Middle grade teachers– this one’s for you! If you’re needing a quick self-starter for your students to do sometime during the first week of school, I’ve got you covered! Below you will find a free downloadable Back to School Word Scramble worksheet.
Download, print, and make some copies for your class, and just like that, you’ve got yourself a quick activity for your students to do while you take attendance. To extend the activity, you could also have them write a short story using all of the words!
**Please do not re-sell, re-post, or claim printable as your own.**
First day of school nerves are real for teachers and students alike. I used to tell my students that it was ok to feel nervous— everyone else felt the same way, even if they wouldn’t admit it. I would venture to guess that even most teachers feel some degree of first day of school jitters.
One way to combat these jitters is through ice-breaker and getting to know you activities. Most people don’t love them, but they are effective for getting people moving around and interacting with one another. And if there’s one thing you need on the first day of school, it’s to get people interacting and getting to know each other!
Perhaps you have a tried and true ice breaker that you’ve used every year for the last 25 years. If it works, it works— no need to fix what isn’t broken, right? If, however, you’re searching for something new to try, I’ve got you covered! I’ve compiled a list of fun ideas to break the ice and get to know your students, and to have them get to know each other!
Roll & Tell
Divide students into groups of 3-4. Give each group a die and a set of instructions. Each number on the die is attached to a getting to know you question. If a student rolls a 4, they would answer the prompt assigned to number 4, and so on. Once all students in the group have answered all the questions, you can come back together as a class. Call on students randomly to have them share something they learned about someone in their group.
Possible Questions:
What is your favorite subject in school?
What is your favorite restaurant?
When you have free time, what do you like to do?
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
What is your family like? Do you have siblings?
Tell about the craziest thing that has ever happened to you.
What was the highlight of your summer?
If you could invent any holiday, what would it be and why?
What goals do you have for this school year?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What is your least favorite chore to do?
What is your favorite book?
What skill would you most like to learn?
Do you collect anything?
What is one cool fact about you that not many people know?
If you could choose a super power, what would you want to be able to do?
If you could go to lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Would you rather be able to visit the past or the future?
One Word
Group students into small groups— 4-5 students per group is perfect. Give each group a starting word. Groups must then create a sentence, one word at a time, by going around the circle with each student adding on a word to the sentence when it is their turn. It must make sense, must be a real word, and must be a word that is well known. You can extend this activity by having groups pass around a paper to write on. They can create a whole story, one word at a time, as a group.
This encourages groups to work together, students to listen carefully, and students to be patient with one another. Hilarity is sure to ensue as groups come up with some silly sentences and stories!
Beach Ball Toss
Inflate a plastic beach ball, then use a permanent marker to write several getting to know you questions all over the ball. Have students form a circle and toss the ball around. When the ball is caught, the catcher answers the question that their right thumb is on, then throws the ball to someone else, and so on. Continue until everyone has had a chance to answer at least one question.
Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament
This game is just as it sounds! Divide the class into two groups, and have students line up in two lines, facing each other. Partners will play three rounds of Rock, Paper, Scissors, and the best of three wins. One line will stay stationary, and the other line will move to the right or left (you choose!), and play continues.
Random Objects
This is a fun one to assign on the first day of school, especially for older grades. For their first assignment, have students bring a random object from home— the more random, the better. They must keep the object hidden until it is their turn to share. Put a table in the center of the room and have students form a circle around the table. One by one, each student comes forward and places their object on the table. The fun part of this is that they cannot talk— no explaining what the object is or why they chose it. Laughter is definitely okay, because there are sure to be some hilarious objects brought.
Be sure to set guidelines of what is and is not okay to bring to school.
Four Corners
Before class starts, take four pieces of paper and write the numbers 1-4 separately on a paper. Place each paper in a different corner of the room. Prepare a list of questions with four possible answers each. After each question and its answers are read, students must pick which answer they like the most then move to that corner of the room. Continue until all questions have been read.
Ex: What is your favorite subject?
1- Math 2- English/Writing/Reading 3- PE 4- Science
Students who enjoy math the most would move to the corner that has the “1” sign, and so on.
Would you Rather
This is a classic game that everyone can participate in. Prepare a list of “would you rather” questions that are appropriate for the age of your students. The questions can be about anything; it’s fun to mix up the type of questions to include some funny, some serious, some gross (kids love these ones!), and some ridiculous. Have students show their answers by holding up a green paper for answer A, and a blue paper for answer B. If you can’t think of any questions on your own, the Internet is full of lists upon lists of great questions for all ages, occasions, and topics.
This or That Circle Game
You may need a larger space for this game. Create two large intersecting circles on the floor— tape works really well for this. Make a list of several “this or that” questions. Read each question, then have students pick circle A or B according to which option they like best. If they like both options equally, they can stand in the intersecting portion of the circles. You’re essentially making a large Venn diagram! Continue until all questions have been read. The questions don’t have to be super deep— simple works best here. Things like “chocolate or vanilla” or “Summer or Winter” work really well for this game. Again, if you need some help coming up with questions to use, a quick Google or Pinterest search will provide you with plenty of options!
These are just a few ideas of the many that are out there. Activities like these are a great way to ease back to school jitters and bring your class together. Happy Back to School, friends!
I’ve been in your shoes before, so I get it. The back-to-school nerves are real. The thoughts are swirling around in your mind like a tornado: what is my teacher like? Will any of my friends be in my class? Where will I sit in the classroom? Is my teacher going to like me? What if I don’t understand the stuff I’m learning? It’s a lot, and it can feel so overwhelming! But you know what? I know that you can do it! I know you can be successful and brave and tough. I know this because you’ve done it before— you did it last school year, and that turned out ok, so I know you can do it again.
You’re amazing and capable of incredible things! If you don’t mind, I’d like to give you a few suggestions for setting yourself up for success.
First, be patient. With yourself, your teacher, and your classmates. Everyone learns at their own pace, and that’s ok! I know you’d want people to be patient with you, so it’s nice to offer that same patience to everyone else.
Second, keep trying! We don’t always succeed the first time we try something new. Keep pushing, keep trying, and don’t give up! Ask for help if you need it, and don’t be afraid to try new things. You will learn so much as you keep trying!
Third, be kind. Our world could use more kindness, so do your part to make that happen. Even if someone is unkind to you, do your best to be nice to them. Say hi, offer to help, give a compliment, smile, or hold the door open. Being kind doesn’t cost anything, and it doesn’t hurt you to be kind. In fact, I bet you’ll feel happier if you are kind, and the people who you are nice to will feel happier, too! Everyone wins! Don’t worry so much about being the cool kid, the best dressed kid, or the fastest reader in your class. Be the kind kid. Be the kid that cares.
Fourth, don’t forget to have fun! Life is too short to spend it being grumpy. Laugh with your friends, be silly sometimes, and do the things that make you happy. Take time to do something fun every day.
Lastly, try to stay positive. When things get difficult, do your best to look for the good things that are happening around you. If you do this, it will help you see that life isn’t all that bad afterall! At the end of each day, think about all the good things that happened to you— it will help you notice the happy parts of the day and will boost your mood.
I know that not every day is going to be fantastic, but I do know that you will make it through. You’ve got lots of people cheering you on, and lots of people who will help you along the way. Believe in yourself, and do your best. You’ve got this!!
It’s wild to think that a new school year will be starting soon. Some have already started their new year! With the new year comes new teacher assignments, and a great opportunity to get to know those teachers!
As a teacher, I always appreciated when parents or students took the time to think of me— it was so nice to be acknowledged! Now, as a parent, I do my best to let my kids’ teachers know that I appreciate them and their hard work. Rather than just picking a random treat at the grocery store, I always like to know exactly what they like. I also like to make sure I get something they like, want, or need to avoid food allergies or purchasing something they don’t have use for.
When we go to back to school night, I often will take a little “welcome back to school” gift— a can of cleaning wipes, box of tissues, or something similar with a “getting to know you” survey attached. The survey can be filled out at the teacher’s convenience then sent home with your child.
I thought I’d share the survey I give to teachers so you can get to know the wonderful people who will be teaching your kids this coming year! Just click on the “Download” button below and print off a copy of the survey. I’ve included both a color and a black and white option to fit all printing needs.
**Printable is free, but please do not sell, re-post, or claim as your own.**
Back to school is approaching (or has approached?) for many! We are about a month away from starting school and I know several schools have either started or will be starting soon as well. We’ve been pulling out back-to-school picture books in our house to get us prepped for the big day. These books are not only great for reading at home before school starts, or to read to your class on the first day of school.
How to Get Your Teacher Ready by Jean Reagan
We love the “How To” series, the humor of this book gives the first day of school a fun, exciting vibe.
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
This book comes from one of my favorite authors. I love the inclusivity and perspective of this book.
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Also a favorite author in our house. This book has a soft spot in my heart because it was the book my first-grade teacher read to the class on the first day of school (back in 1999!)
School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex
This perspective shift the book is written in makes it captivating and fun.
It’s hard to believe that summer is winding down and students, teachers, and parents everywhere are gearing up for a new school year. This time of year can bring about many changes and stressors, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are many tools to combat those stressors, including positive affirmations.
“Today is going to be a good day, and here’s why: because today at least you are you. And that’s enough.”
Dear Evan Hansen
Positive affirmations are phrases or statements that are used to challenge negative thoughts. The concept of positive affirmations might seem hokey or awkward at first, but with consistent use, they can rewire and increase neural pathways. Not only can affirmations have physiological benefits, but they have been shown to reduce stress, boost self-esteem, aid in interventions, and increase academic performance. Our core beliefs are often formed during childhood and introducing affirmations to young children is an excellent way to instill a positive sense of identity.
Whether you are a parent looking to recite affirmations with your children in the morning, a teacher looking to incorporate them into her class routine, or a student who wants to practice them individually; here is a list of some affirmations to get you started!
I am smart
I am talented
I am kind
I am loved
I can learn anything
I always try my best
I am a problem solver
I am needed
I am valued
I respect myself
I am in control of my learning
I deserve joy and success
I can meet my goals
I do not compare my success against the success of others
I am proud of myself
I can do hard things
I am brave
I am important
My brain and/or body is powerful
I choose to include others
I can try again
I choose how I respond to things
I am responsible
I am prepared for my test
I can make a difference
I am creative
I am organized
I am capable
I see the best in myself and others
I listen to others
There is no one better to be than myself
I bring joy to others
I can adapt to any situation
I challenge you to choose two or three affirmations that resonate with you and apply them to your daily routine. If you need a little more inspiration, I highly recommend checking out this video:
This post is part of a series of posts on teaching to different personality types as found in the True Colors Personality Test. To see more, head here.
If you’ve gotten to the end of my True Colors Personality exploration, you might be asking yourself “Now what? How can I apply this knowledge to better myself as a teacher/parent/student/friend?” Ultimately, that is up to you. I know a lot of people think personality tests can be gimmicky, and when it comes to the “What Kind of Cheese Are You on the Weekends?” sort of test, I can agree. But I do think there are some personality tests that can propel you toward valuable introspection. McKenzie did a great job of covering a few of these with her deep dives of the Myers-Briggs, Enneagram , and the Child Whisperer personality tests.
As noted on Better Help, “The true colors personality test provides a method of understanding ourselves and others. The test uses the colors orange, gold, blue and green to represent four different personality types. The four colors combine in different ways to make up different personality spectrums. For most people, one of the four types is more dominant than the others. Learning about our personalities offers insights into our different behaviors, motivations and more.
“By using colors instead of labels, the true colors personality test aims to improve global understanding. The intuitive classification makes it easier for us to identify and remember the four personality types.”
These tests aren’t meant to serve as definitive labels for yourself and others; they are merely guideposts that can help you make sense of human nature. It can be easy to see your results in black and white when they should be used to recognize all the shades of gray within your personality and the personality of those around you. I could tell myself, “As someone with a blue personality, I shouldn’t be friends with gold personalities because we are too different.” And sure, there are some personalities that might clash a little more with others, but the whole point of these tests is to prove that anyone can get along with everyone if you take the time to understand them.
Another benefit of knowing different personality tests is that you can use your results to identify opportunities for growth. As a blue, maybe you need a lesson on resolving conflict instead of avoiding it. If you are a gold, you might consider trying to live in the moment rather than planning for the future. For those with a green personality, practice identifying your emotions and giving yourself permission to feel them. Perhaps an orange needs to train themselves to think before acting.
Think of personality test a healthy reminder that we all have strengths, weaknesses, quirks (endearing or otherwise), and something unique to bring to the table. Personality tests can be a wonderful reference point in learning how to get along with others, regardless of what their results indicate. Don’t let someone’s True Color dictate to you how you think that person will act, allow them to show you.
As a teacher, you should distribute at least one personality test within the first week of school. If your students are too young to answer questions themselves, send the test to their parents and have them answer it. Not only is it a fun activity for your class, but it allows you to better plan lessons and activities. It opens up lines of communication and sparks meaningful conversations.
Do you know your True Color? How has this knowledge helped you as a teacher?
