Teach Smarter, Not Harder: 10 Must-Have Routines for Day 1
Want some routines for Day 1 that will set the stage for the rest of the school year? Find them below and a FREE routines checklist in the final blog post from our three part summer series for educators.
We created this “Recharge and Reimagine” blog series to encourage you that summer can be a time to refill your cup and refocus your classroom.
In this three-part series, we help you recharge your energy, prepare for the upcoming school year, and intentionally plan those crucial first-day routines. Whether you’re soaking up sunshine or just catching your breath, we’ve got you covered—with grace, purpose, and a fresh perspective for fall.
You can find the first blog post in this series on how to recharge your energy here.
In the second post of the series we give the secret to a smooth school year.
Let’s be honest—the first day of school is a whirlwind. Between learning names, calming nerves (theirs and yours), and passing out supplies, it’s easy to let routines slide.
But the truth is if you want a classroom that’s calm, confident, and running on autopilot by Week 2, it starts with intentional routines for Day 1. They don’t have to be complicated, but they are the backbone of a classroom that runs smarter, not harder.
Let’s walk through the 10 must-have routines to teach on Day 1—plus a few tips for making them stick.
1. The Magic of the First Five Minutes
Routine: “How do I enter the classroom?“
Thinking through the first few minutes of the school day as students arrive is crucial. You need to figure out where backpacks go, how should they greet the teacher, what will they do while waiting for others, etc. The arrival routine is so important because it sets the tone before the school day begins.
Our arrival routine included greeting the teacher, flipping an attendance card, putting away backpacks, and getting started on morning work. Make sure to give students the time frame they have to complete these steps as well. Ex. “By the time the announcements come on you should be in your seat.”
Tip: Greet them at the door and point to a visual, such as a slide, showing “Morning Steps” (backpack → greet → sit → start morning work).
2. Morning Work or Bell Ringer
Routine: “What do I do when I get to my seat?”
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if students just came in, sat down and found something quiet to do until you officially start the school day? Yeah it would…but the reality is that without being given a procedure for what to do, your classroom can become a chaotic place.
Decide on the morning tasks you would like students to work on and teach them the routine. A few examples of morning tasks are: silent reading, morning tubs, or daily math. Either place work at seats or have a bin system ready with materials. Also, make sure to have a slide that they can look at to remind them of what they should be doing.
Our Problem of the Week Bundle shown below is what we would have our students complete each morning. Each day they had a different task to complete in order to become masters at problem solving!
Tip: Practice this morning routine several times. Muscle memory beats reminders!
3. Attention-Getting Signals
Routine: “How do we stop and listen as a class?“
There is nothing like an attention-getting signal when you need to speak to your students or quiet them down quickly. You’ll need a short, calm way to grab their focus—without yelling. Teach your go-to signal (clap back, chime, call and response). You don’t need to use a ton, just choose a 1-2 to introduce in the beginning. Practice it 3–5 times on Day 1 and make it fun!
Here are a few examples:
- “Class, class?” → “Yes, yes!”
- “Ready to Rock”→ “Ready to Roll”
- “Hands on Top”→ “That Means Stop” (students put hands on top of heads)
- “If you hear my voice clap twice.”
- “Freeze. Everybody clap your hands!”
- Doorbell chime
- Clapping patterns
Tip: Model it. Practice it. Celebrate it. Then use it consistently.
4. Lining Up Without Losing Your Mind
Routine: How to line up, where to go, how to act in the hallway
This routine can make or break your transitions. It seems a little silly to teach how to line up, but believe us—you’re going to want to teach your students how to do this in the most explicit way possible. We’re talking about how to stand up and push in their chairs, where the line starts, voice level while walking in the hallway, etc. Practice it like a game—then do it again! You might even need to include visual reminders or cue cards by the door
Tip: Practice going to silly places (like the trash can or corner) just for fun and then lining up. Or have different tables show off their best “lining up skills”.
5. The Power of “Ask 3 Before Me”
Routine: How students get help or ask questions
It is important from Day 1 to set up a procedure for asking questions since you are only one person and can not be everywhere at once. Without clear expectations, your name will be said 10,000 times a day. Encourage independence right away and give them the steps to take if they have a question, such as:
- “Ask 3 Before Me”
- Help signs (green/red cup or card)
- Partner problem-solving
You will also have times when you are not available for questions and you can use a signal at your desk such as a turning a light on or putting up a sign to signal that they will have to wait.
Tip: Role-play 2–3 common “help” moments and model what to do.
6. Early Finisher Expectations
Routine: “I’m done… now what?”
You’ve given the directions for an activity and you have allotted a certain amount of time for them to work. A few minutes pass and you hear those dreaded words—“I’m done… now what?” If you have an early finisher routine in place, you will save yourself a lot of stress. This emphasizes to students that finishing early doesn’t mean free-for-all time.
A few options you can give your students if they finish early:
- A fast-finisher bin
- A choice board
- Task cards
- Journal prompts
- Book browsing time
Tip: Keep it consistent and simple to go-to so students don’t need to ask.
7. Sharpening Pencils
Routine: “When can I sharpen my pencil?”
Something as small as sharpening pencils can cause big disruptions if left vague. Make sure that your class is clear on when and how to sharpen their pencils. Also, it’s amazing how many pencils a class of students can go through in a year. Make sure that your class shares the responsibility of keeping track of pencils AND using the pencil sharpener correctly (It’s a pain getting those tiny nubs unstuck and heaven forbid your pencil sharpener breaks!)
Decide:
- When can they sharpen?
- Where do dull/sharp pencils go?
- What if their pencil breaks mid-task?
Tip: A “Sharp/Needs Sharpening” cup system works wonders.
8. Bathroom + Water Breaks
Routine: How to handle bathroom breaks
This another part of the day that can go awry if not given clear expectations. Make sure students know how, when, and where and practice, practice, practice. Make sure to praise any positive behavior that you notice when students are following this routine.
When students have to use the restroom, you can:
- Use hand signals
- Use bathroom passes
- Allow scheduled group times
- Have a sign out/in book
Tip: Be clear but kind. Everyone has different needs.
9. Using Materials and Supplies
Routine: Teach students how to treat the materials and supplies they use in the classroom
Classroom materials and supplies are the heartbeat of hands-on learning, but without a system, they can quickly become a source of clutter and chaos. Teaching students how to use, respect, and return supplies is just as important as the lesson itself.
Set clear expectations from day one—label bins, model how to clean up, and assign classroom jobs like “Supply Manager” to build responsibility. When materials are organized and accessible, students gain independence, transitions become smoother, and you spend less time hunting for lost glue sticks and dried-out markers!
Tip: Model both the right and wrong way—with a little humor.
10. Ending the Day
Routine: “How do I pack up to end the day?“
Pack-up time in an elementary classroom can feel like a mini tornado rolled through—backpacks bursting open, papers flying, and kids either bouncing with end-of-day energy or dragging their feet in slow motion. It’s loud, chaotic, and somehow both too fast and too slow all at once.
But with a few smart routines, this madness can turn into a smooth, almost peaceful transition. Try giving clear, step-by-step visual reminders, assigning “pack-up buddies” for accountability, or using a calming timer with music to set the pace. A little structure goes a long way in ending the day on a calm note—for the kids and for you!
Tip: Post a checklist for visual learners and review it together.
Want a free printable checklist version of these routines to use on the first day? You can grab one here!
Remember:
You don’t have to teach everything on Day 1—but these 10 routines? They’re worth the time.
When your classroom knows what to expect, you get to teach more and manage less.