Inside: Fun and meaningful ideas to welcome back students to a new school year.
I pushed the door open and led my new first graders into our classroom.
“Here we are! This is our room! Let’s stand along the back here and I’ll show you where to sit.”
I went around the room, pointing to each desk, squinting my eyes as I tried to match each desk name plate to the name tags on my students. Half the students stared back at me with blank expressions- not reacting when their names were called, some of the kids were sneaking side conversations, and some were crying hysterically, begging me to take them back to their parents.
I took a deep breath and braced myself for what was sure to be a challenging first day of school.
I didn’t know any of the kids and they didn’t know me.
And here they were in a new classroom, with a new teacher, and many new classmates. I had hoped to have a smooth start… but it just wasn’t gelling.
Those first few days set the foundation for the rest of the year. With a little planning and preparation before the year even starts, it is possible to start forming connections with your new students so you can hit the ground running as soon as possible.
Table of Contents
1- Building Trust from Day One: How to Connect with Students Before the School Year Starts
The first day of school can be overwhelming for students. They’re meeting their teacher and classmates for the first time and don’t know what to expect. The routines are different. The expectations are different. The classroom is different.
Make your students feel a little less overwhelmed by connecting with them before the school year starts. As soon as you get your class list and have permission to reach out, send your new students a letter, postcard, or email. Introduce yourself and share something about yourself that they may find interesting or relatable. This is your chance to welcome back students warmly while making a great first impression!
Emails are the fastest way to reach out to people, but there’s something so classic and deeply personal about writing a letter or postcard. Plus, kids love getting things in the mail. Consider setting aside some time to quickly write some notes by hand.
Want to go the extra mile? Look for a picture of yourself in the grade that you teach and include it with your note. The kids will get a kick out of it and it humanizes you.
Another fun way to make your note extra meaningful is to take a video of yourself reading a great back to school book like The Night Before First Grade. You can include a link or scannable QR code to the video in your note. Your new students will love being able to hear and see you before the first day!
Sending a note to your students is an easy way to start on the right foot and establish a solid foundation of rapport that can carry through your school year.
2- Connect with Care: Building Relationships with Your Students’ Families
Connecting with students is extremely important, but connecting with their families from day one is equally important. Reach out to them as soon as possible, whether it’s through email or a letter. They may be anxious about the new year and will be happy to hear from you.
In your letter or email, introduce yourself and share information on what they can expect on the first day and in your classroom in general.
Things to Include in Your Letter
- Your name and how long you’ve been teaching
- Why you love the grade level or subject you teach
- Where families can drop their children off for school
- Snack information such as whether or not they need to send one in, whether or not your classroom is allergen free, etc.
- Specials information so parents know what days their child needs to wear sneakers and remove earrings for gym class, bring in a smock for art class, etc.
- The date for Open House or Back to School Night so they can save the date
- The best way for them to contact you
Grab my back to school welcome letter for free. You can type your own letter directly onto the PDF and print it out to send home to the families of your students. Click the image to grab it!
3- Gain Valuable Insights from the Start: Send a Survey Home
So sending a note to your students and their families is a great way to make a connection from day one (or even before day one). But if you want to take that connection to the next level quickly, a survey is the way to do it.
Send a survey or questionnaire home to your students’ families to complete as soon as possible. (If you’re sending a welcome back letter as I described in the previous section, include the survey with it). This will allow you to start collecting information about your new kiddos right away.
The survey will help you gain valuable insight which you can use to make connections from the start. You can find out about things like family backgrounds, favorite activities, current interests, and hobbies, as well as any special needs or learning challenges.
You can make your own survey or you can make it easier on yourself and use my ready-to-print back to school family surveys! This resource even includes editable versions so you can customize the questions being asked to best meet your needs.
Establishing connections with your new students is the key to having a successful school year – and it starts with the first day. Use a survey to get the ball rolling in the right direction and welcome back students right.
4- Personalized for Perfection: The Secret to Making Your Students Feel Special
Now that you’ve opened the lines of communication with new students and have started collecting information about them, it’s time to think about prepping your classroom environment.
Entering a new classroom on the first day of a new school year can be daunting for children- especially very little ones. The classroom is where they will be spending most of their day, every day… so anything you can do to make the space warm and inviting will go a long way.
Your kids will feel like strangers in their new classroom so a good way to make them feel like they belong is to personalize things with their names. This sends the signal Hey, this is the place for you!
Think about creating name tags for students’ desks, tables, or cubbies. This defines each student’s individual space in the classroom.
You can grab my adorable desk name tags and type your students’ names directly onto them. Then print, laminate, and attach them to the desks. (Pro tip: I love to use Scotch Book Tape to adhere the plates to the surface. Laminating them first keeps them durable and makes it easy to reposition them without ripping if needed).
Also, If you are using folders or binders in the classroom have them prepped and ready with your students’ names. These folder/binder covers coordinate perfectly with the desk name tags I’ve created and you can type your students’ names and information directly onto them. They can be used in so many different ways. Simply print them and slip them into the cover of a binder or glue them onto paper folders and laminate them. Use an exact-o knife to slice open the pockets after laminating. Click the image to find out more.
Having these personalized materials creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, giving everyone in the classroom a sense of belonging. Plus your efforts to welcome back students will make them feel important!
5- Get Your Students’ Names Down Pat
An important way to welcome back students and make them feel valued is to try to learn their names as quickly as possible. The easiest way to do this? Name tags, of course.
Sure you could grab a pack of those adhesive name tags from the teacher supply store and write your student’s names on them- but let’s be real. By the time recess rolls around half of the tags will be removed, ripped, or completely missing.
There’s a better way! Create durable name tags for your students. Laminate them. Punch a hole and use yarn or lanyards so students can wear them around their necks. (You may also want to consider investing in a set of plastic name tag holders). These will last much longer- plus you can put important information on the other side like bus numbers, lunch ID PINs, etc. Your students will have important information right with them at all times.
And you can reuse them throughout that first week! (I just recommend collecting them at the end of the day for safekeeping until the next day).
My name tag resource makes it extremely easy to type your students’ names and important information. Print them out, cut them apart- and then laminate them or slip them into an ID badge holder. Your kids will love them and it will make your life easier.
6- The Power of Personal Connections: One-on-one Conversations make all the Difference
To welcome back students properly you’ll need more than just notes and nametags. it is essential to establish proper communication and trust with them. We can break this barrier by getting to know our students in private; engaging in meaningful conversations one-on-one during class time. Doing so will not only make each student feel welcome and accepted but also let them express any doubts or concerns they may have that we can address right away.
Those first few days are hectic, but if possible, try to find a few minutes each day to chat with students one-on-one. Snack time is an excellent time to do this. Aim to spend even just three minutes with each child and by the end of the week you will have hopefully met with everyone.
This is your chance to let each child know that you see them and care about them!
7- Make it Official: Welcome Back Students with Custom Cards
Another fun way to welcome back students is to give them a fun welcome card, acknowledging that they are not an “official” first grader (or second grader or kindergartner… you get the point). Starting a new grade level is a big deal and this will make students feel extra special.
Personalize each card with your students’ names. Receiving these cards will fill your students with pride and get them excited about what’s to come! Why should we only celebrate the end of the year? The beginning is equally as important- a fresh start!
If you want to create a meaningful keepsake beyond the card, you could take a picture of each student holding their card on the first day of school. Then print the pictures, laminate them, and attach a magnet to the back. You can give the magnets to parents at Open House or Back to School Night.
Be sure to check out my fun Welcome Back to School cards resource by clicking the image. You can type your information directly onto the PDF!
8- The Power of Organization: Create a Comfortable Classroom for Your Students
As you welcome back students for the new school year, one of the best ways to create an inviting classroom is to make sure it’s organized. For example, desks should be laid out clearly and in a way that encourages collaborative discussion; materials should be easily accessible so that students can access them whenever needed; and decorations such as welcome signs or inspirational quotes help give the room a warm, cozy atmosphere. Taking the time to organize your classroom can go a long way toward making it enjoyable for everyone to come in and start learning from day one.
If you’re looking for helpful tips for setting up your classroom for a successful year, be sure to check out my post, Slay the First Day: Setting Your Classroom Up for Success.
9- Manage Expectations and Nerves for the First Day of School
As teachers, we do a lot to prepare for that all-important first day of school. But it’s hard to predict how the day will go and it’s essential to have realistic expectations.
Don’t overextend yourself by trying to get too much done at once and show your students (and yourself) some grace–this is a transition period after all! Remember that the first day of school is really just a chance to welcome back students, get to know each other, and establish routines. It’s going to take some time to get into the swing of things.
Ace the First Day of School
If you follow these easy tips, you’ll be well on your way to building strong relationships with your students from day one. With a little organization and preparation before the school year even starts you can hit the ground running. No need for awkward silence as you desperately try to remember names and think of things your students might like.
Check out my Back to School bundle for lots of adorable resources that will help you get organized, save time, and welcome back students warmly to a new school year.
After all, a little planning goes a long way in making sure the first day (and every day!) of school is a success.
