How to Get an Elementary Classroom Ready for the First Day of School

The first day of elementary school can be hectic. Making sure all the students end up where they're supposed to be, drying tears, reassuring parents--and all that just in the first hour of the day! Though you can't ease all of the craziness of the first day, it will be a lot smoother if you follow these steps to get your classroom ready ahead of time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• a week before school starts
• name cards
• school supplies
• notices, including specials schedule
• class list
• homework folders

1. Obtain the most recent copy of your class list. Though you may have been given one before last school year ended, there are bound to have been changes or additions. Families who have moved during the summer may have registered late or left for another school.
2. Make labels for coat hooks, cubbies and supply bins. Ideally you should have one of each for each child, so that on the first day of school they can come into the classroom, hang up their coats, set down their bags and be ready to go. It's also helpful to make two sets of name cards: one that can be placed at the student's seat and one that can be worn to specials--just until everybody's name has been learned.
3. Set up your worktables and work areas. Consider the number of students you have and what layout would best accommodate the group. After you've set up the room, sit at your desk to make sure you can see every area of the room without any obstacle. At the beginning of the year, you'll need to be able to visually monitor each student's activity.
4. Create a "Welcome to School" bulletin board and place it in the hallway or near the classroom door. It doesn't need to be fancy; the purpose is to make the students feel comfortable and to identify who is in the class. Companies like Lakeshore and Creative Teaching Press carry bulletin board kits that contain all the necessary pieces to create a theme board (see Resources below).
5. Put together a packet of first-day handouts for each child and place it in a folder that can be used to bring homework, papers and correspondence to and from school. Include any school-wide notices, reduced/free lunch forms, a copy of the special schedule and other housekeeping materials as well as a letter outlining your classroom rules and practices.
6. Have all the materials ready for the first day's lesson plans. That means having photocopies made, project supplies on hand and books ready to read. In most elementary classrooms, the first day is devoted to "getting-to-know-you" activities, learning about the classroom rules and exploring classroom materials. Remember, it's better to have too much planned than too little--you can always save extra plans for another day.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to have a few extra sets of supplies, blank name cards and home work folders on hand. If you have a new student walk in on the first day, all you have to do is write his name on them and you'll be all set.