Day One

Above all, Day One is where you need to be prepared, but you also need to be flexible. You may have students entering your classroom after the bell. You’ll have interruptions, and you should expect the unexpected.

Five Priorities

1. Build Relationships

Earlier, I mentioned the importance of creating a welcoming classroom. Most of us can remember teachers who made us feel seen, valued, and excited to learn. Thankfully, I can only recall one or two teachers from my own experience who did not create that kind of environment. One of the greatest gifts we can offer our students is a fresh start. That’s one of the beautiful things about a new day—each morning brings a new opportunity to begin again. As the school year begins, you may hear stories or opinions about students from former teachers or others who know them. While those conversations may sometimes provide helpful context, be careful not to let someone else’s experience shape your expectations. Every student deserves the chance to write a new story. Be intentional about believing the best in your students. Look for their strengths. Notice their effort. Celebrate their growth. When students know you see their potential, they’re much more likely to believe in it themselves. You might consider making some positive calls home those first few days, or write some positive notes. Those go a long way in building good relationships with students and their parents. 

2. Names

While teachers may not be expected to know every student’s name by the end of the day, I did try to learn as many as I could. A seating chart can help with that. Depending on your 

3. Expectations

Students thrive when they know what is expected of them. The first few days of school are the perfect time to establish the tone and culture of your classroom. We cannot assume students already know how to behave or know what your expectations are. You should intentionally teach, model and practice them. Be clear about what respect, responsibility, kindness, and perseverance look and sound like in your classroom. Explain not only what you expect, but why those expectations matter. When students understand the purpose behind your expectations, they’re more likely to embrace them. Remember, students don’t learn expectations by hearing them once. This is something you’ll revisit often. Consistent modeling, guided practice and positive reinforcement are important. Keep the expectations simple and easy to remember. State the expectations positively whenever possible (think “do”, not “don’t”). Give students opportunities to practice and celebrate when they do it well. Finally, remember that consistency is key!

A Note from Anna: The clearer you are, the more successful your students will be. 

4. Procedures

Procedures are the routines that keep your classroom running smoothly. These eliminate the confusion, reduce disruptions, and allow you and your students to focus on learning. Procedures teach students how to do everyday tasks such as passing out or collecting papers and supplies, entering and leaving the classroom, getting your attention, and asking for help, to name just a few. Instead of saying, “Come in quietly,” say something like, “When you enter the classroom, place your backpack in your cubby, pick up your notebook, and begin the warm-up on the board.” Instead of saying, “Everyone be quiet,” say something like, “When I raise my hand, finish your sentence, look at me, and wait for directions.” 

One of the most important procedures you'll teach is how to get everyone's attention quickly and respectfully. Don't wait until students are talking to decide what you'll do. Choose an attention signal, teach it explicitly, practice it often, and use it consistently. Having students know procedures helps save vital instructional time! Again, you’ll want to have the students practice the procedure. If it doesn’t go well the first time, that’s ok. Stop, reteach, and try again. Remember that students learn routines through practice and consistency. A Note from Anna: Simple procedures that are taught, practiced, and reinforced every day will always be more effective than elaborate systems that students don’t fully understand. 

5. Ending Positively

The last few minutes of your day are just as important as the first few. Students will remember how they felt when they walked out of your classroom, so be intentional about ending each day (and especially the first day) with encouragement, clarity, and a sense of accomplishment. Even if the day wasn’t perfect, ending on a positive note reminds students that every day is a new opportunity to learn and grow. A calm, organized dismissal also reinforces your classroom procedures and helps students transition to the next part of their day. 

What Matters Most: Your goal on this day isn’t to teach every standard. Your goal is to build trust.