3 helpful first grade teacher tips for teachers starting the school year, including welcome activities, tips for being prepared, and classroom management.
First Grade Teacher Tips
First Grade Teaching Tip #1: BE PREPARED
Have your classroom organized and have supplies prepared.
Have personal things and places in the classroom labeled with student names.
First Grade Teaching Tip #2: WELCOME ACTIVITIES
Plan and have welcome activities ready for the first week.
It is important to give children time to get to know each other through play. Encourage them to explore the classroom and the new exciting materials that they can use. They will begin to build relationships with new people who share similar interests. Playtime is also a great way to start building their problem-solving abilities.
Create name art to decorate the classroom.

First Grade Teaching Tip #3: CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Choose some management strategies that fit who you are.
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Thanks for linking up! These are perfect tips to start the school year in first grade!
xoxo
Thanks for the fun linky Jen!
Having the room prepped, organized, and decorated is the best way to start the year! Nothing worse than running around looking for materials when your brand new class is watching. When you are organized the day flows and helps keep the stress away 🙂
Absolutely. You get to actually enjoy the days when things are prepared rather than feeling flustered.
Very good advice
These are so important! I love the tip about welcome activities!
Welcome activities are so important. Taking the time to sit in a circle and introduce yourself and the kids too is so meaningful.
It's so true, regardless of the grade you teach, if you put in the time preparing before school starts, you will have a smoother start. I find I can focus on my students more that first week instead of scrambling afterschool each day trying to prepare for tomorrow. I can look at THEIR work instead of clerical stuff.
Also, I'll have to do the name rainbows this year; the first grade teacher next door to me did it and I was totally impressed. Thanks for the reminder!
The rainbow art is really fun for kids and makes such a beautiful display.
I love the banner on your bulletin board!!!
Thanks Lauren!
Elyse,
I love your name art. I bet the kids absolutely love to make those and see them on the walls. Do you leave it up all year?
Kristen
Where the First Graders Are
Hi Kristen. I usually move them from a main bulletin board and I put them on the wow work board or to keep in their work portfolios.
Elyse 🙂
These were great tips Elyse, and I loved seeing all of the pictures from your classroom. I am sure your firsties and their families feel comfortable and welcome when they walk into your classroom! Thanks for sharing!
Emily
Polka Dots Please
Thanks so much Emily! I try my hardest to make it that type of classroom for sure.
Elyse 🙂
Thank you so much for these tips! I'm entering my first year as a first grade teacher, so this really is a great help for me!
-Jenn
Thanks Jenn! Hope you have a wonderful year!!
Elyse 🙂
Are there directions for the name Art somewhere? Thanks!
I found this idea on Pinterest! 🙂
Were do you find those cartoon people o the kind kit?can you tell me please