BUILDING FUNDAMENTALS: THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Whether you're feeling like this...

...or this

the big day is approaching quickly!

The first day of school! I don’t know about everyone else, but that day still makes me nervous every year. In the beginning it was straight up nerves but now has shifted to more nervous excitement. A new year! What will this year be like? What will the students be like? How will all of the changes I made to my curriculum work out? There is a lot of potential on that first day of school. 
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There is a lot of prep work that goes into the first day of school and the beginning of a new year. There is the room set-up, curriculum, school and department meetings, and so many other details that work up to this day. I know that the first day looks different at different grade levels and  I will admit that I really only familiar with the secondary set-up. Regardless some of it is the same and most classes are trying to get the same types of tasks done:

• Learning student names
• Introducing yourself as the teacher
• Presenting classroom procedures/rules
• Building classroom community
• Assessing prior knowledge/skills

For the new teacher, the first day of school can definitely be a day that is filled with excitement and nerves. 
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Here are some tips/things to know about the first day of school:

1. Breathe - The first day is both chaotic and exhilarating. You have put a lot of work into this day and school year, so take some time to breathe and enjoy it. There is a lot going on. Students are reuniting with friends and old teachers as well as a bunch of new people. The same can be said for teachers. Basically, there is a lot going on and that’s exactly how it is supposed to be so take a second, breath, and enjoy it. ​
2. Have extra activities ready as well as a plan to shorten your time with students to the essentials. Nothing will run on time. Students are late, nervous, and usually lost. I typically wait about 2 minutes after the bell to begin my class because it never fails that a student will walk in late because they got lost. Bells may not work that day and lunch will take forever. The best thing is to have backup plans for when things take forever or go way faster than you planned.
3. Have some activities that involve student interaction and movement - I don’t know anyone that really likes to just talk at students on the first day. Focusing on the student interaction and movement that day is a nice way to break the ice and get to know your students.
4. Stop, breathe, and make some mental notes. The day will go by really fast - It always seems to me that this day is one of the fastest days of the year. With all of the new things happening, it is just a blur. You will experience many first days of school and in order for them to improve each year, you need to be able to reflect and react to how it goes this year.
5. Wear comfortable shoes - The first day of school  and parent-teacher conferences are days when teachers tend to dress up more than usual. I am no different, but on this day when you know your feet won’t get a break, it is a good idea to wear comfortable shoes. This is a day where I don’t get a break from standing or walking. And I don’t have a day off to rest tomorrow! Wear comfortable shoes! Trust me, you’re feet will thank you!
6. Smile!- I have never really been one for the old advice to be super stern the first day/month to get students to take you seriously. I want students to trust me and work with me, not fear and resent me. This doesn’t mean they get to walk all over me. Being firm and consistent in your procedures and rules is super important, but doing that doesn’t mean you can smile and welcome students to your room. You can be both approachable and respected. Have clear expectations, but smile and have fun, too!
7. Have fun! - Try to take time during the day to take it in and enjoy doing what you have been working towards. You have started your first school year! That is a big deal and should be celebrated!

​The real trick to having a successful first day is to have activities where the focus is on the students and not the teacher only talking at them all day about rules and procedures. It’s an easy trap to fall in, especially in the secondary classroom, spending every class reviewing the class syllabus, rules and procedures of the class. This is boring for the teacher and the students. 

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I have tried many different things for the first day to keep the focus on them and not me. There are so many different ways to approach this and it really depends on what you want to accomplish on the first day. Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and other social media outlets are filled with different ideas for what to do on the first day of school. 

Here are few ideas that we like!

1. Stations - I love stations for class activities and I switched my first day to stations after finding a package on Teacher Pay Teachers and I have loved it. It allows me to get a lot of things done in one day and then jump into other community builders and reviews for the rest of that first week of school.
2. Content Game/Challenge - You could create a game or challenge that is focused on your content. This would be a great way to see what students know from previous years and get the students interacting.
3. Class scavenger hunt - This is also a way to get students interacting and learning the ways of your class. Students could have tasks that take them through the class procedures, syllabus, work areas, and resources of your classroom.
4. Four Corners - This is a really easy way to have students moving around the room, talking about the class, and thinking about the course. You could adapt this to anything really. You can break up the syllabus into sections and have students discuss and rotate around the room and report out. They can create hashtags, posters, memes, really anything based on the content you want to cover and the corners you want them to work on.
5. Gallery Walk - Students can create posters or other visuals that represent content, procedures, syllabus, etc that can be used to create a gallery walk for that day or for the second day of school to review.

The first day of school is a chaotic, nerve wracking, and exciting day. Take time to enjoy it whether you are a first year teacher or veteran teacher. It is a day filled with promise, new beginnings, and new opportunities! 
Above are just a few ideas on how to make the most out of your first day of school. If you have any other ideas, please share them below!

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