Four First Day of School Teacher Traditions

There’s something extra special about the first day of school – the excitement is contagious and everything feels like a new adventure. From fun icebreakers to starting new classroom traditions, we’ve got simple, engaging ideas to help you make the first day memorable for your students. Pause your classroom prep and check out these interactive, first day of school activities to set a positive vibe for the whole school year.

Create A ‘Think Tank’

Encourage curiosity on the very first day with a classroom “think tank.” You can kick off the school year by asking students questions about a few topics you plan to explore. Ask students to make predictions and write down ideas before adding their unique perspectives to the think tank. This tradition encourages the flow of student ideas throughout the school year.

First Day Photos

Take a first day photo to capture the excitement of the new school year. Polaroid pictures can be used as a starting point for various classroom projects or decorations and are a wonderful classroom keepsake to display.

Fun fact: National Inventors Hall of Fame^® Inductee Edwin Herbert Land is best known for inventing instant one-step photography and founding his company, the Polaroid Corp.

Read A Library Book Together

Share the magic of storytelling with awesome reading materials. This is a great opportunity to highlight the library as a resource for students to seek out new knowledge. Here are a couple of recommended books for your first day:

“My WILD First Day of School” by Dennis Mathew

This empowering story shows animals trying new things for the first time – like attending school! This book invites every student to take risks and embrace their inner “wild.”

“How to Get Your Teacher Ready” by Jean Reagan, illustrated by Lee Wildish

This playful story flips the first day narrative with a role reversal as a classroom of students give tips and tricks for getting their teacher ready for the school year. This book is a great way to add some humor to your first day.

Set Classroom Goals

Once you’ve established classroom rules, it’s the perfect time to set some academic goals! Encourage students to find a creative way to document their personal learning goals for the year. Together, create a class name or theme to inspire broader learning goals for the year.

Find More Inspiration

Want to find more classroom inspiration? Keep exploring our blog for additional insights and strategies for your classroom.