Start the Year Strong

Every teacher knows that first-day-of-school feeling. Dozens of pairs of eyes sizing you up. Trying to decide if you are going to be the fun teacher or the mean teacher. 

"Is this teacher nice?""Is this going to be hard?""I hope we don’t get homework today."

By the time Friday finally arrives, Week 1 feels like it's lasted three months like it exists in its own time zone.

Week 1 is big. It's when relationships begin. It's when students decide whether your classroom feels safe. It's when they start figuring out who they are going to be in your room. Who they will be together. Who they will follow. What they can expect from you. And it's when you begin building the habits that will carry you through the rest of the year. 

Spend More Time Building Community Than You Think You Need

Students learn best from people they trust. Give them opportunities to laugh together. Talk together. Solve small problems together. Community isn't something you pause instruction to build. It is instruction. Here's my favorite mixer for Week 1: Partner Parade. It’s a slam dunk. Have fun with it. I always have.

Let Students Discuss Classroom Norms

Every classroom needs expectations. But instead of handing students a list of rules first thing, ask a big question: "How do we want to be together?" You'll hear things like: "Helpful." "We listen when someone else is talking." "We don't laugh at one another." Now those expectations belong to everyone, not just the teacher. Then you can hand out some rules. You’ll need those too. 

Blend Community Building with Real Learning

If you teach about Native Americans, especially at the beginning of the year, check out our unit: 100% History Detectives: The Talking Rocks of Chaco Canyon. We designed it specifically to get you and your students off on the right foot at the start of the year. One of our favorite beginning-of-the-year activities is the Artifact Investigation that serves as the Preview for this unit. Students examine artifacts, work with partners, ask questions, compare ideas, and naturally get to know one another while doing what historians actually do. 

One Last Thought

Teachers sometimes put enormous pressure on themselves to make Week 1 perfect. It won't be. You'll forget something. You'll say someone's name wrong. Technology will pick that exact moment to betray you. Your voice will get raspy. You’ll get tired. In a good way. Maybe in the best way. But you'll survive Week 1. In fact, I believe you’ll thrive in Week 1. And so will your students.

Keep this in mind: “They don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”  What all those pairs of eyes will remember isn't whether every Week 1 activity went exactly as planned. They'll remember how you made them feel: Cared for. Safe. Seen. Capable. 

If you can give them those four things during Week 1, you've already accomplished something pretty remarkable.

Have a wonderful start to the school year. We're cheering for you.

Steve Seely | Veteran of 34 Week 1’s and Co-founder, 241 Books