Greet and get to know each student, and allow students to get to know each other as well. Host ice breakers or play games to reinforce name memory. Create name tags to help with the process of identifying each student. Develop a buddy system and pair students together to be line partners and for class activities. Familiarize yourself with each individual student to get an understanding of their educational needs, since each child is unique.
Send home a letter to parents introducing yourself. State your expectations of students and parents regarding homework and attendance to give parents an opportunity to participate in their child's education. List a few of the lessons you'll be covering throughout the year to give parents an idea of what their children will be learning. Introduce yourself to parents after school if they pick up their children. Exchange contact information with parents/guardians to have on file.
Design and communicate ground rules for classroom behavior. State rules in positive writing: For example, say "Students should raise their hands and wait to be called" instead of "Students should not talk out of turn." Ensure the rules are simple and understandable. Hang the rules list in a noticeable location in the classroom. Have students read the rules at the beginning of each day as a reminder of what's expected of them. This is also a good time to discuss general school rules.
Develop and communicate a rewards system to help students to carry out expected behaviors and academic achievements. Establishing a rewards system early focuses on keeping behaviors on the correct path before they head in negative directions. Issue simple rewards such as no homework coupons or coupons for extra computer time. Distribute rewards on a weekly monthly basis depending on class level, as younger students may need to see rewards faster than older students.