4 Ideas to Make Your First Day of School a Success

You have decorated, straightened and organized your room, arranged desk, labeled books and bins, but now the first day of school is just around the corner, and you realize that you have no idea what you are going to do! The first day of school can be a day full of excitement and nerves, even for teachers, but here are a few ideas to help make this day a success whether this is your first year of teaching, or whether you have been teaching for 25+ years like myself.

1. Be Prepared and Be Flexible

Whatever you plan to do on the first day, it is vital that you are well prepared. Have every detail of the day planned out along with all supplies, worksheets, and activities at hand. Have backup plans for those unexpected delays or events because, believe me, unexpected will happen. Prepare extra copies of everything for new students. Have supplies, parent letters, and seating area ready for these students so that they will feel welcomed and you will feel calm and prepared. If no new student shows up on the first day, chances are that you may need these items later in the year.

2. Plan Extra

Plan more than you can do on the first day of school.  It is better to be over prepared than under prepared. I begin with the most important items first, and work down to the least important. Any activities that we do not have time to complete, go into a sub tub for my substitute for later in the year. The worst thing to do on the first day is to run out of ideas and activities and have a classroom full of students staring at you waiting for instructions.

3. Have Something Ready for Students to Do When They Arrive

Having something prepared and ready for students to do as they come to the classroom will help get your first day started off great. Placing copies of activities on students' desks gives students something to do as you greet your students, take up lunch money, take up forms, etc. All About Me Posters are a perfect activity for this. Check out my large selection of All About Me Posters.

4. Address Classroom Expectations

A successful year can often be attributed to time spent practicing classroom procedures and addressing classroom expectations. Begin the first day by modeling classroom routines to help your students clearly understand your expectations. Practicing procedures is not time wasted, rather, it is time very well spent. Model your expectations for routines such getting into groups, passing out books or workbooks, lining up, etc. You'll be amazed at the difference this can make in your school year.

I certainly hope your first day of school is a very blessed one!