Always Be Prepared for New Students with a Printable Flipbook

Teachers are always thrilled to welcome new students into the classroom, even in the middle of the year! This can be a challenging time for both the new student and the existing class. However, it’s also an opportunity to create a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment for everyone. Every teacher’s goal is to support the new student’s transition and help them feel like an appreciated member of the class.

To achieve this goal, we recommend creating a “New Kid” flipbook. This fun and informative guide can help the new student navigate the classroom, understand daily routines, meet classmates, and learn the expectations of the class. By taking the time to prepare this flipbook, you can proactively support the new student’s success, foster empathy and kindness among your students, and create a strong sense of belonging within the classroom community.

New Student Orientation

New student orientation is an important part of helping new kids feel welcome in your class. In this flip book, you’ll find all the information your new student will need — think of it as a new student checklist to help them and also help you!

• Special Days at School
• Important People
• Classroom Rules
• Map of the School
• Class Schedule
• Your Buddy’s Profile
• Welcome Messages From Your New Class

📆Special Days at School

Having a few special and exciting days to look forward to at their new school can go a long way to helping a student settle in.

Let them know about the fun things on the school calendar with this page! This will also help their parents be aware of any special times they need to take note of later in the year.

🧑🏻‍🤝‍🧑🏾Important People

Your new student will have a whir of names going through their head, and that’s just their new classmates! Take some of the hassles out of remembering teachers’ names with the Important People tab.

This tab has the added benefit of reminding the student which adult to go to for different needs and information.

📜Classroom Rules

Most classroom rules and expectations go without saying! But if you have certain rules that you and your class have agreed upon, include these in this section. Have certain guidelines about late homework? Include these here! This way, the student will know the expectations of the room in advance and not get caught unawares.

📍School Map

Having a simple map of your school with special locations highlighted is a great way to show your new child the lay of the land.

Why not trace the routes they should take to get to the library, playground, or cafeteria? X marks the spot!

🕐Class Schedule

A class schedule is particularly good for the older students. This section of the New Student Survival Flip Book is great for reminding kids of the daily schedule.

Better yet, add in a visual schedule! Using icons for each event can make this page friendly for younger students!

🤝New Student’s Buddy

The new face in your room will no doubt need someone from their peer group to show them the ropes. Why not choose a buddy for your new student and include a mini-biography on that special person? The magic of having this template available in Word is that you can edit and include any information you want! With information on their buddy, your new student will feel less isolated and have some conversation starters.

🫶Welcome Messages

Finally, walking into a class of open and welcoming faces is a must for helping re-establish routine and keep your school days rolling smoothly with an extra student. Really make your new student feel welcome by allowing your established classmates to write a brief welcome message to include in the back of the flipbook.

How to Use Your New Student Handbook

Download your new student guide as a PDF or as an editable Word document to tailor it to your class needs. Cut each piece to size and attach together at the top!

For an extra welcoming punch, why not print each page of the black-and-white template on a different piece of coloured paper?