The first week of school is busy.
You’re learning names, organizing supplies, explaining routines, answering one hundred questions, and trying to remember where you put the stack of papers that was just in your hand two minutes ago.
And then there’s math.
It can be tempting to jump straight into math review, hand out a quiet worksheet, or start the first unit right away. I get it. There’s always a lot to teach, and the math pacing guide is probably already giving you the side eye.
But the first week of math is a great time to slow down just enough to teach students how math class works.
Before students can work with partners, show their thinking, use math tools, explain strategies, or play review games, they need to know what those routines should look like. That’s why the best first week of math activities are not just fillers. They help students build the habits they’ll use all year.
Instead of asking, “What math skill should I review first?” try asking:
What do my students need to know so math class can run smoothly?
That question can help you plan a first week of math that actually makes the rest of the year easier.
Why the First Week of Math Matters
The beginning of the year sets the tone for your math block.
Students need to know more than where to sit and where to put their papers. They need to know how to participate during math, how to ask for help, how to work with a partner, how to explain their thinking, and how to use math materials without turning the room into a chaotic mess.
Math class has its own set of routines.
Even if you teach all subjects, your math block may look different from reading, writing, or science. Students might use manipulatives, dry erase boards, task cards, math games, partner work, small groups, or notebooks. Those routines need to be taught, modeled, and practiced.
If you teach departmentalized math, this is even more important. Students may be coming to you from another room, another teacher, or a completely different routine. They need to know what to do when they enter your math classroom, how to get started, and what your expectations are.
The first week of math is your chance to teach students how to be successful before the content gets harder and the schedule gets busier.
Start with Classroom Rules and Procedures
A strong first week of math starts with basic classroom rules and procedures.
This does not mean you need to explain every single procedure on the first day. Students do not need a 45-minute speech about pencil sharpening, bathroom passes, absent work, homework folders, math tools, voice levels, group work, and what to do if a paper falls on the floor.
That’s too much.
Start with the procedures students will use right away.
You might teach:
- How to enter the room
- Where to put materials
- How to get math supplies
- What to do when finished
- How to ask for help
- How to turn in work
- What to do when absent
- How to work with a partner
- How to use math tools
- How to clean up materials
If you teach all subjects, some of these procedures will be general classroom routines. If you teach math only, you can focus more on math classroom procedures, like getting math notebooks, using manipulatives, showing work, or playing games.
One of the easiest ways to teach rules and procedures is with scenarios.
Give students a simple situation and ask, “What should you do?”
For example:
You finish your math work early. What should you do?
Your partner is stuck on a problem. What should you do?
You were absent yesterday and missed the math assignment. What should you do?
Scenarios are helpful because students are not just hearing the procedure. They are thinking through how to use it.
You can also have students sort choices into “helpful choices” and “not-so-helpful choices,” act out examples and non-examples, or create a class anchor chart with common classroom routines.
The goal is not to make the first day perfect. The goal is to give students a clear starting point.
Teach Math Class Expectations Early
After students understand the basic procedures, spend time teaching math class expectations.
This is different from general classroom rules.
Classroom rules might include things like be respectful, be safe, and be responsible. Those are important, but math expectations help students understand what successful math learners actually do.
Math expectations might include:
- Try before asking for help.
- Show your thinking.
- Use tools and models.
- Listen to other strategies.
- Explain your answer.
- Check your work.
- Learn from mistakes.
- Participate in math discussions.
- Work respectfully with partners.
These expectations help students see that math is not just about getting the answer quickly. Math is about thinking, explaining, trying strategies, making mistakes, and learning from them.
That message matters, especially for students who already think they are “bad at math.”
During the first week of math, talk about what math learners do when they feel stuck. Talk about what it looks like to keep trying. Talk about how students can disagree with an answer without being rude. Talk about why mistakes are part of learning.
You can make this simple by discussing one expectation at a time.
For each expectation, ask:
What does this look like?
What does this sound like?
Why does this matter during math?
Then use posters, anchor charts, or student notes so students have something to refer back to later.
The first week is not the only time you’ll teach math expectations, but it is the perfect time to introduce them.
Teach Students How to Show Their Thinking in Math
If you have ever said, “Show your work,” and a student wrote one random number on the side of the page, you already know this routine needs to be taught.
Students often hear “show your work,” but they may not know what that means.
Some students think showing work means writing down any numbers from the problem. Some think mental math does not need an explanation. Some write so much that nobody can follow it. Others erase everything the second they think it might be wrong.
That’s why the first week of math is a great time to teach students how to show their thinking in math.
Start by explaining that showing thinking can look different depending on the problem.
Students might use:
- Equations
- Pictures
- Models
- Number lines
- Tables
- Words
- Diagrams
- Labels
- Organized steps
The goal is not for every student to solve the problem the exact same way. The goal is for students to show enough thinking that someone else can follow their strategy.
A helpful question to teach students is:
Can someone else understand how I solved this?
You can practice this with a simple problem. Keep the math easy so the focus stays on explaining, not struggling through a new skill.
Show students two work samples. One should be clear and organized. The other should be the answer. Then ask:
Which one is easier to understand?
What makes it easier to follow?
What could be improved?
This helps students see that showing work is not busy work. It is communication.
You can also create a class list of ways to show thinking. Keep it posted so students can refer to it throughout the year.
And yes, you’ll still have students who try to write “mental math” and call it a day. But when you teach this expectation early, you have something to point back to.
Teach Students How to Talk About Math
Math talk does not magically happen because students are sitting beside a partner.
I wish it did. That would be great.
But most students need help learning how to talk about math. They need to know what to say, how to listen, how to ask questions, and how to disagree without hurting feelings.
That’s why math talk routines are a great thing to teach during the first week of math.
Start with simple sentence stems students can use right away:
- I solved it by…
- I agree because…
- I disagree because…
- Can you explain how you got…?
- Another strategy could be…
- I noticed…
- I want to add on to what you said…
- My answer is different because…
Do not give students a huge list and expect them to use every stem right away. Choose one or two and practice them.
For example, you might start with:
I solved it by…
Give students a simple problem and have partners explain their strategy using that stem.
The next day, add:
I agree because…
Later, you can introduce stems for disagreeing, asking questions, and adding on.
The key is to model what math talk sounds like. Show students what it sounds like when a partner explains clearly. Show what it sounds like when someone respectfully disagrees. Show what it sounds like when a student asks a question instead of just saying, “I don’t get it.”
You can also talk about what the listener should do. Math talk is not just about speaking. Students need to practice looking at the speaker, listening to the full explanation, and responding to the math instead of just saying, “Yeah.”
Math talk posters or sentence stem displays are helpful because students will not remember the stems after one lesson. Keep the stems visible so students can use them during partner work, small groups, and class discussions.
Review Routines with a Math Game
By the end of the first week, students have heard a lot of information.
They have learned rules, procedures, expectations, routines, and probably a few things that were repeated more times than anyone wants to count.
A review game is a fun way to pull those expectations together.
This does not have to be a math skill review game. In fact, the first week is a great time to review classroom rules, procedures, and math expectations with a game.
You can review:
- What to do when entering the room
- How to ask for help
- What to do when finished
- How to work with a partner
- How to show your thinking
- How to use math talk
- How to use materials
- How to play games respectfully
- What to do when stuck
This is also a great time to teach game expectations.
If you use games in your math class, students need to know how to work as a team, take turns, celebrate appropriately, and handle losing without acting like the world has ended.
A class rules Jeopardy game, Trashketball review game, scenario card review, partner quiz, or team challenge can all work well.
The game gives students a chance to practice the routines you just taught. It also gives you a chance to see which routines need more modeling.
Because let’s be honest, there will be at least one.
A Simple First Week of Math Plan
If you are wondering how to put this all together, here is a simple first week of math plan you can use or adjust.
Day 1: Rules and Procedures
Teach how your classroom or math block works.
Focus on the routines students will need right away, such as entering the room, getting materials, asking for help, turning in work, and working with partners.
Use scenario cards, discussion questions, or examples and non-examples to help students think through what they should do.
Day 2: Math Expectations
Teach what successful math learners do.
Talk about effort, problem solving, tools, mistakes, listening, explaining, and showing thinking. Use posters or an anchor chart so students have a visual reminder.
Day 3: Show Your Thinking
Teach students what it means to show work clearly.
Use simple problems, work samples, and class discussions to help students understand that showing thinking is more than writing down an answer.
Day 4: Math Talk
Teach students how to talk about math with a partner or group.
Introduce a few sentence stems and practice them with easy math problems. Model how to explain, listen, ask questions, and add on.
Day 5: Review Game
Review routines and expectations with a game.
Use this time to practice teamwork, turn-taking, listening, and following directions. You can use a Jeopardy-style review, Trashketball, scenario cards, or another class game.
This plan can be used during the first five days of school, but it does not have to be. You can spread it over two weeks, use one lesson per week during the first month, or choose the lessons your class needs most.
The point is not to follow a perfect schedule. The point is to teach the routines students will use all year.
Tips for a Smoother First Week of Math
The first week of math does not need to be complicated. Here are a few tips to make it easier.
Keep the lessons short.
Students do not need a long lecture about every routine. They need clear explanations, modeling, and practice.
Choose a few important routines and teach them well.
Practice one routine at a time.
It is better to practice one routine clearly than to rush through ten routines that nobody remembers the next day.
Teach the routine. Model it. Practice it. Then come back to it when needed.
Use visuals.
Posters, anchor charts, and displays give students something to refer back to. They also help you avoid repeating the same direction over and over.
Well, maybe not totally avoid it. But we can dream.
Use simple math problems.
When teaching routines, keep the math simple. If the problem is too hard, students will focus on the content instead of the routine.
Save the challenging work for after students know what to do.
Revisit expectations often.
The first week introduces the routines. It does not magically lock them into place forever.
Review math expectations before partner work, games, small groups, or problem solving. A quick reminder can save a lot of time.
Do not display everything at once.
If you have several math displays, you do not have to put them all up the first week.
You can start with math expectations, then add show your thinking and math talk displays later. You can also print posters smaller and keep them in a binder, on a ring, or near your small group table.
Use what helps your students. Skip what does not.
What Not to Do During the First Week of Math
There is no one perfect way to teach the first week of math, but there are a few things I would avoid.
Do not assume students know how to show work.
Even if students have been told to show work for years, they may still need examples and practice.
Do not expect partner talk to go smoothly without modeling.
Putting students in pairs does not mean they know how to have a math conversation.
Teach the stems. Model the conversation. Practice with easy problems first.
Do not jump into math games without teaching game expectations.
Games are fun, but they can get loud fast. Teach students how to play, work with a team, and respond when things do not go their way.
Do not overwhelm students with every procedure at once.
You can teach routines throughout the first few weeks. Start with what students need most.
Do not spend the whole week on filler activities.
A cute activity is fine. We all need a little fun during back to school. But the best beginning of year math activities help students learn how to be successful in your classroom.
Need a First Week of Math Plan That’s Ready to Go?
If you want a ready-to-use plan for teaching math routines during the first week of school, my Back to School Math Routines and Expectations Bundle was created for exactly that.
It includes lessons, displays, student activities, a review game, and a bonus teacher guide to help you teach students how math class works one day at a time.
The bundle helps you teach:
- Classroom rules and procedures
- Math expectations
- Showing work and explaining thinking
- Math talk sentence stems
- Partner and group work routines
- Review game expectations
You can use the 5-day plan during the first week of school, spread the lessons over two weeks, or choose the pieces that fit your classroom best.
It works for self-contained teachers who want to teach general classroom routines and for departmentalized math teachers who want to focus on math-specific routines.
Final Thoughts
The first week of math does not have to be packed with skill review to be meaningful.
Sometimes the best thing you can teach during the first week is how math class works.
When students know how to follow routines, show their thinking, talk about math, and work with others, your math block has a stronger foundation.
You will still need reminders. You will still reteach routines. You will still have days when someone forgets every procedure you have practiced since August.
That’s teaching.
But when you take time to teach math routines and expectations early, you give students a better chance to be successful all year long.
And that makes the first week of math worth it.
