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There’s a wise quote that says, “Kids don’t care about your expectations until they know you care about them. Connection is the foundation everything else stands on.”
As an educator, I firmly believe this to be true. Students decide very quickly when they walk into a classroom whether that space feels safe, calm, and worth engaging with. The attitudes and impressions they form this week of school will go on to direct their actions for the rest of the year. That’s why I refer to the first five days of school as “The Big 5” – these are the days when teachers lay the foundation for the entire classroom.
So, as we approach the new school year, how can we ensure that the first 5 days of class are memorable, meaningful, and set a positive trajectory for our students? Here’s some advice on how to structure the first 5 days of school:
Day 1–Welcome & Connection: Start the day by greeting every student at the door. Follow this up with a quick get-to-know-you activity so that students can become acquainted with their classmates. Have the students sit in a circle to foster better discussion and connection. The goal for today is to keep things calm and predictable. Make every student feel seen, safe, and glad to be there.
Day 2–Teaching the Routines: Teach students the classroom’s daily routines by modeling them step-by-step and out loud. Give them examples and non-examples to show them how each routine should work. Be sure to leave time for questions as well, so students understand the people, places, and things you are talking about. Never assume they already know.
Day 3–Practice & Feedback: Use this day to re-teach anything that wasn’t established in the first two days.This is also an opportunity to dispense feedback and praise to boost student engagement. If you notice a student doing something successfully, be sure to compliment them on their hard work! If you notice a student who isn’t paying attention, redirect them calmly and privately (don’t embarrass them in front of the other students). Repetition plus specific praise builds habits fast.
Day 4–Community & Ownership: By now, students should start to feel a little more comfortable in their classroom. Day 4 is the time to create a sense of community and ownership through shared student investment. This can be accomplished by creating classroom jobs and encouraging students to run for them. Another possibility is to have students create a classroom charter that sets the rules and expectations of the classroom. By creating a classroom structure together, students solidify their connection to the lessons, the policies, and each other.
Day 5–Independence & Reflection: On the final day, take a step back and allow students to lead the routines. Take note of what is working, what’s not, and what could be improved. As the day concludes, use the final minutes to celebrate the growth students have shown in such a short span of time. By ending the week on a high note, students can walk away feeling encouraged and inspired for the year ahead.
The most important thing educators can do at the start of a new school year is build trust. When students know their classroom is a place where they can find structure, support, and understanding, everything else will fall into place. We don’t need to have everything perfected, or every contingency planned for by the end of the first week. Instead, we can focus on creating a classroom where students feel safe to learn and grow as part of a community. This foundation is what sets the stage for a year filled with successful and momentous learning.
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