Back to school always sneaks up on me. I know it’s coming and yet I’m never ready for it! If you can relate, this is for you! I’m sharing my first week of school lesson plans to help you be prepared without having to give up precious beach time. (Actually, it’s my plans for the first two weeks of school!)
With these first week at school activities, you’ll have time for routines and expectations as well as setting up your students for success in both your math and language programs. All while you get to know each other and have some fun!
An all-round successful back to school in my book!
You’ll get day-by-day plans to follow plus some pages for you to brainstorm and schedule! Use it for inspiration or click the links to easily find the exact activities or materials.
I know it’s tempting to spend your time back in class without students making everything look pretty, but there are some very important questions you need to ask yourself!
Before students return to school, you need to have considered your classroom expectations and consequences. While it is a great idea to co-create these with students, I firmly believe you need to have a solid idea of what you realistically want them to look like ahead of time. Students should be a part of the wording and the details but you are the teacher. Being proactive will go a long way toward having effective classroom management.
I know we don’t want to bombard students with routines the second they return to class. But the reality is, from day one there will be recesses, lunch breaks, and the need for washroom breaks and you need to know how you plan to handle those.
I’ve personally used a version of these plans with grades 4 – 6. However, with slight modifications (or not…) they would absolutely work for higher or lower grades too! I break my planning up into 3 categories. I have a Language block, a Math block and a block for routines, rules, expectations and all other beginning of the school year ‘stuff’ which I’ve called Class Community.
Generally, I like to start each day with a fun, engaging ‘get to know you’ activity then move into the Class Community tasks for the day. With this including rules and routines, I feel like it’s important to set the day up for success by covering these items first. Beyond that, the schedule is entirely up to you based on your preferences and school timetable.
I generally like to intersperse community-building activities throughout the day. I find this gives me a chance to cover the essentials (rules and routines) early to set the day up for success and build in fun first week back to school activities to break up the day.
I’ve broken it down into 4 main areas:This is generally how I like to start each day. On the first day, I have students create name plates for their desk which they decorate with things about themselves. This doubles as a great quiet activity throughout the following days whenever there is some down time. We also do a variety of 1st week of school activities like “Find Someone Who…” Bingo, 2 Truths and a Lie and Icebreaker questions.
I mix up this whole class interactive tasks with more thoughtful activities. I love to create a class “Be” bulletin board that serves as a goal-setting and character activity. We also complete a Math About Me activity and I Wish My Teacher Knew writing prompt. This is a great time for a Multiple Intelligences Inventory or Enneagram quiz or similar if you find those helpful.
Taking the time to set up, teach and practice routines is key to a classroom that runs smoothly. Having clear expectations and consistent consequences are essential for your students to have success and a positive experience with you. I like to introduce a few new rules or routines each day and review the previous ones. Consider which routines students need to know from day one and which wait a few days.
If students aren’t following a routine, this is a sign that they haven’t mastered it and you need to… you guessed it, practice some more!
It’s important that your first week of school activities include time for students, and you, to interact with each other and learn how to work together respectfully.
We have ‘Welcome Back Chats’ on various topics so students know their opinion and voice is important. Activities are designed to reinforce learning skills such as cooperations and collaboration, respect and inclusion. I also provide opportunities for students to collaborate with challenges such as scavenger hunts, puzzles.
It’s hard coming back after a long summer break! Concentration and stamina need to be rebuilt so be sure to find time each day for movement opportunities or even just a break from work.
I created a set of Would You Rather? questions that allow students to move. I like to mix funny questions with opportunities to get to know my students better. Choose a yoga video on Youtube, play Silent Ball or other quick in-class movement breaks. If you have more time, head outside to play Capture the Flag, basketball, baseball, soccer…
In my board we are supposed to follow the Fountas and Pinnell First 20 Days of Language. Over the years, I’ve developed my own modified version of this – picking and choosing the parts that work best for me. I begin by explaining the class library and discussing expectations for independent reading. Over the coming days, we cover topics like recording our thinking while reading, how to choose a good book, checking for understanding and work up to reading response journals. Each day in the first week of school, I do a read aloud and then have a question to lead a class discussion.
I cannot recommend enough taking the first 2 to 4 weeks of school to set up your math program for success.
Rather than jumping straight into curriculum, use this time to introduce, teach and practice your expectations for math class and the routines for each part of your math program – bellwork, lessons, groupwork, centres…
Spend time teaching Social-Emotional Learning strategies and Mathematical Processes so students have the skills, attitude and mindset needed to be successful math thinkers.
With the updated Ontario Math Curriculum, you no longer have to feel like this is wasted time (trust me, it never was) as this is now Strand A.
Our First 20 Days of Math units focus on mindset, collaboration, problem solving, communication strategies and more. They allow you to teach expectations for centres, lessons, use of manipulatives and more. All while reviewing on math skills from the previous grade.
We have created complete units that set students up for a successful year by covering Strand A – Social-Emotional Learning and Mathematical Processes while reviewing basic math skills.
Start with open-ended fun challenges that stretch students’ thinking while showing that there is more than one way to solve a problem and they CAN do it!
I like to build in plenty of fun math games too. Play 10, Battleship, Around the World and SWAT! Check out this FREE SWAT! game for multiplication facts up to 10×10.
This Classroom Math Treasure Hunt is a perennial favourite. It gives me a sneak peak at their mental math skills and they get to know the classroom a little better. All wrapped up in a fun competition!
If you’re just looking for some ideas for first week of school without the detailed plans, check out this bundle. And, of course, feel free to skim through the ideas above!
This set comes with 7 beginning of the year activities that include a variety of opportunities to get to know each other and get an early sample of your students’ abilities.
Don’t forget to get our day-by-day lesson plans for the first two weeks of back to school for FREE. It includes all the ideas above plus more with details and timing suggestions.
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You’ll get day-by-day plans to follow plus some pages for you to brainstorm and schedule! Use it for inspiration or click the links to easily find the exact activities or materials.
