| What? Already?! Teachers are busy preparing for | | | | must introduce themselves as well. Each signature |
| the new school year. One way to set a positive | | | | should be clearly written in order to count. The |
| tone in the classroom is to make sure all the | | | | first child to fill his sheet is the winner. If you want |
| children know one another. Here are a few | | | | to add a little physical activity, have children who |
| introduction games. (NOTE: Any group of people | | | | are finished walk around the room several times |
| who need to make introductions can play these | | | | and then take their seats. |
| games.) Have fun! | | | | 4. For this game, use several hoops or large, |
| 1. While students are sitting on desktops or | | | | circular pieces of butcher paper. This is an |
| standing in a circle, the teacher tosses a ball to a | | | | innovation of "Musical Chairs" so have a music |
| student who then introduces himself and tells his | | | | source available! When the music stops, children |
| favorite game or activity. He then tosses the ball | | | | who wind up in the same hoop introduce |
| to another student who repeats the procedure. | | | | themselves. Instead of walking while the music |
| Make sure each child has a turn to introduce | | | | plays, perhaps your children could hop, jump, skip, |
| himself. Try playing a few minutes each day so | | | | etc. As hoops are removed in each round, have |
| children can also name their favorite food, place | | | | the children in that hoop tell something about |
| to visit, musical group, TV show...whatever you | | | | themselves. |
| want. | | | | 5. Let your children form groups of five to ten. At |
| 2. While children are sitting in a circle in a darkened | | | | the beginning, each child announces his name, |
| classroom, the player in the middle spins a | | | | clearly, to the group. Then let the group decide |
| flashlight on the floor. (If children are standing in a | | | | how a ball will be passed...rolled, bounced, tossed, |
| circle, the player in the middle spins around while | | | | rolled around back and then tossed, etc. A player |
| holding the flashlight facing outwards.) The child | | | | is to say his own name, as well as his new |
| who is "in the spotlight" when the flashlight stops | | | | classmate's name, when he releases the ball. For |
| must introduce himself and tell something else | | | | instance, "My name is Bill and yours is Anna." A |
| about himself. That person then becomes the | | | | variation is to have the entire group call out the |
| next spinner. Give children ideas of what to tell | | | | name of the person who catches the ball. Add |
| about themselves...favorite movie, best quality, | | | | details when the names have been |
| favorite famous person, favorite school subject, | | | | learned...favorite pet, birthday, etc. |
| and so on. | | | | I hope these ideas have been useful and have |
| 3. Have children fold a piece of paper into a | | | | inspired your own creativity. Have a wonderful, |
| certain number of squares. They must then go | | | | rewarding year! |
| get signatures from their new classmates, who | | | | And remember...Reading is FUNdamental! |