Heidi: This is episode 215 of Teacher Approved.
You're listening to Teacher Approved, the podcast helping
educators elevate what matters and simplify the rest. I'm
Heidi.
Emily: And I'm Emily. We're the creators behind Second Story
Window, where we give research based and teacher approved
strategies that make teaching less stressful and more
effective. You can check out the show notes and resources from
each episode at secondstorywindow.net.
Heidi: We're so glad you're tuning in today. Let's get to
the show.
Emily: Hey there. Thanks for joining us today. In today's
episode, we are diving deep into the first 20 minutes of the
first day of school, and we're sharing exactly how to use those
crucial opening moments to set yourself up for a successful day
and year. Plus, we'll share a teacher approved tip for
handling those inevitable first day tears.
Heidi: But let's start with a try it tomorrow, where we share
a favorite quick win that you can try in your life right away.
Emily, what's our suggestion for this week?
Emily: This week, try giving yourself a compliment out loud.
I know it kind of sounds silly, but research shows that speaking
positive self talk aloud is more effective than just thinking it.
So tomorrow, when you do something well, maybe you handle
a tricky situation smoothly, or remember to send an important
email, say something like, Good job me, or I handled that so
well. It will feel silly, I'm sure, but your brain needs to
hear that encouragement, especially during busy times
like back to school.
Heidi: I love this. This is so whimsical and it's effective.
And if you find that saying something out loud feels too
weird, you can try writing yourself a quick note in your
planner. Future you will appreciate the reminder that
present you is doing great things.
Emily: If you like this idea or anything else we share here on
the podcast, could you take a minute and give us a five star
rating and review on Apple podcasts? That's one way that
new listeners find us. So every rating and review is just super
helpful.
Heidi: Over the years, Emily and I have created an extensive
library of back to school products. So to help you find
the tools that will make the start of your new year easier,
today we are spotlighting our back to school brain breaks.
Emily: Well, since today's episode is about how to make the
first day of school run smoothly, we wanted to share an
important tool for the first few days, your emergency time
fillers. So until you get everyone into their new routine,
you have no way of knowing if an activity is going to take five
minutes or 25 minutes. And that's why you need to have some
ready to go time fillers that you can grab at a moment's
notice. And that's where these brain breaks come in handy.
Heidi: We intentionally designed these to work without
Unknown: You'll be so relieved to have these on hand at the
technology, so that you can use these on the fly without needing
to prep anything. You just print off the cards of the activities
that sound interesting and you're all ready to go to fill
any unexpected downtime, or, you know, to help kids get their
start of the year, but we also have brain breaks to help you
wiggles out if they've been sitting too long for all of your
rules and procedures.
manage your class all year long. So you can find a link to our
brain breaks in the show notes.
Emily: Okay, picture this. It's 7:30am on the first day of
school. You've been planning for weeks. Your classroom looks
amazing, and you're as ready as you'll ever be, but then the
kids start arriving, and suddenly your mind goes
completely blank. Where do you even start?
Heidi: Yeah, that's a rough moment. When you're standing
there with 20 something little strangers looking at you
expectantly, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the 50 things
that feel like they need to happen at the exact same time.
Emily: So that's why we're breaking down exactly what
should happen in those first 20 minutes of the first day. Of
course, we have some suggested activities, but we're also
sharing the why behind each choice and how they all work
together to create the calm, confident start that you're
looking for.
Heidi: Think of this as your game plan. Just like a football
coach scripts the first 15 to 20 plays of a game, we're going to
script those opening minutes so that you can focus on connecting
with your students instead of frantically trying to remember
what comes next.
Emily: Don't worry, you don't have to keep track of 15 to 20
football plays. Instead, we're going to organize everything
that needs to happen into five goals. Each of these goals
serves a specific purpose in helping to make the first 20
minutes the key that unlocks a happy and successful first day
of school.
Heidi: So first we'll talk about what those goals are, and then
we're going to walk you through exactly how to achieve each one.
So your first goal is to welcome each student and help them
settle into this new space. Remember, some of your kids woke
up so excited that morning, but others might have really been
anxious about this moment for weeks.
Emily: This is where greeting at the door becomes so powerful.
When you stand at your classroom door and personally welcome each
child, you're sending the message that they belong here
and that you're genuinely happy to see them.
Heidi: to be able to say good morning and send them off onto
their routine, but on the first day, your students don't know
anything. So you need to be situated where you can explain
exactly what they need to do when they walk into your
classroom.
Emily: So as you greet each student, you're also giving them
their first mini lesson. Good morning, Sophia. Hang your
backpack on any hook with a green dot, then choose a lunch
from the chart on the board and find your desk.
Heidi: Keep it simple and specific. It will be helpful to
post these steps on the board, and if you really want to take
the stress level down, consider adding picture cues next to the
words for anyone who might be feeling a little shaky in their
reading ability at that moment.
Emily: And still be prepared to repeat these directions to each
student individually as they arrive. It is tedious for the
teacher, but it's better than leaving kids wondering and
confused. That will only amp up their first day nerves, and we
do not want that.
Heidi: If it's handy, you can have name tags with you at the
door, or you can have them waiting on your students desks.
Consider what makes the best sense for your situation.
Helping your students get their name tags on can be a calming
point of one on one connection, but on the other hand, it might
further complicate an already complicated morning, if you're
holding up the flow of traffic and you have a big line of kids
trying to get into the room. There's not a right or wrong
answer for this, just make sure that you are thinking about the
pros and cons of your different options well in advance.
Emily: Yeah, do yourself a favor by making as many decisions as
possible ahead of time, because you've got enough on your plate
without having decision fatigue draining your energy on that
first day.
And then once you've welcomed your students, your second goal
is to provide an activity that calms nervous energy while
keeping everyone engaged. And that is where we circle back to
one of our all time favorite strategies, which is pattern
blocks.
Heidi: If you have been with us for a while, you know we are
obsessed with pattern blocks for this exact moment. In fact, we
are so passionate about this, we would recommend investing in a
class set of blocks, even if you never use them a single time to
teach math. And Emily and I really don't recommend spending
money on much for your classroom.
Emily: Yeah, but pattern blocks can be your secret weapon for
inside recess, keeping the siblings of your students
entertained during parent conferences, rewarding your
class with a fun and easy activity, and so much more.
Everyone loves pattern blocks. I've even had to drag teenagers
away from playing with them. They're so versatile, but let's
talk about what makes them especially perfect for the first
morning of school.
Heidi: Well, we have a list of reasons. Of course we do. First,
pattern blocks require zero explanation. Kids see blocks on
the table, they immediately know what to do. Little kids are
going to dive right in. Big kids are going to maybe act like
they're too old for them, but they still get drawn in. There
are no complicated directions for you to give or for students
to follow, and that is crucial to your success when you're
creating new arrivals every few minutes.
Emily: The second reason that pattern blocks are so amazing is
that they're naturally calming. There's something about the
tactile nature of the blocks and the way they invite pattern
making that just settles kids down. Even your most anxious
student can find success building with blocks, and if you
can afford it, a set of wood pattern blocks is even better
than plastic. It just adds to the relaxing vibes.
Heidi: The third reason that pattern blocks are ideal for the
first morning of school is that they are completely open ended.
That means at no point will you have to answer the dreaded, 'I'm
done, now what' question. No one is going to race to the end and
start pestering their neighbors. Kids are happy to keep exploring
and creating for as long as you need them to.
Emily: And the fourth reason is that the prep of pattern blocks
couldn't be simpler. Get some dollar store trays, put a pile
of blocks in the middle of each table or on each desk, and
you're good to go. Really, any container will work for this.
But if you have kids sharing the blocks, it's easier for them to
reach into a container with low sides instead of having to dig
the blocks out of one of those bins.
Heidi: You really, really do not have to stress over this step. I
have gotten as low key as dumping them onto sheets of
paper because I didn't think ahead to get containers. And you
know what? It worked great. Pattern blocks for the win every
time. And look at that. You have your first morning activity
planned, prepped and ready to go in about two and a half minutes.
Emily: If you want to add a little more structure, we do
have a set of back to school pattern block mats that we
designed specifically for back to school. So there's a school
bus and a backpack and all that fun stuff, and there are two
versions of each map. One is more open ended with a blank
outline of the shape so students can explore and see which shapes
can fill the space, and then the other version has outlines of
the specific shape blocks.
Heidi: We did include both sets so you can differentiate as
needed. But when Emily and I taught preschool, we used the
open shapes with our preschoolers, and they can
handle it fine, so I definitely think any elementary age student
should be able to handle it without a problem.
Emily: Plus, the more open ended the task, the more engaged they
will be. And we need to keep them busy for a few minutes so
we can get this new school year underway.
Heidi: One thing I love about this back to school pattern
block set is that each of the mats has a get to know you
question at the top. The questions relate to whatever the
shape is. So for the pizza slice, the question is, what's
your favorite lunch?
Emily: Yep, and that's a simple way to help kids feel welcomed
in class. If they can read, they could talk about the questions
with their neighbors as they work, or when you're walking
around as the kids are creating, it gives you an easy way to
initiate conversation.
Heidi: And we also included some editable slides. If you want to
have something posted for the kids to do, you can easily add
your welcome message and then direct the kids to explore with
the blocks until it's time to get started.
Emily: Okay, that's a lot of information, but don't feel like
you have to remember all this. We also include a Teacher's
Guide to walk you through all the whys and hows. In the show
notes, you will find a link to the pattern block set and to our
Lego activity mats. It has similar activities to the
pattern blocks, but might be a little more appealing to your
older kids, assuming you have access to a bunch of basic
Legos.
Heidi: Yeah, but it actually might be easier to track down a
tub of loose Lego pieces than to buy a class set of Lego blocks.
Emily: Good point.
Heidi: You could probably even get donations from your
neighborhood if you want to do this as cheaply as possible.
Emily: But you really aren't obligated to use either pattern
blocks or Legos. Any calming and engaging activity will work as
your first morning of school activity. The key is just
choosing something that's open ended but doesn't require a lot
of setup or explanation from you.
Heidi: Now, once you've welcomed each student and offered them an
engaging activity, the third goal of your first 20 minutes is
to teach the most important procedures. These are the ones
that your students absolutely need to know to be successful
today. And we've said this before, but it bears repeating,
the first thing you need to teach is not your attention
signal.
Emily: We know lots of class management experts recommend
starting with your attention signal, but we disagree, because
we have weirdly strong opinions about this and many other
things. Don't start with your attention signal. Start with
your bathroom procedure. There's always at least one kiddo with a
nervous tummy on the first day, and you definitely don't want
them sitting there worried about what to do if they need to use
the restroom.
Heidi: Plus teaching the bathroom first sends a message
that you care about their comfort and well being. This is
actually a really welcoming way to start. You're essentially
saying, I want to make sure that you feel safe and taken care of
here.
Emily: Keep it simple and clear. Teach the routine you want to
use all year. Make sure they know where the restroom is
located and how to re enter the classroom without causing a
distraction.
Heidi: And you can really just play up the silliness. Get your
most serious face on and tell students you're going to teach
them the most important thing they're going to learn all year.
Just pause and really let the drama build, and then tell them,
let me tell you how to get to the bathroom.
Emily: Yeah, that's a sure fire way to break the ice with kids.
And once that's out of the way, then you can move on to your
attention signal. Choose something that feels natural to
you. Maybe it's a chime, maybe it's a clapping pattern, maybe
it's just raising your hand. The key is being consistent about
how you introduce it.
Heidi: You can try something like, when you see me raise my
hand like this, that means stop what you're doing, look at me,
and raise your hand too. All right, let's practice. You keep
building with your blocks, and when you see my signal, remember
to stop, look and raise your hand.
Emily: We did a deep dive into attention signals in Episode 98
where we shared all of our best tips and troubleshooting hacks.
Definitely make sure to go back and check that one out if you
want some pointers or if your attention signal needs some
help.
Heidi: Practice your attention signal a few times while
students are working with the blocks. This gives them a chance
to experience success with the signal while doing something
they enjoy, rather than feeling put on the spot.
Emily: Once you've taught about the bathroom and your attention
signal, tell students that they have five more minutes to finish
their designs while you handle the fourth goal, and that is to
get your administrative tasks out of the way so you can focus
on your students. So this is when you handle all of your
teacher tasks, like attendance, lunch count, any forms that need
to go to the office, all the behind the scenes stuff that
keeps the school running.
Heidi: Here's where having a clear script for the day really
pays off. Write yourself notes like, send attendance, in all
caps, so you don't forget in the chaos of the moment. Trust me,
you don't want to start off the year with the front office
having to track down your numbers.
Emily: Okay, so you got that taken care of. Good. Now here's
a real veteran teacher hack. Don't be in a rush to jump into
the day. Once you've sent in your attendance and dealt with
your tasks, just take a moment and pause. This is our fifth
goal. If the kids are still engaged with their activity,
take two minutes to step back and just watch.
Heidi: Yeah, this might be your last quiet moment until three
o'clock. So make it count. Observe how things are going.
How are the kids interacting with each other, who seems
comfortable, who might need some extra support? Maybe even snap a
quick candid photo of the last moment when it's all still
peaceful.
Emily: And this is the perfect moment to give yourself a little
internal high five. Look around at your beautiful classroom, see
your students engaged and calm, and acknowledge how much work
you put in to make this moment possible.
Heidi: You prepared for this, you planned for this, and it is
working. You can imagine Emily and me there in spirit cheering
you on. You deserve to take a few seconds to appreciate that
success before diving into the conveyor belt of busyness that
is about to kick off.
Emily: When it's time to transition, prepare students
with a cue in advance. In one more minute, we're going to
clean up our blocks. This preview of what's coming reduces
anxiety and gets them into the rhythm of listening for
directions.
Heidi: Once the minute is up, make use of that attention
signal you just taught. Make sure everyone is focused on you,
and then explain how you want them to clean up and what they
should do after. This transition becomes your first opportunity
to practice following directions as a group, which sets you up
beautifully for the rest of the day.
Emily: So let's recap what those first 20 minutes might look like
when you put all five goals together. First, you're
welcoming and settling. You're going to greet students at the
door, give them clear directions for what to do when they enter,
and then they're going to be hanging up backpacks, making
lunch choices, and managing anything else that needs to
happen.
Heidi: Next you're making sure everyone is calmly engaged. That
might be sitting down to explore pattern blocks or Lego mats or
another open ended activity.
Emily: Once everyone is in their spot and the bell rings, wait
for any announcements, and then start your third goal,
establishing essential guidelines. Teach your bathroom
procedure first and then your attention signal.
Heidi: Tell your students they have a few more minutes to
explore with the blocks while you attend your fourth goal.
Handle administrative tasks, take attendance, make your lunch
count, and observe how the group is settling in. Don't forget to
pause to appreciate this moment that you have worked so hard to
create.
Emily: And as your first 20 minutes wrap up, cover your
fifth goal and set students up for a successful transition. Use
your attention signal to bring them together and give them
clear directions for cleaning up and transitioning to the next
activity.
Heidi: And just like that, you have accomplished five crucial
goals. Your students feel welcomed and safe and you're
ready to move into the rest of your carefully planned day.
You've set everyone up for success and opened the door to a
calm and confident first day of school.
Emily: We'd love to hear your best first day of school
suggestions. Come join the conversation in our Teacher
Approved Facebook group.
Now for our Teacher Approved Tip of the Week, where we share an
actionable tip to help you elevate what matters and
simplify the rest. This week's teacher approved tip is have a
plan for first day tears.
Heidi: Oh yeah, you know how it goes. No matter how perfectly
you plan those first 20 minutes, someone might still end up in
tears. That is just to be expected.
Emily: Yeah, especially in the younger grades. First, remember
that tears on the first day are usually about big feelings, not
about you or your classroom. Kids might be sad about leaving
mom, worried about making friends, or just overwhelmed by
all the newness.
Heidi: The way to manage this is to have a comfort plan all ready
to go. Maybe it's a special stuffed animal in your classroom
that gets to sit with the student. Maybe it's a quiet
corner with soft pillows, or maybe it's just sitting next to
you while the rest of the class continues with their activity.
Emily: Keep in mind that often the best comfort is just a calm
routine. When that crying child sees other kids happily building
with blocks and following simple directions, they usually start
to feel more secure too.
Heidi: Trust the process. Your thoughtful planning and calm
energy will help even your most anxious students settle in. And
remember tears on day one don't predict how the rest of the year
will go.
Alright, to wrap up the show, we're sharing what we're giving
extra credit to this week. Emily, what gets your extra
credit?
Emily: Well, I've got some high art to tell you about, because
I'm giving extra credit to the new Netflix family movie, K
Popdemon Hunters. I had heard all the buzz about it, and my
daughters both watched it on their own, and they're nine and
15, and they both loved it. So I was like, Okay, let's just watch
it. So we watched it last night for movie night, and I have to
say, I went in with very low expectations, but it was
actually really good.
Heidi: Good.
Emily: The characters are like interesting and nuanced, and the
music is super catchy. But the biggest surprise for me was that
it was actually very funny. I rarely find kids cartoons
actually funny, but this was legitimately funny. So if you
need an idea for family movie night, check out k pop demon
hunters. And even without kids Heidi, maybe you should give it
a watch.
Heidi: I didn't realize it was animated.
Emily: Oh yeah. What are you giving extra credit to, Heidi?
Heidi: Well, I'm giving extra credit to not an animated movie.
It's very different. I'm giving extra credit to my new Laurel
Denise planner. I have not had an official planner, planner,
grown up planner, since I started teaching, and that's so
funny, because all through high school and all through college,
I was a dedicated Franklin Covey girl. I had the binders for each
year, the whole bit.
Emily: Oh yeah, I think I still have some of those in my closet
at mom and dad's house, like the past, the past years, because it
was so important to keep my what I wrote on them in high school.
Heidi: Oh, absolutely, of course it was. But since then, I just
haven't found anything that I could keep up with. I think when
I was teaching, I just used my plan book.
Heidi: And I've tried different things over the years, but what
Emily: Yeah.
I ended up using was just a notebook that was basically one
long row for the week with like, a to do list for each day. And
that worked well, but I hated that I didn't have a calendar
that I could reference. Stuff would catch me off guard all the
time, because I couldn't see the month at a glance. So I would
have to, like, remember to look at my phone and see what's going
on, and I didn't always see that. But this planner keeps
that same format with the long row for the week, with the
little to do list at the bottom, but there's a monthly calendar
at the top. It's exactly what I needed, and I have actually been
able to stay on top of using it. Haven't fallen to my bad planner
habit of, like, trying something for a few weeks and never
keeping up with it.
Emily: Oh yeah, every time for me.
Heidi: Yeah. But I am like, six weeks into this one, and it has
been great. I love it. There's a link to it in the show notes if
you also need a grown up planner.
Emily: Maybe I need to check it out.
Heidi: Yeah, I will say it does take up a lot of space on my
desk, so that is the downside. I would, like half the size would
be perfect.
Emily: Yeah.
Heidi: But you know how things go.
Well, that's it for today's episode. Remember that being
intentional with those first 20 minutes can help the rest of the
day flow much more smoothly. With clear goals and a solid
plan, you can create a calm, confident start that sets
everyone up for success.
Emily: And make sure to check the show notes for links to our
back to school pattern blocks mats, first day Lego mats, and
our brain breaks to help you avoid any unexpected time.
Because when you've planned this thoroughly, you can focus on
what really matters, which is connecting with your students.
Heidi: We hope you enjoyed this episode of Teacher Approved. I'm
Heidi.
Emily: And I'm Emily. Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow
or subscribe in your podcast app so that you never miss an
episode.
Heidi: You can connect with us and other teachers in the
Teacher Approved Facebook group. We'll see you here next week.
Bye for now.
Emily: Bye.