“By the end of the year, students may not remember exactly what I said or what activities they did back on the first day, but they will remember how they felt. My goal is to help them feel a sense of belonging and significance in those first moments of the school year.

All the effort we put into this day will indeed make a difference, helping children to feel safe and welcomed. And when they get home and talk about their first day with parents and other caring adults, it will be how they felt on this day that will shape their stories and go a long way toward ensuring their success in school this year. Did they feel that their teacher already knows them a bit? Did they enjoy talking with classmates? Were lunch and recess fun? Did they feel engaged with their learning?”

–from The First Six Weeks of School

You can find our latest articles on preparing for the first day of school below.