8 Steps to a Positive Start in the First Weeks of School

There are many things to do in the first weeks of school and you will want to get things off to a positive and smooth start.

Here are eight things you need to do at the beginning of the school year:

Get to know students’ names as soon as possible.

Everyone likes to be called by name, and using students’ names when you talk to them is a sign of respect.  Ask students how to pronounce unfamiliar names and if they prefer a variation or knick-name.  Greet students at the door each morning using their names.  Call on students by name.  Seating charts and name tag tents on the desks may help in the first few days. Knowing names may seem like an obvious step, but making a real effort here shows students that you care.

Let students know a little about yourself.

Building good relationships with students will go a long way in making your school year run smoothly.  Let the students know a bit about yourself.  Tell a funny story about your dog. Talk about your favorite sports or activities.  Share a read aloud from your favorite book.  Students will respond better to someone they know, like and trust.  You can share bits of yourself without oversharing or becoming a friend rather than a teacher.

Get to know students as individuals.

Building good relationships with students involves getting to know who your students are as individuals.  Ask about their interests, backgrounds, families and favorite activities.  Give students interest inventories or have younger students draw pictures of things that are important to them. Look at student records to find out about medical issues such as allergies or any other special concerns.

Get to know students as learners. 

The more you know about students as learners, the better you can help them learn. Give students learning inventories, multiple intelligences surveys or ask them to answer questions such as “How can I help you learn best?”  Other good questions are “Tell me about a time when learning was fun and easy for you,” and “Tell me a time when learning was a struggle for you.”

Be sure to check students’ IEPs and understand the type of accommodations you will need to provide. Ask for clarification if something is not clear.

Spend time building a classroom community.

Students who know, like and understand each other will work better together.  Time spent at the beginning of the year can go a long way towards building a positive classroom community.  Use community building activities that help students to get to know each other.

Here is one we like:

Get on the Bus!

Compile a list of questions that can have two answers.  You can use general “getting to know you” questions or questions related to your teaching content.

Have students “Get on the bus” by standing in a straight line directly facing you.  You will ask the question and students will move off the bus either to the right or left.

For example:

“If you prefer pizza step to the right.  If you prefer hamburger and fries, step to the left.”

Or a content example based on a novel:

If you think Charlotte will open the door, step to the right. If you think she won’t, step to the left.”

Ask students to get back on the bus and repeat with a different question.

Tour the classroom.

Show students where things are in the classroom.  Be sure to point out which things they can access and which things are off limits, such as your desk. This is also a great time to discuss expectations about moving things and returning them to where they belong. If students are new to the school, plan a tour of the school as well.  You can create a fun scavenger hunt to help students learn their way around.

Help students understand how to succeed in your classroom.

Have a good discussion about your expectations, hopes and dreams for them this year.  Ask them what kind of classroom environment they want and what it would take to create that classroom.  Discuss procedures such as those for sharpening pencils, using the bathroom, and turning in work.  If you have any non-negotiable policies or procedures, explain them as well as the rationale for them.  Students who understand the reason for rules and procedures are far more likely to uphold them.

Here is a post about creating rules and expectations with your class.

Get students excited about the content you will teach.

You likely love the content you will teach. Share your enthusiasm. One of the most important things teachers can do is get their students interested in learning.

Plan a fun activity that relates to the content they will learn this year.  Let them use books or technology to explore and find five fun facts to share. Hang up a huge sheet of roll paper and let them write a graffiti wall of all the questions they have about a topic.  Read aloud a favorite book with chapter ending cliffhanger. Look through your teacher manuals for puzzles or group activities that get students involved in something active.

The first weeks of school should be fun, build relationships, set expectations for the year and start students on a learning journey. We hope your first weeks of school are fun and rewarding!

Our best,