I’ll never forget my first-ever first day of school as a teacher in my own classroom.
I had three excellent practicum placements as a teacher candidate, worked full-time for eight months of the following school year (beginning in November), and did a lot of substitute work the year after that.
But none of those experiences fully prepared me for that first day in front of my own class, and as the day approached, all I could think was, “What do I do on the first day of school?”.
Keep in mind that this is before Facebook groups and social media sharing. #showingmyage
I figured it out, just like you would, but since I want to save you the worry I experienced, I will share some ideas with you in this post. These ideas are based on my own primary classroom and may not be right for everyone. Pick and choose what would work for you.
A Warm Welcome
When I am setting up my classroom, I ensure all my students’ spaces are labeled. Their desks have a name tag, and each coat hook and mailbox is also marked.
Before the school day begins, I have a simple activity ready on my students’ desks. I prefer to make it something hands-on and without any written instructions. Remember that some of your students will arrive unable to read your activity’s instructions.
Last year, I gave each student two mini containers of Play-Doh and asked them to make something that represented themselves or something they did on their summer vacation. This was accessible to everyone, regardless of ability.
Of course, they loved it! This fantastic set came from Costco and only cost me $18 CAD—that’s far less than $1 per student, and there are always lots left over to use as incentives throughout the year!
After students have had 10 or 15 minutes to create, I have them introduce themselves and share what they made with the rest of their table group. (My students sit in groups of 4 or 5.)
Teach Entry Routines
Once everyone is settled in, I take some time to visit the entry routines that I’d like students to follow each day. This is a great time to do this because entry is fresh on everyone’s mind.
In my classroom, students leave their outdoor shoes neatly against the wall in the hallway. (Since I teach in Canada, students have two sets of footwear – one for inside and one for outside. We get lots of messy, muddy, and snowy weather over the school year!)
Next, they enter the classroom and do the following:
- empty backpack,
- hand in agenda and notices,
- put communication bag into their mailbox,
- put lunch bag in our shared basket space,
- get started on morning work.
I always demonstrate precisely what I’m looking for here because I want it done correctly right from the beginning, and I know that many reminders will be needed before this runs smoothly.
Icebreaker Activity
Next, I switch gears entirely and head into a fun icebreaker activity. I love getting my students moving around at this time, so I created this “Getting to Know You Scoot” game. I place the cards all around the classroom and have my students move to a new partner at a new card location each time they rotate.
This set of scoot cards includes discussion prompts for students to use to get to know each other better, as well as a recording sheet.
Teach Snack and Recess Routines
Time flies when you’re having fun, so this usually brings us reasonably close to our first recess break. We always take about 15 minutes before the break to have a healthy snack, and on the first day of school, I stop what we’re doing a little earlier so that I can explain what I expect:
- Wash hands at the classroom sink or in the restroom.
- Choose a healthy snack item.
- Procedures to recycle or dispose of packaging, and where, afterward.
- Dress for outdoors (change shoes) and where to line up until the bell rings.
Teach Respectful Behavior Routines
After a well-deserved morning break, I bring my students to the gathering area, where we brainstormed and discussed respectful behavior.
My classroom rules are all related to respect—respect for self, respect for others, respect for property, and respect for belongings.
My students are always very engaged during this discussion because they KNOW what is expected.
Some of the expectations and routines I cover during this time are:
- How to sit respectfully on the carpet.
- How to sit respectfully at your desk.
- Raise your hand to speak.
- How I will get students’ attention.
- How to move respectfully through the hallways.
- How to look after table supplies.
I always pace this conversation based on my students. If they look like they are beginning to lose focus, I stop and give them a brain break.
Movement Break
My absolute favorite resource for brain breaks is GoNoodle! From energizing dances and party songs to calming yoga and mindfulness activities, GoNoodle has everything you could ever want! And if you upgrade to GoNoodle Plus (which I highly recommend!), you can customize many of the activities!
Classroom Scavenger Hunt
I love to allow my students to explore their new classroom next. This may happen before or after the lunch break depending on how our routine discussion goes. I provide them with a classroom scavenger hunt page, allow them to choose a partner, and let them roam!
You could place school words around the room for the students to record or have students explain where they located the item on the list.
You can grab an editable Classroom Scavenger Hunt activity right here in my Freebie Library! Just enter your info below to access this freebie and more!
Character Education
Character education is next on my list. In my classroom, we grow a Heart Garden. For me, the idea of tending something alive and growing is far more tangible than filling an imaginary bucket.
I always begin with three small plants. We talk about how to care for them so that they will live and how we can make them thrive. I then use the plants as an analogy to people. What will grow our self-esteem, our Heart Garden? What will make it wilt? These are the things that become our Heart Garden guidelines.
Over the first weeks of school, we experimented with these plants. One was put in the dark closet and not watered, one was given a bit of water and placed in the window, and the third was given water, sunlight, and daily attention. We compared the plants to see how the different treatments impacted their growth and again compared this to how we treat others.
Part of our Heart Garden routine also includes recognizing classmates for things they do to grow our Heart Garden. This is done by filling out a Heart Garden note that then gets placed on our classroom tree. It is so inspiring to watch this grow over the school year.
You can read more about the Heart Garden in this blog post:
Dismissal Routines
Having a clear set of procedures for your dismissal time is critical for ending your school day in a calm, organized way. This could vary significantly from school to school, but this is how I manage.
At the end of our school day, all students are dismissed simultaneously. There is no staggering of bus students, car pick-up students, etc., so we all perform the routines at the same time. In my classroom, it looks like this:
- Bring your mailbox to your desk and empty ALL contents directly into your Communication Bag.
- Retrieve your backpack and lunch bag and pack them at your desk.
- Stack your chair.
- Tidy up – check the floor around your table group, supply basket, or any shared space in the classroom.
- Thank a classmate for something nice they did or some help they gave you.
- Wait quietly behind your desk to be dismissed to the hallway.
This is a lot to remember, so I have each step displayed on a chart beside the classroom door. This gives the students something to refer to instead of asking me for help, and it is always a huge hit with Guest Teachers who can keep normal routines going when I am away.
I always dismiss my students to the hallway one group at a time as I check the cleanliness of their space. If you expect the room to be tidied, do not allow your students to leave until it HAS been! It is critical that you follow through on your expectations for your students if you want them to become routine!
We did it!! The first day of school is in the books, and you’ve survived! Go home and treat yourself to something fun. You’ve earned it!
You might also be interested in this blog post about encouraging independence in your classroom:
If you’ve found this post helpful, be sure to pin it for future reference and share it with your friends and colleagues!
