The Ultimate Guide to a Successful First Day of School: Safety, Structure, and Fun

The first day of school can be full of excitement, nerves, and, yes, a little bit of chaos.

As teachers, we hear all kinds of advice:

“Make sure they’re excited to come back!” and “Just make sure they’re fed and get home safely!”

How do we actually make that happen?

Let me share with you exactly what I did to create a first day that was safe, structured, and yes—fun! Spoiler: It all starts before the first bell even rings.

Before we dive in, let’s be real for a minute. Some of us teach in environments where the needs of our students go far beyond just getting them excited about school. I’ve taught in situations where within minutes of the first bell, I could hear fights breaking out in classrooms nearby. This is why it’s so critical to create a classroom where students feel safe and secure right from the start.

1. Getting Home Safely: It Starts Before the First Day

Long before the first day, during Meet the Teacher or Orientation, I had a transportation list ready for parents to fill out or verify. I know they’re fifth graders, but making sure every student got home safely was non-negotiable for me.

This probably stems from my own childhood trauma of missing the bus on the first day of high school—I had to walk to the local middle school just to figure out what to do next.

I wanted to make sure my students never had to face that fear or uncertainty, especially if they were new to the school.

During lunchtime on the first day, I would revisit that list to ensure I was crystal clear on every student’s end-of-day plan. Some years, I even called students over individually to confirm. It might seem like too much, but trust me—knowing they’re getting home safely frees you to focus on creating the classroom experience you and your students want.

2. Assign Seats

Before the first day, I made sure to assign seats—not as a way to control my students, but to help them safe and secure.

Walking into a new classroom can be hard for some students, and the last thing I wanted was for any student to feel anxious about where to sit (if I could help it).

3. Intentional Morning Work

I always had something ready on students’ desks for morning work—and I was intentional about choosing something that was simple, engaging, and doable.

It varied depending on the class. Some years it was a fun coloring page, other years it was a multiplication activity, or even a small stack of books and comics.

Grab the morning work options described for free here.

4. Welcome Students at the Door

On the first day, I made it a point to greet every student at the door. I know every school is different, but as much as possible, I tried to be right there to say, “Good morning!” and guide them into the classroom.

I’d have the instructions up on the board in simple words and in a numbered list: “Take your backpack and supplies, find your desk,” and I’d also say it to them personally. If needed, I’d help them find their seat.

5. Ease into the Day

Once everyone was in the classroom and working on their morning work, I would call students over to my small group table.

I kept it light—just a quick “Hey, how are you? Do you have anything for me?” This wasn’t just about supplies; it was about respecting their situations. I didn’t want to shame anyone who didn’t have everything they needed.

This gave me a chance to connect with students even if just for a few minutes and I was able to organize and gather supplies.

Note: I have taught in schools where the vast majority of students did not bring supplies. If so, skip or modify this step. You can use this step as a chance to verify transportation again

6. Building Community: It Starts With Me

After that, we moved into the first community-building activity + rules breakdown, but I kept the focus on me at first. I wanted to take the pressure off my students to “perform” right away, so I started by sharing about myself.

I made it fun, asking them what they wanted to know about me, and even had a questionnaire for those who weren’t ready to speak up.

7. Reading the Room: Adjusting as You Go

One of the most important things I did throughout the day was “read the room” and adjust based on how my students were responding.

For example, after our first community-building activity, I would check their comfort level. I would slow down or speed up my pacing based on their responses and feelings.

This allowed me to meet my students where they were not overwhelm them. Some classes might need structure sooner, while others might thrive on more open-ended activities—being able to pivot is key (and easier said than done).

8. Tease the Excitement: Building Anticipation

Throughout the day, I made sure to sprinkle in little teasers about projects and activities we’d be doing throughout the year—especially those that are unique to fifth grade. This gave them something to look forward to and made them feel special being the “top” of the school.

9. Handling Food and Hunger: Compassion and Understanding

I’m very intentional and mindful of hunger issues because I know how tough it can be for students who come from homes where food might be scarce or meals are at irregular times.

Fifth grade lunch can be late, and I made sure to validate their hunger by saying things like, “I know it’s hard to wait, but you’ll get used to it, I promise.” I also never ate in front of them if they were hungry.

10. Teach Procedures Gradually: Structure Without Overwhelm

Throughout the day, I slowly introduced procedures as they became (or just before) relevant. For example, an hour before lunch, we’d practice our lunch routine. I kept it light, but also made sure they understood the expectations. I mixed these procedure lessons with collaborative activities and creative downtime to keep things balanced.

This gave them the structure they needed without feeling like they were being bombarded with rules.

11. Over Plan but Prioritize: Be Ready for Anything

One of my biggest tips is to over plan the activities for the first day. Yes, over plan.

Here’s the key: prioritize what’s most important. You won’t get through everything—no one ever does—but having more planned than you need gives you options.

When you’re prepared with extra activities, you can adjust on the fly based on how the day is going. Maybe the class is moving faster than you expected, or maybe they need more time to settle in—either way, you’ll have something ready.

Actionable Steps for a Successful First Day:

1. Prepare Early: Have parents fill out or confirm transportation details during Meet the Teacher or Orientation to make sure students get home safely on the first day.
2. Assign Seats: Create a seating chart before the first day to help them feel secure from the moment they walk in.
3. Set the Tone with Morning Work: Choose simple, engaging morning work that students can easily complete to build confidence.
4. Greet at the Door: Welcome students as they arrive, providing clear, simple instructions both verbally and on the board.
5. Connect Individually: If possible, take time to chat briefly with each student at the start of the day, showing respect and care for their individual situations.
6. Build Community Slowly: Start with sharing about yourself to ease students into the day, then gradually move into more interactive activities.
7. Read the Room: Adjust your pace and activities based on how your students are responding; be flexible and responsive to their needs.
8. Tease Exciting Projects: Build anticipation by mentioning fun activities and projects that students can look forward to throughout the year.
9. Acknowledge Hunger: Be mindful of students’ needs, especially if lunch is late, and show compassion and understanding.
10. Introduce Procedures Gradually: Teach routines and procedures as they become relevant, mixing in fun activities to keep things light.
11. Over Plan, But Prioritize: Have more activities planned than you’ll need, but focus on what’s most important. Be ready to adjust based on how the day unfolds.

Hopefully, this post gives you some ideas on how to take what you know is the best way to do things and actually make it happen.

Remember, all of this depends on the students you have in your classroom. One thing I’ve learned—and I’ll keep this short—is that some teaching situations require a different approach because of the students’ needs.

Everything I’ve shared here will benefit all of your students. This is a strong foundation, and if you can add in more excitement, do it. But don’t skip the essentials—making sure your students feel safe and secure is the priority. I hope this blog post helps you achieve that!

Don’t miss the chance to grab all of my Back-to-School essential activities for free here!