3 ways to transform the first day of school

How would you like to get your students engaged on the first day of school and make them really happy to be in your class? Instead of going through the typical back-to-school routine of explaining the syllabus and class rules, try something different that will capture your new students’ interest while still getting all of that information out there. Read on to learn 3 ways to transform the first day of school.

Going back to school is exciting for some and a real drag for others. The students who love school are easy to deal with on the first day: they are there in their new school clothes with freshly sharpened pencils, smelling their paper while exclaiming that there is nothing like a blank page. And then there are the other 25 people in the room.

For them, the first day of school can be dreadfully dull. Think about it: they’ve been off for two months, enjoying the freedom that summer offers. Yes, they may have had jobs, but they were earning money and had no homework. Now, it’s back to school and they are stuffed in classrooms where they sit all day, passively listening to teacher after teacher talk about their new class – and all the things they can and cannot do while they are there.

Let’s get this straight: the information about your course IS important. It’s also super important that you are able to manage your class so the students can learn. I am in no way saying that your students don’t have to know these things. However, I have 3 ways to make this process more active and engaging.

Use stations to introduce yourself & your course

No matter how interesting you and your course are, if it’s fourth period and the students have sat all day listening to teachers talk about their syllabus and assessments, you may have a lot of them tuning out. As I said, the day before these teens were playing frisbee at the park or video games in their bedroom or earning money while they worked.  And now they have to sit and listen all day long.

So what’s a teacher to do when there is information to give out and collect? Stations are a wonderful alternative and the first of my 3 ways to transform the first day of school.

Think about the checklist of things you need to tell your students about and the information you need to get from them. Organize these things into chunks and create stations that they move through.

At station one you could give them information about yourself and ask them to leave the information you need about them. Another station could have them fill out the forms you need to collect. At another, they could interview a classmate and start that all important climate building.

One of my favorite first day of school stations is one that’s all about the syllabus. But students don’t just read it. I include questions designed to ensure that they’ve actually read it, at least the most important items. This is a great alternative to them tuning out while I read it, then stuffing it in their binder, never to be seen again.

If you would like some stations that are all ready to go (and edit to suit your class) you can grab mine here.

Let students set the expectations for behavior

Yes, you read that right. I am suggesting that you let students decide on the “rules” for the class. And I’m not crazy. I’m going to share a strategy that has students setting the classroom norms and it really, really works.

But first, before I show you the second of my 3 ways to transform the first day of school, let’s chat about rules. While it is important to have guidelines for managing a roomful of teens in a classroom, the word “rules” has negative connotations. It tends to get linked with “punishments” for breaking them, and both of these things put the focus squarely on bad behavior and the bad things that will happen to you when such behavior occurs.

Yes… Rules are there for a reason and if we don’t have consequences then they will be broken and chaos will ensue.

But what if we just framed things differently and used our words carefully? Instead of talking about rules and what happens when they are not followed, talk about what you expect of students. Put the focus on doing things “right.” Talk about things that are positive, like being prepared and being respectful.

Then when you see students doing things the way you want them to, acknowledge, thank and/or praise. Students will see the consequence for positive behavior and hopefully emulate it.

Picture this: you’re trying to get the class started over the noisy chatter of teens who are not paying attention. You can talk over them and escalate to yelling at them to stop and listen. You can threaten those who aren’t with whatever you might use as a consequence. This gets your class started on a negative note.

Or, you can tell your students it’s time to get started and to turn around and look at you. You thank the handful who do so right away. Then, you move around the class and say things like, “Micah & Sean, I’d love to get started. You know what to do…that’s right! Thanks so much.” You move on to the next group: “Melissa, Lara, Jo…you ready for eyes up front? Great. Thanks so much!” You make your way back to the front…”Still waiting for all eyes up here, everyone.. Wonderful. Awesome… I appreciate your attention. Let’s get going!”

Creating the classroom norms during the first days

Ok, so back to the first day – or days – of school. Imagine that during your first class you had students move through stations to find out about the course, to fill in some forms, to talk to each other, etc. They left grateful that they didn’t have to sit passively and listen all period in yet another class. They may have even been thinking, “This class just might be alright.”

Then, they come in on the second day and you tell them that you want their help setting the norms for the classroom.

“What does that mean?” someone might ask. You tell them that there are certain routines and procedures that we have to follow in a classroom. Tell them that you are a little microcosm of society and, just like in the real world, we have expectations for behavior – like walking on the right on a busy street, or  which car goes first at a four way stop.

Next, you can have your students brainstorm the norms they should follow in a classroom that allows everyone to feel safe, respected and able to learn.  Or, you can have a list of things that you want them to discuss, like cell phone use, group work norms, etc. Put your students into groups and have them discuss how each should be handled in your classroom. What’s the best way to deal with phones/tech in the class? What about late assignments (and people)? How do you work effectively in a group?

After each group has had time to discuss the expectations for these things, have a full class discussion and write down some positive statements that will become the code of conduct for your classroom. For example: We can use phones when our work is done. Each person needs to be prepared for group work, etc.

It might seem like a crazy, scary idea to let students decide on the expectations for your classroom. However, I have done this time and again with many groups of students from the most advanced to the most disengaged. And it works. It works because students love it when you give them a voice and some control over what happens in your classroom. The other lovely thing about this process is that they will show you that they do know what good behavior is because they will almost always come up with the same things you would have listed.

However, when you give them the power to do so, you will get more buy in. And once you have that buy-in, classroom management will be so much easier. That’s because you can remind them that these are the expectations that they set.

If you’d like to try this process with your students, check out my Classroom Norms Stand Up Stations.

Relationships & climate before curriculum

A third way to transform your first days of school routine requires no lesson plans or elaborate activities. Instead, you just focus on building relationships and the climate of your classroom.

You have the whole semester to dig into the standards and outcomes, and if you devote time to getting to know your students at the first of the term, you’ll have fewer behavior issues all year. And when classroom management is easier, you get through the curriculum faster.

Does that mean that you need to do ice breakers and games for a week? No.

In fact, my first two ways to transform your first days of school have already started this process. In your stations, you may have given students a glimpse into who you are and found out some important information about them. If you had them interview each other, you started the process of climate building.

And speaking of climate building, if you allowed your students to help you set the expectations for your class, you have taken a huge step in that process. Not only did you show them that you trust and value their ideas, but the group activity gets students talking to each other about how they will interact during their time with you.

But the single most effective way to get to know your students, whether you’re doing ice breakers or teaching them about active reading, is to carve out time every day to talk to them. Make it a priority to stand outside your door and greet students as they come in. Pick different students every day to do more than say hello. Stop them and chat with them about non school things.

Do the same as your students are working. Circulate while they are at the stations or in groups and stop and chat – not about the task, but a quick conversation that shows them who you are – and who they are too.

These don’t have to be long conversations that keep them from doing their work, either. And when you’re done say, “OK! Better get back to it…” This does two things: it gets the students back on task and also models a positive behaviour – that  it’s ok to momentarily chat about something off topic, but you need to get refocused and back to work.

Even if you are chatting with them about the task, do it in a way that shows them your personality. Let’s say you are talking to students while they are discussing group work norms. You hear them saying that they get frustrated by someone who takes control. Sit and talk with them about that. Share a time when you had to deal with it yourself. Instead of saying “this isn’t ok and this is what needs to happen” make yourself (you, not the teacher) part of the conversation in an authentic way. You are a part of the group, part of the team.

Keep this practice up all year long

Find the time to chat the door or with a student at their desk. Go off topic when it’s appropriate. Give students a chance to shape the climate of your room. Each case is time so well spent, time that gets invested into making your classroom management easier.

It may seem like you are taking too much time from important curriculum tasks, but believe me, students will be more focused when it’s time to work when you work on relationships and climate all year long. And that starts in the first week of school.

So, those are 3 ways to transform the first day of school. It may take you more than one day, but the time you invest into making your students feel welcome and important will pay off for the rest of your term. And, they will go away from their first days with you thinking that your classroom is going to be a good place to be.

👉🏻If you like the idea of giving your students some voice in building class expectations, you can read more about the process here:

Dealing with a chatty class

Dealing with cellphones in your classroom

Let me know if you have any questions about my 3 ways to transform your first day of school!