it’s extremely important. It shows respect and care.

Some Name Activities I Use in Class

  • Shout It Out: We go outdoors and stand in a circle. Each student says their name loudly and we say it back. This usually gets the students smiling when they hear the echo of their name. It’s a great way to practice pronouncing our names.
  • Name Tags: Students can wear their names (e.g., using stickers) in order to help others learn to read and say their names.
  • Popsicle Stick Names: In between lessons, I like to use these popsicle sticks to help students read and say the names they see. It’s a great way to celebrate our names.
  • Name Art: There are so many amazing ways to celebrate our names in the form of art! Students enjoy using markers, crayons, or pencil crayons, to design their name in different ways. In fact, this year, I have decided that we will do 2 – 3 variations of name art.
  • Guess Who: Using a student’s name, I create a riddle and give clues to the class to figure out the “mystery student”. Clues such as, “This student has 7 letters in their name. It starts with a letter a and ends with a y, etc.” Students love solving mysteries and so this game works well. They all wait for their turn to be the “mystery student” over the first month.
  • Name Discussion: Ask your students, “Why are names important? How do they help us? Why are they special?” Also ask them, “How do you feel when your name is said incorrectly? How do you help others learn your name? How do you feel when your name is pronounced the right way?”
This picture shows a resource by Minds to Grow called, "My Name is Super" on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Favourite Books to Celebrate Our Names

Here are my Top 3 favourite books that help me focus on the fact that names are special and important. Click on each book below for more details about the storyline!

*non-affiliate / unsponsored links*

PREVIOUS Teacher Tip: Introduce Your Virtual Classroom

Questions to Consider

  1. What name activities have you used in your classroom to help students learn and celebrate names?
  2. Have you had a similar experience as an educator where you mispronounced a student’s name? How did you deal with it?
  3. How long does it usually take you to learn the names of all of your students at the start of each new school year?
  4. Do you have a name that others mispronounce? How do you feel when that happens?
  5. Why is important to help students learn to say each others’ names correctly?

Stay Connected!

Let’s chat on social media! Stay connected with Minds to Grow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. You can also keep in touch with linktr.ee/mindstogrow.