A Gentle Start to
the First Days of School
The first days of school carry a special
kind of energy. Students walk into the classroom with backpacks swinging, shoes
are scuffing the floor, and voices are full of curiosity. I have to stop for a
minute and just watch. After weeks of silence, it’s alive again. The class is
vibrant again with both familiar and new faces.
Creating Calm
With Student Engagement Activities
There’s a freshness in the air that
reminds me every school year is a new start. I see students unpacking their
stationeries and saying hellos to their friends. There are some students
thoughtfully observing their classmates as they scan the classroom looking for
a place to fit in. These tiny gestures mean a lot, and represent the beginning
of our classroom community.
It’s reasonable to start lessons right
away, but I’ve learned that starting with a creative task, perhaps painting or coloring,
makes the room feel more welcoming. Instead of going straight to regular
lessons, I like to bring in something that sparks curiosity. A simple student engagement activity. I like to
begin with something simple but inviting.
A Class Art
Project
On each desk, I place a printed picture.
Each picture has the student’s name at the top,& ready for coloring. As
they find their seats, the papers catch their attention. Almost all of them
burst into smiles when they see their names printed on the paper.
The room softens as the students begin
the color session. The usual chatter and noise gives way to a quieter room. A
room filled with creativity. Some
students lean close on the paper, carefully choosing the best crayon that fits
their design, while others glance at their neighbor’s pages, curious to see
how someone else has approached their coloring.
This simple
class art coloring project is not just a time filler, it calms nerves
& sets an outlook for the day ahead. When students see that creativity is
encouraged right from the start, it sets a tone for the way they think about
exploring creativity in other learning contexts.
It naturally encourages focus, and gives
the students a sense of ownership over their space by coloring their printed
names. It also gives me a gentle way to ease into conversations, whether I’m
complimenting a color choice or asking about a design. Those tiny exchanges
lay the groundwork for trust with my students.
Think about it. The students have spent
their summer holiday running around outside, others travelled with family, and
many simply enjoyed slower days at home. Coming back to school feels like a
jolt. The routines, the books—it takes adjustment. Providing them with a page
that carries their own name, ready to be colored, offers a gentle bridge
between the ease of summer and the structure of school.
Extending
Creativity Into Everyday Routines
Over time, I’ve found that simple tools
like editable mandalas or bookmarks work especially well for class
art projects, ice breakers or even as small reading rewards. Moreover,
if you’re looking to improve your students’
engagement through simple activities, then no doubt they’ll work for you.
What I like about them is they are customizable, easy to personalize, calming
to use, and flexible enough to fit into many parts of the school day. More than
anything, they remind students from day one that their creativity belongs here.
You can take a look here: Editable Name Bookmarks.