How Do I Use This Guidance?
What should you consider when getting ready for day one? Below are actions and practices that will support you to gather materials, design your physical space, and anticipate student needs that might arise. Your site likely has established systems and structures in place. Your first step is to get to know those systems and structures and align yourself with them. Use the information below as more concrete guidance and ways you might build on what your site already does. It's a lot! Start with the goal for each checklist and then use the actions as possible supports to consider towards meeting that goal.
Nuts and Bolts Checklist
Below is a checklist of nuts and bolts helpful to consider when getting ready before day one. It’s a lot! Before digging in, seek support from your site admin and colleagues. Likely many of the goals here are already taken care of at the site level, once you ask.
Student Materials Checklist
Below is a checklist of student materials helpful to consider when getting ready before day one. It’s a lot! Before digging in, seek support from your site admin and colleagues. Likely many of the materials here are already taken care of at the site level, once you ask. These materials are not specific to content. Please refer to content checklists for student materials needed for each content.
Classroom Set Up Checklist
Below is a checklist for setting up your third grade classroom. Design towards setting up the classroom environment to support student’s independence, access and belonging. It’s a lot! Before digging in, seek support from your site admin and colleagues. Likely many of the materials here are already taken care of at the site level, once you ask. These materials and ideas are not specific to content. Please refer to content checklists for student materials needed for each content.
Possible Scenarios To Be Ready For
Here are some possible scenarios that might occur in the first day or first few weeks of school and ideas for how to address them offered by veteran third grade teachers. It is definitely incomplete! Taking time to anticipate scenarios and plan proactively will help create a welcoming, culture of learning from day one. Please connect with colleagues for anticipating support as well.
Launching The Year Books
This is a list of read aloud books that can be helpful with welcoming students into third grade, fostering belonging and community and introducing SEL skills such as growth mindset, conflict resolution, and identifying feelings. This is just a top of mind list from veteran third grade teachers. Please seek support from colleagues, librarians, and coaches for additional ideas. If you have other favorites please add them as a comment.
Procedures and Routines
Here are some common procedures and routines to teach on the first day(s) of school. There are some notes on how to prepare to teach each procedure/routine with the script of what you might say in green.
Classroom Set Up Video Tour
See this example of a third grade classroom that is ready for day one. Notice how intentionally sparse the walls and materials are (materials in bins closed, walls relatively blank, calming color scheme). Anchor charts and scaffolds are kept at a student's eye level to the extent possible. The goal is to develop student ownership and independence over their learning environment.
Classroom Set Up Video Tour One Month Into The School Year
See this example of the same third grade classroom six weeks later. Notice artifacts of student learning, anchor charts, student-created scaffolds, and pictures on the walls. Also see how student materials are organized for access, ownership and independence over their learning environment.
Classroom Set Up Video Tour
See this example of another third grade classroom that is ready for day one. Notice how intentionally sparse the walls and materials are (materials in bins closed, walls relatively blank, calming color scheme). Anchor charts and scaffolds are kept at a student's eye level to the extent possible. The goal is to develop student ownership and independence over their learning environment.
Classroom Set Up Video Tour
See this example of another third grade classroom that is ready for day one. Notice how intentionally sparse the walls and materials are (materials in bins closed, walls relatively blank, calming color scheme). Anchor charts and scaffolds are kept at a student's eye level to the extent possible. The goal is to develop student ownership and independence over their learning environment.
Want more?
Physical Environment Readings
Here are some articles and research on setting up the physical environment to support a culture of learning. Particularly recommend the article, "Using Archetypes to Match Learning Spaces with Physical and Digital Spaces” by Bianca Hewes (2012) on pages 41-46.
Reflection Questions
- How can you strategically organize the physical classroom space, furniture, and materials to support a welcoming, efficient and comfortable learning environment?
- What materials do you have already? How can you organize them in a way that promotes students access and independence?
- What materials do you still need? What will you prioritize? Who can you ask?
- What environmental set up will you prioritize in order for all students to be responsible for the thinking in the classroom?
- What are the implications for your own practice? What will you do first?
This page was last updated on May 15, 2023