So you’ve stepped into your new CTE classroom—maybe from a clinical setting, maybe from another setting.
Either way, welcome! Whether you’re teaching CNA, PCT, or Health Science Foundations, how you start can make all the difference.
The first week is your opportunity to:
- Build trust
- Set clear expectations
- Gather helpful info on your students
- And… laugh a little, too
Here’s your go-to guide for organizing a smooth, purposeful, and even fun first few days of class.
Must-Set Procedures for Day 1
Greet them in the Hall
Standing outside your classroom and greeting students with a smile sets a welcoming tone right from the start.
It shows that you’re approachable, present, and in charge—three things students immediately notice.
It also helps you quickly establish a calm, positive routine before they even walk through the door.
Small gesture, big impact.
No Cell Phone Policy – Start Strong
While greeting students at the door, explain the cell phone rules, cell phone drop-off system (caddy, envelopes, or numbered pockets).
Phones stay away during class, period.
Consistency is key.
My hope is that you have strong administrative support with this but if you don’t, I have something stronger…..parents/guardians.
True, there will be some parents/guardians who do NOT support your cell phone rule.
But most really DO want to support their child’s education.
I recommend sending home a signature paper similar to the one below to recruit parents/guardians to support your efforts.
Assigned Seats – Yes, Right Away
Students tend to form cliques based on sending districts.
Assigned seating mixes things up and helps build a more unified classroom culture from day one.
I recommend splitting up the students so they are sitting beside students from other districts.
I simply buy name tags from the Dollar Tree and secure them to the student tables (where they sit) with packing tape.
Once entering the room, the students “find” their seat.
Silent Seat Work While Students Arrive
CTE programs often bring students in from multiple districts—and they rarely arrive all at once.
I have ten sending districts, arriving on different dates and times…crazy town.
Avoid idle chatter and chaos by having a quiet activity ready to go.
Here are two of those activities ready to go for you:
Letter to My Future Self
Students write a short, reflective note to themselves to be returned at the end of the course:
- What do they hope to learn?
- What are they nervous about?
I like to have the students place these letters in a sealed envelope (I keep them in their student files) to be read during their last year of the program.
About Me
In the past, I was frustrated that it could sometimes take time until I had access to my students’ IEPs (Individualized Education Plans).
And also, let’s be real.
Some students who don’t have an IEP could use some individualized help as well.
Asking them what they think will help them has proven to be extremely helpful during the first few days of class.
Students fill out:
- Preferred name and pronouns
- Favorite foods, music, shows, hobbies
- 2–3 interesting facts about themselves
- A section titled “How I Learn Best” to describe their learning style (e.g., hands-on, visual, group learning, quiet time)
Pro Tip: Review these privately—what students reveal here can help you differentiate and build relationships fast.
Remember…A student’s IEP MUST BE FOLLOWED BY LAW, so take a deep dive once you have access to the plan
Easy and Memorable Name Game
Name Chain Game
Once all the students are seated and finished with their “quiet” activities, introduce yourself (including your background).
Now it’s the students’ turn.
The first person says their name.
The next says theirs + the one before.
Keep building until the final student tries to recite everyone’s names.
Silly, fun, and highly effective.
Pro Tip: Repeat this game every day the first week, starting with a different student.
Helping Hands Wall
I love to decorate my classroom door with the hands following this activity.
Students trace their hand on paper.
In the palm, write their name; on each finger, a quality a great healthcare worker should have.
Ask each student for a quick share, then display them under the title “Helping Hands, Healing Hearts.”
Prior Knowledge Activity: Equipment “Write the Room”
This is a MUST-DO on Day 1 or 2. Use it to spark laughter and honest conversations about what they think they know.
How it works:
- Place printed pictures of healthcare tools (from the Bundle pictured below) around the room.
- Students walk around and write their best guesses for each item’s name on a clipboard or response sheet.
Why it works:
- It gets students up and moving
- It helps you assess prior knowledge
- Their answers are often hilarious (yes, students will call a mouth swab a “sponge on a stick”)
📌 Instructor Tip:
After the walk-around, go through the correct answers using the same images.
Then—use those images to create your equipment bulletin board display later that week.
🔁 Pro Tip: Repeat the activity mid-year to review and show growth.
You’ll be surprised how far they’ve come!
Small Group Activity: “Yes That's It!, Yikes That's Not!"”
This is a teamwork AND a problem solving activity.
Divide the class into small groups and assign each group one of the following essential soft skills:
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Responsibility
- Professionalism
- Self-motivation
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
Challenge:
Groups create:
A collaborative definition of the trait they were assigned.
One short scenario (not health care related) that demonstrates the skill
One (also not health care related) that shows what happens when it’s missing
Each group presents both examples aloud.
This fun and fast-paced activity helps students connect every day behavior with career readiness.
Final Words of Wisdom
Your first week sets the tone—but it doesn’t have to be perfect.
Don’t forget you will have to weave in the student handbook, safety and fire procedures and the grading policy (and whatever else administration wants).
Focus on:
- Building routines
- Establishing respect
- Creating connection
- Injecting a little fun
Structure now = smoother teaching later.
And remember: they’re watching more than you think—but they’re also cheering for you more than they’ll say.
Welcome to health care education!
Looking for engaging activites to add to your training program? Click the picture below!
Great Information! I’m A tenured nurse educator, and i always am looking for new ideas. Thank you for sharing yours!
Thank you Susan!
This is amazing!!! Thank you for sharing such great resources. It’s so wonderful to not have to reinvent the wheel and have some fun material to work with
Thank you! I hope your students enjoy the activities
Thank you!! I love doing different things each year at the start of the year
There are so many ideas to share!
Love love love all of these resources and looking forward to the zoom in september to learn even more!!
Thank you for kind words…September is going to be amazing!