Lesson Plan: First Day of School Best Practices

Grade: Any (adjust as necessary)

Duration:60 minutes

Objective:
To set a positive tone, introduce course content, establish classroom norms, and
foster student-teacher rapport.

Materials Needed:
- Welcome board/sign
- Classroom rules and expectations poster
- Curriculum overview handouts
- 'About Me' forms for students

Procedure:

1. Arrival & Setup (5 minutes)

- Welcome students with the board/sign.
- Distribute 'About Me' forms.

2. Greeting & First Impressions (5 minutes)

- Stand by the door and greet each student with a smile.
- Introduce yourself and make a brief welcoming statement.

3. Icebreaker Activity (15 minutes)

-Group students according to their hobbies or interests in a fun and interactive
way.
-Once all students have found their groups, ask each group to share something
related to their hobby.

4. Classroom Routines & Expectations (5 minutes)

- Introduce key classroom routines.

5. Curriculum Overview (10 minutes)

- Introduce the curriculum overviews.
- Highlight the main topics and performance standards.

6. About Me' Forms (10 minutes)

- Students fill out forms while soft background music plays.
- Collect the forms and mention that you're excited to get to know each of them
better.

Here's a sample 'About Me' form for students:

About Me: Getting to Know You!

Name: _______________________________
Grade: _______________________________
Birthday:_______/_______/_______

1. List three words that best describe you:**

1. ___________________
2. ___________________
3. ___________________

2. What's your favorite subject in school and why?

3. Name one hobby or activity you love doing outside of school:
4. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?
5. What's a book, movie, or show you recently enjoyed?
6. Do you have any pets? If yes, tell us a bit about them!
7. What's a talent or skill you have that your classmates might not know about?
8. Are there any topics or activities you're hoping to explore this school year?
9. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in school?
10. How do you best learn? (e.g., by seeing, hearing, doing, etc.)
11. Anything else you'd like me to know about you?

Thank you for sharing about yourself!

I'm looking forward to a fantastic year together!

This form not only helps teachers get to know their students but also offers
insights into their learning styles and potential needs. Adjustments can be made
based on the specific grade level or information the teacher wants to gather.

7. Safety Brief and Open Communication (5 minutes)

- Quickly touch on essential safety procedures.
- Encourage open communication, sharing your preferred method (e.g., office hours,
email).

8. Feedback & Closing (5 minutes)

- Ask students how they're feeling about the upcoming year.
- Conclude by emphasizing your excitement and commitment to a successful school
year.

Assessment:
Monitor student engagement during activities. Review the 'About Me' forms for
insights into students' interests and backgrounds.

Homework/Assignment
Ask students to bring in their essential supplies by a specified date and to write
one goal they have for the year.

Reflection (Post-lesson):
After the class, note what worked well and areas for potential refinement for the
next first day.

This 60-minute plan hits the crucial aspects while ensuring that the first day
feels organized, welcoming, and engaging.