You’ve got your classroom (kind of) ready, your supplies are stacked, and then it hits you. What am I actually supposed to teach the first week of school? If you’re a new teacher, this is the part no one really explains. You don’t have a curriculum map memorized yet. Your students don’t know your expectations.
And somehow, you’re supposed to “just start teaching.”
Here’s the truth:
The first week of school is not about getting through content. It’s about building routines, relationships, and a classroom that can actually function. In this guide, I’m going to show you exactly what the first week of school should realistically look like. So take the pressure off and know you’l be walking in feeling prepared, instead of panicked.
What to Teach the First Week of School (New Teacher Guide)
What Should You Actually Teach the First Week of School?
The first week of school is all about it’s about routines, not rigor. For example, you’re not expected to jump into running small group phonics lessons on day one. After many years I realized what was truly important and begin to create a list of real priorities these new students need to know. How will we function day to day in this one room as a team?
This is what I came up with as my quick list of priorities:
- Building Relationships
- Making Connections
- Teaching Routines and Procedures
- Building a Social Emotional Foundation
- Helping Students Feel Welcomed and Loved
This priority list began to guide me on what to actually teach during the first week of school. What are the procedures for the bathroom? Where is everything in our classroom? How do students get supplies and what happens when something breaks? What are the expectations for carrying out all of these procedures? How will you build your classroom community that is kind, respectful, and engaged in learning? What is the plan to support their many emotions and feelings?
There will be so many things that come up during the first week of school that students need to learn for you to be a functioning unit. It’s a slow process for everyone to learn to work together and love each other as a family. As their teacher, you’re there to guide them on how your classroom runs. And learn from them on how best they learn. It’ll adjust throughout the year to cater to everyone’s needs. But this is the foundation. Procedures, expectations, and community.
What the First Week of School Should REALLY Look Like
Prepare for the first week of school for a new teacher to be messy, slow, and repetitive. You’re not behind on anything. You’re focusing on building your foundation. Here is what we focus on the first week of school:
- Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
- Make sure your kids know what it looks like to arrive for the day. Ensure they get home safely each day and when you do that for the first week, you can breathe a bit lighter. You’ve got it down.
- Daily Classroom Schedule
- This week students and you will begin to settle into your new daily classroom schedule. Use visual aids and know that they’ll need LOTS of reminders. Talk to them about their specials. Get them excited about all they’ll learn in all of their subjects. Inform them of early finisher procedures. What do they do when they are done earlier than everyone else? All of these things will help you stay on schedule.
- Model and Practice Procedures Frequently
- Procedures are the backbone of your classroom. How to we transition from whole group to small group, how to line up, hallway behavior, lunch and bathroom procedures. Teach about using classroom supplies, pencil procedures, as well as voice level expectations. Introduce your attention getters to keep students engaged. You can also talk about your classroom jobs/classroom helper system to get students excited about having more responsibilities in the classroom as weeks go on.
- Teach Behavior Management Procedures
- Behavior management is one of those things you have to get down early or it’ll be rough waters throughout the school year. Keep your expectations at the forefront. This is the key for making your classroom management a breeze.
- Build Your Classroom Community
- Engage students with fun community building activities. This creates a safe and fun learning environment for your students and sets the tone that your classroom is a place they want to be.
This might sound like a whole lot right now but keep reading and I’ll break it down. I’ll show you exactly what each day will realistically look like and what to focus on to survive and have a good time!
A Simple First Week of School Plan for New Teachers
Day 1: Build Connection + Introduce Expectations
Goals here are to learn names and introduce your routines and procedures. In between these lessons on routines and procedures, engage students with simple, fun read alouds. This allows you to sprinkle in community building, while also practicing basic transitions from whole group to carpet time and small group. Give tours of the classroom. Share your classroom schedule and remind them where their visual aid is for it as the day progresses.
One of the most helpful hacks I’ve learned when teaching expectations is to teach students exactly what it looks like and sounds like for EVERY procedure. This lets them know precisely what is expected and don’t be afraid to hold your students to a high standard. When you practice, you make sure that EVERY SINGLE STUDENT is following the expectation. That way your year is a BREEZE with students, because they know EXACTLY what it looks and sounds like when they are totally on point.
Creating rules WITH students, teaching routines and procedures, and setting high expectations for EVERY student, is a recipe for success. This editable procedure poster and slides resource is the perfect presentation and visual aid packet that you can use from day one. Just edit it to fit your needs and it’s ready to present and print!
Editable Procedure Posters and Slides
One of my favorite quotes I’ve ever learned during my teaching career is, “Go slow to go fast” and it means just that. Take your time building those expectations of your routines and procedures. Then spending ample time to practice, practice, and more practice. If you dedicate the first few weeks to slowly introducing students to ALL the routines and expectations for every procedure, the rest of your year will fly by because students will know EXACTLY what to do.
I can hear some of you saying, “ Yeah but I don’t have time for that. I have a ton of curriculum to cover.” Or “My admin wants me to start teaching curriculum ASAP.”
I’m here to tell you it’s okay to STOP those thoughts, take a deep breath, close the door, and do what’s best for you and your students. It may be challenging to be that bold, but it WILL pay off. I have been told by many principals that my class runs like a well oiled machine and sometimes it looks like I’m not even in the room. This isn’t a magic trick, it’s simply taking A LOT of time at the beginning of the year to set these practices up. So no matter how much curriculum there is, or what admin is saying, taking time is important and makes a world of difference for the ENTIRE YEAR. Let me help make it easy with the Teaching Timeline that will help prep starting from a month before school begins through the first six weeks of school. Grab yours below for free!
Day 2: Practice Routines (Again… and Again)
This is where the repetition begins because students need A LOT of practice. To make it bearable for students and you, I highly suggest making games and fun out of everything you can. Practice lining up with fun attention getters and class rewards. Nail down your morning routine and make it one that you and your students look forward to. Greet your students meaningfully and give them a safe space every morning to come together and connect during morning meetings.
Also take a lot of time practicing and reinforcing independent work expectations. Be firm and ensure all students are following the expectation so that things from smoothly from then on.
Day 3: Introduce Simple Academics
Today is when we begin to add in low pressure math and literacy activities. Think fun review activities. Model your expectations while teaching and keep them high.
Day 4: Build Stamina + Independence
Continue with short work blocks with low pressure math and literacy practice. Keep introducing and practicing all your routines and procedures. Make sure you reinforce expectations every time so that students know EXACTLY what is expected of them. Trust me, it’ll benefit you in the long run! Focus on community building through class meetings, building a classroom promise, getting to know you activities, and fun partner work.
Day 5: Review, Reinforce, Reset
This is the day to revisit everything. See what stuck with students so far and what didn’t. Celebrate all the little and big wins. Every bit of progress is progress and students will hold that belief when you reinforce it. Reflect as a class after your first week and learn what they liked and didn’t. Take note yourself of things that absolutely didn’t work and what felt good. Reflection breeds growth and you’re all going to be doing a lot of that throughout the whole year. Create the loving and safe classroom culture to learn and grow together.
First Week of School Activities That Actually Work
When it comes to first week of school activities, keep it practical and not overwhelming. Focus on:
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community builders
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partner talk
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simple games
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structured read-alouds
If you ever get stuck and think at some point ‘wait, what should I be teaching this first week of school?’, come back to these four simple foundations.
The Biggest Mistakes New Teachers Make the First Week
Whatever you do, don’t get caught up into some of the biggest mistakes new teachers make when thinking about what to teach the first week of school. Here are some big time culprits:
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jumping into curriculum too fast
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not modeling expectations
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expecting independence too soon
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trying to do too much
These first few months of school is going to be a lot of trial and error, getting to know each other, and learning just as much of what doesn’t work as what does. So give yourself a lot of grace. And maybe buy yourself a lot of your favorite candy to have on hand during all your wins and losses. Just remember, it’s all progress!
Want Your First Week of School Already Planned?
If you don’t want to piece this whole first week together, you don’t have to! If you want everything ready to go check out my first week of school kit. It’s the ultimate resource to lower your stress levels during this crazy week and make sure you and your class have FUN while learning a whole lot!
It includes:
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lesson plans
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low prep activities
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procedures and routines
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slides and other visual aids
- and so much more!
And don’t just take my word and experience for it. It’s unquestionably a hit! Here’s what other teachers just like you are saying about this kit!
“Obsessed is an understatement! This is the best resource one could buy! The bonus of the first week tub is AMAZING! I got it all printed and bound and I can’t wait to build and have the best classroom ever!!” -Alexandra
One of my best purchases. It made starting the school year so effortless! – Suzanne
This resource was SO valuable for planning the first weeks back and finding fun, engaging activities to promote community in my classroom. I loved how adaptable the plans were and how simple they were to carry out, and my students really loved the activities (the name STEM activity was so fun and it allowed for a lot of valuable conversation). Thank you thank you thank you. This is my first year in second and the read aloud suggestions and connected activities were perfect. – Molly
So what are you waiting for? NOW is the time. Grab your First Week Kit and make it the BEST YEAR EVER. The best part? Once you prep your kit, you’ll have it FOREVER.
Don’t Forget to Enjoy Your First Week
Encourage yourself and your students this week. Normalize it being a mess in the learning stage. Reassure yourself while eating chocolate if you need to. It’s a a lot but you’re building a foundation that will last you the entire school year. Your first week doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be intentional.
Want to learn more tips and tricks for making back to school a breeze? Check out some more helpful blogs below!
Easy Friendship Activities for K–2 That Strengthen Classroom Community
How to Crush Classroom Procedures the First Week
The Ultimate Back to School Guide for Teachers
I hope you enjoyed learning all about what to teach the first week of school. Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list! Not only will you get the most up to date tips, tricks, and classroom projects… and of course more fun FREEBIES including the Back to School Teaching Timeline FREEBIE! You will also have exclusive access to tons of digital how to videos! If you would like to learn about this and other things happening in my classroom follow me @sweetnsauerfirsties on Instagram.
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