Back to School Welcome Baggies

On the first day of school, I have gallon bags made with everything the students will need for the day to set up supplies, take care of textbooks, get to know each other, etc. When the first day is organized, it sets an appropriate tone for the rest of the year.

In the Welcome Bag

bookmark
name tag
textbook card to record the book numbers (most times I’ve done this for the kids; one time they did it…works either way)
sharpened Welcome to 5th Grade pencil with cap eraser
enough labels for them to label all folders, spirals, etc.
Behavior Folder
Take Home Folder
Welcome Packet with coloring pages, word searches, etc. they can do as students arrive and any time you need to gather something or deal with an issue
Welcome letter to parents
Classroom Procedures Packet (includes what to do and how to handle pretty much any situation)
any supplies that I am providing to each student (Interactive Notebooks, folders, etc.)

Why do I use Welcome Bags?

1. Students need supplies.

Each year has really varied as to how many students brought all/some/no supplies, so I have a lot of things on hand in case they are needed. As we are labeling, I walk around and check, then give supplies like notebooks and folders as needed. I usually hold off on giving out supply bags, crayons, and markers because I do provide community supplies and students can use the baggie as a supply bag until they get one.

2. Labeling Fun

For labeling folders and spirals with pre-printed labels, it helps to already have the labels they need in the baggie.

3. Welcome Bags for New Students

The best part that I started doing 2 years ago is making Welcome Baggies for students who come in later in the year. After that first day, I gather all the extra baggies (I usually make about 5-15 extra depending on how many classes I’m teaching), labels, folders, and spirals and put together Welcome Bags. This makes it super easy when new students come in later that week all the way up until the last week of school!

4. Departmentalized?

Talk to your team. Do you want everything set up in homerooms or does each teacher want to set up notebooks, textbooks, and supplies?

Do you use a Welcome Bag or something like it?

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