5 First Day of School Ideas For Teachers- My Day in K

The first day of school is a huge pain point in the year for both new and veteran teachers. Yes, I said what I said. It sets the tone for the entire year and gives teachers the opportunity to create a positive classroom community. If you try to fly by the seat of your pants and don’t have plans, the rest of the year can be tricky. However, I am not going to let that happen! I’m here to give you some first day of school ideas for teachers that will make the day fly by!

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Getting Started on the First Day

The beginning of the school year is exciting but can also be COMPLETELY overwhelming. But, if I am to give you just one piece of advice. It would be to ensure your students feel welcome and comfortable in their new classroom. I always try to start my first day by greeting each student at the door with a big smile and their first name on a name tag. This small gesture goes a long way in making students feel special and recognized.

Procedure and Routine Practice

Establishing class rules and routines from the first day should be number one on any teacher’s list, whether you have been teaching for 20 years or have never stepped into a classroom. Spend plenty of time going over the classroom rules and expectations. Use fun activities and interactive ways to practice these routines, like a scavenger hunt that familiarizes students with different areas of the classroom and the school. This makes the learning process fun and helps new students feel more at ease.

5 First Day of School Ideas for Teachers

After going over routines, rules, expectations, etc, it’s always a great idea to get to know students, let them get to know you, and once again go over routines, rules, expectations, etc. Noticing a theme? I promise it will all make your classroom run smoother!

In the Classroom Worksheet

This “All About The Classroom” worksheet is the perfect companion to the book In Our Classroom: How We Learn and Play in Our Own Way. It’s a simple first-day-of-school activity that covers the big messages from the story. Students can color each picture, and you can review what each sentence means to them.

Weak Choices/Strong Choices Worksheet

Teach students about making good decisions with a worksheet. It helps them decide which actions are weak and which are strong. Students can separate and determine which category the provided examples fall under using their scissors, glue sticks, and crayons. This gives you another awesome opportunity to teach even more… Yup, you guessed it, procedures and routines. It’s an engaging way to discuss classroom behavior and reinforce the class motto.

weak/strong choices worksheet with glue, scissors, and pencil- First Day of School Ideas for Teachers

Snapshot of Me

Have students draw a picture of themselves and write a few sentences about their favorite sport, color, and food. This activity can be displayed on a bulletin board, creating a visual representation of the new classroom community.

Meet the Teacher Page

Share some fun facts about yourself with a “Meet the Teacher” page. Include information like your favorite color, favorite activity, and other little tidbits of information. This helps students relate to you and see you as a person, not just their teacher.

Welcome to our Class Notecard

This sweet note can include a warm greeting, a few encouraging words, and a personal touch like mentioning something unique about the student or sharing excitement for the upcoming year. It’s an easy way to build a positive connection and help students feel at ease in their new classroom, setting a friendly tone for the entire year.

Want to grab all of the worksheets above for FREE!? Just click the image below or click HERE

Starting the school year on the right foot is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to building a positive classroom community. The first days of school are a great time to establish routines, get to know your students, and introduce fun activities that set the tone for a successful year. By using these first day of school ideas for teachers, you’ll make a great first impression and create a classroom environment where students feel valued and excited to learn.

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Looking for more FREE activities that you can use to help you kick off the school year? Check out these awesome resources from some of my teacher friends! Grab your freebies by clicking the links below.