How to prepare for the first day of school by EUN Partnership aisbl

Vasiliki Psaridou/Greece

psaridou — 2018-05-29 12:39:15 UTC

My first day at school involved a lot of anxiety. Both me and the students were nervous and I remember trying to find the correct words for first class students.

PELİN ÖZTÜRK

2018-05-29 14:19:18 UTC

SANLIURFA, TURKEY
My first day of school was very stressed and exciting. I was just 22 years old when I started teaching and I have just graduated from school and the environment,culture, children were different from my hometown. I didn't know how to behave firstly but later ı got warmer to students and ı had used icebreakers.

Ebru Topaloğlu(Turkey,Ankara)

ebrumarbledj — 2018-05-29 14:53:39 UTC

My first day was good and i was in Şırnak. My students welcomed me very good. We got along with each other at once. My school was Fine Art High School,so they are good at in painting and music like me. So we had many common points. I began my lesson by using what is your name question sentence ,and every students asked the same question to eachother. So it was very funny for them. So my school day was a good memory.

Gabriela Souza, Brazil

souza_fgabriela — 2018-05-29 16:12:51 UTC

As many peers here, my first day was fulfilled with stress and anxiety. I think it was on my part, because this program I work to is known by its high quality and I was my first job. I knew people were expecting a lot from me. So I wanted to impress and to make thinks great. I don't remember in details how was it, but kids were very welcoming and curious about me and my following classes, the peers were very excited for the new academic year, and by the end of the day I could notice everything run ok. If I could back in time and talk to my "old me", definitely, I would ask myself to relaz

Silvia Rubio, Spain

silvia7793 — 2018-05-29 18:25:26 UTC

I still haven't faced mi first day so I'll just outline my plan for it. First of all, I would try to know all the names of my students even before they know me, so when we meet for the first time and I greet them mentioning their names, they feel I do care for the class and I'm commited to it. Then I would present myself and show my passion for the subject and for teaching (I think enthusiasm is contagious). Later I would outline the objectives of my subjects, that is, what they will have learnt at the end of the course. In order to meet those objectives I would explain a bit how the evaluation system will be. Maybe I would ask them what are their expectations with m subject and I would like to do an initial check of their knowledge, just to know at which level they are.
Maybe this plan is too ambitious, I'll see it on my first day ;)

Sultan yıldız

egeata1982 — 2018-05-29 18:27:50 UTC

I was very excited the first day I started to study. I may have forgotten all of the things I learned in college education. As time passed and my students became familiar, it became easier.

Şerife,Turkey

serifesezer90 — 2018-05-29 21:37:31 UTC

My firs day is funny and excited. We meet my all students. I ask their first name and surname. My students are seven or eight years old. They like games,baloons,painting. I do for their impressive things.

Oya YELİM,Turkey

2018-05-30 11:53:03 UTC

I was both anxious and excited on the first day of my school because I was very young and my students were high school students who were as bigger as me physically:-)Luckily it didnt take much time to understand to be friend with them by also keeping distance .Calling them by their names,listening their problems,playing volleyball or basketball outside with them at breaks create a good relation and it reflects to your lessons. I still prefer High school to Primary or secondary schools.

Mustafa Oğuz ÇEVLİK,Turkey

2018-05-30 12:56:51 UTC

I was very excited and happy on the first day of my teaching career.I tried to build a good relation with my students beginning to learn all of their names. Calling them by their names is important for children because they feel themselves as individuals.Teaching a lot of things to very little individuals:-) were very exciting and boosting you.

Sofia Tsigara, Greece

softsigara — 2018-05-30 14:28:56 UTC

I always smile at first day and try not to look anxious. I choose my cloths carefully and prefer sth with butterflies or aminals, because I work in a Kindergarten school. Finally I wear my sweet perfum!

Rui, Portugal

2018-05-30 15:03:06 UTC

My first day as a teacher was at the school where I studied. My mother worked at this school, the other teachers had been my teachers. I was very well received, although I was very nervous but everything went well. How I knew the school was an advantage. However it was strange to teach with my former teachers. Another situation was the fact of having students children of friends of mine, who had studied with me. It was a strange feeling, but it was a great help for my career as a teacher because I knew them all.

Shafak Yusifova

2018-05-30 15:34:19 UTC

I work at the school where I studied.That is why my first day at school was very excited.Because most of the teachers had been my teachers.My own English teacher was proud of me.First days I was ashamed but now everything is ok

Vincenzo M. Italy

2018-05-30 15:53:57 UTC

I still remember my first day of school, I was talmete excited and happy that the time flew away as seconds. I must say that even today whenever the school year begins for me the first day is always full of adrenaline but above all passion.

Efe MATARACI,Turkey

efemataraci94 — 2018-05-30 19:35:24 UTC

My first day as a teacher was both interesting and exciting. It was interesting because I was not a student anymore; I was in front of my students in teacher position. That day was the beginning of a new page in my life. There were lots of curious eyes looking at me,as if I was in the spotlight. I tried to do my best for catching their attention and I did. Now ,that day is a beautiful memory in my mind.

Dragana, Croatia

dpavicicst — 2018-05-30 20:00:50 UTC

I was so scared on my first day! Going into a classroom full of 10year olds was so overwhelming thingking about dicipline. But once I started the lesson it all melted down. So I started to realize the real meaning and nessecerety of lesson planning in the first years of teaching.

Víctor, Spain

2018-05-31 02:10:19 UTC

My first day was a positive experience because I entered the classroom as a teacher assistant, which helped me to get in contact with all students in advance before starting the process of teaching. Nevertheless, I experienced that feeling of being lost when the teacher asked me to teach all the following weeks. This sense disappeared little by little when I taught for the first time. I tried to focus on communication and interaction as well as students´ previous knowledge, especially on grammar, following an inductive approach.

Paola G

2018-05-31 03:16:56 UTC

Every year the first day of school I feel anxious and ectited. I introduce mty self and I try to know my pupils, asking them something about my subject, telling them what we are going to do during the year and checking what they already know. I really love the first days of school!

Julia, Spain

2018-05-31 11:18:08 UTC

I remember that my first day was a veeery intense day. I was excited but also very nervous and with a lot of doubts about myself. I knew the importance of the first connection with me and I wanted to be good and fun but also talk about our music classroom rules. I made up a welcome song and I was afraid that they didn't like it but little by little I relaxed myself and I remember enjoying a lot. I would have liked more resource about classroom rules and routines just to be more confident about this. The fun part is easier for me. At the end of the day I felt a little bit on my own, on my own cave. People asked me about my day but no one really knew how my classes were and I think this an important part to improve in education: more observation and sharing between colleagues.

Siwar, Tunisia

2018-05-31 12:05:07 UTC

well, I did not teach yet. however I have planned what to do in my first day. first thing is introduce myself and get know my students together we will discuss "the rules of classroom" and discuss how can we reward good behavior and what shall we do with the bad one. The first day is going to be knowing each other establishing classroom discipline.

2018-05-31 12:06:35 UTC

Barbara B., Italy

2018-05-31 15:11:33 UTC

I started to work in a Kindergarten school when I was 19 years old. I was very young and inexperienced.
In the days before , I and my colleague organized the class and the games.

The first day of the children's school I was very nervous. I said my name to every child and every relative and I greeted them with a smile. I tried to memorize their names.
I still remember the first cry of a child, I gently picked him up so he stopped.

I started working with small children by chance but, spending time with them, I realized that they are my passion.

Caterina Vitali - Italy

caterina_vitali75 — 2018-05-31 15:29:42 UTC

For the first day of school in the third class of primary school, my colleagues and me organized a game in circle to know the names, each child had to repeat the names of the children who preceded him. After a few socializing games in a circle we showed them the tree of emotions: a big tree with a green foliage designed by the teachers on a large billboard.
We invited the children to choose a colored shape (star, cloud, heart, etc.), they had to choose the shape and color that best represented them at that time, so they had to write on it how the stomach was the first day of school. Finally, in a circle, they presented their shape and attached it to the tree.
It was a memorable and funny day!

Merve Kizanlik, Turkey

2018-05-31 17:28:54 UTC

I started teaching at the second semester of an academic year. So the first day of the school was very stressful to me. Kids knew each other very well and they developed a classroom atmosphere already. Hence I planed to play an introducing game to learn students’ names and prepare some questions about their classroom routines. As an advice, it is always good know some interesting games for grabbing attention and prepare striking questions about the subject matter.

Melih Kağan Kaplan,Turkey

melihkaplan80 — 2018-05-31 18:46:01 UTC

I graduated from university just this year and started my career at a special course in my hometown. I was at first so excited because it was my first experience in teaching in front of actually real students. I didnt know what to do at first,however once ı saw the potential of my students in their eyes, ı was relaxed. Because they were looking at me as if I was their feeder. Once they were willing to learn smt. I was really ambitious to teach them. in brief, they were the ones who made me feel relaxed in the classroom.

2018-05-31 22:07:21 UTC

Emine FİDA RÜZGAR, AYDIN
I've been a teacher for 20 years. I go to school every day with the same excitement. I make plans. I make an absolutely exciting detail for the course of that day on the planet I made. that detail makes the day exciting. in my lessons I tell stories from my experiences. I am talking about an event that can capture the interest of interesting students who are on the agenda that week. I know my students' parents. I do family visits. know the positive and negative events in their lives. I follow the work I give them. The course is a guiding course for students

Nihat, Turkey

xar524122 — 2018-06-01 07:31:52 UTC

I have started many years ago in 1997. I was fear because I have started a monuntain village single. Unified five grade

Alina, Czech Republic

alina_vabals — 2018-06-01 19:51:42 UTC

I would suggest to make the first teaching day memorable for the pupils. There are a lot of non-formal education methods that could be used. I would really advise to plan well the activities for that day, to make a plan of it.

Estera, Romania

estera_bt — 2018-06-01 20:58:14 UTC

I am a preprimary school teacher in the second year of teaching. I remember in my first year I was really frightened, very nervous, actually trembling in the first part of the day, when parents came with the children; and I have a face where you can read all my feelings. So, I’m sure that all the children’s parents saw my emotions. With the children it was ok, we get along right away, we get to know each other, we had a funny first day with games, music and dance. I also remember that I prepared myself for that first day weeks before, by making a list with all the children from my class and their names, ages and other details that I could get. Then I prepared my classroom; I thought that the first impression really matters for the children when they enter the room so I tried to create a really warm, welcoming, colorful and joyful space. I searched on the internet articles, ideas, examples, advices for the first day at the kindergarten. I prepared a “present” for each child (a balloon and a name badge in the shape of a mushroom, because we are “The Little Mushrooms”). A problem that appeared that first day was that I didn’t have prepared more activities; being the first day, I thought that we would make the presentations, I would give them the presents and they would go home with their parents. But no, the parents left and the kids stayed 4 hours and I had to came up with something. Happily, I found in my mind some nice activities and discussions. In my second year I came prepared with activities, knowing now that they will stay :). I also had in mind to attract the children that fear kindergarten, cry, and have problems with the separation from their mother. We also discussed some basic rules/things that they should know about kindergarten.

Jaye, UK

jaye_middleton — 2018-06-02 15:45:26 UTC

I haven't yet started - as soon as I get a job and a class of my own, I plan to prepare by researching my pupils as much as possible, having all of the resources that I need ready and in place from day one and making my classroom an interesting and inspiring place to work.

Marialena Margaroni, Greece

em_margaroni — 2018-06-03 11:51:40 UTC

My first-day expectation is to create a welcoming atmpsphere in my classroom. I put chairs in a circle and everyone-including myself- introduce himself to others. We discuss together the rules that would be necessary to feel safe and comfortable and to learn as much as possible.

Qristine Manukyan

2018-06-03 12:39:20 UTC

Jasminka, Croatia

japytom — 2018-06-03 13:52:39 UTC

My first day was long ago, but I still remember how I felt that day. I did not have any experience at all, especially in high school, and my first day was with graduates. I did the preparation, the assignments, the flyers, the materials, and they solved them all for twenty minutes! So I had to improvise. Now I have a ton of materials and tools to avoid such a situation.

İSHAK KURT - TURKEY

kurtishak16 — 2018-06-03 14:13:06 UTC

I made a lot of preparations for my first day at school. I learned very well the social environment of the school, the social and economic conditions of the students and the parents, and the climate and living conditions. On the first day, it was very useful to talk about class and school rules and to get acquainted with them.

Tamar, Israel

2018-06-03 16:45:46 UTC

on my first day I usually prepare an ice breaker for each new class I go into. and then I go over rules and we actually start learning. something from the book usually

Zuzi, SVK

2018-06-03 20:22:42 UTC

I have not started teaching properly yet. I plan to prepare some games to get to know each other and some emergency lesson plans

Latife Çeri,Turkey

latife_ceri — 2018-06-04 08:37:42 UTC

It was nearly ten years ago I started to work at a vocational high school in Siirt,I was very excited and tired because I dıdn't know the students,culture,...
All the English teacher changed their school and I was alone .Our school manager was very strict.
My advice for the first day at school is to learn the students background about your subject,social and school environment.Be calm and prepare ıce-breaking activity for all of you.

Berna, Turkey

2018-06-05 07:57:24 UTC

I would suggest to start with something that enhances their self-confidence. For this reason, I would try to choose a content which is easily relatable. Cognates which mean the same thing in your native language and in the target language, might be a good example of this easily relatable content. When students realize that this totally differet language has something in common with their native language they feel they can handle this lesson. This makes them take part in the learning process confidently.

Monia Mahmoudi, Tunisia

henimahmoudi_mo — 2018-06-05 11:40:30 UTC

The first day at school is unforgettable for me when I was a student I was the happiest girl in the world because generally the girl does not go to school because there is gender inequality in my city
but my mother accompanied me to school
When I became a teacher it's the same feeling of joy
every school year I am happy and very happy to see my new students.because when I was a stuents I liked so much to see my new teachers
Last year I prepared this padlet for my first day with my students
I share it with you

viki dogani, greece

2018-06-05 12:32:50 UTC

first day is important you can get to know students

I recommend to start with get to know activities/games, to agree on rules (it is good to create rules together with the pupils, but still you are a teacher and you can have some rules they don't like very much) and to decorate the classroom with childrens' products/pictures.

2018-06-05 19:31:11 UTC

Alessandra Amideo

2018-06-05 20:02:18 UTC

ITALY

My first day of school is made for the reception. We all know each other and learn names and roles. I propose a personality knowledge test
to learn to know oneself and a
manage emotions. I explain the study plans and unravel my emotional intelligence.Gentlemen magic begins.

luz, united states

2018-06-05 23:01:06 UTC

On the first day, I think it´s important to get to know each other through a game or a handicraft done together and by the end of that class put it in a visible place in class. Also we talk about the rules and where the bathroom and emergency exits and routes are.

Moreno Concezzi, Rieti-Italy

moreno_concezzi — 2018-06-06 06:34:36 UTC

My first day of school I was extremely excited, and my hearts beated in my chest as never before. I was ready to make a lot of think and I thought myself as not so prepared fot this. They were two hour of teaching which lasted so few. At the end of the lesson my tongue was completely dried, but I was very proud for what I did. Please teacher, hear always the ideas of student by not making an hard wall but anytime a wall in soft plastic.

Ivana, Zagreb, Croatia

vanchidel — 2018-06-06 07:53:08 UTC

I was very nervous, since only three days have passed from learning I got the job to entering classroom (and having five classes on that first day). I created a get-to-know-you activity (students had to write some fun fact about themselves, but without adding their name, and everybody had to guess who wrote it) and went through some stereotypes regarding psychology (i.e. Psychologists are the same as psychiatrists; Aggressive behaviour helps reduce aggression etc.). The students liked those activities a lot, so I'll definitely keep them for next year as well. I also did cover some basic rules and evaluation criteria, but when I look back now, I didn't do it well because I myself didn't know at that point what my criteria would be. I also now think I was more nervous than I should have been, and that I didn't set up the discipline rules as firmly as I should have. But in general, it was a positive experience and those first days cemented my enthusiasm.

Paola T., Palestrina(Italy)

torniai_paola — 2018-06-06 17:21:36 UTC

The first day of school is made for get to know each other. The need to keep pace with society and prepare students for their roles in society

2018-06-06 19:52:32 UTC

Bahar, Turkey

2018-06-06 19:54:00 UTC

I will learn their names and I also will mention about classroom rules and I will try to make them speak, introduce himself and what he expects from the lesson. I will introduce myself by giving tips. They will guess and know me in the fun way. I will arrive early at the classroom. I will say hi each other for icebreak.

Özer DURMUŞ Türkiye

2018-06-07 06:56:32 UTC

The first day of school; It is important for students, other teachers, school administration and me.

Snjezana Kovacevic, Croatia

knjiznica_zlata — 2018-06-07 11:31:14 UTC

The first day I was excited and a little bit lost but at the time, I managed to coop with everything.

Raúl Cañamero. Spain

canamerocita — 2018-06-07 18:49:50 UTC

The first day is very exciting. I try to cause a good impresion and have all under control. i afraid more the first parents minting

Dhurata, Albania

2018-06-07 19:41:30 UTC

My first day was very interesting.
When entering the classroom, it was a noise and unprecedented crowding. The students had been riding around with jokes and playing with each other. I was very careful to have a suitable outfit for that day and a clear speech for those students.
(I had information that they worried as many teachers as they left the classroom). I had decided that I would keep that class by the end of the school year ... I won the first battle and they became my beloved pupil. I remember emotionally always the first day with that class.

Kawther Alomoush

Kawther2022 — 2018-06-07 21:24:43 UTC

My first day is wonderful but I had many challenges because it was in a far place with no means of transportation . The students were nice and they liked school .

On the first day of school, I usually start with fun ice-breakers to get to know each other and then establish the ground rules all together. I explain the students the course outline (the grading criteria, assignments, quizzes, projects, and other requirements, etc.).

2018-06-08 12:48:37 UTC

Ivana, Macedonia

ivannast16 — 2018-06-09 22:48:40 UTC

My first day at school was both difficult and challenging. Honestly, I was scared to death. I had a bunch of curious and noisy teenagers in the classroom who were difficult to deal with, it was their last year at school and I was a teacher without any experience. I used to work hard to catch their attention and sparkle their interest for the subject. After some time they became more cooperative and motivated. I won the battle.

Ilaria, Italy

ilaria_calvano — 2018-06-10 12:38:31 UTC

My first day of school was a good one. I decided to spend it introducing me and getting to know the students. I had also planned an engaging activity, a quiz, to build a warm class climate and revise topics students dealt with yet.
In the future, I will dedicate some minute to better explain learning objectives and class rules.

Carolina, Moldova

carolinachitoroaga — 2018-06-11 07:43:59 UTC

My first day at school was 3 years ago. It was a positive one I think althought I was compared with my colleague (she has an experience as a teacher of 20 years). My pupils are primary level and I did some ice-breaking activities to know each others. In September it will be a new school year and I am going to start with games to remind the vocabulary and grammar learnt during previous year.

Maria Calà, Italy

ilacrisere — 2018-06-12 13:35:03 UTC

The first day of school generally I dedicate it to presentations and knowledge of the premises of the school if it is a first class, but if it is other classes that already know how to move inside the school, I dedicate it to the stories of some moments experiences of summer holidays, some individual or structured group games, singing, watching videos of the previous year ...

Arif Soğukpınar, Turkey

2018-06-13 13:51:01 UTC

I was a bit excited and happy on the first day of my teaching career. It was on 18th September 2003. I tried to build a good relation with my students beginning to learn all of their names. They were grade 6th students. Calling them by their names is important for children because they feel themselves as individuals.Teaching a lot of things to very little individuals:-) were very exciting.

suncezgb

suncezgb8 — 2018-06-14 07:05:34 UTC

Although I work for almost twenty years as ateacher I'm still very exited to start a new school year. On the first day of school I introduce to my students, do some ice breaking activities to know them better, talk to my students about their expectations of the class, go over the rules, tasks and so on.

Veronika, Austria

veronika_mojzes — 2018-06-14 10:03:24 UTC

On my first day of school (2017) I was very nervous, because my supervisor was watching the whole session. But my students were nervous too. We did some ice-breaking activities which were a lot of fun and luckily the 14 year-old girls were very nice, so I had no problems getting their attention. For next year I want to be more clear about expectations of the course and grading system at the beginning, because this was a bit of a mess at the beginning of this school year. Of course I also want to create a positive climate and play some games, but I also want them to know what the rules.

Daniela Trabia(PA)

2018-06-14 16:25:17 UTC

Ormai dopo tanti anni di insegnamento, ho avuto tanti primi giorni di scuola, però ogni anno mi piace lasciare ai bambini un bel ricordo del loro primo giorno di scuola. Essendo una scuola primaria do spazio alle attività manipolative. Prima fra tutti l'attività che preferisco portare avanti con i miei bambini, é quella di personalizzare la nostra classe. Come? Tutti con le tute da pittori, colori acrilici e diamo il via.....Disegniamo e compriamo le pareti della classe con colori vivaci e da loro preferiti. Poi lasciamo le impronte delle mani e quando possibile anche quelle dei piedi. Spingiamo sulla parete un grande albero che ci servirà durante l'intero anno per i cambi delle stagioni. E poi tutti a mangiare un lungo e gustoso pane e nutella!!!Da qui possiamo partire per il nuovo anno scolastico.

Mirela, Romania

mirelaemiliapop — 2018-06-17 13:08:52 UTC

I live every first day of school with the same emotions as when I was student. I try to make as pleasant as my students and I am glad to discover some tricks.

Vlad Eugenia Ioana, Romania

2018-06-17 15:32:45 UTC

I like every start no matter of what it is; of day, of week, of year...so my first day of a school year it is prepared with much love because my students must pleased the school and if I am happy they will be also: I prepare some surprise for students

gizem, Turkey

2018-06-19 15:39:19 UTC

On my first day as a teacher I was a little bit nervous because it was the first day of both my career as a teacher and the academic year. I always keep in mind this quote: '' The first impression is important!". So I tried to impress my students in a positive way. I tried to memorize their names. I tried to tell them the importance of learning a new language and how this process could affect their lives.

Kawther Alomoush

Kawther2022 — 2018-06-20 16:16:08 UTC

I like my first day of school . I was really exciting and challenging . I was in a school in a village and it was very far . But students were very nice and were so happy while learning . I prepare my self and students interact effectively . I remember their feelings . They love school

Patrizia, Italy

2018-06-21 06:28:54 UTC

I did not know what to expect on my first day at the kindergaten... I think I was not prepared enough. So, I will better reflect on how to welcome little children for my first next day. In particular, I cannot forget that it would be the very first school day for some of them

Elyph,Turkey

2018-06-23 22:02:07 UTC

I had always no fear of being in a new place.But If I start to work in anywhere I have a little excitement.The first day of my school carrier was at the secondary school.I was very excited and keen on teaching.I ha also no difficulties on communicating with students and collegues.

Katzrin, Israel

elisheva_schlanger — 2018-06-26 17:24:20 UTC

I worry about kids who have had negative experiences with learning and school before, coming in and having PTSD- like feelings. I hope that our first days help us to develop connections with the students, and also make clear boundaries and expectations.

Onay T

2018-06-28 13:37:45 UTC

I have always dreamed to be a teacher whose students are happy to go to school and smile as they leave.

Siranush Sahakyan

siranushs — 2018-07-12 08:35:45 UTC

Armenia
Any teacher should get ready for school year beginning with greatest desire to create something useful and important for her students and also must refresh her scope of knowledge to enrich it with new approaches of language teaching.

Nurten

2019-01-17 18:29:39 UTC

I was very excited on the first day of school. I was very happy to meet my new students.

Valentina, Croatia

2019-10-07 19:00:10 UTC

I was so excited, but happy.

Pino, Croatia

2020-06-11 19:08:41 UTC

I came as subsitution teacher in middle of the school year. There is no possible advice then to be calm.

First Day

ronsphirunnong — 2021-04-20 05:52:00 UTC

2025-09-03 15:12:01 UTC

2025-09-03 15:55:56 UTC