A sample schedule for the first day of school! Great as a reference for teachers who are new to the grade level or teaching.

1. First Day of School for Sixth Grade
8:45-9:10: Arrival
-Choose desks
-Color nametags with brand-new fine point markers
-Socialize(students have been in thisschoolfor two years, so theyknow each other
well)
9:10-9:40: Morning Meeting
-Teach greeting routine
-Play an icebreaker game (maybeZoom?)
9:40-10:30: Ideal Classroom Activity
In my letterto students over the summer, I asked themto draw a pictureof their ideal
classroom. Today,students will work in groupsto share theirpictures. We’lltalkabout theirbig
dreams (youknow, likea swimming poolin themiddleof theclassroom) and howwe can
translate thoseto realisticideas. Each group will thenput togethersomeof their ideasinto a
poster about theiridealclassroom, which we will share with theclass.
This is also theidealtime to share some of thebasic classroom rules, with theideathat
therules will help us to achieve our idealclassroom.
10:30-10:45: UV Beads
UV beadsare great toolsto get kidsthinking scientificallyat thestart of theschool
year. For this activity,each student will get a chenille stem and 5 UV beads. Theyalreadyknow
that sunlight makes thebeadsturn colors, thanks to theirfourth grade teacher—right,that was
me. Our next step will be to generate some questions about the UVbeads to prepare for our
upcoming trip outdoors…
10:30-11:15: Solo Spots
I love taking students outside!Solo Spotsis a quiet, reflective timein which students
spend time outdoorsto observe, wonder, and think.Students will make theirSolo Spots
journals, we’lltalk about expectationsfor thistime, and spend 15 minutes outdoors.
11:15-11:45: Share Solo Spots/Revisit UV beads
I’llwatch students carefully to see exactlyhow to spend this time. Students may share
theirSolo Spotsjournals in small groupsor with theclass. Depending on their discoveries and
questions, we may probefurther with theUV beadsto talkabout testablevs. non-testable
questions.
11:45-12:05: Recess and lunch rules review
12:05-12:45: Recess and Lunch
12:45-1:05: Read Aloud

2. I’ve put togetherashelf of readaloud picturebooksand novels. In thistime, I’ll
introduce theshelf and callon a student to picka bookfor read aloud!
1:05-1:15: Expectations for Silent Reading
We’llmake a chart of what silent reading time shouldlooklikeand sound like.Students
will beable to move around theroom, so we’ll talkabout how to manage thisseamlessly.
1:15-1:45: Silent Reading
Reading timeis a priorityfor thefirst day! I’ve pulled togethersomebookdisplaysand
decentralized my library to make browsing easy.
1:45-2:30: Organize, Agendas, Pack Up
This is thetime that I need to hand out first-daypackets, introduce theagendaroutine,
and talkabout how to packup for theend of day.
2:30-2:45: Closing Meeting
What didwe enjoy?What are we looking forwardto?What willstudents share with
families? I’m not sure of exactlyhowthis meeting willbe organized (maybe even outside?)but I
know that it’s a keyto have a goodfirst day.
2:50-3:30: Phys. Ed for kids/planning for me
In which I will drink at least 3 bottlesofwater!
3:30-3:55: Dismissal
EmilyKissner
emilykissner.blogspot.com