Create a chart to write and keep the transportation information about the students on. Along with this, hang a class roster. A Quiet Simple Life also suggests to "post a daily schedule and specials schedule." It's important to have this written down because students do not always know how they're getting home and some students do not get home the same way they get to school. During the next two weeks, this may change quite a bit. The class roster will help you keep up with the students you have, a class schedule helps you stay on task and the specials schedule makes sure you get students to PE, Music, Art or wherever they belong.
Make name tags for younger students. Students in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten may need to wear name tags the first few weeks of school until they are familiar with their surroundings. Some students may get lost and aren't able to communicate their name, teacher's name or room number. Students who ride the bus or daycare van may also need a name tag. Write the student's name, bus number or daycare on the name tag. Kindercorner advises "to have extras, because some kids on your list probably won't show up, and you'll get new students enrolling for the first week or two."
Determine procedures. Before students arrive, you need to set procedures for everything in your class. Determine how students will choose their lunch choice, line up, walk in the hall and prepare to go home. Think about procedures for the cafeteria and going to specials. By having all of these things planned, you can immediately teach students the way you want things done. If you change them throughout the first two weeks, it will take longer to establish classroom management.
Gather assessments that will be used to determine academic levels of the students. Assessing students early in the year gives you information you need to plan instruction for the varied ability levels in your class. Sample assessments may be The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) or Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI). Your school district may already have reading and math inventories used to get base line data. Make sure you have all the materials you need to administer the assessment.
Plan entry level activities. Students often forget things over the summer so plan activities that are things they may have done the previous school year while you get to know them and administer assessments. Look at your state's standards and talk to teachers who teach the grade below you to get ideas about what would be appropriate.