What are the most important procedures to teach the first week of school?

One year during PD, they asked us how many routines and procedures elementary teachers need to establish for a smoothly running classroom. The answer (according to this random presenter)? Over 100.

Cue wide-eyed stare (from the teachers and the students).

Teaching 100 procedures in one day to elementary students is not a recipe for success - for anyone.

So, where does that leave us? We KNOW routines and procedures are so important, but we also KNOW that with attention spans and all of the nerves on the first day of school, students can’t take in that much in one day.

So, how do we decide where to start?

In this post, I talked about creating a schedule. If you haven’t created a balanced schedule for the First Day yet, start there. Every school does the First Day a little differently so start by determining how much time you actually have to work on routines in your classroom. (In other words, identify your set-in-stone activities for the day.)

Once you know how much time you have, I suggest thinking through what students actually need to know to be able to move safely through your first week of school. For instance, they might not need to worry about book boxes on day one, and maybe they can just keep their backpacks at their desks, but they DO need to know how to ask to use the bathroom and how to get the teacher’s attention.

Below is an example of one of my First Day of School schedules. The routine discussions are in YELLOW with Fun Stuff (teal) mixed in. Pink represents scheduled times that involve transitions.

Want a copy of the First Day of School guide (with printables) so you can create your schedule too? Just enter your email below and I will send it to you!

Routines to Cover on the First Day of School

I have found that the following routines are KEY to a successful first week of school. For me, they are the perfect balance of an introduction to the school/classroom where students (and I) feel comfortable, without covering so much it’s impossible to remember. Here are some questions to help you think through what you might want to include in your routines explanations:

• General Expectations

  • How will you get students’ attention? (What attention grabbers will you use? Practice!)

  • How will students get your attention? (What do you want them to do when they have a question/comment? Need to use the bathroom or get a drink? Tissue? Leave their seat?)

  • What does safe movement look like in the classroom?

  • Any specific rules/procedures they need to know about supplies on day one (what stays in the desk, how to get a pencil, etc)?
    *I usually provide two sharpened pencils so I can ignore this one for the first day! :)

  • What are the expectations for how students will treat: each other, the room, you, and themselves? (Consider words, actions, etc)

  • Any school or class rules?

• Arrival Routines

  • Stop at the door or come in and take a seat?

  • How should they check in with you?

  • Where should they put their stuff?

  • Will they eat breakfast in the classroom? If so, how do they manage it?

  • How should they prepare for the day? (Supplies, pencils, bathroom, agenda, etc)

  • How will you take attendance and lunch count?

  • What will students do as they wait for class to start?

• Lines & Hallway Procedures - cover these before leaving the classroom

  • Will you have a line order?

  • How will students remember their spot?

  • How will you pick the line leader?

  • What are the hallways expectations?

• Bathroom Routines

  • What do you do when you go into the bathroom? How many kids at a sink at once? How many pumps of soap/paper towels? How to keep the bathroom clean and safe?

  • What behaviors are not ok?

  • What are your water fountain procedures? (How long can they take a turn? If there are multiple fountains, how will they split up?)

  • How will students know when it is their turn?

  • What will they do while waiting?

• Lunch Routines

  • How should they enter the lunchroom?

  • Where will they sit and what are the seated expectations?

  • While eating… Can they talk? How do they get a teacher’s help? Are they allowed to leave the table?

  • What do they do when they are finished eating?

• Recess Routines

  • What are the general rules about the equipment, sportsmanship, conflicts, etc?

  • How will recess begin? (Do they just start playing or do they have to walk to a certain line first?)

  • How are students allowed to interact with nature?

  • What can they climb?

  • What are options for play? What areas will be available on the first day?

  • What are the consequences for not following directions?

  • How will the equipment be gathered/stored at the end of recess?

  • How will they know when recess is over and what is the expectation for lining up?

• Dismissal Routines

  • How do you want the room to look before they leave?

  • How will you dismiss from desks?

  • How will papers get home?

  • How will they gather their stuff?

  • How will you end the day?

  • How will you know how they are getting home?

  • How will students say goodbye?

These are just some questions to help you get started as you define your routines. You can make anchor charts with reminders for each area, do a slideshow, or just explain and practice. The key is being organized, clear, consistent, and patient. You have all year to tweak and practice! :)

Want the full guide to the routines I teach, how I answer those questions, and more? Enter your name and email and I will send the full guide your way!

Happy planning!

Other posts you might like: