First Day of First Grade
The Diary of a First Grade Teacher

First Day of First Grade and - as usual - my kiddos are adorable! Each child is bright-eyed, alert, and curious. AWESOME!

I'm sure my first graders want to know what BIG SCHOOL and first grade are all about, and I'm eager to get started, too!

First Things First

On the first day of school, it's so important to be ready because this day always starts in a rush ... with surprises or something you didn't plan for all along the way!

I have an assigned desk and nametag ready for each of my kiddos because I try my best to know all of their names before the first day is through.

Right away Amy tiptoed to me, shaking her little blond head. "Here, Teacher," she said, politely returning her nametag. "I don't need this thingy. I'm a big girl now. See?" She stood taller and beamed with pride, "I already know MY name!"

Then, a tiny boy wearing cowboy boots and looking like Sylvester Stallone pushed past Amy. He snatched off his nametag and threw it at me. "Take this one too," he said in a low, throaty voice. "Psshh!" he fussed, "I can't read it no how!"

The nametag flew into the air, and a boy named Loegan dove for it. "I got it! I got it!" he said. "It says Jo-seph. Yeah, that’s it ... your name's Joseph!"

What Did You Say?!

Joseph roared, "I KNOW MY NAME!" And he kicked Loegan HARD in the leg.

I said, "No, no! We'll have none of that! Are you all right, Loegan?"

"OW-OW-eee!" Loegan cried, "I was just helping." He rubbed his leg. "MAN, them boots is so pointed. Feels like I got a shot!"

Joseph snarled. "You ain't so smart 'cause you got it WRONG! My name's Joe Joe. So, ha!"

"Sh-h-h!" I said, and pointed to the seat Joseph had been assigned a few minutes earlier.

Slowly, deliberately, pint-sized Joe Joe strutted past us. "Get outta my way," he directed Loegan, who is a foot taller than he is.

"Stop it," I whispered to him and escorted him back to his desk.

Finally, he plopped into his seat and yelled across the classroom to Loegan, "YOU BIG BABY!"

I had a very quiet conversation with him about it being the first day of school and how I expected him to treat others.

At last, he sighed and hung his head. Then ever so humbly, he mumbled "Okay, I'll be good."

"Fine," I said, "that's what I want to hear AND see." I patted his little back and walked away.

First Day of First Grade ... They're not Shy!

"Oooooohhhh," Loegan sang. "Did you see that, Teacher? That boy GROWLED UP his lip and showed me his teef!"

"Turn around, Loegan," I said. Now that Loegan was all right, I was ready to move on, and get the class back on track.

Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Joseph.

His dirty little cowboy boots were so big they had fallen off his feet into the floor. Under his desk, his wiggly little toes swung in midair. They didn't even come CLOSE to touching the floor.

But there he sat - as big and bold as he could muster - wearing the snotty, smug look of a giant killer.

"Yep," I thought, "I'll be keeping a close check on him. That's for sure!"

Suddenly, he smiled angelically and waved to me ... I just love first graders because they are so honest with their feelings. If they are happy, they let you know it, and if they're not, you know that, too! 

"Ummmm," I thought. "It's going to be another (how shall I put this?) interesting year."

And the first day of first grade had just begun.

Read more stories about the first day of first grade ... Click on the links below.

First Grade is all about Following Directions

Is your child Ready for Reading?

Beginning Letter Sounds

Handwriting Practice

First Grade Math Lessons

First Grade Classroom

When Do We Eat?

First Grade Recess

Classroom Rules

Kindergartners and First Graders

Parents and their Children

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