What to Have Ready for the First Day of School
- The effective teacher plans, and then plans some more.
- Over-planning is a good thing! The effective teacher shares the classroom plan with students, so they comprehend their role in the classroom management plan and can become responsible for carrying out the plan. Students will come to understand the important role they play in classroom management, too.
- Invest time to prepare so that before the bell rings for a new school year, your students are following procedures as they begin their journey for a successful year ahead.
- Create a classroom environment with a Culture of Consistency, so that everyone is on the same page. Consistency streamlines the classroom and allows for maximum use of instructional time.
When to Prepare
- Preparation for a successful school year takes place before the first day of school.
- Lack of planning will result in the following:
- Wasteful use of time each day of the school year
- Teacher frustration and fatigue in the first weeks
- Indecision about what to teach during the first days of school
- Chaos and confusion in the minds of the students
First Day Plans from Expert Teachers
Click on the button link to see a Complete First-Day Script Checklist. |
Click on the button link to see a First Day Plan |
1. Develop a Classroom Management Plan
The effective teacher develops a classroom management plan and has it in place before school begins. The plan outlines classroom procedures and ensures the class runs smoothly.
Procedures describe how things are to be done in the classroom. Procedures need to be taught, rehearsed, and reinforced until they become routines.
These are some of the procedures to include in your classroom management plan:
Procedures describe how things are to be done in the classroom. Procedures need to be taught, rehearsed, and reinforced until they become routines.
These are some of the procedures to include in your classroom management plan:
- How to enter the classroom
- What to do when the bell rings
- What to do with homework
- What to do when a pencil breaks
- What students do when they finish work early
- How to get the students' attention
- Where to find make-up work
- How to collect papers
- What to do with personal technology
- How to exit the classroom
***SHARE YOUR PLANS ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL***
2. Develop a Classroom Discipline Plan.
While a well-managed classroom will minimize your discipline problems, effective teachers are proactive and plan to prevent behavioral problems from occurring in the classroom. A discipline plan includes these parts:
- Classroom rules for students to follow:
- Classroom rules keep student behavior in check. Rules are short, simple, and easy for students to remember. Post classroom rules prominently so that everyone can see them. Classroom rules carry positive and negative consequences.
- Rewards that students can work toward:
- A positive consequence is a reward. Class and individual rewards motivate students to work hard and focus on doing their best.
- Penalties for breaking classroom rules:
- A negative consequence is a penalty. Penalties must be clear and simple. THey also need to be easy for the teacher to enforce consistently.
- Give each student a copy of the classroom discipline plan.
3. Set Positive Expectations for All Students
Research shows that teachers who establish positive expectations for all students and provide the necessary support to achieve these expectations have high rates of academic success in the classroom.
What students can expect from the teacher:
- Teachers who expect very little of their students get very little in return from their students.
- Teachers who set positive expectations for their students are rarely disappointed in their students.
What students can expect from the teacher:
- Offer quality instruction
- Provide extra help
- Create a positive learning environment
- Give credit for practice
- Give fair grades as evaluation of learning
- Show respect
- Enforce fairness
- Give your best effort each day
- Be punctual
- Come to class ready to work and learn
- Bring all necassary books and supplies
- Complete all assignments neatly
- Follow established classroom procedures
- Follow the posted rules
- Keep a positive attitude
- Listen and Pay Attention
- Give your best effort each day
4. Plan to Welcome Students to Class
If a class roster is available before school begins, prepare and send a letter to each student and a separate letter to their parents. Let students and their parents know that preparations have been made for a successful year.
In the letter to students, list the items they need to bring to class on the first day of school. Also, explain what students can expect to learn on the first day and during the first week of school.
In the letter to parents, explain you've been preparing for the school year all summer long. Give parents this information:
Tell parents about the exciting school year ahead and invite them to attend Open House.
Plan to welcome students to the classroom on the first day of school.
In the letter to students, list the items they need to bring to class on the first day of school. Also, explain what students can expect to learn on the first day and during the first week of school.
In the letter to parents, explain you've been preparing for the school year all summer long. Give parents this information:
- An overview of the year
- Your planning period
- Your contact invormation
- The school's contact information
- The class website address
Tell parents about the exciting school year ahead and invite them to attend Open House.
Plan to welcome students to the classroom on the first day of school.
- Write your name, room number, and subject taught on the board.
- Stand at the door and greet students with a warm smile
- Check students' schedules to ensure they are in the right classroom.
- Intoduce yourself and assure students they are in the right place.
5. Prepare a First Day Script
Plan what to do and say on the first day of school. Know exactly what to tell students the moment class begins.
A script includes these parts:
A script includes these parts:
- Your name and how it is pronounced
- How students are to address you
- Your professional experience
- How you have worked throughout the summer to prepare for he school year
- How the classroom has been organized
- The classroom procedures that will allow everyone to be successful
6. Prepare a First Day Packet
Provide and information packet for the students to bring to the adults at home to review. The information will benefit the adults who are unable to attend Open House.
Include this information in the packet:
Include this information in the packet:
- Introductory cover letter
- The classroom rules and consequences
- The homework policy
- A class contact list
- A supply list
- Acknowledged reciept for return with signiture
7. Prepare Lesson Plans
Your focus during the first two weeks of school is to teach procedures and get them established as routines in the classroom, so the rest of the year can be devoted to instruction. Of course there will be some instruction of curriculum material, but the emphasis is to get procedures learned and in place.
***Prepare extra activities to keep students learning during class time. Every moment is important in the classroom. Remember, most disciplinary issues arise during free time. ***
Your first 10 days plan includes these parts:
***Prepare extra activities to keep students learning during class time. Every moment is important in the classroom. Remember, most disciplinary issues arise during free time. ***
Your first 10 days plan includes these parts:
- Introducing and discussing the classroom management plan
- Teaching, rehearsing, and reinforcing classroom procedures
- Content related lessons and activities
8. Prepare an Agenda
The agenda is the plan for the day- the outline for what will be happening during your time with the students. An agenda consistently shows what the class will be learning during their time with you.
The basic parts of an agenda are the schedule, opening assignment, and lesson objective.
Many teachers also include the date, homework assignment, and important announcements or reminders.
Have a designated location in the room where the agenda will be consistently posted each day so that students can easily find it and refer to it.
The basic parts of an agenda are the schedule, opening assignment, and lesson objective.
Many teachers also include the date, homework assignment, and important announcements or reminders.
Have a designated location in the room where the agenda will be consistently posted each day so that students can easily find it and refer to it.
9. Prepare an Opening Assignment
An opening assignment on the first day of school demonstrates the following to students:
- The teacher is well-organized and prepared for class.
- The students are expected to start work immediately upon entering the classroom.
- Every moment together is a learning opportunity.
- The expectation is set for an opening assignment the rest of the school year.
10. Organize the Classroom
In preparation for school to begin, organize the classroom to ensure a productive learning environment.
- Arrange desks so that every student is facinig the front of the room and can clearly see you. Leave adequate space for students to enter and exit the room and to walk through the classroom aisles with ease.
- Prepare bulletin boards for the first day of school. Prepare one bulletin board to introduce curriculum themes with units and grade level standards. Bulletin boards can be motivational as well as instructional. Keep the boards colorful, but not so busy that they become a distraction.
- Post essential information in the classroom.
- Procedures
- Rules
- Expectations
- Emergency information
- Fire exits
- Bell schedules
- Assign seats on the first day of school.