Lesson planning is always a bit tricky. Coming up with lesson plans for the first week of school can feel even trickier! How much time should we spend teaching procedures? How can we get to know our new students? What can we do to make the first week fun? When should we start with the curriculum?

Every year, I notice multiple posts in teacher Facebook groups asking others to share their first week of school lesson plans. So, I thought I would show you my ideal first week of school plans.

Keep in mind that every classroom will be different! It might take your kids twice as long to complete an activity as it took mine. It might take my kids twice as long to master a particular procedure as it does for your class. Heck, we all have a different list of procedures that we must teach!

This is just a suggestion. You can start with these ideas and adjust them to work for you.

Deal?

Here we go…

Day 1

• 8:00-8:30: Enter the Classroom and Make Play-Doh Creations
  • Greet each student as they walk into the classroom and allow them to choose their own desk.
  • Provide a small container of Play-Doh on each desk and let students create anything they want.
  • This could be a favorite hobby, animal, vacation, or something completely different!
  • While students are creating, take attendance and handle any administrative tasks.
  • Give students 2-3 minutes to share what they created with their neighbors.
• 8:30-8:45: Put Supplies Away
  • Place labeled containers around the room for students to put their supplies in the correct bin.
  • If you want them to keep certain supplies in their desks, put a list on the board.
  • This is a great time to give students labels for their folders and/or notebooks.
• 8:45-9:15: Morning Procedure
  • Pull students to the carpet and discuss the procedures for coming into the classroom and unpacking in the morning.
  • Make sure they know where you want their backpacks, binders, and homework.
  • Give the class a couple of opportunities to practice the procedure.
• 9:15-9:30: Read Aloud
  • Choose a favorite book to read to the class and engage them in a discussion about it.

We’re All Wonders may be Auggie’s story, but it taps into every child’s longing to belong, and to be seen for who they truly are. It’s the perfect way for families and educators to talk about empathy and kindness with young children.

9:30-10:15: Back to School Scavenger Hunt or I Am Poem

10:15-10:30: Specials Procedures

Pull students to the carpet and discuss the procedures for lining up for specials.

10:30-11:15: Specials

Nap time – because back to school is hard! Just kidding! If you’re lucky, you’ll have a bit of time to prep.

11:15-11:40: Lunch Procedures

Pull students to the carpet and discuss the procedures and expectations for going to lunch, eating, lunch, recess, and returning from lunch. Have them model wonderful line and hallway behavior on the way to lunch. Publicly praise, praise, praise those who are good examples!

11:40-12:20: Lunch and Recess

12:20-12:35: Read Aloud

This book is about power our words have. We can choose to use them to make the world a better place.

Simple, direct, and emotive, Words and Your Heart’s message is that words have extraordinary power–to harm and to heal, to create and to destroy, and to spread love.

12:35-1:05: Partner Interviews and Interest Inventories

Captivate and inspire your students from the moment they step into the classroom! I have first week activities for grades k – 6th!

1:05-1:30: Classroom Behavior Policy

Pull students to the floor and explain your class rules and rewards.

1:30-1:50: Classroom Library Procedures and Choosing Books

Pull students to the carpet and discuss the procedures for borrowing books from the classroom library. Make sure students know where to keep their books, how many books they can borrow at a time, and when they can get a book from the library. Give students time to choose any book that interests them. They can use these books during the week when they finish something early.

1:50-2:05 Recess

Before recess, I like to take them out and go over the playground boundaries and expectations. Have them model lining up correctly before they head out the door. 🙂

2:05-2:30: End of Day Procedures

Pull students to the carpet and discuss the procedures for packing up and going home at the end of the day.

2:30-2:45: Release Students

Have students pack up and release them to carpool, buses, etc.

Most importantly, DON’T RUSH teaching procedures and building a community. You can read more about practicing procedure by clicking HERE.

Celebrate! You survived Day 1!