What to Teach in the First 10 Days of School

The start of the school year sets the tone for everything that follows—and the way you approach the first 10 days can make all the difference.

In this episode of Teach, Task Box, Inspire, Lisa Hollady walks you through exactly what to teach, model, and practice during the first 10 days of school. Whether you’re in an inclusion setting or a self-contained classroom, this plan is designed to help you feel confident and prepared.

During the first 10 days, you should focus on:

• Building strong routines
• Clearly teaching classroom expectations
• Practicing transitions and independent work
• Setting up systems that support behavior and independence

By being intentional during the first 10 days, you’ll reduce behavior issues, encourage student independence, and create a classroom environment that runs smoothly all year long.

Start the year with purpose and structure—you only get the first 10 days once!

🎧 Listen to the full episode to grab your plan and start strong!

Episode Highlights:

1. Key routines and expectations to prioritize in both settings
   
2. What to model (and re-model) to prevent chaos later
   
3. How inclusion and self-contained approaches differ—and where they overlap
   
4. Why the first 10 days are more about behavior than academics

Resources Mentioned:

Free training: 3 Simple and Powerful Ways to Cultivate Independence in Your Special Education Classroom

Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @chalkboard_superhero
• Join my Facebook group, Special Education Superheroes
• Join my email list
• Shop my TPT store
• Join the Teach, Taskbox, Inspire Membership

More About Teach, Task Box, Inspire: The Podcast:

Teach, Task Box, Inspire: The Podcast is your go-to educational podcast dedicated to making your job as a special education teacher easier and more enjoyable. Your host, Lisa Hollady, is a veteran special education teacher with a passion for helping teachers like you make a real difference in the lives of your students.

In your demanding roles, you’re constantly juggling various responsibilities, from differentiated instruction and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to data collection, and, of course, teaching. That’s where task boxes come in.

Task boxes aren’t just teaching tools. They’re the key to unlocking student independence, student engagement, and personalized learning. Through this podcast, you’ll uncover the incredible task box benefits for your special needs students and practical implementation tips that you can take to your classroom.

Tune in each Monday for a new episode that will equip you with essential strategies and motivation to approach your week with confidence and enthusiasm. Topics will include task box activities, social and emotional development, adaptive teaching, inclusive teaching, supporting diverse learners, classroom management, scheduling, visual aids, and more.

If you’re looking for more special education resources and support to increase student independence, check out Lisa’s FREE training.