drawing challenge - might be a fun "classroom goal" (get a art party at the end of the month?) - drawn in doodle books that they only show if they want to
A list of procedures that you want to be sure and teach your students before you start your guided small groups to insure that your Small groups will be effective, differentiated, and meaningful.
DIY Kleenex box (math) games. Each child has a box they fill with math tokens. Number cards are on the side for practicing counting, etc. Can also color sort, etc.
I pulled out one of our favorite books Aliens Love Underpants. I also incorporated a writing activity in which the students wrote about things that they really liked about first grade. Check out the pic below!!!