First Day of School Traditions
Over at the Natural Kids blog, Ulla has a great post about the German First Day of School Tradition of Schultuete. I think this tradition is definitely a great way to get kids interested in school. What a beautiful tradition.
It prompted me to research other first day of school traditions and here are some things I’ve found. Just a note, some of the traditions, like Schultuete, are for the first day of first grade only. Others are annual first days. Enjoy and please let me know if you have any other sources (especially cultural ones).
(Originally uploaded in flickr by rosewithoutathorn84)
Ali Edwards asked her readers about their traditions and got a lot of great answers in the comments: LINK.
Here’s some of my favorites:
- From a 2nd grade teacher: About a week before school starts I send them a postcard inviting them to a first day of 2nd grade celebration. When they walk in the door there are goodie bags on their desks and a mini breakfast buffet. I tell the students and their parents to relax, roam the room and enjoy some yummy food. After about 15 minutes I call the kiddos to the carpet and read them The First Day of School Jitters & The Kissing Hand. I tell the kids to go give their parents a paper kiss to keep in their pockets and send them on their way. We usually do some neat get to know you activities and start their scrap book for the year. I also saw a great pencil shaped cake made from brownies that I think I will make for the kids. After having them write in their journals about their first day of school; I’ll tell them “Write On, You survived your first day of 2nd grade” and let them enjoy some brownie cake. I hope they enjoy the first day of school as much as I do!
- 1. We visit our teachers the Friday before school starts to drop off supplies so I have a neighborhood breakfast before the event. Its lots of fun to get together and have some breakfast before we head out.
2. I always take pictures of the new school shoes. Its such a big part of the first day of school!
3.Ali this may work for you….I heard this and thought it would be great for my son starting kindergarten. I was told to take one of my husband’s old dress shirts and put it on my son every first day of school and watch how he grows into it over the years. Sounds like fun!!
Plant a tree (maybe when they’re born), and have them take a picture in front of this tree every year.
In Russia, a young boy and girl walk through the school hallways ringing a bell.
Do you know of any other traditions for the first day of school? Do you know any culture-specific traditions?