How to Survive The First Week of School

The first week back to school is always a little chaotic for EVERYONE, even the admin. But how can you survive that first week and not feel like you are on a hamster wheel always struggling to keep up? I promise it is possible. First, breathe! You will make it! Next, get out a piece of paper or start a new Google Doc and start writing down ALL the things that you need to do. 

After reading this post, you will feel ready to conquer that first week of school with confidence. 

This post is all about how to survive the first week back to school. 

How to Survive The First Week of School…

The most important thing to remember when beginning the school year is to take it one day at a time. It is very easy to get overwhelmed with the massive to-do list lying ahead of you. The first thing that I do is make a list of the most important things that I need to do. When making your lists, break them down into categories. Personally, what I do is write down everything that comes to my head that needs to be done and then break them down into categories. My list may look something like this:

Meet the Teacher: 

1. Create Meet the Teacher Flyer
2. Print out Meet the Teacher Flyer
3. Create Sign in Sheet
4. Print Sign in Sheet
5. Create Transportation Sheet  – Make sure every parent signs this! 
6. Print Transportation Sheet 
7. Create Volunteer Sign Up Sheet
8. Print Volunteer Sign Up Sheet
9. Make Meet the Teacher Slideshow (if time permits)
10. Print out lunch/snack information to send home with parents
11. Print out Classroom Management Plan to send home with parents
12. Label bins for supplies – organize classroom during pockets of time with no parents
13. Have student names written on desks or allow students to choose their own seat. 
14. Have a small treat for students to take home
15. Pick out outfit 
    

First Day of school:

1. Make sure you know how every child is getting home. 
2. Make sure each student has a transportation tag on their backpack.
3. Make stickers for afternoon transportation if transportation tags are not provided yet.
4. Practice dismissal procedures. – where will students go and what time?
5. Greet each student at the door. 
6. Have a procedure for entering the classroom. 
7. Know how to log in and take attendance. 
8. Have a system for taking lunch count.
9. Have an activity on student’s desks for them to complete while you do your morning list. 
10. Have a designated space for backpacks and lunch boxes. 
11. Practice lining up procedures.
12. Practice walking in line and review hallway expectations. 
13. Review bathroom expectations.
14. Take a tour of the school. 
15. Review daily schedule and leave more than enough time to get to each place. 
16. Show students how to go through the lunch line and what table to sit at.
17. Make stickers of student lunch numbers. 
18. Review lunchroom expectations before lunch.
19. Plan a few “Get to Know You” activities for students. 
20. Write out all procedures to teach the first day, model for students, and have them practice.

 

After I make my “Meet the Teacher To Do List” and “First Day of School To Do List,” I then break down all of the procedures that I need to teach my students into bite-size pieces. I then plan when I will teach them. Doing this helps me feel less stressed and more prepared for the first week. Usually I plan a few fun activities and brain breaks in between, but my big focus the first week back to school is procedures and routines. On Week 2, we are getting started on the curriculum, so procedures and routines are crucial to calm the chaos. Keep in mind, your students are learning what you expect of them. Be patient, be kind, and practice, practice, practice! As a result, they will be following the routines you have taught them without thinking. 

I hope this list helps! 

Happy teaching! 

Anna

Meet the Teacher: A Complete Guide