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Teacher Support

Back-to-School Tips for Teachers to Prepare for a Successful School Year

Get ready for back-to-school season with these tips to ensure you are completely prepared for the first day.

The days leading up to the first day of school can be chaotic for everyone involved. Students are excited to see their friends and get to know new classmates, while teachers are putting the finishing touches on lesson plans and classroom themes.

Even veteran educators still get “first-day nerves” as the new year approaches. Take a deep breath and remind yourself you will have everything under control for the first day. Follow the tips below to make sure you aren’t missing anything and get prepared for the new school year.

Establish classroom management policies

Assess your classroom rules to see if any need to be added or modified, and display them prominently in your classroom. If you intend to make a student contract during the first week, decide where you will display it in the classroom. Other classroom management updates might include creating or updating your bathroom passes, if needed, and organizing your substitute and student absentee folders to ensure missed days are not a hassle. Don’t forget to set clear boundaries for when you will and will not) answer texts or emails, and communicate these hours to parents and students during the first week of classes.

Organize your classroom

Decide whether students will sit in groups, in a horseshoe, or in rows. If you want to do assigned seating, whether to learn names or for organization, create desk name tags in advance of the first day of class for students to find their seats. Additionally, identify any special areas you might want to create, such as a reading rug, shout-out wall, or quiet corner. Finally, ensure you can see all areas of the classroom from your desk to maintain supervision.

Review EdTech for your classroom

Decide what media you will use in your classroom this year, such as a class website or social media pages. Explore the new EdTech tools offered by your campus or district to ensure you know how to use them and familiarize yourself with any new schoolwide media systems. Make sure your parent and student portals are set up, and if necessary, provide instructions to students on how to access them.

Meet with your colleagues

It’s important to spend time introducing yourself to new teachers and reconnecting with other educators after the summer break. Collegiality is essential to creating a positive school atmosphere and learning community. Meet with your principal or assistant principal to discuss your professional development goals and any committees you might want to join in advance of the first day.

Familiarize yourself with your calendar

Make sure you’re aware of any changes to the bell schedule and your specific classroom schedule. Then, check if you have any additional responsibilities, such as managing the carpool lane or bus duty. Take some time to block out important events on your calendar, such as parent-teacher conferences, back-to-school night, and PTA meetings, both to stay on top of your professional schedule and to ensure school commitments won’t clash with personal events.

Gather your lesson plans

Review your lesson plans from last year, and make adjustments accordingly—or, if you’re starting from scratch, prep your lesson plans for the first week ahead of time. Review any summer assignments your students may have completed, and decide how you’ll evaluate them. Once you have the bulk of your planning done, organize your materials to make sure they are easily accessible when needed, and prepare a few backup lessons to use if students finish early or your lesson runs short.

Get ready for the first day

Prepare any first day activities, such as icebreakers or name games, to engage your students on the first day. Use your roster to review and practice pronouncing student names. Finally, prepare all necessary copies and materials for the week before the copier becomes in high demand.

By following these tips, you’ll be well-prepared for the first day and ready to create a successful and organized learning environment for your students. Don’t forget to take care of yourself, too—set aside some time to celebrate the new school year with a nice dinner or fun weekend activity. Here’s to a fantastic new school year!