As we close out on July, we will have the new year on the brain and will begin the planning process. No matter the years of experience or if you are just starting out for your first year, I feel there are some commonalities that we all think about to get ready for our new kiddos! Most of this will probably be directed towards primary grades, but can be tweaked for intermediate teachers too.
With the help of social media and sites like Instagram or Pinterest, we get bombarded with some amazing classroom designs, decor, set up, and more. With those great inspirations comes an overwhelming feeling of having to get the classroom just like those that we see. That is so far from what we should be doing! Use those pictures you see as inspiration, but start with something small. I have listed a few areas I feel are most important when getting ready for a new school year. Don't worry about the theme of your classroom. Your kiddos will love you whether or not you have the SuperHero theme, the buzzing bees, or pineapple themes we're seeing everywhere! Your kids will thrive because YOU are their teacher and not what kind of desk tag they have on their desk.
1. Build a classroom library. Visit places like Goodwill, Salvation Army, garage sales, Half Price books, or check with your local library (They often have book sales and books are very reasonably priced) to find books for your students to read independently. While you may not be sure of exact levels, you can find a variety of picture books, rhyming, chapter books, and more that the kids will enjoy. When you're visiting the garage sales too, look for indoor recess games or puzzles.
2. Shop SMART. Teachers spend a lot of their own money on their room. If you buy supplies or decor for your room, check out places like Dollar Tree or Target's "Bullseye Playground" aka the dollar spot. They are putting out some great things for classrooms like baskets, certificates, portable dry erase boards, flashcards and more! I always buy extra folders and will only get them at Walmart. You can usually find them for $.15-.50. Also, Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) is a great way to follow other teachers and see what they create for the classroom. There are many great resources for a reasonable price or for free!
3. Classroom Management...SOOOOO important! If you are already hired, or a returning teacher, make sure you check with your school to see what type of behavior system is in place. Become familiar with those expectations and see how it will fit into your room You will need to start your management system on DAY 1!!! Your students will need to know expectations, rules, and consequences from the beginning. I recommend repeating these expectations and rules and practicing everyday for the first two weeks! Your students need those guidelines in order to make a smooth transition into your classroom. I will do a separate post all about Classroom Management at a later date...that is a whole post in itself.
4. Stay organized. Get yourself a planner or binder and make lists! Make lists of all you want to do or need to get or make. This binder can keep any forms you will need for the year, hold your lesson plans, parent communication, etc.
5. Classroom Set up. Visit the other classrooms to see how those teachers are arranging their rooms. They are the best resources if you are stuck on where to put the furniture or how to arrange your kiddos. Don't worry about the student desks. More than likely, you'll rearrange them after the first few days because you'll see who can work near each other and who can't!
6. Class Procedures and Student Info. Once you get going with your class lists and get started with your first day, you should make sure you know of any allergies and make sure any other staff members or lunch supervisors are aware too. Make a list and copy it so you have it in multiple places (lesson plan binder, sub binder, by the class door, etc.) and know exactly where your students are going at the end of the day: bus riders, after school club, day care, walkers, etc. Having that info directly from the parents will help ease any panic and stress and will have you leaving school knowing all of your kiddos are exactly where they are supposed to be!
7. Parent Contact. One of the best ways to create a successful community is to have consistent contact with parents. Give your kiddos time to adjust and get used to the new school year and send an email, a note or a quick call to the parents letting them know what type of transition their child has made and that you are confident it will be a great year! This will open up the door to a strong relationship that is needed for those kids to be successful!
Getting your room ready, thinking of all you need for the kids, and prepping for lessons can be so overwhelming and time consuming! These are just the top things I'd recommend to think of as you get ready to head into the classroom. Just remember to do a little at a time, try not to focus on too many things, and you'll get there!
