The first day of school for teachers is quite different than the first day of school for your students. First, summer is gone. How? What? Where did it go? Well, time flies when you’re having fun, and we can only imagine just how much fun you had this summer.
But that time of year is now behind us, and it’s almost the first day of school for teachers across the country. It’s time to organize for the year ahead, set up your classroom, and get your lesson plans in order. (And Daybreak has you covered all year long with this one.)
As the first day of school for teachers everywhere rapidly approaches, and the reality of your new students walking through your classroom doors sets in, we thought we’d help alleviate some of the stress with a few tips to have the best first day yet.
The first day of school for teachers
This is an exceptionally exciting time of the year. You’re about to meet all your new students and instill learning techniques that they’ll take with them through the rest of their educational careers. Take a moment to pat yourself on the back because you’re doing incredible work here. The first day of school for teachers doesn’t have to be stressful. Start your day with a routine that gets you in the mood to take on your day with a smile. We suggest meditating, setting your intentions for the day, and having a plan for relieving any potential (and unnecessary) stress that comes along with the first day of school.
Have a plan and be prepared
You’re up. You’re ready to go. And the day ahead looks great. Why? Because you have a plan. The first day of school for teachers is always better when you have a plan, and we can’t stress enough just how important it is for you to be prepared. We always suggest you get to your classroom early enough so you can peacefully settle in, chat with a few of your coworkers, and mentally prepare yourself for what’s to come (because who can really know?) Having a plan also means having a few activities ready to go for the first day and a schedule you’ll be sticking to. Know how the day is going to go along, and plan for any little things that may disrupt that plan.
Introduce your classroom rules
This is your chance to share with your students what you expect of them. As a teacher on the first day of school, never underestimate just how important it is that you introduce your classroom management protocols to your students. Your students should know what’s expected from them from the very beginning. And they should also know what they can expect from you as their teacher. What are the rules of your classroom and what are the consequences for not following them? This is your chance to make sure that your students understand that you’re in charge and that the rules are only there to keep them safe and learning. Conduct some interactive activities for setting ground rules, and entice your students to cooperate through special rewards for staying on task and following these rules. Here’s a strategy many of our Daybreak Lesson Plan teachers love using on the first day:
- The Stoplight Strategy – Students all start the day on green. If they misbehave, they get put on yellow, which is a warning. If they continue to misbehave, they get put on red, which is a phone call home.
Get your students excited to learn
The first day of school for teachers is all about being prepared and having a plan. This will help your day run smoothly and keep you ready for anything. Since you’re not worrying about having a plan, you can focus your efforts on getting your students excited to learn for the new school year that has officially begun! If you need a bit of an extra push, choose one of our lesson plans to get your creative juices flowing. (And you can also use it as part of your emergency sub plans that are required by your administrator at the start of the new school year.) Since students are often just as excited as teachers are on the first day, your lesson plan should be focused and interactive in ways that will keep your students engaged and busy.
You only get one “first day of school”
Don’t let the stress of the first day get to you. We’re all going through it, and we’ll all get through it together. Remember to smile because, as educators, we have one of the most rewarding jobs in the world!