JESUS MARY JOSEPH MONTESSORI SCHOOL

#153 Sto. Rosario, Macabebe, Pampanga

Gov’t Recog. No. E-075, S. 1999- Pre-Elem. Course, No. E-14, S.2000 - Elem. Course, No. S-032, S. 2004 - Secondary Course

To: All Teachers

Re: 10 Things to Remember on the First Day of School

1. First Day of School: Come to school early

Try to arrive to school a little bit early. This extra time will help you get anything,
and everything ready before the students enter the classroom.

2. Have a Plan
Make sure that you are prepared for the day. It’s important that you have a plan
that you can follow. Write down a general guideline of what you want to
accomplish on the first day. It’s not necessary that you follow it to the “T,” but it
will help you have an idea of what comes next.

3. Don’t Try to Do It All

There will probably be a whole lot that you want to accomplish on the first day of
school, but it’s not necessary that you get to it all. Make sure that you prioritize,
and set goals for your day. While it’s important that students learn the rules and
routines, it’s not a priority that learns them all in one day.

4. Get to Know Your Students

One of the most important things that you have to remember for the first day is to
take the time to really get to know your students. This will show them that you
care, and that you value them, and want to know all there is to know about them.

5. Keep it Short
Do not plan overly elaborate lessons or activities on the first day. Keep everything
that you do short and sweet. Allow time for the students to talk too, not just you.
By keeping things simple, you are not overwhelming students. And, by allowing
them to talk, you are showing them that you value their thoughts and opinions.

6. Establish Classroom Rules

It's important to introduce your class rules on the first day of school. These rules
will serve as a guideline for students to follow throughout the school year. Make
sure that you have the rules posted in a visible spot in the classroom, so that
students can reference them when needed.

7. Start the Day with Limited Expectations

Do not expect them to be able to sit for you all day without some fidgeting. Give
them a few brain breaks throughout the day, and when you want them to
remember something that you say that’s really important, have them repeat it
after you at least three times.

8. Let them See You Laugh

Have a sense of humor, after all laughter has the power to help students learn.
It’s OK to laugh at yourself, and it’s OK to make students laugh. Laughter is a
powerful tool to use in the classroom. It is also an effective way to keep your
students engaged.

9. Make the Day Fun

While laughter is another important component to remember on the first day of
school, making the day fun would be the next. The first day should not just be
teaching the rules and routines, it should be a day to get to know your students in
a fun, and educational way. Play games, and laugh. Make a day to remember, so
they will want to go home and tell their family how great school is and want to
come back tomorrow.
10. Be Mindful, Take it All in, It’s Only the First Day
Take a moment to be in the moment. Don’t rush through your day just to get
everything in your planner finished. Take it all in, and remember, it’s only the first
day, you have about 200 days left to complete whatever else you want to do.

Goodluck and Enjoy Teaching!

PrinCon