Plan a Moving Up Day for your school!

Did you ever get "first day jitters" as a kid?  I did, and I still do!  I used to beg and plead with my mom to let me stay home on the first day of a new semester, for fear that I'd go to the wrong place. To alleviate the stress of the first day, I implemented "Moving Up Day" at our school for Kindergarten-5th grade.

Students get to meet their next-grade teacher, learn about some classroom rules and policies, and be a little more prepared for the first day of school.  This event is easy to plan, takes as much or as little time as you have, and costs no money- perfect for the end of the year!

Below is the letter I send to teachers, explaining what the day is all about, and giving some suggestions for activities.

If you want to plan a Moving Up Day at your school, here are some tips and tricks to make it easy!

1. Get the support of your administration early on.  
2. Get a copy of the master schedule- it's the easiest way to see which times/periods will work best for you. 
• Study the master schedule, learn it, be one with it.  
• When you pitch your plan to administration, it helps to have a backup time or period, and be familiar with the teachers who are free then. 
3. Are there students who won't be participating? Make sure you have a plan for them. .
• In our school, 6th-8th grade doesn't participate, so I make sure that those students are all involved in an activity which frees up the classrooms in the middle school wing.  
• For example, this year the 8th grade will be having graduation practice, the 7th graders will be corralled in the cafeteria with substitutes, and the 6th graders will be at their electives. 
• Students being retained will not gain anything from attending the program, so find a teacher who is free that period and send all retentions to them for an activity period.
4. Send your schedule to the teachers about a month in advance. 
• This gives plenty of time for preparation
• Resend it the week of the event with any updates
5. Be clear about your expectations for the session
• Provide a list of suggestions that will fill the time 
• Ask your administrators if they would like to address any of the students or grades during the session
6. Take a post-mortem survey of teachers, administrators, and some students involved
• Ask questions that will help you plan for next year's event

 Have you planned a Moving Up Day event at your school? What are some things you do the same or differently?