The power of the first 5 minutes of class

Heading into this school year, our team wanted to recommit to Strong Start – the framework we use in our middle school to make sure every student begins each day and each class period feeling welcomed, engaged and ready to learn.

The first few minutes of class are critical: how we connect with students, how we engage them in learning right away and how we establish the routines that make our classrooms predictable and safe. These moments set the tone for everything that follows. 

Research shows that greeting students by name and creating a positive connection at the door can reduce bullying, cut down on tardies and build a stronger sense of belonging. But more than that, it just feels right to make sure every student knows, “I’m glad you’re here.”

To strengthen our emphasis on Strong Start this year, I met with our leadership team: our assistant principal and a teacher leader from each grade level. We sat down and asked, “What really matters to us? What actually makes a difference for our students?” 

Out of that conversation came our renewed focus, which we’ve been calling the Focus First Five:

• Connect: Greet students at the door and in the hallways. Be visible, use their names and start the day with positivity. That relationship piece is foundational. It’s how we build trust and a sense of community.
• Engage: We also need to make sure the door-to-seat journey is supported. As soon as students enter the classroom, there’s something waiting for them: a “Do Now” or bell ringer that gets them thinking and participating right away. Whether it’s a quick puzzle, a review question or an anticipatory set for the day’s lesson, it signals that learning starts the moment they walk in.
• Start With Routine: Students crave structure and predictability. Having clear, consistent routines to start class helps them feel secure and keeps transitions smooth. When procedures are practiced until they’re automatic, we spend less time on logistics and more time learning together.

The best part is how naturally this recommitment has taken hold. Our teachers have fully embraced it: greeting kids at their doors, starting strong and maintaining calm, structured classrooms. The energy in the hallways feels positive and focused. Tardies are down, and students are spending less time lingering in the halls or bathrooms.

It’s not revolutionary, but that’s the point. As school leaders, we get pulled in a hundred directions, and sometimes the most powerful move we can make is to go back to our core commitments – to reconnect with what we know works. For us, that means making sure every student, every day, starts strong.