what should teachers do on the first day of school

What information is necessary to know when organizing classroom parties and field trips?

What to do when your schedule permits?

Why do elementary teachers use a first day checklist?

What to do if you don't have all your supplies on the first day?

How to cultivate camaraderie in school?

What to do before kids arrive in the morning?

Where to place schedule for day?

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What you should do in the first day of teaching?

On the first day, a teacher should have two goals. The first is to make your new students feel relaxed and comfortable. The second is this: When the children leave school, and their parents ask them if they like their new teacher, you want them to say yes.

What should I do with my students on the first day of school?

8 Ways to Make Students Feel Welcome on First Day of SchoolAssign seats before school starts. ... Use students' names from day one. ... Don't just introduce yourself. ... Give them something to commemorate the first day. ... Give students the tools they need. ... Emphasize what students can do, not what they can't.More items...•

How should a teacher prepare for the first day?

Get a Head Start on Classroom OrganizationGather and organize classroom materials and supplies.Prepare student name tags and/or student desk plates.Organize your files.Label all furniture in the classroom.Create an emergency substitute folder.Label textbooks, workbooks, and supplies.Set up your grade book.More items...

What procedures should I teach on the first day of school?

Greet Students (and tell them what to do with school supplies) Introduce Yourself. Team Builder/Ice Breaker Activity to Build Community. Procedure Practice (probably lining up, hallway, and bathroom procedures so you can take a bathroom break)

How do you introduce yourself as a teacher?

Follow these steps when you're writing your own letter of introduction as a teacher:Address the parents. ... Introduce yourself right away. ... Write an attention-grabbing subject line. ... Include your teaching experience and education. ... Focus on your teaching philosophy. ... Invite parents and guardians to be active participants.More items...

How do you engage students on the first day of class?

Make the Most of the First Day of ClassOrchestrate positive first impressions.Introduce yourself effectively.Clarify learning objectives and expectations.Help students learn about each other.Set the tone for the course.Collect baseline data on students' knowledge and motivation.More items...

What do teachers do in the first week of school?

Plan for the first week—no more, no less. Use the first week to develop routines for using the bathroom, sharing ideas, getting materials, finding the daily schedule, and other important classroom techniques and procedures. Your goal is to have everyone on the same page by the end of the first week of school.

How do you introduce yourself as a teacher in a new school assembly?

How do you introduce yourself in a speech?Your name and what the students should call you. Students need to feel comfortable addressing you and asking for help, so modeling the pronunciation of your name and the title is a great place to start. ... Your hobbies and interests. ... Explain classroom rules.

What do you say on the first day of class?

Collect Information via a First Day SurveyHere are some things you might ask students to provide:Name and pronouns.Context (hours spent working, childcare responsibilities, etc.)Prior knowledge/experience.Technological proficiency.Personal goals for taking course.

What should I plan for the first day of school?

Set Up Your Desk Arrangement with Name Tags. ... Plan a “Settle In” Activity. ... Choose a Creative Way to Introduce Yourself. ... Plan Plenty of Getting to Know You Activities. ... Allow Time to Organize Supplies. ... Choose First Day Read Alouds. ... Establish Classroom Rules. ... Teach Important First Day Procedures.More items...•

What are the daily routines done by the teacher?

Classroom Routines and Procedures ExamplesEntering/Exiting the classroom.Turning in assignments & late work.Attendance/Absent/Tardy procedures.Lunch and/or Recess.Bell-work/Do Now/Entry Task.Finishing work early.Use of classroom library.Independent work time – asking for help.More items...•

What are the classroom routines and procedures before starting a class?

12 Must-Teach Classroom Procedures and RoutinesUse hand signals. SOURCE- Hand Signals. ... Set a routine for lining up. ... Set a timer for transitions. ... Provide “bell ringers.” ... Share your calendar. ... Be clear about technology rules. ... Have a system for pencils. ... Lock down your bathroom policy.More items...•

What do you do on the first day of first grade?

First Day of School Activities for 1st or 2nd GradeTeach rules and expectations.Get to know each other and start learning names.Learn the organization of the classroom.Make students feel part of a new classroom and school community.

What should you teach on the first day of preschool?

On the first day, it's good to teach them how to use and where to put their papers, scissors, crayons and pencils. For preschoolers, some of these materials may represent brand new concepts, so it's helpful to explain how they work and how they're used.

What should you teach on the first day of middle school?

First Day of School: Suggestions for Teachers to Prep Middle and High School Students to Learnintroduce classroom rules.prepare students to learn.break the ice.make a good first impression.get to know your students.

What are some fun class activities?

These top 10 classroom games provide fun ways to engage your students in academic learning, without them even realizing it!Charades. ... Hangman. ... Scatter-gories. ... Bingo. ... Puzzles. ... Draw swords. ... Hot potato. ... Pictionary.More items...•

Surviving the 1st Day: A Checklist for Terrified New Teachers ...

COVID-19 Self-Care Resources Resources for teachers, parents, and students to help deal with stress and changes during the pandemic; Social-Emotional Development Discover the importance of social-emotional learning and activities to promote empathy in the classroom; Teacher Well-being Best practices for resiliency and self-care for teachers; Trauma-Informed Practices in Schools Strategies and ...

What To Do On The First Day Of School – A Practical Schedule

Hold on to your hats - the first day of school is a whirlwind! Stay anchored to your long-term goals by focusing on just these 3 tasks for the day. By day 2, you'll be well on your way to establishing the positive, peaceful learning environment you're envisioning!

How to welcome a child to school?

One great way to welcome small children on their first day of school is by sitting together and reading a good story. This activity is ideal for kids who are in kindergarten or 1st grade. Choose a story that is all about the first day of school and all of the challenges and adventures that it can hold. Some great first-day of school books that can match your class are On the First Day of First Grade by Tish Rabe or Curious George’s First Day of School by Margaret & H.A. Rey’s. These are great books to read and then discuss with your class. Kindergarten and 1st-grade children love to tell all about their nerves and feelings about coming to school. If you’re a teacher looking for some inexpensive stories, you can find these on Amazon.

How to write a thumbprint poem?

On the first day of school, have each student press their thumb against an ink pad and proceed to place their fingerprint onto a piece of paper. Students will then begin to re -create the image of their thumbprint in a large-scale version that takes up a piece of printer paper. Students at this point will write about all the things that they love, their families, hobbies, who they are, what they like to eat…the possibilities are endless. Kids can be as creative as they want, playing with words, doodles, and pictures. Hang these up in the hallway or even in the classroom so they can be at all times.

What is the most important thing about the first day of school?

The most important thing about the first day of school is setting the stage for each and every kid to have a role and a purpose and become better than they were the day before.

How to build a relationship with your students?

One of the most important things you can do to begin building a relationship with your students is to tell them about you. Create a small presentation and show your kids pictures of places you went over the summer, your family, pets, favorite foods, and so on. Students from elementary age all the way up through high school like to see who you are as an individual they can relate to.

What is the goal of a cheezy icebreaker?

The entire point of the cheezy ice breaker activities is simply for you to get to know your students and for your students to do the same with you.

How to clap a rhythm?

Simply clap a rhythm loudly: 2 slow claps followed by 3 quick claps. The students then clap that same rhythm back to you. Repeat until all students are participating. Add in some hand movements such as “Clap – Clap – Thumbs Up – Clap” or “Clap – Clap – Throw Your Hands in the Air – Clap”.

What does it mean to do an icebreaker right away?

Doing an “icebreaker activity” right away means you will have a group of kids who have some nervous energy gathered together in a classroom where rules, routines, and expectations have not yet been established. Typically you will be the only adult in that space.

What is the key to having a classroom community that is respectful and self-running?

Many teachers add “go over the rules” to their first day plans, but the key to having a classroom community that is respectful and self-running is to establish consistent procedures and routines.

How to get students' attention?

As time goes on you can add in other fun attention getters, but to start you simply need something to grab their focus immediately. You’ll need to get their attention often during the first week because your routines will not yet be second nature. I suggest using a clapping pattern that they repeat back to you combined with hand gestures.

How to help a child with anxiety?

Send them a note. A good old-fashioned snail mail letter in a colorful envelope is an absolute treasure to a child. Tell them about you. Include some photos. Let them know what to expect on the first day of school. Tell them where you will meet them that morning. Inform them of what will happen as soon as they enter the classroom (see below). This will greatly decrease nervousness and anxiety. It will also help your day run more smoothly than you can even imagine.

What to do when a student arrives at school?

You want to be calm, cool and collected when the littles arrive.

What happens during the week of school?

Throughout the week of school (and especially on the first day) you will find yourself needing to address unexpected situations and will have things pop up that require your immediate attention.

What to do on the first day of school?

So what does a typical schedule look like for that first day of school? Since all classrooms have different schedules for things like recess, lunch, school-wide assemblies, and specials, it's hard to say exactly. But it could go something like this: 1 Greet Students (and tell them what to do with school supplies) 2 Introduce Yourself 3 Team Builder/Ice Breaker Activity to Build Community 4 Procedure Practice (probably lining up, hallway, and bathroom procedures so you can take a bathroom break) 5 Another Team Builder/Ice Breaker Activity to Build Community 6 More Procedure Practice (whatever you need to practice before going to lunch/recess) 7 Lunch/Recess 8 More Procedure Practice (possibly practicing the morning routine so they know what to do when they enter the classroom the next day) 9 Read aloud one of these Back to School Books 10 Another Team Builder/Ice Breaker Activity 11 More Procedure Practice 12 Dismissal

Why did I provide everything I needed for the class?

I provided everything they needed so that students didn't need to mess with any of their supplies. If they had any supplies, they were asked to keep the supplies in their backpack or on the floor next to them.

What grade do you have to practice routines?

If you don't take the time to establish a routine, then 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will create their own. There will probably not be enough time on the first day of school to practice ALL of the routines and procedures you will have in your classroom, but you can definitely begin by practicing the ones that will occur daily. Things like:

How to handle student school supplies?

There are a lot of ways to handle student school supplies - communal supplies, every student keeping their own supplies, a mix of both, sharing with tables, etc.). However you decide to handle supplies in your own classroom, you need a plan in place ahead of time.

What happens if you don't have a plan for school supplies?

If you don't have a plan for these school supplies, then students will come up with their own plan. And that plan will usually involve half opened bottles of glue and broken crayons stuffed inside their desk, and that copy paper that you so desperately need disappearing.

What is an all about me activity?

All About Me Activities are a fun way to get to know each other. And if you complete the activity as well, it gives students a chance to get to know you.

Can parents bring in school supplies?

Some schools have systems in place for parents to bring school supplies in ahead of time, but that is not always the case. But even if parents brought in supplies ahead of time, there is a good chance that students come with more on the first day of school. If you don't have a plan for these school supplies, then students will come up ...

What is professional learning community?

As a professional learning community, we aspire to give information and create teachers discussion online that requires continuous improvement, promotes collective responsibility, and supports the alignment of individual, team, school, and school system goals.

How to keep yourself busy teaching?

Yes, you want everything to go on very well, and you do not like the good impression of your co-teachers to change that is why you keep yourself busy working even when you are at home already. You almost think about work for 24 hours, and that can be draining. Remember that you will be able to do a lot of paperwork while giving your best on teaching in the first few months, but then you will find yourself feeling tired and drained already. So be gentle to yourself and make sure you maintain the right balance between working, socializing, relaxing, and resting. The more balance you feel about these four activities, the more you think positive at work.

What does it mean when you start your day wearing this?

When you start your day wearing this, you’re probably not going to lose. This attracts a lot of positivity and is known to calm those types of co-teachers who do not seem to see anything positive in anyone! Smile and the world will smile back!

Can you sit down in a class?

You won’t be able to sit down most of the time as you need to attend to a significant number of students in each of your class. Sitting down in the class for a first-time teacher is a no-no!

Who has complete control of everything?

You have the biggest responsibility in our nation now, so you need the greatest ally. You are a teacher. YOU WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE and to do it successfully; you’ll need his help — THE ONE WHO SHAPED THE WHOLE WORLD PERFECTLY.

What is a greeting display?

A display to provide examples of greetings as students enter the classroom each morning.

Why is it important to greet students in the morning?

Classroom morning greetings are so important when it comes to setting the tone for the day, and greeting students on the first day of school with the start to your morning routines is a must. Set up signs with various morning greetings that your kiddos can choose from for a fun experience every morning. From elbow bumps to air high fives, everything can be non-contact too just in case!

How to connect with students on the first day of school?

For a quick and easy way to connect with your students on the first day of school, take a selfie with your new class . Your new students will love to know that you don’t take yourself too seriously and that you too can take selfies!

What is the All About Me Numbers accordion?

The All About Me Numbers Accordion is perfect for younger students as it encourages students to introduce themselves while thinking about numbers. This is one of my top picks because it can be used as a formative assessment to reveal your students’ ability to write their own names and numbers 0-10.

What is a whole class active game?

A whole class active game that encourages cognitive processing skills, physical activity, and social skills.

What is print off?

Print off an enlarged copy or work with a digital image.

When to put letters on desks in school?

Place the letters on student desks on the first day of school.

What are some activities to do with students?

Plan an Icebreaker Activity. Icebreakers are great for engaging students, learning about their interests, and getting them to work together. A scavenger hunt, an art activity, or a getting-to-know-you bingo game can all be great activities. You can also have students make a list of likes and dislikes.

What to do on the first day of school?

Smile. This is the most important tip for the first day of school. You will be giving out supplies, learning many new names, and answering a lot of questions, so it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Be sure to take your assigned lunchtime to chat with your new colleagues and learn their survival tips and tricks.

What information is necessary to know when organizing classroom parties and field trips?

Maintain a list of student food allergies and medical conditions as this information is necessary to know when organizing classroom parties and field trips.

What to do when your schedule permits?

If your schedule permits, sprinkle in a mini-lesson focused on a particular study skill. Elementary kids need life-long habits such as these in order to be successful in school.

Why do elementary teachers use a first day checklist?

This first day of school checklist for elementary teachers aims to reduce the headache that accompanies getting ready for back to school.

What to do if you don't have all your supplies on the first day?

Keep a stash of sharpened pencils and paper handy for those who don’t have all of their supplies on the first day.

How to cultivate camaraderie in school?

Begin cultivating work camaraderie by placing a small and simple gift (e.g. brief kind note with a small treat) in grade-level colleagues’ mailboxes. This is best done right at the start of the school year. Kindness tends to be contagious.

What to do before kids arrive in the morning?

Before the kids arrive in the morning, place a morning work packet along with a pencil on each desk.

Where to place schedule for day?

Place the schedule for the day in a visible-to-all location.