Ep. 168 First Two Weeks of School
Hey there ESL teachers! Before we jump into today’s episode about what to expect during those first two weeks of school, I want to make sure you’re signed up for my FREE professional development: 3 Simple & Powerful Secrets to a Successful School Year.
In this training, I’ll be sharing practical strategies to help you feel confident, prepared, and ready to take on the school year—without the overwhelm. You’ll learn how to simplify your planning, get clear on your goals, and start the year with intention.
✨ And yes—you’ll also receive a PD certificate for attending!
👉🏽 Grab your spot now at myadventuresinesl.com/planning
Before we move on, I just want to pause and remind you of something really important:
You are doing incredible work.
The first few weeks can feel heavy, messy, and overwhelming—but that’s not a reflection of your ability or your passion. It’s simply part of the journey. Every small connection you make, every smile you share, and every little win you celebrate is laying the foundation for a classroom where your students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.
The goal of today’s podcast episode is to provide you with a realistic view of what the first two weeks are like for ESL teachers.
I still remember my very first two weeks as an ESL teacher — and honestly, I was overwhelmed. I had students coming into my room, I was running around testing students, trying to figure out schedules, and supporting students with various needs.
On the first day I saw students, I had a well-thought-out lesson planned. Well, in about the first 10 minutes of the lesson, I realized that this lesson that I thought was planned with intention needed to be scrapped. I realized the lesson needed more visuals, student support, and interactive elements.
I had to pivot fast, and it felt messy. I didn’t know all the right answers yet. Some students were nervous to speak. Some needed help finding their seats. Some needed a hug more than a grammar lesson.
But you know what? I quickly realized that these first two weeks weren’t about having a perfect classroom. They were about building trust, creating a safe space, and celebrating every tiny victory, like when a student raised their hand for the first time or smiled after understanding a simple direction.
You might feel nervous during the first week. That is a perfectly natural emotion to feel.
Have you ever wondered what those first few weeks will feel like as an ESL teacher?
It is important for you to know what those first two weeks of school are like because it sets the tone for your school year. The first few weeks are when students are forming their first impressions about their teacher, the classroom environment, and even about themselves as language learners. If teachers go in with realistic expectations, they can respond to challenges with patience instead of panic.
Knowing what to expect also helps teachers prioritize what really matters: building trust, establishing routines, and creating a safe space where students feel seen and supported. ESL students, especially newcomers, may be feeling scared, confused, or overwhelmed. When teachers are mentally prepared for the ups and downs of those first days, they can lead with calmness and confidence, and that makes all the difference.
Now that we’ve talked about why it’s so important to be mentally prepared, let’s dive into what you can expect during those first two weeks. I’ll walk you through the key things to keep in mind — from setting up simple routines to managing the emotions you and your students might experience.
Because when you know what’s coming, you can focus more on connecting with your students and less on scrambling for a plan.
Week 1
The first week of school is all about you familiarizing yourself with the students, parents, and your team. This is a crucial week because it focuses heavily on building relationships. I spent most of the first week meeting students and helping with their scheduling.
If you are starting to see students in your class, then this is the week you need to start establishing classroom routines. Clear routines create predictability and safety, which are essential for language learners who might already feel overwhelmed by a new environment, a new language, and new expectations.
When students know exactly what to do when they walk into the room—where to put their backpacks, how to pick up a warm-up activity, what signal to use when they have a question—they can focus more of their energy on learning language instead of feeling anxious or confused.
For ESL students, routines act like scaffolds. They help students engage, take risks, and participate confidently without constantly needing to decode every little direction. It also minimizes behavior issues because students aren’t left guessing about what’s expected of them.
You can also be expected to assess student levels during the first week of school. I like to ease into the assessments during the second week of school. The majority of the states have a mandatory time when you have to screen new students. Depending on the size of your caseload, you may want to start this in the first week of school.
A normal feeling you might have this week is overwhelm. A strategy that helps is to celebrate quick wins. Set one small, realistic goal each day that you can celebrate, like “Today everyone entered quietly” or “Today I learned 10 student names.” Success builds momentum.
Give yourself permission to pause and take a break. If you start to feel like your day is getting chaotic, it’s okay to pause, breathe, and reset. Your students will mirror your calm. Flexibility is a strength, not a weakness.
Let’s take a quick break—because I know those first two weeks of school can feel like a whirlwind! From setting up your classroom routines to figuring out where your ELLs are academically, there’s a lot on your plate.
That’s exactly why I created a free training just for you: 3 Simple & Powerful Secrets to a Successful School Year.
In the training, I’ll walk you through simple, powerful strategies that will help you reduce planning time, increase student engagement, and kick off the year with confidence.
👉🏽 Sign up now at myadventuresinesl.com/planning — you’ll also receive a PD certificate just for attending!
Alright—let’s get back into it.
Week 2
The second week of school, you start to see more progress, and your year slowly starts to take shape. You’ll begin building in light academic content while still reinforcing routines and building confidence.
During this week, continue to focus on building relationships with your students. Flexibility is the keyword this week. If you see something that isn’t working for you or your students, don’t hesitate to make adjustments.
In my planning period during this week, I am spending my time updating student files and finalizing schedules. This is also the time of year when there are school-wide assessments to determine the students’ starting point. I like to assess the students during this week to help me better understand their strengths and areas of improvement.
By the end of Week 2, your classroom will start to feel like a learning community. The work you do here lays the foundation for student success all year long.
If today’s episode gave you some clarity and confidence about those first few weeks, I’d love for you to take one small step today.
That could be as simple as brainstorming your routines or your goals for those weeks. And if you found this episode helpful, be sure to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode, and share it with a teacher friend who could use a little extra encouragement, too.
You’ve got this, and I’m here cheering you on every step of the way!”
Before you head out, I want to remind you to join my FREE professional development: 3 Simple & Powerful Secrets to a Successful School Year.
If today’s episode helped you feel more prepared for the first two weeks of school, this training will take it a step further. I’ll show you how to create a plan that supports both you and your ELLs all year long.
💻 Sign up at myadventuresinesl.com/planning, grab your PD certificate, and let’s start the year strong—together!
