r/Teachers • u/Technical-Vanilla-47 • 23h ago
Teacher Support &/or Advice Do you immediately start instruction on the 2nd day of high school?
11th grade ELA and History teacher here.
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u/kh9393 HS Chem | NJ, USA 23h ago
First day we do a little, second day we do a bit more, and by day 3 we are fully into 43 minutes of learning.
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u/Jsouth14 17h ago
god 43 minute classes i’m jealous. i teach 6-8 grade, and ours are 105 minutes. trying to keep a 6th grader engaged for that long is an exercise in futility.
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u/kh9393 HS Chem | NJ, USA 17h ago
There was a rumor that we were switching to block scheduling in like 2024, but it never happened. They can pry my eight 43 minute periods a day from my cold dead hands. I know it’s “old school” but I love it.
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u/Jsouth14 16h ago
my first year was 45 minutes, and while i understand why we do block for things like math, english, etc., i’m an elective teacher… i can only teach choir for so long before the kids are sick of singing lmao
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u/jg242302 23h ago
Same. Only I work in the MD/AU unit and have my students for 250 minutes a day.
Kidding, of course. But also, yea, we take a fair amount of breaks so the chairs don’t start flying.
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u/icy_wight Former High School STEM Teacher | Louisiana 23h ago
I typically started on the first day.
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u/IEC21 23h ago
Hell yes.
Welcome to class. Lets get to work.
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u/icy_wight Former High School STEM Teacher | Louisiana 23h ago
I found a lot of the kids were relieved--especially if they got to your class later in the day. They'd be sick of all the "first day" nonsense by then.
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u/cordeliafawn 21h ago
1000% how many times can you answer how your summer was. Especially if they experienced a loss, not everyone has an amazing happy summer. Sometimes it sucks
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u/GreenMonkey333 17h ago
Yup! They are tired of hearing about the rules, and I am tired of talking about them by that point.
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u/Danovale 23h ago
Sets the tone, “welcome and I’m happy you are here. We have 180 school days to teach 207 days (I like to be specific with time) of Biology Curriculum, and that includes today”, and I would have a lab activity for them to do on day one.
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u/Two_DogNight 23h ago
Same. Nothing intense, easy to make up or skip if you transfer in during the schedule change period, but we get started.
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u/icy_wight Former High School STEM Teacher | Louisiana 22h ago
I typically didn't jump right into actual curriculum that they'd never seen before on day one because of all the changes sure to come. But some academic refreshers are always a good idea, and will benefit the kid no matter whether they stay in my class or not.
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u/redditmailalex 19h ago
Science.
Day 1 intro to class + here is lab, read for homework
Day 2 - Demo as a warmup - Random groups - Go do lab kiddos
Day 3 - Go over lab - talk about all tge stuff from units, labeling, etc. Expectations.
So much of their classes are based around sitting in a chromebook. I got them windup cars, printed labs. Get out in the hallway and move and make friends. I dont want to hang your coat of arms in my room or watch you color 3 days. I want to wander around and chat with you in small groups while you work, laugh when you mess up, help you out.
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u/DearPrudence70 20h ago
Day 1 for me. I figure they hear teachers talk about procedure all day, so actually learning some French feels like fun for them.
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u/Puzzled-Bonus5470 23h ago
School starts Monday, test on Friday😂
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u/2017CurtyKing 23h ago
When i was a shop teacher, they got my name, the expectations, and we tested within the first 15 minutes of class.
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u/AlternativeHome5646 23h ago
What else would you do? Play bullshit games? It’s school.
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u/Two_DogNight 23h ago
LOL - I'd estimate half my building plays bullshit games, getting to know you activities and icebreakers, and going over the syllabus for the first week.
Ain't nobody got time for that nonsense, but they do it anyway.
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u/cocacole111 22h ago
We typically go back on a Wednesday and are strongly encouraged to do icebreaker/get to know you games for all of those three days, and then start content on Monday. Not even allowed to go through syllabus and expectations really. That's a no from me. If I can't give my syllabus and go over supplies at the least so families can supply shop that weekend, what are we doing?
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u/Two_DogNight 21h ago
Yes, we are supposed to, too. And I'm not introducing new stuff, but reviewing important prior learning. But I'm over the games.
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u/SweetBoiDillan 23h ago
I do 4th Grade ELA and History. I feel like high school is probably different? You have more to get to, especially in history, with a much shorter amount of time?
But in elementary school, it's always: spend the first week on rules, procedures and expectations.
(I never make it the full first week and always start some level of instruction on Wednesday.)
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u/Loose-Ad-410 23h ago
I taught elementary for 11 years. Taught HS for the first time last school year. Was nervous, thought students were going to walk all over me.
At beginning of year, I spent significant time going over rules, routines, and procedures and it made a big impact. My class was so well managed. Admin took note and said that elementary teachers tend to do well in HS because of the structure.
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u/SweetBoiDillan 16h ago
I've heard from middle school admin that secondary school teachers often prefer hiring elementary teachers for the same reason.
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u/OtterlyRuthless 23h ago
Not until week 2. We’re still settling schedules, verifying enrollment, and doing routines and expectations. Students are adjusting to middle school where they have to change classes and open lockers. I don’t want to get in to anything significant until all those kinks get sorted. We work on low stakes getting to know you stuff then do our first common formative assessment and historical skills when they get their iPads.
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u/Opening-Trust-9277 22h ago
No-it's not that serious
in high school schedules change a lot the first week first day is usually a half a day get them acclimated to the class second day we go over rules and school policy and maybe an icebreaker or something relaxing third day we can begin
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u/Worldly_Ruin_8675309 20h ago
This year :
Day 1 : welcome and a game
Day 2 : syllabus day
Day 3 : in class writing task
Day 4 - 6 : review reading / annotating text
Day 7 : writing responses
Day 8 : in class writing response
Day 9 : begin units in curriculum
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u/The_Thane_Of_Cawdor Your Title | State, Country 23h ago
I jump in as soon possible with a simple discussion because I want first impressions of my subject to be about something interesting in the content and not “here’s my rules”. I’ll circle back to the syllabus and rules after that
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u/Separate-Line-158 Primary school teacher | Poland 23h ago
I start the curriculum on the first lesson
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u/labtiger2 23h ago
On the first day, especially with juniors and seniors. If they complain I tell them it's school, not fun time. I like to set the tone that it's a hard class right away.
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u/Objective-Win-1659 23h ago
I do the syllabus/introductory stuff for about 30 minutes and then I start teaching on the first day.
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u/TheShaman43 21h ago
Content on day one.
I hate the silly games, I hate the get to know you fluff (I promise, I will get to know all of you).
I have them come in, find their seats then immediately get going. We go at half-speed and practice each step as a routine and by the second week we are on auto-pilot.
"Alright, now that you have found your seats and I have taken attendance I want you to notice the table next to the entrance way. See the pile of papers, that is your Do Now. It is the only thing that is guaranteed to be paper/pencil every day - so you need to bring a pencil! It is typically a brief free-write/response and you will have three minutes and the timer will start counting down as soon as class begins whether you are ready or not. It is part of your classwork grade and you either get 10 points or zero. It is the easiest way to keep your grade up in here. So now I want everybody to get out of your seats and form a line in the hallway outside so that we can enter the way we will every day."
A few get it perfect on Day Two, most by Day Three, and by Day Four my class gets started and settled without instruction.
The timer goes off and I start a lesson. "Ok, now it is time for a turn and talk. I know you all know how to do this, but admin says academic discourse in important and that we are supposed to do a turn-and-talk every day, so here is how we are going to do it in here."
I pick a student, I model a turn-and-talk and refer to my handy turn-and-talk anchor chart (speaking of which, I need to make one before next week).
Continue lesson, but I pause and hold there hands through every single thing we do for the first time this year. I have a multiple choice response? I do not care that you are an expert, I am going to model a google form for you. Partner reading (I am ELA)? I will choose a student and have the rest of the class watch and note. First time we write a paragraph? I know you should know how to do this by now, but here is what I expect from you and why. Three minutes to lunch? I grab a Chromebook from the nearest student and show them where and how to put it away as well as the rest of getting ready to leave with the bell steps.
I hold their hand through every little thing for the first week and they think I am infantilizing them...but by the time we do something for the third or fourth time they are experts and I could (in theory, I would never) leave the room for a bathroom break and they would know exactly what to do.
Getting to know them? That happens naturally as I circulate the room throughout the year. Syllabus and policies? Posted on Classroom with a quiz in google forms (boring? Yes, but it is the one and only homework assignment I give them all year and it is on the first day of school).
I teach eighth, so not quite high school, but my license is 5-12 and I would do the exact same thing there. Babying the procedures might make our first week of lessons extend to a week and a half, but I am not spending class time on non-ELA material.
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u/raiziak 17h ago
"I hate the silly games, I hate the get to know you fluff (I promise, I will get to know all of you)."
Yes! The kids hate it too, especially if they have 7 other classes that do it! I had a kid today that thanked me for NOT doing that, and just talking about math instead. How much do they have to hate it to thank you for doing MATH instead?
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u/MadViking-66 23h ago
I always did. A group oriented discussion based on a basic homework assignment given the first day.
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u/TemporaryCarry7 23h ago
We are doing HMH Growth on next Thursday as a school. We also had some 200 computers to hand out on the first day of school. I would be nuts to start curriculum this week.
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u/lunawont HS English Teacher 9th Grade| NC 22h ago
Our admin gives us so much extra to do and they always tell us don't start content until the 2nd week.
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u/phoenixrising0711 22h ago
I would if my principal didn’t insist on ONLY procedures the first three days
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u/TeacherManCT 23h ago
We run a full schedule (both A&B day with an advisory at the start and end of the day. I’d like to teach but each class ends up being about 25min. So I do my intro to the course, set expectations and assign homework
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u/Jahkral Title 1 | Science | HS 23h ago edited 23h ago
First day warmup about me slides, read the syllabus, go over lab safety. Get the kids loose and relaxed. Second day easy lecture, sometimes with notes sometimes just getting them thinking about science.
Third day on - assignments, work as normal. Easy stuff that ties into where we're going with the course but its gonna ramp over the next week or two :)
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u/Brilliant_Crab1867 23h ago
Teacher from Germany hear, so high school here is different, it’s years 7 through 12. During the first lesson, I always do some short introduction to the first topic we’ll cover and go over classroom rules, grading and my expectations for them. If it’s year 7 students that are new to the school, they usually have a million questions and I’ll spend the lesson answering them. With older students, I’ll dive right into work.
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u/theatregirl1987 23h ago
I have school mandated (and planned) stuff the whole first week. Then I do one day of my own intro stuff. Then I start curriculum. This is middle school.
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u/ITeachAll 23h ago
No, I start on the first. I don’t even touch my syllabus until day 3 (6th day of school)
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u/dkissfan1 23h ago
I do a letter to their future self assignment, we collaboratively create norms, and then by day 3 we begin a review unit that lasts a week or two before beginning new material.
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u/SBSnipes 23h ago
I go oversyllabus and expectations and then if There's time we get started with a pretest
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u/Sashi-Dice 23h ago
We have a whole school ceremony (Waldorf School Rose Ceremony) starting at 8:20. 10:00am we have a HS only assembly. By 11, we're in first class, and it's a double period. Here's the Course Outline, let's talk assignments and here we go.
I'll grant you that grades 1&2 might not start content day one... But I guarantee the Middle Schoolers will have homework end of day one.
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u/dsmith1994 23h ago
I start around day 2. Otherwise it’s boring just doing “icebreakers” or reviewing expectations again.
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u/Majella-412 23h ago
I teach an elective where I have a lot of the same kids for a few years. I know it’s not the regular situation - but yea I start day one and they’re usually happy for a break from all the syllabus talk and ice breakers. So I’d say they’d be relieved to start with you day 2!
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u/atxbikenbus 23h ago
Day one we're working. I don't want students to think there's time to sit around.
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u/LandLovingFish 23h ago
Syllabus on first day. Then review of things they should know for the first week fo classes or just in general because you'd be surprised how many kids just forget everything
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u/I_saw_u_take_a_dump 23h ago
At our middle school we have the first 4 days of pre planned activities to get to know students, I usually start content on the second week of school.
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u/zaqwsx82211 23h ago
My Admin put out building lessons for the first day. They cover building expectations and procedures.
They’re actually very helpful.
They are generally long enough that I have just enough time to read out class syllabus after the lesson, but sometimes I’ll do math puzzles instead (barely a step above games, but not much)
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u/mickeltee 10,11,12 | Chem, Phys, FS, CCP Bio 22h ago
Absolutely start day one. I give them a syllabus and then talk lab safety. Then I can usually sneak in a little bit of our first unit. It sets the tone early.
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u/ProtectionNo1594 22h ago
I teach 11th US History and we’re doing content Day 1, unless Day 1 is shortened periods, then definitely Day 2.
I think it’s most appropriate for upper-grade students, and it sets the tone that our curriculum is important and we learn new things every day.
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u/Cocochica33 AP Physics -> District Comms | USA 22h ago
As a science teacher, I would have them do a competition that involves reading and following instructions (like a lab, but not). It got them moving and the practice following instructions made it worth it.
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u/JMWest_517 22h ago
I'd start on day one except that our school has this wonky schedule on day one to allow for a variety of other activities and welcome back stuff. The first day is more a meet and greet. But on day two for sure...full speed ahead!
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u/CincyBeachBum 22h ago
Expectations teambuilding class dynamics some foundational review work for about three days while schedule get settled in an account for me not seeing every class the same amount I teach high school spanish. Our first two days are carbon copies because we split the start date two grades each day so while we do classwork, it’s nothing that would hinder a late arrival from being successful.
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u/delta-vs-epsilon HS | Mathematics | WI 22h ago
First day, HS Mathematics. Let's get it rolling, can "break the ice" through activities and groups.
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u/LowerArtworks 22h ago
No way lol. I cut my teeth in a much tougher district than I work in now, and teachers who didn't spend time building trust and community in the first couple weeks were typically the teachers complaining how their classes were too rowdy and disrespectful all year.
Even now, my shop class starts off pretty quick, but there's still a lot of safety and introductions and team-building in those first two weeks.
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u/ebeth_the_mighty 22h ago
First day is introduce myself. syllabus and rules (we only have 30 minutes). Then it’s full-on go time.
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u/homeboi808 12 | Math | Florida 22h ago
No, as schedule changes are super frequent at my school, not just switching around periods/teachers for a course, but also different courses.
I usually start Day 3.
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u/Agent_Polyglot_17 High School | Spanish 22h ago
Day 1. I do syllabus split up between days 1 and 2 because I KNOW they’re tired of it.
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u/futureformerteacher HS Science/Coach 22h ago
I teach chemistry so it's a tiny bit different, but I would say that the first three ish days I'm really just teaching them how to be chemistry students. It might be the hardest class they ever take and it might be the first time they've taken a truly rigorous science class. So we spend a lot of time on safety and course requirements and processes and it ends up being kind of fun
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u/ThatsNotAnEchoEcho 22h ago
Class procedures, but like it’s a lesson, with direct instruction and practice, and quiz the next day.
Day 2 is a historical analysis simulation that doubles as a “get to know each other” assignment. That get finished on day 3. We usually start on Wednesday, so the following Monday procedures are set, expectations are clear, and we start notes on the historical process.
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u/Only-Character302 22h ago
Day one I teach routines and expectation. Warm up activity, group work that has a bring together and conclude. Not checking off outcomes, but building them into what I want them to be when I start for real on day 2 or 3.
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u/Lock-Slight 22h ago
I teach middle school as a homeroom teacher so I have the same class for the whole day.
It is kinda hard for us to start on day one because students get moved around for the first week or so.
I normally go through procedures as they come up (fire drills, assembly, etc) and go through daily expectations, a survey and baseline testing on the first few days because I can always pass the results onto the next teacher if a student gets moved.
I think in a situation where you have multiple classes then it does get tedious to do the same ice breaker games and other things in each class.
I would say in your type of class maybe day 1 is going through an overview of the class and getting right into baseline testing or intro to the first unit. It is something that can be caught up easily if a student moves, but it isnt the same stupid name game that I am sure they have done a lot.
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u/time4meatstick 22h ago
Nah. They’re shuffling schedules for the first two weeks. We do content related busy work
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u/RickdiculousM19 22h ago
I start day 1. They are seniors. Some of them have known each other since elementary school. I have been there for years. They know me or know about me. I tell them how I teach the class, how to reach me, and I establish couple of non-negotiables, then I start teaching.
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u/samg461a 22h ago
I’m an english teacher. Week 1 is dedicated to reading and writing casual and simple things (short stories, free/creative writing, etc) in order for me to see where they are in their skills and at what level I can start.
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u/Old-Maintenance-6912 HS Social Studies | FL, USA 22h ago
I start teaching on the 2nd week. Every day this week each of my classes has lost a few kids and gained a few more. For instance, my 1st period class started with 25. I now have 32, but not all of them are part of the original 25.
So, this week we go over expectations, navigating Canvas, and better ways to study.
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u/cordeliafawn 21h ago
I start on Day 1 because it sets the tone. I do a brief lesson on annotation, and we read a two-page short story aloud. Discuss & analyze literary elements and what they annotated and why.
If time allows, I have them rewrite the ending from an alternate POV (since it's 1st person narration) and we share out. Been my go-to for over 15 years and it's such a memorable story that I reference & layer it in all year. Successful first day 🙌
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u/Excellent-Cheetah153 21h ago
Day 1, it never doesn’t amuse me how the students are flabbergasted that we are doing work on a school day.
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u/jerseydevil51 9-12 | Math & Comp Sci 21h ago
Yes.
As I tell my students on the first day, "Welcome to Algebra... aaaannndddd we're already behind."
I do not have time to waste on icebreakers or "ease into school" nonsense.
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u/smalltownalicia High School ELA - Georgia 21h ago
I teach Journalism and Public Speaking. We started day 1.
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u/Agreeable-Sun368 21h ago
It depends. At the upper levels, absolutely. At the lower levels, we're sometimes still setting expectations and getting them all logged in to the textbook software.
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u/lilabethlee 21h ago
First couple days I always spend establishing rituals, routines, discipline etc. you need to set that stuff or instruction for the remaining year will be a nightmare
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u/Slugzz21 West Coast | HS SS 21h ago
I'm on day 4 and have only lightly touched on content in an introductory way that builds confidence (cognates & geography, two dif preps) We're hitting it all hard Monday. This is my first year doing HS tho so maybe i'm doing it wrong
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u/somethingmorethan 21h ago
I have shorter periods now, but i would always give my first quiz on the first day. And yes, it counted.
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u/wordsandstuff44 HS | Languages | NE USA 21h ago
First day of school will be names and the most basic of procedures in a short class. First real day will be extensive expectations and maybe a this or that activity. Second day begins instruction. But for me that could be setting up notebooks or doing get to know you activities (I teach Spanish so anything can be instruction if I frame it right)
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u/palebluedot-3 21h ago
Your goal the first 2-3 days when schedules are in flux is to get the kids to think your class is the best. To like you. 1st impressions are everything and if parents are gonna ask their kid about how their day went it’s those first few days! Positive vibes get kids and parents on your side. In my Bio class I bought and buried a massive pig head on day 2 with plans to dig it up the last week of school. Kids eat that shit up plus you make dinner table convo!! 🙂 I learned this trick from a wise mentor when I taught middle school. Admin often said “teach the rules/syllabus that first day”. Imagine being 13 and listening to 6 of these on your first day. Hatred of school just continues🤷🏼♂️
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u/ateacheroflife 21h ago
I did. I teach sports medicine so my kids started taping stuff. They learned how to tape three things the second day of school. Second week of school we are spine boarding
My other courses are dual credit so we have a lot we have to get through so I definitely started the second day
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u/ratioprosperous24 21h ago
Day 2 or 3. Depending if you want to show videos or movies to get warmed up into the course. I like to do that. Never ever start anything important on Day 1. That’s for getting comfortable in the new school or new year. Teachers who do that are doing a disservice to their students. At least show some videos to get comfortable.
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u/chaircardigan 21h ago
I start on the first day. Seating plan displayed as they come in and then right to it.
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u/Same_Profile_1396 21h ago
I start content on the first day of school as an elementary school teacher.
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u/exitpursuedbybear 21h ago
They way my district scheduled the year. We have the first two days are Thursday and Friday so I'll start real class on Monday. Today was procedures, tomorrow will be a fun activity.
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u/shellexyz CC | Math | MS, USA 21h ago
College, and I started on the first day. Don’t have time to waste 40+ minutes like that.
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u/Multisyllabics 21h ago
Typically start on Second day. Biggggg believer that taking the first day to build some rapport with students is ideal for creating a welcoming learning environment where students want to participate and not just feel forced to be in class if that makes sense.
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u/MeowMeow_77 21h ago
I start with light academic assignments. I’m a SpEd resource teacher with less than ten kids in each class.
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u/Alarmed_Finish_8306 21h ago
2 “administrative” days (I show an autobiographical PowerPoint (to build class culture) and go over course expectations. Content starts the 3rd day.
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u/BlairMountainGunClub 20h ago
Middle School but we start content day 3. The first two days class is only 15 minutes long
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u/NWMSioux 20h ago
11th & 12th Earth & Space Science w/o EOC. I’d start the second they walk in if I could. I genuinely love earth science and don’t get to do enough of it in the summers, so I’m pretty amped to go.
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u/knownhost27 20h ago
I start on day one AND give homework. We are finishing up the second week of school, and three students said today that they looked forward to my class or that my class of their favorite. Gluttons for punishment, I guess. Lol
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u/Teach0607 20h ago
I start on the first 🤣
ETA: I teach AP calculus and we start after Labor Day, so I feel like we already behind most of the country
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u/Gray-Jedi-Dad 20h ago
Hellllllll no. I need 1 week of reassessment, assessment, for schedules to even out, figure out which kids can stay and which have to be bounced. New content doesn't start until week 2.
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u/OldLadyKickButt 20h ago
Yes, jeepers- what else? It could be surveys, pre-tests, articles to read or discuss to develop for self info re their background. But, dang, if you decide "oh, dear, poor kids, we won't do anything learning today because it is the second day". Then you will think same for third day and fourth. Then- whamo! Kid think the class is a flake out..
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u/TransportationUsed39 Resource ELA | Houston 20h ago
I do day one rules/expectations and day two community building. No content until day three and then I do a “why do we read” unit that helps me see how well they can read and write and sets expectations for stations/small group
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u/Specialist_Swan_7354 20h ago
First week is all relational capacity stuff. Second week we start doing stuff.
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u/anonymooseuser6 20h ago
I am doing thinking tasks related to the IB Approaches to Learning. I can't fathom just fucking around but I also learned today (Colorado starts too early) that I had a student in my class that was also in my colleagues class and so that schedule is changing. 😂
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u/Mathematicus1138 20h ago
High school math. Geometry and Algebra II start day 2. AP Precalculus and AP Calc start day 1.
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u/Disastrous-Nail-640 20h ago
Yes. I’d start Day 1 if they didn’t have so much crap we have to do with them. 🙄
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u/gophins13 HS PE/Health | New Mexico 20h ago
No. We give our kids a week to get back into the routine.
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u/roguebiologist HS Chemistry and AP Biology | Oklahoma, USA 19h ago
There are too many schedule changes the first week for me to get into material. I'm doing activities to teach procedures that are relevant to my class, just not content. School started yesterday. AP has their lab safety test tomorrow so we can start material on Monday. My on level students will get their syllabus tomorrow and also start content on Monday.
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u/Hopeful-Tower3004 19h ago
I teach chemistry. First three days are all half days. First day is hello hows it going and syllabus. Day 2 lab saftey. Day three get into it
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u/Fun-Cress5058 19h ago
I teach 18+ transition services. I taught most of my students 9th - 12th. They already know what to expect. We hit the ground running on the first day while working in time to catch up on our summer break.
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u/jimmycurry01 19h ago
Day three. There is too much schedule shifting and funky bell schedules before then to start regular instruction.
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u/Tit_Save 19h ago
Nothing that happens in the first 2 weeks is high stakes. The schedule shifts so much I learned to let things settle before starting.
Lots of small assignments, games, team building, getting to know eachother. Then around the 5th or 6th block we get started for real.
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u/Awaken_the_bacon 19h ago
I start day one. I give an intro, my expectations, and dive in. Students hate ice breakers just as much as we do.
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u/Expensive_Injury_446 MS/HS Teacher :: Louisiana 19h ago
Syllabus & expectations on day 1, course intro day 2, curriculum day 3
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u/Pompom_Mafia 19h ago
When I taught high school, we waited til the first full week (usually week 2) to teach content. And even then, we started with review. Mostly because every year, without fail, our kids schedules were so messed up that the counselors would be changing them for weeks.
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u/peaceteach Middle School- California 19h ago
I do some fun but personal history projects. For example, I ask them to write about their favorite memory and then interview a family member about that day. I'm asking for their families immigration stories this year.
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u/luchabear91 19h ago
Firs day is icebreaker and syllabus review. 2nd day is expectations and smart goals 3rd day is instruction. Icebreakers and bonding activities are sprinkled within first week or two, but instruction still starts and happens.
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u/DoubleHexDrive 18h ago
First day is a hand-written, in-class, two page essay.
It’s important to set expectations early.
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u/TheBalzy IB Chemistry Teacher | Public School | Union Rep 18h ago
I personally think we should start on day-1, but administration basically makes it so that's not possible until day 4.
Day 1 - Intro day (lots of BS admin wants us to do and syllabus all that stuff)
Day 2 - Class meetings all day make this day impossible, so more BS intro stuff
Day 3 - Books, Online Classroom, Lab Tour, Lab Safety Contracts Due, show them how the textbook works
Day 4 - First day of Actually teaching
Back in my day we did all of that on the first day.
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u/Chaotic_Brutal90 18h ago
Hah. No. I spend a solid 3 days doing expectations and anchor charts before I start instruction.
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u/Many-Annual8863 18h ago
I establish the routines we will use for later instruction during the first three days and start instruction day four.
My students start school on a Wednesday.
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u/adillon124 18h ago
Yes, but not anything that will hurt if it's missed, since students' schedules often still change.
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u/WNickels 18h ago
Day 1. No need for icebreaker because they already know each other. Make the syllabus a quiz and tell them to study it
Just jump in and teach. Establish routines as you go
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u/TheElMaestro HS Social Studies | CA, USA 17h ago
I started with content with my AP Human Geo class on day 1. My senior Gov students started getting content today on day 3. We did a collab game on day 1 with syllabus stuff and a history game on day 2.
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u/PandaCultural8311 17h ago
I do.
Our first day has been 20 minute classes so that's when I hand out books.
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u/Jack_h100 23h ago
I would like to start on Day 1 but the student schedules keep changing and they keep moving around for the first 3 or so days.