first day

First Day of School “Survival Kits”

Stacey Shubitz

Since my first year of teaching, I’ve placed survival kits on the kids’ desks to help them get through the first day of school. This year, I’ve changed it up a bit. I took out the regular pencil, a pencil sharpener and the index cards (The cards caused the kids to say, “What do we need these for?” I no longer want to hear that question 20 times on day one!). I’ve gone minimalist this year, but in a good way (at least I think so).

Inside of each baggie is a double-sided bookmark (One side says “Hints for Choosing a Book You’ll Enjoy” and the other lists “What Good Readers Do.”), a MECHANICAL pencil, and a personalized name tag. I chose to go mechanical this year for two reasons:
1. I got a good deal on Cadzoodles Mechanical Pencils at Staples.
2. It eliminates the need to sharpen over-and-over again.

I used to hand out the name tags at the door, but that slows things down. Hence, having each child come in and look for his/her desk where they’ll find their name tag should speed things along, so as not to cause a jam-up at the threshold of the classroom.

Kit Contents:
Contents for First Day of School Pouches

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Published by Stacey Shubitz

Stacey Shubitz is a K-6 literacy consultant and former elementary teacher. She is the author of CRAFT MOVES and other professional books on writing workshop. Her forthcoming book, MAKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WORK FOR YOUR CHILD WITH DISABILITIES (Guilford Press, 2026), empowers parents to navigate the special education system.

5 thoughts on “First Day of School “Survival Kits””

  1. just wondering if you can include the tips for “choosing a book you’ll enjoy”…..would so appreciate this as I find this very difficult to teach my second graders! Thanks a bunch!

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  2. Great idea handing out a memo pad the first day and having them start writing. That really shows the kids that writing is taken seriously in this classroom. Think I will do that as well. You guys always have great ideas.

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  3. Love that idea of putting a memo pad in there so they can start writing when they comme in Liza. Thanks for the tip.

    I actually WAS on vacatiom this past week. I scheduled a bu nch of posts before I left. Ah… the magic of technology!

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  4. Take a vacation Stacey!! When do you start school again? These kits are a great idea. I do something similar, but I always include an eraser, and usually a pack of crayons and a writing notebook. Becaues the kids have known me, they usually sit down on the first day and just start writing!

    Not sure what I will do at my new school. Everything changes when you have to meet the kids on the first day for the first time.

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  5. I am completely jealous that you receive a class list before the end of the year. We are lucky to get them a day or two before school starts. This year school starts on a Monday and we are scheduled to receive lists on Thursday, but… the ice cream social/meet your teacher is also that night. Hopefully there are not too many changes by Monday!

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