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I’m not a direct instruction kind of teacher. I’ve learned after 25 years of teaching junior high that kids need to be moving, thinking, collaborating and switching activities frequently during a 50 minute class period – especially on the first day of school.
When I think of the years I spent the first day talking at the students, not to them, I cringe. What a boring introduction to my class – and my class is definitely not one for passive learning.
The last several years I’ve experimented with group activities on the first day of school. I’ve done everything from partner work to dividing the class into four medium sized groups for rotations. I’ve used poster paper, post its and handouts with varying degrees of success. This year, however, was the best yet – with a little help from some teacher friend websites, I created my Back To School Stations – and they were a huge hit!
I have really large classes – between 33 and 36 – so I created between 8 and 9 stations. I like having kids work in quads; it’s a good number for dialogue without having too much distraction, and it’s easy to put my desks together into four.
Next, I collected lots of Back to School ideas from websites, Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers. I found a variety of lessons, including reading, writing, speaking and art focused ideas.
I tried to divide them up so every station would switch up the learning modality. I decided the theme would be ‘Back To School passports” after finding this lesson on TPT.
Kids started at the station where they were seated. I typed up cheerful, motivating and clear directions for each station, and put them inside sheet protectors to keep them from accidentally getting scooped up or wrinkled. The order they traveled didn’t really matter; I asked kids to keep their papers with them as they moved.
I found that between 7-9 minutes per station worked well. I wasn’t worried about them completely finishing each station; I told them if they finished early they could pull out a station they hadn’t completed, and when we got to the end of the rotation, they would have time for ‘finishing touches’. It worked great – when kids were done, they were able to talk about what they were writing/drawing/reading, or just chat about their summer. In 7-9 minutes there wasn’t much time to goof off, but it created a nice, busy hum in the classroom.
While the kids were working it allowed me to wander around the room, observing the personalities, watching their work habits and stop and comment on what they were doing. With these stations I felt as if I really had a better sense of who they were as people than I ever have before – the lessons created easy openings for dialogue about their interests, their families, their experiences and their hopes for 8th grade.
All together the stations took about three days – we had a few other mini-lessons each day, but the main portion of class time involved the rotations. At the end, I walked them through how to assemble the passport page by page. They stapled them together and turned them in – giving me only one assignment to record for that week, and some super cool decorations for Back To School Night!
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I created a Pinterest Back to School Board here. The passport idea came from Presto Plans, and I modified my stations to reflect
my syllabus and classroom goals. If you’d like a copy of my station directions, just let me know in the comments or send me an email and I’ll share the Google Docs.
Stations work well with many different kinds of lessons – they get kids moving, interacting, and engaged. Try stations the next time you feel like you’ve got a lot to cover and want to make it more fun – your students will love you for it!
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Just found your post from the #2ndaryela chat! Would love the station directions and info!
Hi Sylvia,
Here’s a link to the resources: http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources Thanks you!
I’d love the stations directions and info. I also teach middle school and this sounds great for the first week!
Andrea, here’s the link – let me know how it goes! http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources
I cannot access the resources. Is there any way you could send them directly?
Hi Katie,
You can access the resources on my website: http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources , along with other teaching/parenting ideas. If you’d like more, just leave your email on the mailing list. Thanks!
This sounds fun…but I am wondering how to adapt to high school. If I knew your stations, it might help.
Jessica, I used the stations lesson from Presto Plans on TPT – you could adapt for your subject/age group. Here’s a link to my directions: http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources. Let me know how you modify it!
I would also love to have your station directions. Thanks for sharing the station idea.
Sherry, here you go – let me know if you try it! http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources
I would love a copy of your documents. I was thinking of doing something similar with my 7/8 graders. I’m having a student teacher this year so it will be neat for her too.
Kim, that’s great! Here’s the link: http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources – let me know how it works out!
Please send me your station directions and info. Love this!
Jerri, I’m so glad you loved the idea – here’s the link: http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources. Please be in touch!
Stations please! Always looking for ideas.
Thank you!
Here you go, Eileen – hope it helps! http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources
I would love a copy of your stations directions. Great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
Gretchen, here you go – glad you like the ideas! http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources Let me know how it works out for you!
Hi Jennifer! I am always looking for more ways to engage my students and this sounds like something I would love the station directions and info.
Lisa, stations will definitely engage them for the first several days – here you go http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources. Let me know if it works for you!
I love this idea. Please send details about the stations.
Sue, I hope your kids love it as much as mine did – I’d love to hear back from you! http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources
Please send me your stations. I would love any advice for stations to teach Social Studies in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. I teach Special Ed mild to moderate.
Hi Catherine, Thanks for reaching out. I would think about what do you want to establish in your first few days – rules, expectations, curriculum…and what do you want to know about your kids? I would think of some way to tie in their real life to what they’re studying (if not direct to curriculum, I’d think of overall themes/essential questions). The trick is to keep them short and ‘do-able’ so they can feel like they finish. For SPED I would cut the number of rotations and give them more time at each station for sure. Here’s my directions: http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources Keep me updated!
Would love the directions to the stations you set up! Thank you!!
Hi Lisa,
Here’s the link – let me know how it works for you! http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources
I would love to have your station directions. Thanks so much for sharing the station idea.
Hello! This is a great idea! Thank you so much for being willing to share it with us! I pray please I previously thought middle school and made the leap to 4th grade. I think this idea would still be great because we rotate between teachers and I definitely think this would be more enjoyable to show them around my room, explain procedures, and keep them from sitting still for so long. I tried clicking on the link in your post, but my phone is being wonky and wouldn’t connect, but I would still greatly appreciate a copy of your directions! 🙂
Welcome to middle school, Bonnie! It’s my favorite place to teach. Here’s the link – I know it will be fun for your students. Let me know how it works for you http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources.
I would love to know the stations you use! I’m trying to find fun ways to switch things up this year!
Karen, stations will definitely be fun – here’s the link. Check back in and let me know how it went! http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources
Please send me the station directions.
Kmisaac305@gmail.com
Kim, here’s the link – let me know how you manage. http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources
Hi. This sounds like a great idea. Please send me a copy of your stations.
Tammy, I hope you have a great start to the school year! http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources
Lisa, here they are! I’d love to hear how you use them! http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources
I love the idea of stations and would so appreciate any information you could send me. Thank you so much.
Hi Mary, So happy you like the idea – here’s the link. Please let me know how they work for you! http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources
Love the idea and would like to give it a try! Thanks for sharing
Hi Ann,
You’re very welcome – here’s the link – http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources – I’d love for you to leave your email on my blog so you can get all my school posts sent right to you!
Hi Jennifer!
I just stumbled across your site, and I was so happy to read about how you used my passport activity in your classroom! There is nothing better than seeing pictures of something I created in action. I’m so glad you/your students enjoyed it. Thanks so much for sharing the post 🙂
Bonnie, I’m so glad you connected with me- I love your product, and hope lots of new teachers come your way!
Can you please send me your amazing stations?!!??!? Wvussteach@gmail.com
Maureen, here’s the link for my station directions: http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources
I would love a copy of your back to school stations. smitht@martin.k12.fl.us Thank you.
Great- I sent you an email.
I tried stations on the first day this past year; looking to switch one up for this upcoming September. The kids really liked the more active period! I’d appreciate if you could share.
csulva@ebnet.org
Great- I sent you an email.
I would love a copy of your stations. Do you have to pair them up to the state standards? I am new to teaching middle shool and would love a copy. my email address is cdfblair@yahoo.com
Great- I sent you an email.
I would LOVE to get a copy of your station instructions. Could you please send those to LeaAnnMarks@gmail.com
Thank you!
I’m so glad you loved the idea – here’s the link: http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources. Please be in touch – if you leave your email on my website I’ll keep you updated as I post more free lessons. Happy back to school!
-Jennifer
Would love the station directions and info!!
Awesome Idea!!!
Hi Ruth – here’s the link: http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources. Please be in touch – if you leave your email on my website I’ll keep you updated as I post more free lessons. Happy back to school!
-Jennifer
I would love to have your station ideas and directions. Thanks for sharing!!
Jamii – I’m so glad you loved the idea – here’s the link: http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources. Please be in touch – if you leave your email on my website I’ll keep you updated as I post more free lessons. Happy back to school!
-Jennifer
Hi, Jennifer! What a wonderful idea! I would love the google docs, but the link above isn’t connecting me to your email. My email address is jcantin@oconeeschools.org
Thanks so much!!
Hi Jenna – I emailed you the link 🙂
Hi, Jennifer! I’d love a copy of your stations – my email is leahrichmond07@gmail.com. This looks so fun! Thank you so much!
Awesome, Leah. I sent you an email. 🙂
Hi Jennifer! I would love to have a copy of your stations! Thank you so much for Sharing!
I’m so glad you loved the idea – here’s the link: http://jenniferwolfe.net/teaching-resources. Please be in touch – if you leave your email on my website I’ll keep you updated as I post more free lessons. Happy back to school!
-Jennifer
What did you do to create the other four stations?
I would love a copy of your station directions! This is my first year teaching sixth grade! 🙂