The First Day of School

The first day of school for pretty much any grade is a whirlwind. It’s filled with excitement, wonder, and a little bit of chaos.

So what actually happens on the first day?

Goals for the First Day of School

The goals for the first day, are the same goals I have for the entire year. First impressions are important, though, and the first day must begin in positive way, and I need students to leave looking forward to the second day of second grade, and so on.

Establish a safe, warm environment where all students feel a sense of belonging⁣
Begin to build relationships with and among students⁣
Learn a few routines each day (no need to try to squeeze them all in on the first day)⁣
Create a sense of excitement about school and learning⁣
Students should leave school on the first day having positive feelings about their classroom, teacher, and first day experiences⁣

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7:40 – 8:00 Enter the Classroom & Morning Work

Every school has different morning procedures in terms of when and how students enter the classroom.

For the first couple of weeks of school, our entire staff is out at carline from 7:30 – 7:40. At 7:40, we come inside the building.

I stop my students at the door, and explain that each morning I’ll be at the door so we can greet each other. They have the option to give me a hug, handshake, high-five, fist bump, or something else if they prefer.

We greet each other by name. At this point, I’m just modeling the correct way to greet each other. We’ll spend more time practicing and on specifics during morning meeting.

As students enter, I explain to find their desk, and hang their backpack on their chair, and begin their morning work.

While this isn’t normally what they’ll do, it’s easier to teach the class as a whole and show students rather than leave my spot at the door.

I have morning work (word search, color by number, simple addition or subtraction) already on each desk.

Morning work has to be something self-explanatory, and easy. I don’t typically have a color page or word search as morning work, but for the first week or two of school, it’s fine.

8:00 – 8:10 Housekeeping

I consider attendance and lunch count “housekeeping” items. They’re not exciting, but they’ve go to get done.

I have specific routines for both that I’ll teach a few days into school.

Before I call students’ names, I explain that while I try my best to pronounce names correctly, I might make a mistake, or students might have a nickname they prefer. After I call each name, I ask, “Did I say your name correctly? What name would you like to be called?”

I used to ask students to tell me if I said their name incorrectly, but I found that students were usually too embarrassed to say anything, so I changed the way I asked, and it’s yielded much better results.

8:10 – 8:40 Morning Meeting

Explain that morning meeting will happen each day after attendance, announcements, and lunch count.

For morning meeting, we sit in a circle (myself included).

After calling students to our meeting area (classroom rug), I explain that during morning meeting we’ll have a greeting, share time, and either an activity or song.

Greeting: Handshake “Good morning. My name is ____”
- Eye contact
- Hand placement
- Smile
- Voice Level
Sharing: I’m ____, and my favorite color is ____.
Song: If You’re Glad to Be at School
- Sung to the tune of “If you’re happy and you know it”
- Options: Clap Hands, Stomp Feet, Snap Fingers, Shout Hooray
Class Cheer: Roller Coaster
Affirmation: I am important!

8:40 – 9:00 Brain Break & Supply Sorting

I use GoNoodle for brain breaks. It’s free (although they do have a paid option).

I use community supplies. Everything except their notebooks, folders, and scissors get sorted into containers that we’re able to pull from all year long.

Most of my students bring their supplies to meet the teacher, however, there are usually supplies that come to school on the first day, too.

I have bins and boxes that students can sort their supplies into. This is a great movement activity too, as their up wandering around the classroom to find where supplies go.

9:00 – 9:05 Bathroom Expectations

Take a few minutes to review proper bathroom etiquette and procedures. I don’t take anything for granted.

9:05 – 9:20 Bathroom Break & Snack

After reviewing bathroom procedures and expectations, I call students by teams to get their snack. While students are eating, I call teams to use the restroom (we don’t have a bathroom in our classroom).

9:20 – 9:35 Read Aloud

Having a read aloud toward the beginning gives everyone a chance to sort of take a breather. I need that breather y’all.

I like to start by reading a book about summer.

Two of my favorites are:

Both are “summer” stories, and help us with our next activity.

9:35 – 10:00 Writing: My Summer Vacation

Depending on how much time you have, it’s nice to do a quick brainstorming session after the read aloud but before beginning the writing.

“My Summer Vacation” writing allows me to walk around the classroom, and have individual conversations with students. I don’t focus so much on the writing part (although I get to see a glimpse of where students are at), but rather just community building, and talking with students.

It’s also a great time to verify how students are getting home.

If we have time, I’ll let students share with the class or partner.

10:00 – 10:10 Hallway Procedures & Expectations

Before we leave the classroom, going over line and hallway expectations is important.

Typically, I will call students one at a time and show them exactly where they should stand.

I model their hand choices, and after each have students show me what they looks like.

Number/ABC Order…ALWAYS (this eliminates cutting/butting, pushing/shoving, etc.)
Eyes Forward
Feet Forward
Hands (I allow at the side, clasped in front, in pockets, or clasped behind)
Voice Off

10:10 – 10:20 Practice Lining Up

After discussing lining up and hallway behavior, I send students to their desks, and we’ll practice several times.

If students are struggling to remember where they stand, or how to stand, I model again, and reteach.

I absolutely do not just continue on for the sake of time. Practice, practice, practice!

After a few practice rounds, I’ll have students sit down.

10:20 – 10: 25 Introduce Class Behavior Incentives

Once students are seating, I introduce our first behavior incentive!

We discuss how students can earn pieces (for my class it’s compliments). I also explain that a compliment from the principal or assistant principal is worth TWO pieces for their chart.

We’ll then practice lining up a few more times. (Line up, sit down, etc.) I like to have students practice lining up from the carpet, from their desks, etc.

10: 30 – 11:20 Specials

Breathe! You made it to a quick break!

11:20 – 11:40 First Day of School Team Building: Saving Fred Activity

This is such a fun team building activity!

Fred (gummy worm), gets stuck on top of his upside-down boat (clear, plastic cup), and his life preserver (gummy lifesaver) is underneath his boat.

Using only the paperclips, students must turn the boat right side up, put Fred inside the boat, and get his life preserver on.

I don’t allow students to injure Fred, the boat, or the life preserver by stabbing or spearing. In addition, students may only touch the paperclips.

You’ll need the following for each group or pair of students (I got everything from Dollar Tree):

1 Gummy Worm
1 Gummy Lifesaver
1 small, clear plastic cup
4 paperclips (I used large, but the smaller ones work as well)

Read more about the Saving Fred Activity read here.

11:40 – 11:50 Lunchroom and Recess Procedures/Expectations

Pull students to the carpet and discuss the procedures for going to lunch, eating lunch, recess and where to line up.

11:50 – 11:55 Review Hallway Procedures, Expectations, & Lining Up

12:00 – 12:50 Lunch/Recess

I enjoy eating with my students the first week of school, however, this isn’t a must. Remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup. If you need a few minutes to yourself, or with other adults, don’t feel guilty about it.

12:50 – 1:05 Team Building: Goodbye Summer, Hello School

Students can brainstorm the differences between summer and school. This is a good opportunity to allow students to work with a partner or in a small group.

1:05 – 1:10 Brain Break

Pick a different GoNoodle brain break.

1:10 – 1:40 First Day of School Self Portraits

Every few months I like to have students draw a self portrait and add it to their wall portfolio. It makes for easy, and beautiful bulletin boards, and it’s fun for students to see how they’ve changed throughout the year.

While students are drawing and coloring their first day self portraits, I take their first day pictures.

1:40 – 2:00 Fire Drill Procedures & Expectations

Not my favorite part of the day, but I know we’ll have a fire drill at some point during the first few days of school.

Discuss WHY fire drills are necessary, procedures and expectations, and then line up practice where to go during a fire drill.

Depending on the age of your students, you may want to read “Arthur’s Fire Drill” to help them understand what’s going on.

2:00 – 2:15 Student Survey

Having students complete a student survey is a great way to observe student’s writing, and also to get know more about students.

2:15 – 2:30 First Day of School Read Aloud

My favorite options:

See my all my first day book options here.

Making “Jitter Juice” is also a great activity for the first day, and it’s super simple.

2:30 – 2:35 First Day of School Recap

Do a quick whole-class brainstorm of the activities that happened on the first day. I like this because it leaves students with a reminder of everything we did so that when parents ask, “What’d you do today?” or “How was your day?” students will have something to say.

2:35 – 3:00 End of Day Procedures/Expectations

During the first week of school, I give myself at least 30 minutes for pack up. It’s a hectic time in general, so it’s important we get it right from the beginning.

I model, and we practice the expectations just like we do for any other procedure and routine.