Finding the perfect first day of school sign can be a challenge, but we did the hard work for you! Here are 35 First Day of School Sign Ideas for teachers, students, and parents.
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It’s almost back to school time again!
For kids, that usually means lots of excitement for new school clothes or uniforms, picking out notebooks and other fun school supplies, and seeing their friends again. For parents, it usually means a long and sometimes overwhelming to do list.
Between figuring out everyone’s schedules and what they need for the new year, it can be tough to even know where to begin!
I’ve been guilty of waiting until the last minute to prepare more times than I can count, and sometimes that means we miss out on one of the most important parts of the entire experience… taking time to document the day and make a memory.
That’s why I’ve put together this list of first day of school sign ideas and free printables. I hope it’s a great way to make your kid’s first day extra special and helps to take the important task of making memories a little easier for you as you handle everything else.
Below, you’ll find everything from printable sign templates to creative and reusable DIY projects to help you make your child’s first day truly unforgettable. Best of all, the pictures you take of these moments will be priceless memories for many years to come.
Free Printable First Day of School Signs
1. DIY First Day of School Chalkboard Signs Photo Prop
Looking for a fun photo idea about the first day of school? This DIY chalkboard sign is a great idea. It’s easy to create, and inexpensive, and you can use it as a photo prop or room decoration!
2. Ready for New Adventures Printable First Day of School Sign
One of my most favorite back to school traditions is having my kids fill out a little questionnaire all about themselves. It’s so fun to hear how they answer the questions, and there’s always at least one answer that surprises me. They also make a great keepsakes and are a lot of fun to look back on when they get older. You can find a copy of this printable here.
3. First Day of School Signs for Different Grades
Don’t have a color printer? No problem! These first day of school signs are a fun way to celebrate each new grade at the beginning of the year.
4. First Day of School Sign Printable for Photo Props
It just wouldn’t be the first day of school without a picture, right? Print out this colorful pdf file and ask your kids to make all the funny faces they can while you take all the photos your phone can handle.
5. First Day of Any Grade Printable Sign
This printable sign is great for kindergarten, middle school, high school, and beyond! Simply print the right page to reflect your child’s grade, let your kiddo color it with crayons or decorate them however they wish. It’s a great way to let your children express themselves and get creative before school begins.
6. Back to School Free Printable Sign
These signs are so simple and cute! They are perfect for the beginning of every school year or when you are taking your child’s first day of school pictures. These are fun memories that will stay in your kid’s mind forever!
7. Printable First Day of School Signs – Three Options
I love the simplicity of this first-day sign! There are three options, so you can print out whatever is right for your child. I also love that they are editable, so you can add your own personal touch.
8. First Day of School T-shirt
Be still my heart! With a t-shirt like this you can track your kids’ progress with their own precious handprints at the beginning of every year and watch how they grow. All you need is an oversized t-shirt, some iron on text and paint, and you can create an amazing keepsake.
A photo collage of your little one in the shirt for all 12 years would also make the sweetest graduation gift! (Just make sure to get a size they can grow into.) I don’t think there’d be a dry eye in the house! Such a beautiful idea!
9. First Day of School Poster and Interview Template
These free printables are fantastic for heading back to school. They come with an interview template that will help to make the start of school fun and exciting! You can even have the kids fill out the interview again at the end of the year to see how their preferences change during the school year.
10. First Day of School Flag
This first day of school flag is such a cute idea! My kids love waving flags and always try to run off with them. This flag would be the perfect prop for the first day of school pictures!
11. Black and White First Day of School Sign Printables
This set of free printables is awesome! I love the simplicity of the black and white design. It will look great with color scheme, which is perfect when you live with fashion divas or fashionistas… Moms of pre-teens and teens know what I mean. You can also fancy it up a bit by putting it in a special frame like the green one pictured above.
12. Letter Board First Day of School Sign
This sign‘s great if you’d like a solution that can be used beyond celebrating the first day of school. You can use it all year round for special family messages, inspiring quotes, and other celebrations. It would also make a really great gift!
13. Back-to-School Photo Signs
These signs are super cute and very simple! The free printable includes different options for each grade, so you can print out whatever is right for your child. They have that popular school chalkboard signs look, but you don’t need a chalkboard or get messy with chalk dust. Yay for less mess to clean up!
14. Simple First Day of School Printable Sign With a Pencil
I love this printable sign! Just print out a flag, and let your kids sign or decorate it. Use it at the end of the year as a memory of their first year of school.
15. Colorful and Fun First Day of School Signs Free Download
These colorful and fun signs are the best of both worlds! They combine a first day of school sign with a fun info sheet so you can record interesting facts about the kids. Fill them in with your child’s answers and make the most amazing photos for the beginning of the school year!
16. Preschool to College First Day of School Sign Printable
This sign is absolutely adorable! I love the idea of it and the fact that it is customizable! There is a blank template included, so you can use it for any grade and any year.
17. DIY Back to School Chalkboard Signs Editable Printable
I love these DIY back-to-school chalkboard signs style! It’s a great way to welcome your kiddo back to school. You can customize it with your own text and even a photo if you want to! And don’t worry about trying to write on the dark surface. Chalk markers like this works great!
18. Instagram-Ready #Hashtag Back-to-School Photo Prop Printables
This fun high school first day sign has a simple and clean look that also captures a bit of our modern day culture with the hashtag. They can be left white or decorated to your liking.
19. Back to School Self-Portrait Printables
This is a great sign for your kid’s first day of school. You can use it from preschool and kindergarten through 12th grade. I love how you can print different versions depending on what you need.
20. DIY First Day of School Sign with Rulers
This sign is really cute and simple to make! You print it out and then write in your child’s name and the year they are starting school in ink the blank spots provided on the sign. Then take some pictures with it! I love how they glued rulers to a picture frame for an extra school-theme touch. This would be great as an end-of-year memory, too!
21. First Day of School Sign for Photo Shoot
Print out this first day of school sign, and you could have your kids pose with some new props for the first day of school! This would be a fun way to remember this date for years to come.
22. DIY First Grade Flag Banner
This is a fun banner made from construction paper and thread! You can use it as a photo prop at the beginning of the year, too. Just hang it in your hallway!
23. First Day of Kindergarten Signs Photo Shoot With Mom
I love it when parents approach milestones in their kids’ lives with humor. And this photo idea is just great! The signs are, too!
24. DIY First Day of School Chalkboard Signs with Adhesive Vinyl
This is a super fun sign for the first day at school. Not only does your child get to write his name on it, but there are also fun and interesting facts about them to fill in! What an entertaining way to start the new school year! The sign can then be kept as a special souvenir, reused each year, or even used throughout the year for other events and important information.
25. First Day of School Sign Free Printable 2022-2023
These signs are so cute and super easy to make! Print them out and then take photos with them on the first day back at school or during picture day. They’re so much fun!
26. First Day Of School Free Printable Signs For Every Grade
This is another cute idea for a sign, and it only takes about 1 minute to make! This would be perfect for taking pictures at the beginning of the school year or at the end! It doesn’t matter if you need it for 3rd grade, 5th grade, freshman, or senior year. You can even give it as a gift!
27. Photo Sign for Your Kid’s First Day of School
This kid’s first day of school photo sign is super cute and will be ideal for the perfect first day of school photo shoot!
28. Printable Signs for Back to School
These signs are perfect for hanging around your house and taking your pictures with! Simple and fun!
29. Editable Last Days of School Signs for Any School Year
These editable last days of school signs are so cute and easy to make! They would be perfect for the first day of school or picture day. You can even print them out and give them as gifts!
30. First Day Of School Signs for New Fun Family Tradition
This is another fun sign idea that you can use at the beginning of the school year or at the end! It’s so easy to make, and it only takes about 2 minutes! What a festive way to welcome back your kids at the beginning of the school year or send them off on their summer vacation with the last day of school printables!
31. First Day of Homeschool Printable for All Grades
Just because you homeschool doesn’t mean you can’t have a fun sign photo session! These first day of homeschool printables are for you! They’re so easy to make, too! All you have to do is:
- Print the page you want
- Cut it out
- Make some fantastic photos
- And hang it on your kids’ wall
Such a fun memory to make!
32. First Day of School Signs – For Grade School
This is a quick and easy sign idea that you can make for your kids’ first day of school! Just print it out, cut it out, and it’s ready to be used as a photo prop. This printable comes pre-created for every grade, to make it even easier for you. And putting them in a frame to hang after is just a wonderful idea!
33. First Day of School Sign In Blue and Pink
I love two things about this printable. First – it comes in blue and pink, for boys and girls. And second – you can customize this with your child’s name, their photo or a class picture, and the year they start school in the blank spaces provided! This would make such a fun keepsake!
34. First Day of School Printable Sign With Colorful Pencils
This is a fun editable sign that you can easily make and use at the beginning of the school year or at the end. You could even give them as gifts to teachers after the summer break!
35. Unique First and Last Day of School Signs Photo with Photoshop
If you’re skillful in editing photos, this first day of school sign is the idea you’ve been looking for! Make a photo of your child holding a frame and put their last year’s picture in the frame. It’s an easy project that makes a great back-to-school photo!
Reusable First Day of School Signs
When it comes to the reusable first day of school signs, there are a few options to choose from. These include:
- Dry-erase board with a magnetic surface
- Corkboard
- Chalkboard
Dry-Erase Magnetic Board
A dry-erase board is perfect for any classroom because can write on it using dry-erase markers. It’s an excellent solution for the first day of school, as you can write things like your child’s name, homeroom teacher, and school lunch schedule. And you can reuse it every year!
Corkboard
Corkboards are another suitable option, particularly if you want to hang them in your child’s room and use it as a message board. These corkboards are especially cute.
You can also choose a large corkboard and whiteboard combo like this for the best of both worlds.
Chalkboard
A chalkboard is a classic choice. You can choose a standard chalkboard or a magnetic board, depending on where you’d like to place it. I love the magnetic ones, as you can move things around and add new notes.
Quick and Easy First Day of School Signs
If you’re looking for the quick and easy first day of school signs, you’ll find quite a few options in the list of free printables above in the post. Here are a few more ideas:
- A poster or banner with the words “First Day of School” written across, is quick and easy. You can either make your own banner or buy one from a store.
- Another quick and easy first day of school sign option is to print out a picture of your child and put it on a poster board with their name underneath it. You can use a school picture taken the previous year and put it on the first day of school sign in a few quick steps.
- First, choose and print out the picture you want to use.
- Next, cut a piece of cardboard to the size of the picture. Put the photo in the middle of the cardboard and press them together.
- You can then decorate around the picture to finish the first day of school sign.
What Do You Write on a First Day of School Sign?
If you’re wondering what you should write on your first day of school sign, I got your back! Here’s a list of a few directions to get you started!
Begin with a few different phrases like:
- Back to School
- New School Year
- New Beginnings
- New Classes
- School Information like Mascot and Start Date or School Year
The next thing you can do is include different facts about your kiddo.
What to Include in the First Day of School Sign?
You can write your child’s:
- Name
- Grade
- Teacher’s name
- School year or start date
- School they’ll be attending
- Age
-
Favorite things like:
- Color
- Song
- TV show
- Movie
- Character
- Book
- Activity
- Sport
- What they want to be when they grow up
I’d love for you to join in the fun by sharing what sign you are making for the first day of school in the comments below.
How Do You Make a Chalkboard Sign for the First Day of School?
If you want to showcase your child’s name and grade on a chalkboard for the first day of school sign, all you need to do is recreate your design on the chalkboard. The process is easier than you think!
Step 1: Design something cute online
You can then have your child’s name and grade written on the board. Online design tools like Canva are perfect for this project. It’s an online design tool with tons of templates and elements you can choose from, and you can use it for free!
Step 2: Print it
You can print it on your home printer or a print/office supplies store.
Step 3: Transfer the design
Ever wonder how to transfer words or a design to a chalkboard? Well it’s easier than you may think!
First, you’ll want to trace the side of paper that you want to appear on the chalkboard with pencil. Then flip the page over, tape it to the chalkboard, and retrace it to transfer the design. It takes a little time, but it’s totally worth it! You can then go over the pencil transfer that’s on the chalkboard with chalk or a chalk marker.
You can find more detailed instructions (with photos) about transferring words or images to a chalkboard here.
DIY Chalkboard First Day of School Sign Using a Cricut
It’s even easier if you own a Cricut. If you don’t, you can get one from Amazon. You can do so many amazing things with this gadget!
Here’s a video that will show you how to make your own chalkboard first day of school sign with a Cricut. Prepare to fall in love:
How Do You Make Your Own Back to School Sign?
You can make your own back-to-school or first day of school sign! And it’s actually an extremely entertaining process!
Use Canva to Design Your Back-to-School or First Day of School Sign
If you want to design your own back-to-school sign and have never done this before, don’t worry. I’d advise you to try out Canva to do it. You can find many tutorials online that will walk you through the process.
You can also use a chalkboard sign or a dry-erase board to display your child’s name and grade for the first day of school sign. If you choose a chalkboard, be sure to keep it inside, as moisture might ruin it.
If you prefer a dry-erase board, you can write on it with dry-erase markers. I’d advise you to pick darker and brighter colors, as they are easier to read from a distance.
How Do You Make a Reusable First Day of School Sign?
If you want to make a reusable first day of school sign, you can choose from many different materials, including:
- Wood
- Metal
- Plastic
If you’re not sure what kind of material to choose, keep in mind that the sturdier material you decide to go with, the more durable your sign will be. This is especially important if you plan on using the same sign for several years and keep track of the progress your child makes.
You can also choose a larger sign, so you have room to add things like your child’s name and grade, as they progress through school.
Make a Cardboard or Poster Reusable Back-to-School Sign
The cardboard or posters type of the first day of school sign is also a great option. Actually, they’re my favorite. I am a fan of printable signs because they allow my creative juices to flow. This way, I can easily make every new school year’s beginning different with a fresh design. Besides, I just love that any printable can be turned into a reusable first day of school sign.
Don’t believe me? Here’s how! After you design your sign, all you have to do is:
1. Laminate
This is the most common way to save your printable signs. Laminating is cheap and easy, and it’s a great way to add to your kid’s keepsakes or albums.
2. Slip into a page protector
Using a page protector is also an easy option. You can save it as it is and display it in your kiddo’s room or pull the first day of school sign out anytime and reuse the protector for something else.
3. Stick into a frame
If you really want to make the first day of school memorable, frame your sign! It looks fantastic, and it makes a fantastic photo shoot prop!
Things to Do With a First Day of School Sign After the First Day’s Over
After the first day of school is over, your sign can still be displayed in a few different ways. You can:
- Keep the sign in your child’s room as a decoration
- Hang it in your child’s bedroom or at the top of the stairs so everyone can see it
- Put the sign on a bulletin board in your child’s room or another area (like the kitchen), where everyone can see it
- Hang it on the fridge
- Use the first day of school sign as a message board and write things like your child’s:
- Extracurricular activities
- Homework schedule
- Add it to a keepsake box/photo album
- If you don’t want to keep it, give it to a grandparent or a special and trusted person in the child’s life
Should I Share a Picture of My Child Holding Their First Day of School Sign Online or on Social Media?
While it might be tempting to share a picture of your child holding their first day of school sign on social media, you should be cautious about doing so.
Although you may think it’s innocent to share a picture of your child holding the sign, there’s a chance that this photo may reach someone scary or even dangerous. You don’t want to expose your child’s personal information in comments and posts, so it’s best to keep the pictures private.
We often don’t realize how easy it is to be approached, lied to, or even manipulated because of the information we share online. Even sharing an innocent first day of school sign photo of your kid could easily be used for wrong purposes, putting the child in danger.
If you want to share a picture of your child’s first day of school sign, you can do so with a small group of family members or friends and only share the photos with people you know and trust.
The first day of school is a memorable time for many kids. It’s a new chapter of their lives, filled with new opportunities and unknown, exciting experiences. Now that they’re back in the classroom, you can make their first day of school even more memorable with a first day of school sign.
These signs are sure to inspire your child’s confidence and remind them of the love you have for them. Besides, they turn out really cute! Which one are you making this year for your kiddos? I’m excited to read about it in the comment section below!
Did you like this list of the first day of school sign printables? Then, you need to check out these posts, too:
- 10 Ways to make your first-day Homeschooling extra special
- Free Printable Weekly Meal Planners
- Free Printable Thanksgiving Planner
- 23 Easy Halloween Treats for School Lunches & Parties
- 35+ Free Elf on the Shelf Printables & Ideas for Christmas Fun
The post 35 First Day of School Sign Ideas and Free Printables appeared first on Happy Organized Life.