That first day back at school brings a mix of feelings – excitement, nerves, and maybe a bit of worry too. As your child walks through those school doors, you might wonder what’s going through their mind. What did they notice? How did they feel? The start of a new school year offers a perfect chance for growth and self-discovery.
Taking time to reflect helps your child process their experiences and learn from them. These reflection questions will guide your child to think about their first day in ways that build confidence, set goals, and create a positive outlook for the year ahead.
First Day of School Reflection Questions
These questions will help your child capture their thoughts and feelings about their first day back at school. Each question opens the door to meaningful thinking and helpful insights.
1. How did I feel walking into school this morning?
Think about the exact moment you stepped through the school doors. What emotions ran through you? Were you excited, nervous, happy, or scared? Did your feelings change as the day went on? What caused those changes? How were these feelings different from last year?
Benefit: Naming feelings helps you understand yourself better and builds emotional awareness. This reflection gives you power over your emotions instead of letting them control you.
2. What was the best part of my first day?
What moment made you smile the most today? Which activity did you enjoy most? Was there a conversation that lifted your spirits? Did someone say something kind to you? What happened that you hope will happen again tomorrow? Why did this particular moment stand out?
Benefit: Focusing on positive experiences trains your brain to notice good things even on challenging days. This helps build a habit of gratitude and optimism.
3. What challenged me today?
What felt hard or uncomfortable? Did I face any problems I wasn’t ready for? Was there a moment when I felt stuck or confused? How did I handle that challenge? Did I ask for help or try to solve it myself? What would I do differently next time?
Benefit: Identifying challenges helps you prepare better for similar situations. This builds problem-solving skills and shows you where you might need extra support.
4. Who did I connect with today?
Which friends did I talk to? Did I meet anyone new? How did I introduce myself? Was there a teacher who made me feel welcome? Did I sit with anyone at lunch? What did we talk about? How did these connections make me feel?
Benefit: Noticing your social connections helps you build stronger friendships and support networks. This reflection shows you the value of relationships in your school experience.
5. What surprised me about my new classroom?
What looked different than I expected? Did the teacher have any rules or routines I didn’t expect? Was there something cool on the walls or in the room setup? Was the learning space different from last year? How do I feel about these surprises?
Benefit: Paying attention to your surroundings helps you adapt more quickly to new environments. This awareness helps you feel more comfortable in your learning space.
6. How did I show kindness to someone today?
Did I help a classmate who seemed lost? Did I share supplies with someone? Did I smile at someone who looked nervous? Did I include someone in my group? How did it feel to be kind? How did the other person respond?
Benefit: Recognizing your kind actions builds empathy and shows you the positive impact you have on others. This reflection encourages more thoughtful behavior.
7. What questions do I still have after my first day?
What information do I still need? Am I confused about any schedules or rules? Do I have questions about assignments or expectations? What would help me feel more settled? Who could I ask tomorrow to get answers?
Benefit: Listing your questions helps clear confusion and gives you a plan for getting the information you need. This makes the next day easier and builds self-advocacy skills.
8. How was my teacher different than I expected?
What surprised me about my teacher’s personality or teaching style? Did they seem stricter or more relaxed than I thought? What rules or expectations did they share? How do they compare to teachers I’ve had before? How do I feel about having them this year?
Benefit: Understanding your teacher helps you build a better relationship with them and adapt to their teaching style. This leads to more successful learning.
9. What is one goal I want to set for tomorrow?
What specific thing do I want to do better tomorrow? Is there someone I want to talk to? A question I want to ask? A skill I want to practice? How will I make sure I follow through on this goal? How will I know if I’ve succeeded?
Benefit: Setting small, achievable goals builds confidence and gives you a sense of purpose. This helps you take control of your school experience.
10. What did I notice about the school rules or expectations?
What rules did the teacher emphasize? Are there new procedures I need to follow? How are the expectations different from last year? Do any rules seem challenging to follow? Which ones make sense to me? How do these rules help our classroom?
Benefit: Understanding expectations helps you navigate school successfully and avoid unnecessary problems. This awareness sets you up for positive behavior.
11. How did I participate in class today?
Did I raise my hand to answer questions? Did I share my ideas in group work? Did I stay quiet when I should have spoken up? What made it easy or hard to participate? How did others respond when I contributed? What would help me participate more?
Benefit: Reflecting on your participation shows you how actively engaged you were and helps you find ways to be more involved in your learning.
12. What did I learn about my new schedule?
How many classes or subjects will I have? What’s the timing for lunch and breaks? Do we switch classrooms? Are there special classes on certain days? What parts of the schedule might be tricky? How can I keep track of where I need to be?
Benefit: Understanding your schedule reduces stress and helps you plan your day better. This organization leads to smoother transitions and less anxiety.
13. How did I handle any difficult moments?
What challenging situations came up today? How did I respond? Did I stay calm or get upset? Did I ask for help when needed? What worked well in handling difficulties? What could I try differently next time? What have I learned from past challenges?
Benefit: Analyzing how you handle difficulties builds resilience and gives you strategies for future challenges. This reflection helps you grow stronger with each obstacle.
14. What materials or supplies do I still need?
Did I have everything I needed today? What items did the teacher say we’ll need this year? Was there anything I was missing that would have helped? What should I bring tomorrow? How can I keep my supplies organized?
Benefit: Identifying needed supplies helps you come prepared, which reduces stress and helps you focus on learning instead of worrying about missing items.
15. What spaces in the school felt comfortable to me?
Where did I feel most at ease today? Was it the classroom, library, cafeteria, or playground? What made those places feel good? Were there places that felt uncomfortable? Why? How can I make myself feel more at home in those spaces?
Benefit: Finding comfortable spaces gives you safe zones where you can relax and recharge during the school day. This helps manage stress and builds confidence.
16. How did I feel about the schoolwork preview?
What subjects or topics did the teacher mention we’ll be studying? Which ones am I looking forward to? Which ones make me nervous? Does the work seem too hard, too easy, or just right? What help might I need with certain subjects?
Benefit: Thinking ahead about schoolwork helps you mentally prepare and identify areas where you might need support. This proactive approach supports your learning.
17. What did I notice about how students treat each other?
How did classmates talk to each other? Did I see kind behaviors or mean ones? How did people act in the hallways or cafeteria? Was anyone left out? How were new students welcomed? What social rules seem important in this class or school?
Benefit: Observing social dynamics helps you understand the school culture and make better choices about how to interact with peers. This awareness supports healthy relationships.
18. How do I feel about my seating assignment?
Where am I sitting in the classroom? Who’s next to me? Does this spot work well for how I learn? Can I see the board and hear the teacher? Does my seat help me focus or distract me? Would I prefer a different spot, and why?
Benefit: Evaluating your learning environment helps you identify adjustments that might help you learn better. This reflection encourages self-advocacy.
19. What made me feel proud of myself today?
Did I overcome a fear? Help someone else? Speak up when it was hard? Stay positive despite nerves? Try something new? What personal strengths did I use today? How can I build on this success tomorrow?
Benefit: Recognizing your accomplishments builds self-esteem and helps you identify your strengths. This positive focus motivates continued growth.
20. What did I notice about my energy levels throughout the day?
When did I feel most alert and focused? When did I start feeling tired? How did my energy affect my mood and learning? What parts of the day were easiest or hardest? How might I manage my energy better tomorrow?
Benefit: Tracking your energy patterns helps you plan your day better and take care of your physical needs. This awareness supports better learning and mood management.
21. How did my morning routine work before school?
Did I have enough time to get ready? Did I eat a good breakfast? Was anything rushed or stressful? Did I forget anything important? What could make mornings smoother? What time should I wake up tomorrow?
Benefit: Evaluating your morning routine helps identify improvements that can start your day on a better note. This sets a positive tone for learning.
22. What did I notice about the student work displayed in the school?
What kind of projects were on the walls? Does the displayed work seem challenging? Creative? Interesting? What does this tell me about what we might do this year? Which displays made me curious or excited about upcoming learning?
Benefit: Observing displayed work gives you clues about expectations and opportunities. This helps you anticipate the learning journey ahead.
23. How did I feel during lunch and breaks?
Who did I sit with at lunch? What did we talk about? Did I have enough time to eat? How did I spend recess or breaks? Did I feel included or left out? What would make these times more enjoyable tomorrow?
Benefit: Reflecting on social times helps you plan for better connections and self-care during breaks. This supports both your social and physical wellbeing.
24. What differences did I notice from last school year?
How has the school changed? How have my classmates changed? How have I changed since last year? Are expectations different this year? How do these changes make me feel? What stays the same despite the changes?
Benefit: Comparing experiences helps you adapt to new situations by connecting them to familiar ones. This bridges the gap between past and present.
25. What class or subject am I most excited about?
Which subject sparked my interest today? Why does this topic appeal to me? What do I hope to learn in this class? How might this connect to my interests outside school? What can I do to make the most of this subject?
Benefit: Identifying your interests helps you harness natural motivation and enthusiasm. This positive energy can carry over to other subjects.
26. How comfortable did I feel asking questions today?
Did I speak up when I didn’t understand something? What made it easy or hard to ask questions? How did the teacher respond to questions? How did other students react when people asked questions? How can I become more comfortable seeking help?
Benefit: Analyzing your question-asking behavior helps you become a more active learner. This skill is crucial for clearing up confusion and deepening understanding.
27. What examples of kindness did I witness today?
Did I see someone help a new student? Did a teacher do something thoughtful? Did someone share supplies or food? Was there a moment when the whole class worked together? How did these acts of kindness affect the classroom feeling?
Benefit: Noticing kindness around you increases your awareness of positive behavior and encourages you to contribute to a supportive environment.
28. What do I know now that I didn’t know this morning?
What new facts did I learn? What did I discover about the school building? What did I find out about my teacher or classmates? What surprising things happened? How has this new knowledge changed my thoughts or feelings?
Benefit: Recognizing new knowledge shows you that learning happens every day, sometimes in unexpected ways. This builds appreciation for growth and discovery.
29. How did my feelings change from the beginning to the end of the day?
How did I feel walking into school compared to leaving? What caused my feelings to shift? Were there specific moments that changed my mood? How did I handle emotional ups and downs? What helped me feel better during tough moments?
Benefit: Tracking emotional changes builds self-awareness and helps you identify what affects your mood. This knowledge improves emotional regulation.
30. What am I looking forward to about tomorrow?
What makes me want to return to school? Is there a particular class, activity, or person I’m excited to see again? What opportunities do I see ahead? How can I build on today’s positive experiences? What will I do differently based on what I learned today?
Benefit: Ending with positive anticipation helps frame school as something to look forward to. This mindset supports motivation and reduces anxiety about returning.
Wrapping Up
These reflection questions do more than just help your child think about their first day. They build important skills like self-awareness, goal setting, and positive thinking. By guiding your child through these reflections, you’re teaching them to process experiences in helpful ways.
Use these questions as conversation starters at dinner, journal prompts, or quiet thinking exercises before bed. The key is creating a safe space where your child feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings without judgment. Their answers might surprise you – and give you valuable insights into their school life.