Menu
The first day of school brings about many butterflies for me, regardless of how many years I teach. Each August as the summer winds down, I get antsy about that first day because it is such a brief moment in the timeline of our school year when I want to squeeze in love, excitement, routines, expectations, and the first building blocks of community.
As I plan my first day each year, I always bring myself back to this list of the MOST important goals for the first day of school in my classroom:
I also want my new students to know that everyone around them will be held to a high standard of respect. Establishing that high level of respect from the first seconds is the key to building the trust required for growing the deep relationships I need in order to truly teach my students. Weaving all this into one school day is like crafting a complicated new recipe. To help ensure the first day runs smoothly, I always type out a detailed lesson plan of exactly what’s going to happen at each point during the day.
During my first year, these lesson plans were a detailed script written in a narrative format with a column of notes that listed what each narrative paragraph was focused on, which progressed to what it is today… a detailed schedule with notes about which routines I want to introduce. Both formats have helped me visualize each moment of the first day.
As we know, visualization alone leads to more confidence and success…and we need all the confidence and success we can get when we’ve got 25+ new personalities making a debut in our lives.
Although planning for the first day is a process that must be very customized to your unique teaching style, classroom, school, and students, I am giving you a peek at my first day plans in hopes that they might help you in some way.
If you are interested in an editable version of my first day schedule, submit the form below to get your free download. I look forward to hearing what you think about this format in the comments below. How do you like to approach planning for your first day of school each year?
I’ve been an elementary teacher for ten years, and love sharing tips and resources that make differentiated learning more manageable for you. Thank you for visiting.
Learn More
Dropping by with weekly tips, classroom strategies, and free content created with you in mind.
Join me and other 2nd through 4th grade educators in the Teaching with Core Inspiration Facebook Group. This is a place to collaborate, ask questions, and learn how teachers like you are using Core Inspiration resources in their classrooms. Hope to see you there!
© 2024 Core Inspiration ∙ Website by KristenDoyle.co
23 Responses
Thanks for sharing. The first day of school has really evolved for me over the years. Seeing someone else’s first day makes me reevaluate what I do. I, too, type up detailed lesson plans. It helps tremendously, especially after a long summer break!
You’re welcome Liz! 🙂
I am enjoying your blog. We are just re-starting writer’s and reader’s workshop and you make it seem so easy. Thank you for sharing your experience and ideas.
Thank you Margarita. 🙂
Just like you, II like to type out all of my plans in detail as well. I often try to plan the first week, because there is SO much to cover. And I want to get to everything while still making the classroom engaging and welcoming. Thanks for your post and for sharing!
Jan
Laughter and Consistency
Dear Laura,
What a valuable resource this is for someone who is about to teach their first class this year, yikes! There is soooo much to organise! Mental-overload! Your blog has given me inspiration, and guidance on how to set up my classroom, to provide the best learning opportunities that I can to my students. You’re an angel, thank you!
Hi Monika,
Glad you were able to find some inspiration and guidance from this post. 🙂 Wishing you all the best in your first year.
Warmly,
Laura
Thank you so much for sharing your first day plans. It is a great reminder for those of us who have been teaching for some time. I’m curious about your Coyote signal. It intrigues me… L
Thank you Elle. 🙂 Our Coyote signal is a hand signal we hold up (it looks like the rock on symbol, haha!) We use it as a nonverbal way to quiet a room…the Coyote is our school mascot.
Thank you very much for this! Inlove tomsee what other people do❤️
Thank you so much for sharing! It is so helpful to see other teachers’ first day plans. I am curious about the witch and warlock game. Is there somewhere I can find out more? Thank you again
You’re welcome Alex. 🙂 It’s a silent game like statues or museum. All students pretend they are trees in a forest and freeze in any position they’d like. Two students are witches/warlocks wandering through the forest. Those students walk around the room and try to find people who are moving. If the witch/warlock see you move, you are out and have to go to your seat. Students try to sneakily move around while the witch/warlock isn’t looking. This is a silent game that’s a really fun way to bring the classroom to a state of clam at the end of a long day.
Thank you for sharing. like you said it is customized to cater to the students you teach, however, these ideas can help to jumpstart plannig.
I’m interested in downloading the first day schedule template, please! I do much of what you do in your classroom like Daily 5, Word Work, and Words Their Way. Thanks for being such a helpful and creative resource for teachers!
I am enjoying reading your blog as I gear up for a new school year. Thank you for sharing! I am looking forward to seeing your editable version of detailed lesson plans for the first day of school.
I love reading your blog posts and can’t wait to implement your ideas with my own class!
This is very informative and useful. I’m looking forward to the lesson plan. Thanks!!!
I love how structured and organized this is. I look forward to learning ideas that I can implement in my own classroom.
I’m new to second grade and would love all the great information!
Interested in the first day plans, thank you!
I’ve loved reading your first day of school blog!
I love your blog and have been following some of your suggestions for third grade for a couple of years now. I would love the 1st day of school lesson plans or any other tips that you find helpful! Thank you!
I can’t wait to use your first day plans!