Like other first days in your life, your first day as a teacher in your own elementary

school classroom will have you feeling excited and anxious in equal measures. Don't
worry too much, though. Even experienced teachers feel anxious about facing new
students at the beginning of each school year. Just take a deep breath, look around
your newly decorated classroom, double-check those lesson plans, and remind yourself
of all you've done to get the year off to a successful start. These school-year startup tips
will help you make a positive first impression.

Welcome Your Students

1. Arrive early.

2. Write your name on the board so students can learn it right away.

3. Have a fun activity laid out on each student's desk so students can become
engaged as they settle in. For primary grades, try dot-to-dot, matching, or drawing
activities. For higher grades, consider an easy writing activity or word search
game. These activities are an easy, comfortable way to start the day.

4. Greet students at the door with a smile and a pleasant "Good morning!"

5. Invite students to find their desk or table as soon as they arrive. They can wait
to explore the classroom. This helps you create a good working climate right
away.

Get to Know Each Other

6. Do some fun ​ice-breaking activities​ to put everyone at ease. For older students,
consider creating a class dictionary. Students can write a three-part definition of
themselves that includes physical characteristics, personality traits, and favorite
hobbies or interests. Definitions could also include a pronunciation key to first and
last names. Be sure to write a definition for yourself and then host a guessing
game. For younger students, give each child a chance to share the story of a
favorite experience or why they are excited about starting school.

7. Read a ​funny first-day-of-school story​ or a book about making and being a good
friend to create a pleasant mood and ease students' fears and anxieties.

Establish Rules and Routines

8. Introduce the important features of the room and the school with a tour or
scavenger hunt.
 9. Present the most important ​classroom routines​ in a positive way, as you would
a regular lesson. Explain, discuss, and give students a chance to practice such
routines and opening-of-day exercises.

10. Work with students to develop ​classroom rules​.

11. Post a general schedule for lunch, music, physical education, recess, and
class work. Emphasize and teach the routines that will help students move into
these periods quickly and efficiently. Remember, they won't learn it all in a day.
So, continue to emphasize and ​practice classroom routines​ for the first few weeks.

12. Post a daily schedule stating academic goals for the day. Note interruptions in
the daily schedule, such as class pictures, programs, assemblies, or guest
speakers.

13. Begin with simple academic activities — short reviews that guarantee a high
success rate. These will boost confidence and ease fears. And they can serve as
trial runs for practicing routines, such as turning in completed work or asking for
assistance.

14. Monitor and maintain constant contact with students. Avoid spending time on
clerical work the first day. And never leave students unattended. In an emergency,
get another teacher or school adult to monitor students.

Reinforce Positive Behavior

15. Deal promptly with ​behavior problems​. Offer a lot of positive reinforcement for
students picking up on routines quickly.

16. Generate interest and enthusiasm by hinting at exciting new topics you plan to
begin later in the week.

17. Issue books and discuss their care.

18. Take students on a tour of the classroom and explain what is in all the
cabinets and drawers. Show them what is accessible and what is off limits. Areas
in which students will work independently, such as a listening center, should
remain off limits until you've had a chance to fully explain the purpose of the area
and model how students will use it.