First Weeks of School The First Day of School
The first day of school is a valuable opportunity to start building a positive, welcoming learning environment. To support your planning, we’ve created two printable First Day of School Checklists—one for elementary educators and one for middle school teachers. These resources offer step-by-step guidance for designing a thoughtful and effective first day. Whether used individually or with a teaching team, our checklists will help you proactively plan the beginning, middle, and end of the day so that you help your new students feel safe, engaged, and excited to return on day two.
Download your checklist below:
Each checklist offers suggestions for:
The checklists also include space to add notes and tailor the plan to your students’ specific needs.
Explore these resources for additional first day tips and strategies: