Handling two classrooms on the first day

As I was packing up the boys' supplies last night getting ready for the first day of kindergarten today, I suddenly realized that there's only one of me and two classrooms. I quickly called my mom to come along so that each boy can have someone in their room for the first several minutes for support. I don't plan to stay long, but I couldn't stand thinking that one of them would be entirely alone as he started K for the first time.

With separate classrooms, what did you do (or do you plan to do) on the first day?

 

Hi Amy! Congrats on the first day of K--we have another week and an half to go.

For preschool, I dropped off the one that would be easier to walk away from first, and then took the other one.

For K, it won't be a problem, since we just put them on the bus together. It actually never occured to me to go to school, I would think it would make it harder to go into the classroom. Do all the parents in your school go in with the kids? I don't think you are allowed here, because it would be too disruptive to the class, especially if some parents were there and others weren't.

 

Congrats on the first day of school. I haven't had to deal with this with twins yet, but with DD her teacher met her at the door to the classroom and took her bookbag and told me bye. They didn't really want the parents to hang around that first day. That said I would do as the pp stated and figure out which on is least likely to freak out about me leaving and start there. Otherwise the other one might start to panick if they see their brother upset.

 

I have always gone to school on the first day. I help one unpack(not anymore since they are in 4th and 5th!), and then went to the other class to help the other one unpack. Of course, I never had 2 in K at the same time, but I did have one in K, and one in 1st! I think it's great that your mom went to help you out! I hope they have a great day..and you too. :hug99:

 

QUOTE(jxnsmama @ Aug 27 2007, 06:29 AM) [snapback]381450[/snapback]
With separate classrooms, what did you do (or do you plan to do) on the first day?
I took both boys to each others' classroom and introduced each of them to both teachers so they would know exactly where their brother was during the day. Then I just settled them each in their own classroom and left. I did this every year until third grade. Then they each had the other's teacher for at least one subject anyway and they were too "grown up" to go and meet their brother's teacher, lol.

I hope your boys enjoy school, Amy!!!! And pictures, please.

QUOTE(sharongl @ Aug 27 2007, 06:55 AM) [snapback]381458[/snapback]
For K, it won't be a problem, since we just put them on the bus together. It actually never occured to me to go to school, I would think it would make it harder to go into the classroom. Do all the parents in your school go in with the kids? I don't think you are allowed here, because it would be too disruptive to the class, especially if some parents were there and others weren't.
Here everyone parks on the first day and walks their kids in to meet the teachers, etc., on the first day. It's a logistical nightmare at a school of 750 students, though. Two area churches allow parents to park and then we walk to the school. It's a real pain and I'm glad my boys are not in elementary school any more because of that, lol. The kindergarten students don't start in earnest until the third full week of school (I think that's today). Prior to this, only three or four K students per classroom go each day. They are assigned a day to be at school for the first two weeks. This enables the K teachers to assess and interact one on one with the new students and is not as overwhelming for the new kindergartners either.

At our old school in Ohio, parents were not allowed to come into the school on the first day with their kids. Many parents would follow the buses just to watch their kids arrive and walk in the building. It was really kind of sad. I remember putting Sean on the bus and just crying because I couldn't see him walk into school on his big day. One of the teachers took pictures, though, so at least I have that.

 

Kim, a lot of the parents here do follow the bus to school to snap pics. I am not sure if we will do that or not. I am actually going to bring them to school today or tomorrow just to get the lay of the land. Jon has been in the school for 1 1/2 years, and knows his teacher since he spent time in her class last year. Marcus is a bit nervous, which is why I want to bring them over, plus his teacher is new to teaching there too--she has triplets in 1st grade.

 

Today was our first day of kindergarten also and my boys are in separate classes. What made it difficult for me was the fact that BOTH boys had snack week, which meant providing snacks/drinks for their classmates for 5 days. Needless to say, I made several trips back out to the van. Fortunately, the boys attended this same school for K-3 and K-4, so lots of familiar faces and surroundings. I had a few moments of sadness for them and Chris - him missing their first day. But, that's what a digital camera is for, right? Good Luck!

 

This morning went well. Since we live too close to quality for the bus but too far away to walk, I will be driving them each day. Mom and I switched classes several times so I could get a feel for each teacher and listen to the announcements. The parents/grandparents hung around for about 15 minutes, then the teachers lined the kids up in the hall (how they'll enter class each day), and that was time to say goodbye. The kids and parents all did great. Only one girl was crying.

Today's just for a few hours, so I'll be picking them up in a few minutes. Tomorrow will be their first lunch away from me/relatives EVER!

 

Sounds like they made out great Amy. I bet they had a ton of fun today!

 

Glad to hear it went well, Amy.

We started kindergarten here today, too. I can't believe I have kindergarteners. The time has flown!!! :cray:
K&K loved it, but that, combined with a new day-care, too, made for two VERY tired kiddos at the end of the day.

 

C & E started last Wednesday. We only have half day kdg. and they got pm, so they go to their Montessori daycare in the morning and ride the bus from there. The Friday before they started they had orientation and brought in all their supplies. Dh and I both went as they are in separate classes. I rode the bus with them and dh met us at school. There was no way I could have done it alone with the way it was set up. I would have had to leave someone alone.

This year I'm teaching K-1 special needs. Our kdg had three days of orientation. Half the class the first day, half the second, and everyone the third day. They even got to practice eating lunch each day in the cafeteria. The first day the parents walked them in. Then when the whole class came, we encouraged parents to leave them at the door. It was actually a lot easier on the kids that way.

 

QUOTE
I hope your boys enjoy school, Amy!!!! And pictures, please.


OK, if you insist! Here are Hayden and Brady with the twin girls from across the street just before we left for the first day of school. Each boy has one of the girls in his class.

 

And let's not forget Jackson! Here he is on his first day as a 4th grader.

 

I'm glad to hear that it all went well. I can't believe how big they've gotten, Amy...they're all so cute!!!!!

Here, the Friday before school started they had orientation so we got to meet their teachers. Isiah's teacher wasn't actually there but his son, who teaches at the school also, was there. Then on the first day, I took each of them to their classroom and made sure they were ok before I left. I didn't stay too long in either classroom. Each teacher sent home a paper for the parents to fill out with pertinent info and I made sure to make a note that they were twins and this was only the second time they'd been separated.

 

What handsome boys they are Amy! Sounds like their first day turned out well.

We had 'meet the teacher' today, so there will be no walking to class for us. The teacher picks them up in the cafeteria (where all the K-3rds meet), so the parent can't actually walk them to class. Dan & I took them today so we both cold get a look at their rooms and meet their teachers. The girls are so excited (and so am I!). Their teachers seem great (neighbors say they are too!), and I can't wait to get back into the swing of school!

 

They're all grown up! And so cute

Our school starts next Wednesday and the first day is a short 1-hour orientation. My husband is taking the day off from work so he can take one boy, and I'll take the other. Plus, he wants to see them off on their first day of Kindergarten.

 

My girls are in Young Learner Kindergarten. We had a meet the teacher a week before and then on the first day of class we left them outside the door.

I have not seen the inside of the classroom since that night...and it has been 3 weeks. They discourage parents from volunteering until a month of school has passed. So they can get routines established.

 

Great pictures Amy, hope everything continues to go well.

 

Those pictues are great! Here for K half of the class goes one day and half the next. The third day all of them go. Parents take the kids to their classrooms and stay until lunch. B & H started Pre-K last week and they had an orientation on Monday for 5 families at a time. Tuesday Brianne started. We were allowed to take them into their classroom and then had to leave. Wednesday Hayley started. On Thursday they were both supposed to go but Hayley had an accident and missed that day.