mrslryan's teaching resources: How to make your students feel welcome!

Is your school back in session soon?

One of the biggest things about going back to school is setting up and organizing your classroom. It’s so important to have the students walk into a welcoming classroom when they arrive in August or September. Spending a whole week before the doors open to the students has always been a busy week for many educators who do just that.

If you are brand new to a school, to a grade level or are teaching a new subject you may not know many or any of the students who walk through those classroom doors. So, how do you deal with that?

You could start with an alphabetical seating plan but there are no guarantees that that is going to work! I remember these 2 lovely twins who switched desks and names on me just as I was trying to figure out who is who. Luckily, I caught onto it pretty quickly as I’m married to a twin and they used to play those little tricks while in school.

I liked to get involved with the lessons and participate with the students during those first few lessons. It gives the students a chance to see me “in action” and I got to learn some names along the way. I have always believed that the better you know your students the easier the lessons are when you get down to business. Classroom management is also much easier! For classroom décor, check out my free classroom posters series in my store. They will help with vocabulary and add some colour to your walls.

Click here to see the classroom decor posters:

French only version

French & English version

We speak French here posters

Here is one of the resources that I have to help make students get to know one another and feel more comfortable when doing French speaking work at the beginning of the school year or semester. Have a look! You can use it for a variety of grade and ability levels! This is one of those great activities to do along with your students while you are getting to know them!