First Day of School Technology Plans

So you got the technology teaching job, now what? Whether you're coming from the general ed classroom or you're a brand new teacher, these ideas will set you up for a successful first day of class with your students. 

Technology Rules and Procedures

Students need to know what to expect when they come to your class (or if you're pushing in to their classrooms). Have a plan for your procedures for: how to come into the classroom, using the bathroom, how to ask for help, what the voice level expectations are, where to find extra headphones, mice, tissues, pencil sharpener, etc., what to do when it is time to go, where to line up, etc. 

Get Creative

There are a lot of creative ways to do this, so don't just have students sit and watch you present a PowerPoint. Make a Kahoot that shares silly facts about you with the rules and procedures mixed in. Make a Padlet and have students share a fact about themselves as well as answer questions about the procedures. Have students jump right on PowerPoint or Slides and make a Poster of the classroom rules to review their skills while also reviewing procedures (this one is great for your older students). Make a QR Code Scavenger Hunt of your room and where to find things. The point is, get creative and get the students involved.

Computer Station Cards

This is a dual-purpose activity I created for the first class. If you have access to glue, scissors, and colored pencils then this will likely fill your lab time on the first day. It also then serves as a resource for your students for the whole school year because they fill in website logins, computer lab rules, and the keyboard hand placements (I only do home row). Click on the picture to check out the Computer Station Cards.

Read a Book

I also love a good read aloud for the first day. The Computer Teacher from the Black Lagoon is a favorite of mine that is great for any grade level.

Grab it from Amazon (affiliate link)

Have Students Log In

I don't wait to have my students practice logging in to their computers. It is a skill they will need forever so why not jump right in? For my youngest students I prepare labels or cards with their login info to have in front of them. One year I was really fortunate and the TA's came for the first 10-15 minutes of class to help students get logged in (until they got the hang of it). For older students, I print a spreadsheet for each homeroom class with their usernames, which I store in a folder at the back of the classroom. I teach students that if they need to go look it up, it is there for them to access without needing my help. As new students join the school I hand-write their usernames on the spreadsheets. 

Do you still have questions? I'd like to invite you to join my Facebook Group, the Technology Teacher Tribe. It is like a virtual professional learning network and the collaboration is awesome! Come ask your questions!