First Week of School Tips

By -on

 The first week of school can bring on nerves and excitement all at once. My first week felt like it flew by, even with all the anxiety it brought on. This weeks post my friend and coworker Brinley is going to be joining in with some of her own thoughts as well!

Brinley or otherwise known as Miss. K is a Pre-K teacher at my school. Our classrooms were right across the hall from each other. From our classroom windows we would be able to look across and make faces at each other. Brinley and I were both going through similar experiences as it was our first year teaching. 


Tip from Miss. Hightower: Find someone you are able to connect with who can understand what you are going through during this time. Whether that's a coworker, teammate, or a teaching friend from another school. Going home and trying to explain your day to someone who is not in education, it can be hard for them to understand. Having that friend to talk to can help you not feel completely crazy.

Tip from Miss. K: You might feel pressure to have everything picture-perfect that first week, but that can wait. What really matters is building trust and connection with your little learners. Focus on learning their names, greeting them warmly each morning, and showing that you care. Those simple moments help your students feel safe. Building that relationship helps get them excited about learning. 

Tip from Miss. Hightower: You’re not expected to know everything. Ask anyone and everyone for help. Don’t suffer in silence ask questions, borrow ideas, and let others support you. You’ll be surprised how generous people can be.

Tip from Miss. K: Small moments can be big wins. You should celebrate them. Consider keeping a “joy journal” to jot down these positive snapshots. On the hard days (and there will be some), it’ll serve as a reminder of the progress, connection, and joy that make it all worthwhile.

I hope these simple tips from us can help you reflect on your first week as a teacher. Do you have any tips to add?

Next week's possible topic: Planning 

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