It's the first week of Term 1 2026. And if you're starting a new teaching role—whether you're a graduate teacher in your first position, an experienced teacher at a new school, or a teacher who's relocated states—you're probably feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. 

This is completely normal. 

Starting any new teaching role is overwhelming. New students, new colleagues, new systems, new routines, new expectations. Even experienced teachers feel uncertain in Week 1. 

At HARKE Recruitment, we've supported hundreds of teachers through their first weeks at new schools. We've heard what surprises them, what challenges them, and what helps them succeed. 

Here's your practical guide to surviving (and thriving) in your first week. 

Week 1 Reality Check: It Will Be Overwhelming 

First, let's be honest about what Week 1 actually feels like: 

• Information overload (systems, passwords, policies, procedures) 
• Name overwhelm (students, staff, leaders—hundreds of new names) 
• Physical exhaustion (new routines, nervous energy, standing all day) 
• Social navigation (finding your place in an established staff culture) 
• Imposter syndrome (everyone seems to know what they're doing except you) 

This is all normal. Every teacher starting a new school experiences this. 

Your goal for Week 1 isn't perfection. It's survival with dignity. 

Day 1: Orientation and Overwhelm 

What to Expect: 

Morning: 

• Arrive early (aim for 30 minutes before official start time) 
• Sign in, collect keys/swipe card, find your classroom 
• Staff briefing or welcome meeting 
• Tour of the school (if not already done) 

Throughout the day: 

• Avalanche of information (IT logins, policies, procedures) 
• Meeting numerous staff members (you won't remember all names) 
• Setting up your classroom (if not already done) 
• Possibly meeting students (some schools start with students Day 1, others have staff-only days) 

By end of day: 

• Exhausted from information overload 
• Unsure what's actually important vs. nice-to-know 
• Slightly panicked about everything you need to remember 

What to Do: 

Take notes obsessively: 

• Carry a notebook everywhere 
• Write down: logins, names, room numbers, important people, key dates 
• Don't trust your memory—you're processing too much 

Ask questions without apologising: 

• "Where's the staff bathroom?" 
• "What's the wifi password?" 
• "Who do I ask about [specific issue]?" 
• "Can you remind me of your name?" 

Nobody expects you to remember everything on Day 1. 

Find your safe people: 

• Identify friendly colleagues who offer help 
• Your mentor (if assigned) 
• Office staff (they know EVERYTHING) 
• Other new staff members 

These are your Week 1 lifelines. 

Days 2-3: Meeting Students and Establishing Routines 

What to Expect: 

When you meet your students: 

• They're sizing you up (testing boundaries, assessing personality) 
• They're also nervous (new teacher, new expectations) 
• First impressions matter (but you can recover from mistakes) 

Your teaching will feel rusty: 

• Even experienced teachers feel awkward in Week 1 
• Timings will be off 
• Transitions will be messy 
• That's okay—you're learning the students, and they're learning you

What to Do: 

Prioritise relationships over content: 

Week 1 isn't about delivering amazing academic content. It's about: 

• Learning student names (use name tents, seating charts, name games) 
• Establishing classroom expectations and routines 
• Building rapport and trust 
• Showing students you're safe, consistent, and fair 

Keep lessons simple: 

• Don't attempt your most ambitious lesson in Week 1 
• Focus on getting-to-know-you activities, establishing routines, light content 
• Have backup activities ready (things always take longer than planned) 

Establish routines immediately: 

• How students enter the classroom 
• Start-of-lesson procedures 
• Attention signals 
• Pack-up routines 
• Dismissal procedures 

Consistency in Week 1 makes everything easier in Week 2-52. 

Days 4-5: Finding Your Rhythm 

What to Expect: 

By mid-to-end of Week 1: 

• Students are testing boundaries more overtly 
• You're starting to recognise patterns (who needs support, who's likely to challenge) 
• You're exhausted but finding small moments of "I can do this" 

What to Do: 

Maintain consistency: 

• Follow through on expectations you've set 
• If you said you'd do something, do it 
• Students are watching to see if you mean what you say 

Start observing and learning: 

• Which students need extra support? 
• Who are the informal student leaders? 
• What routines work well? 
• What needs adjustment? 

Don't make major changes yet: 

• It's too early to overhaul systems 
• Give yourself time to understand the dynamics 
• Observe before changing 

Practical Survival Strategies 

1. Manage the Information Overload 

Create a system immediately: 

Keep a "New Teacher Notebook" with sections for: 

• Logins and passwords 
• Key staff names and roles 
• Important dates and deadlines 
• Student information 
• Questions to ask 
• Daily reflections 

Don't try to remember everything. Write everything down. 

2. Navigate the Social Landscape 

Staff room dynamics: 

• Observe before jumping into conversations 
• Be friendly but don't align with cliques immediately 
• Listen more than you speak initially 
• Find one or two friendly colleagues to sit with 

Avoid: 

• Complaining about the school or leadership in Week 1 
• Getting drawn into staff politics 
• Oversharing personal information immediately 

You're learning who to trust. Take your time. 

3. Prioritise the Essentials 

Week 1 essentials: 

• Learn student names 
• Establish classroom routines 
• Build positive relationships 
• Follow through on expectations 
• Take care of yourself 

Week 1 non-essentials (can wait): 

• Decorating your classroom perfectly 
• Overhauling your teaching approach 
• Implementing ambitious new strategies 
• Solving every student issue immediately 

You can't do everything in Week 1. Focus on what matters most. 

4. Take Care of Yourself 

Physical self-care: 

• Pack easy, nourishing lunches (you won't have time/energy to decide) 
• Stay hydrated (carry a water bottle) 
• Wear comfortable shoes (you're on your feet all day) 
• Get as much sleep as possible 

Mental self-care: 

• It's okay to cry on the drive home 
• It's normal to feel overwhelmed 
• You're not failing—you're adjusting 
• Call a friend or family member who'll listen 

Week 1 is hard. Be kind to yourself. 

Common Week 1 Challenges (And How to Handle Them) 

Challenge: "I Don't Know Where Anything Is" 

Solution: 

• Ask other teachers 
• Ask students (they know where everything is) 
• Ask office staff 
• Give yourself time—you'll learn through repetition 

Challenge: "I Don't Remember Anyone's Name" 

Solution: 

• It's okay to ask again (and again) 
• Use name tags or seating charts 
• Write names down 
• Don't be embarrassed—everyone understands 

Challenge: "The Students Are Testing Me" 

Solution: 

• This is normal—they're figuring out who you are 
• Stay calm and consistent 
• Follow through on consequences 
• Don't take it personally 

Challenge: "I Feel Like I'm Doing Everything Wrong" 

Solution: 

• You're not—you're learning 
• Everyone feels this way in Week 1 
• Compare yourself to where you were Day 1, not to veteran teachers with 10 years at this school 

Challenge: "I'm Exhausted" 

Solution: 

• That's normal 
• Go to bed early 
• Give yourself permission to do minimum at home 
• This intensity will ease by Week 3-4 

What to Do at the End of Week 1 

Friday Afternoon: 

Pack up: 

• Make a list of what you need to do over the weekend 
• Take only what you absolutely need home 
• Leave work at work if possible 

Celebrate: 

• You survived Week 1 
• That's genuinely an achievement 
• Acknowledge how hard you worked 

Over the Weekend: 

Rest first: 

• Saturday: Do nothing work-related if possible 
• Let yourself decompress 

Prepare lightly: 

• Sunday afternoon: Light planning for Week 2 
• Review your Week 1 notes 
• Identify 1-2 adjustments to make 
• Don't overplan—keep it simple 

Week 1 Wins to Recognise 

By the end of Week 1, you'll have: 

✓ Learned hundreds of names (even if you don't remember them all yet)
✓ Established classroom routines
✓ Started building relationships with students
✓ Navigated a new school environment
✓ Managed information overload
✓ Survived 

That's huge. Don't minimise it. 

Looking Ahead: Week 2 Will Be Easier 

Here's what improves in Week 2: 

• You know where things are 
• You recognise faces and names 
• Students know your expectations 
• You've found friendly colleagues 
• Systems feel less overwhelming 
• You're not learning everything from scratch 

Week 1 is the hardest. It gets easier from here. 

You've Got This 

Starting a new teaching role—whether it's your first ever or your tenth school—is hard. 

Week 1 is overwhelming, exhausting, and humbling. 

But you're going to be okay. 

You're qualified. You're prepared. You care. And you're willing to learn and grow. 

That's enough. 

Take it one day, one lesson, one student at a time. 

And remember: Every great teacher you admire had a chaotic, overwhelming Week 1 once too. 

Welcome to your new school. You've got this. 

Need Support? 

If you're starting a role we helped you secure, we're here for you. 

Check-in with us: 
Email or call your HARKE consultant
We want to know how you're doing 

Need advice? 
We're available to troubleshoot challenges 

From all of us at HARKE: Good luck with Week 1. We're cheering for you.