In August, I’ll begin my 14th year of teaching. Over the years, I’ve tried, perfected, and completely thrown out more first week of school routines than I can count. Some worked beautifully and made my classroom calmer. Others… well, they were gone by day two.
The routines that stuck are the simple ones — the ones that help students feel safe, supported, and confident from the moment they walk in.
Below are a few I’ve kept, and a couple I’ve happily abandoned.
First Week of School Routines I’ve Kept
Routines, routines, routines
Every teacher does things a little differently, and students need to know how you want things done. That means teaching every tiny procedure — repeatedly.
On the first day, we sort supplies and I place a simple get‑to‑know‑you activity on their desks to keep them engaged. After that, we jump straight into practicing the basics:
- How to line up
- How to enter the room
- Pencil sharpening and replacement
- Water bottle and bathroom procedures
- Where to turn in work
- How to transition between activities
Anything you think they “should” know? I teach it anyway. I treat them like blank slates.
We practice these routines every day during the first week, woven between academic tasks (because yes, standards start on day one). By mid‑week, I’ve identified my “experts” — students who can model a routine for the class. I make sure every student becomes an expert in something, even if it’s small. It builds confidence and creates a classroom culture where helping each other is normal.
And I always build in grace. An “Oops, I forgot” is totally fine — I forget things too, and they learn quickly what items I misplace most often.
My color/pattern system
Whether I’ve had one class all day or rotated between two or three ELA groups, color‑coding has saved my sanity. Subjects, groups, bins, notebooks — everything gets a color or pattern. It cuts down on confusion and makes transitions smoother.
The number system
I pair color‑coding with student numbers. It keeps grading, passing back work, and organizing cubbies so much easier. I use patterned duct tape (which truly lasts all year) and label items with student numbers.
If a student moves away or a new student joins, I don’t renumber the whole class. They either take an open number or get added to the end. Simple and stress‑free.
First Week of School Routines I Ditched (or Modified)
Writing about their summer
This used to be my go‑to first‑day writing assignment… until I realized it can unintentionally alienate some students. Not everyone had a fun or exciting summer, and starting the year with that prompt didn’t feel inclusive.
Now I use paired or small‑group discussions instead. Students share one or two things they enjoyed — big or small — and sometimes jot a sentence or two beforehand. I avoid whole‑class sharing during the first few days while I’m still learning personalities and comfort levels.
Competitive games
One year, our grade level tried competitive get‑to‑know‑you games. I learned quickly that while they do reveal who’s a good sport, they also create tension I then have to undo.
I prefer building a classroom community where students feel like a team. One of my favorite classes ever was a group every Co‑Curr teacher (Music, Art, Theatre, and P.E.) described as “difficult” individually — but together, they were incredible. They teased gently, knew each other’s limits, helped each other constantly, and would defend each other fiercely. (Yes, that led to a few conversations about how to support a peer appropriately.) That kind of connection didn’t come from competition; it came from community.
Your Turn: What Routines Do You Keep or Toss?
What first‑week routines have you loved… or discarded immediately?
I’d love to read about them in the comments. Some of my best ideas have come from other teachers — both in person and online — and I know your ideas will help others too.
If you’d also like to check out a collaboration activity that gets students reading through science topics, you can read that post here.
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