First day of school: Ways to facilitate the student’s separation from parent

• Be sure you are "PREPARED" and your class is prepared students will be more at ease if you are ready and waiting to welcome them instead of finishing last minute plans.
• Make a clean break for both the parent and child by not letting the parents linger in the classroom. Instill rule "DROP OFF AT DOOR"
• Establish a routine from day one

• Planning time (10–15 minutes)

• Work time (45–60 minutes; includes cleanup time at the end)

• Recall time (10–15 minutes)

• Small-group time (10–15 minutes) 

Let you students know what are the class rules:

1. Be nice to your classmates
2. Listen to your teachers and follow directions
3. Clean up your classroom

Tip:Each day at Circle time review the rules and have the class share some ways they can help be good listeners and helpers

• Large-group time (10–15 minutes)

• Outside time (30–40 minutes)

• Transition times (including arrival and departure) (variable)

• Eating and rest times (variable)

• Getting to know each other by using games 
•  One very simple game you can play to help students learn names just needs a small ball. Have the students sit in a circle and the teacher begins by saying a name and them rolling the ball to that student. That student says another name and rolls the ball to them. It is very simple, but effective.