7th Grade Orientation

[Kristi Barber]

I think our school's orientation needs a revamp. I was wondering what other schools do that works or is unique. Ours is pretty boring purely information, meaning sit and get.The students do tour the school but that is all. I would love to hear about your school's orientation.

[Brian Thomas]

One thing I used to do at orientation night was to put the parents through a sample lesson activity, so they would understand what to expect for the coming year.  Now that I type this....do you mean student orientation or orientation night for parents? lol

[Kristi Barber]

Both! Right now it is one night for about two hours. 45 minutes or so for whole group explanation of school procedures and expectations then the students and their parents report to their homeroom to get lockers, schedules, and paperwork. The students are then encouraged to find all their classroms. That is it.

I was thinking of doing a mini-day that has the students following their schedule, stay in each class for a set amount of time and let each teacher speak about their unique class expectations or something and then report to their next period and so on. Each "period" would be relatively short 5 minutes or so. Then opening up a question period at the end that parents could go back to any teacher they wanted to talk to about concerns. I think parents would appreciate hearing every teachers expectations and suggestions for success.

[MsTeacher28]

We do a school wide move up day on one of the last days of school.  It is similar to what you described, except we follow a complete school period schedule (47 minute classes).  It is great for the incoming seventh graders, who get the true experience of switching classes, meeting teachers, having lunch, etc. on a regular schedule.  I don't teach seventh grade, and actually would prefer shorter classes that day, but again, the day is really meant for them to get a real life practice at middle school, so it works and the rest of us just suck it up:)  A few days before school starts, there is also a seventh grade orientation picnic for students and parents.  Again, students get to check out their classrooms, and do a tour of the school, and parents get to meet all of the teachers.  

When we have open house, we run a short schedule (about 8 minutes/class) like what you described.  That also seems to work pretty well.  

[Susan Connelly]

Anita, Our school does a similar orientation day just for 7th grade students before the MS actually starts. It is a half day where we get to meet the students, they go through a condensed version of the day and get to settle in before the 'official' beginning of school. I do like your school's orientation picnic idea though. How does that work? Sounds like a great way to start year.