Summer is almost over and it is time to get prepared for back to school! Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with my ultimate list of tips and tricks to kick off the school year on the right foot.
This post is all about back to school made easy.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. These links may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no additional cost to you). Thank you in advance for your support!
Summer is coming to an end, which means it is time to start the back to school preparations. If you are anything like me you are making all the lists of the countless things you need to accomplish before the big day. As a teacher myself, I am giving you my comprehensive list that I use every year and totally swear by!
You are going to learn how to streamline the back to school planning process including how to set up your classroom for success.
After exploring the comprehensive list you will be extra prepared and ready to make the back to school transition a smooth and easy process.
This post is all about the back to school list that every teacher should know about.
Best Back to School Tips
1. Start Prepping Early
I am firm believer in setting boundaries and making time for yourself outside of your role as a teacher. However, dedicating some time during the summer to prepare for the upcoming school year can yield significant benefits.
A few things that I prep in the summer are my Meet the Teacher take-home pages, math kits complete with manipulatives for the upcoming school year, and organize the curriculum handouts like decodables and Studies Weekly newspapers. These are tasks that I usually complete while watching Netflix.
In addition, I create labels for student folders, assemble birthday bags, and kickstart my planning for the initial weeks of school. The more you can accomplish before the school year starts, the more prepared and confident you will feel.
Here is my back to school checklist:
2. Set Your Classroom Up for Success
An organized classroom is like a well-oiled machine. Carefully consider the procedures and structure of your class BEFORE the school year begins. I can not stress this enough! Have a defined process for every aspect of your classroom management.
A few things to consider are class size and classroom layout (location of boards, windows, doors.) Will your students be moving around in centers or will they spend most of their time at their seats? Will you have a carpet where the class meets? What about a small group area? A reading nook?
We are encouraged to have centers, a classroom carpet, a reading area, and a place for small groups. The placement and expected noise level of each area should be carefully considered. Be sure to arrange desks and tables where you can clearly monitor students no matter where you are in the classroom.
After determining the various zones within the room, I make a checklist of items required for each area. For example, my computer station needs chargers, headphones, and comfortable seating. My library/reading area needs well-organized books and comfortable seating.
My top tip for setting up your classroom is to have a place for everything. Remember to always put everything back in its designated place and teach your students to do the same. This will save your sanity!
3. Create a Detailed Plan
In college, we had to read the book “The First Days of School” by Harry Wong. If you haven’t read this book before, I HIGHLY suggest reading it. It is like a blueprint for how to become an effective teacher. I revisit this book at the beginning of every school year.
This profound book, stresses the importance of having a detailed plan for everything with an emphasis on the first days of school. How you begin the school year has a direct impact on your student’s success throughout the year.
I highly suggest writing out a detailed plan for all of your classroom procedures. I carefully plan out when and how I am going to teach each classroom procedure. Put everything in the plan. The more you plan, the more confident and at ease you will feel.
As you begin prepping for the new year, remember to save your detailed list in a safe place, like your Google drive, so you can refer back to it next year.
With this comprehensive back to school checklist, you will feel prepared and ready to start the school year off strong and confident! Keep this checklist handy and remember planning is the key to success. I promise you won’t regret it! Here’s to a smooth and stress-free back to school season!
FROM MESS TO SUCCESS! EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION IDEAS FOR TEACHERS
BEST TEACHING ADVICE YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE
Leave a Reply