Planning for a Successful First Day: Launch Your Classroom! Episode 50

When teachers prepare thoughtfully for the first day of school, they create a foundation for student engagement and professional success. Let's join Kyle and the LYC team for some useful ideas that will help you get a strong start to the school year!

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Your first day of school is a great opportunity to set classroom expectations, build relationships, and spark student engagement! Teachers can use their time wisely from day one by concentrating on these goals. Spending a majority of the day on the classroom management plan will familiarize students with routines, rules, and consequences so they know what you expect of them. You can lay the foundations of a positive classroom climate with getting-to-know-you activities like icebreakers, which will help with building rapport. Teachers should be ready to start their content on day one with a quick, effective hook and a low-stakes review of previous knowledge. All of these activities can make the most of the student motivation and excitement that comes with a new start.

First impressions are important, and even though you should adapt and change your lessons and procedures as the year goes on, having a plan from day one sends a message that student learning is your priority. Classroom procedures show you are prepared, and by letting students rehearse them from the beginning, you can avoid many misbehaviors later. Although you will have plenty of time to develop rapport with your students, you can emphasize the importance of teacher student relationships with conversations and icebreakers that help your students get to know you and one another. Finally, your immediate introduction to the content lets students know that you take their education seriously! Plan an activity that is fun and enlists student engagement, so they can feel confident about learning new skills and concepts with you as the year progresses.

First Day Classroom Action is a strategy that helps teachers organize their plans for the first day of school. It allows teachers to build the foundation for positive student relationships, while establishing expectations and beginning instructional content. This strategy is effective for the first day with new students, or after a long break from school. In this strategy, teachers introduce themselves and start with icebreakers to help their students get more comfortable in a new learning environment. Then, teachers introduce expectations for student behavior to prioritize a safe, orderly learning environment. Then, they start a quick, engaging activity to introduce their content! Finally, they facilitate parent and guardian communication with a call or message home to establish important partnerships from the first day.

Be prepared for schedule changes, announcements, and other interruptions on the first day of school, since everyone, including your colleagues and administration, is getting used to being back at school. Your ability to stay professional and calm will demonstrate leadership to your coworkers as you model coping skills for your new students. Teachers must also follow through with the procedures, rules, and policies they introduce on the first day. Go back over your expectations each day for the next two weeks so students understand them clearly, and know you are serious about enforcing them.

1) What are some interesting things about myself that would be good details to add to my introduction?

2) What is an icebreaker that will allow every one of my students to participate, verbally or nonverbally?

3) What is one of the most engaging parts of my content, and how can I allude to it in a quick content activity on the first day of school?

[edgaranud]

Indeed, the words of Plato "The beginning is the most important part of the work" is very correct. These reminders and tips you gave are all very helpful to every teachers.
Thank you EPI!

[matheresamoldezlabis]

Thanks a lot for this video. I am jotting down notes. Have a nice day.

[leoniebrown]

Thanks team EPI for sharing these great ideas.

[markeltonlizada]

Impressive! Can’t wait for the next episode💕

[annettmattis-smith]

Hello everyone.
Can't wait for the awesome tips..👏👏

[yawfrimpong]

The beginning is the most vital part of the whole lesson
However I want to teach in the United States as an international teacher please can anyone help me with useful links