Ready to Inspire: Tips for Teachers
As summer draws to a close, we find ourselves rapidly approaching the start of the school year. For some, this may be a period of great joy and excitement as they look forward to another year of nurturing young minds. For others, this time may be one filled with mixed feelings or trepidation for all the preparation ahead of them. However you may be feeling about the upcoming school year, rest assured—we’ve got your back! Below, we have gathered some helpful recommendations for teachers as you begin the process of preparing yourselves and your classroom for the 2024-25 school year.
Classroom Charm: A Space Where Learning Shines
Arguably, the most fun part of preparing for a new school lies in deciding a theme for your classroom. With Pinterest boards galore, there is no shortage of wonderful ideas out there. We recommend mixing in some bright colors to create a fun and engaging environment for all! Whatever colors and themes you choose for your classroom this year, create a welcoming and calming place for you and your students to learn together.
Teacher budgets are often not enough to cover everything you might want to include in your classroom, so be sure to set up a teacher wishlist. Most major retailers or online sites, such as Amazon and Target, will allow you to add items to your teacher wishlist. Don’t forget to share the link (or QR code) on your social media accounts or with the families you will be teaching. This will help to make sure that you have everything you need before school starts!
Set the Stage: Important Documents
While it’s easy to fall prey to the excitement of fun classroom decor, it is equally important to remember the more mundane side of preparing for the back-to-school season. Make sure to review any school and emergency procedures that you will need to be aware of. Set up a list of classroom rules and make sure to display them somewhere in your classroom for students to refer to throughout the year. Since you’re already looking at important documents, now would be a good time to look through your incoming students’ IEPs and 504s so you can be prepared for each student’s individual needs throughout the upcoming school year.
Getting Organized: Setting Up for Success
We cannot stress enough the importance of preparing your lesson plans. We highly recommend writing (or typing!) your lesson plans for at least the first month of school prior to the first day. Those first few weeks can be a whirlwind of activity, and having this done ahead of time will be a huge relief at the end of the day. As you begin teaching, make note of what worked and what did not so you can make quick and easy adjustments for the school year.
Though none of us plans to get sick, it can often be an inevitability in schools, so make sure to have a substitute binder ready to go with some last-minute lesson plans. You certainly won’t feel like writing lesson plans once you are sick, so having this done can give you some real peace of mind—just in case.
Make sure that your classroom and desk are organized in a way that is conducive to your vision for the class. How do you want your desks arranged? Would you rather have them in groups or in rows? Once that is decided, start figuring out where your different stations will go. Decide where you will have students turn in their assignments, where supplies will be stored, and where you will display their artwork and assignments. Lastly, figure out a good filing system and some choice items that show off your personality for your own desk!
We highly recommend utilizing music in the classroom. You can find classroom-appropriate playlists on YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, and other streaming services. Simply search for cafe music or classroom music! Try using different genres of music to set the mood throughout the day and year. You could start the day off with some calm, instrumental music to welcome your students into the classroom. You could play classical music during group work and pop music for the last couple minutes of class. Experiment with what works for you and your students!
Teacher TLC: Preparing Yourself
Perhaps one of the more overlooked aspects of preparing for back to school is the personal preparations you will need to make. Set aside time before the back-to-school season to go to lunch, sit outside and read a book, or just catch up with a friend. Who knows when you will have time once school starts, so make the most of your free time this summer!
We highly recommend saving time during the school year by meal prepping now. One of our favorite strategies is cooking large batches of meals during the summer and freezing them for later. Your future self will be so grateful when you can heat up a nice stew or casserole instead of buying fast food or eating another sandwich. Stay tuned for our blog post that will offer some easy-to-make, delicious, and nutritious meal-prepping recipes!
We know the school year can be incredibly busy and demanding, but make sure you set aside time each week for yourself. Whether that ends up being an episode of your favorite show, a relaxing bubble bath, or a calming walk, you deserve some time to decompress from the hectic school days. Self-care can truly go a long way for your mental health. Stay tuned for our blog post offering cost-effective, relaxing, and rejuvenating suggestions for some much-needed pampering!
Building Bridges: Connecting with Students & Families
Lastly, head into the new year with clearly defined boundaries and communication methods. When and how should parents and students contact you? Don’t be afraid to set those boundaries. It not only makes for a healthier and happier environment for you, but it also models those practices for your students and their families. Set a firm time (such as 5:30 p.m.) that marks the end of your workday, and you won’t look at or respond to any work emails until the following morning.
Don’t be afraid to say no! You do not have to volunteer for every after-school activity, nor do you have to join school committees. Sometimes, saying no to these extra time commitments is the healthiest thing for you and everyone involved. You are setting a good example for doing your job and doing it well without the burden of being on call 24/7. Whether they realize it now or 10 years down the road, your students and their families will come to appreciate you modeling a healthy work-life balance.
Once you have everything ready for the start of school, set up a website, Google Classroom, or Facebook group for any announcements and digital reminders you will need to send to your class throughout the year. This is perfect for classroom events, field trips, holidays, and more! We recommend having a QR code or link that you can include in your back-to-school night and meet-the-teacher events. Have a “Meet the Teacher” PowerPoint or video prepared for students' first day of school and for your back-to-school night for parents.
Ready, Set, Teach: Embracing the Adventure Ahead
As you prepare to embark on another school year, equip yourself with effective strategies and resources. By focusing on fostering a supportive classroom environment, effectively organizing your classroom, and prioritizing self-care, teachers can create a positive impact on both your students and yourselves. With these back-to-school tips in mind, you can embark on a journey of growth, ensuring a successful and fulfilling academic year for all.
Be sure to check out our Teacher Tips blog series for more tips for teachers, and connect with us on our social media to let us know which of these tips you found most helpful. For a look at what it’s like on the other side of things, be sure to check out our "Back-to-School Guide for Parents" blog. We wish all of you a happy back-to-school season!
Sources
5 Things to do NOW to prep for back to school. (2020, May 20). Differentiated Teaching. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://differentiatedteaching.com/back-to-school-prep/
12 Simple Jobs Teachers Can Do to Prepare for a New School Year. (2022, January 5). Teach Starter. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.teachstarter.com/us/blog/12-simple-jobs-teachers-can-do-to-prepare-for-a-new-school-year/
Back to School Planning for Teachers. (2024, January 27). Reading and Writing Haven. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.readingandwritinghaven.com/back-to-school-planning-for-teachers
Rhodes, K. (2023, August 8). 6 back to school tasks for busy teachers - Teach. Learn. Grow. NWEA. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.nwea.org/blog/2023/6-back-to-school-tasks-for-busy-teachers/
Top 5 Back to School Tips for New Teachers to Prepare for the School Year & Stay Ahead. (n.d.). Minds in Bloom. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://minds-in-bloom.com/new-teachers-back-to-school/
Waters, E. (n.d.). THE Back to School List for Teachers: 100+ Steps to a Better Year. Erin Waters EDU. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://elementaryedu.com/2022/04/back-to-school-list-for-teachers.html
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