How To Prepare for the First Fantastic Week of School

Every summer, I tried to prioritize what I was going to do to get ready for the next school year. I wanted my classroom to be engaging, fun, inviting, and a place that I wanted to be each day. This will give you ideas on things you can do this summer to refresh for the fall and prepare for a fantastic first week of school.

Pick a Theme: Each year, I liked to have a new classroom theme. Some that I have used before are Jungle, Smiley Faces, Oklahoma, Beach, etc. I liked to have something fresh to look at and even try each year. I wanted my classroom to be fun and engaging for my students, families, and even myself. Teachers spend a lot of time in their classrooms, so it should be homey and warm. This theme would be separate from what my thematic units were each week and added to the classroom décor and atmosphere. I wanted my room to not only be fun and engaging but also to look fun and engaging (don’t forget that first impressions are what people remember)!

Review Your Curriculum: Is there anything new that you want to try? I changed, added, or redeveloped my curriculum often. Some curricula that I have tried are Frog Street Press, Letter People, and Classroom Mascots, which I developed on my own. Find something you believe in and that works for you and your students.

Professional Development: This was one of my favorite things to do in the summer because it always refreshed me, my thinking, and my teaching practices. It also gave me up-to-date ideas and curricula that work. Some that I have really enjoyed are Dr. Jean, NAEYC, Great Expectations, Bal-A-Vis-X Training, and Parents as Teachers. Oftentimes, we have to use the curriculum our school requires, but you can always add things to make it better.

Pinterest: I think it's important for teachers to get ideas from colleagues and peers. This includes finding websites that showcase others’ work. This also gives you the opportunity to showcase your classroom and what you love and believe in. I enjoy searching the internet for different ways to set up a classroom, centers, and even field trip ideas. You can also find great articles like "Tips and Tricks for Back to School" while doing a search on how to have a great school year!

Start a Website: A website is a great way to keep families informed, for you to share your ideas and what is happening in the classroom, and even to start a blog. There are numerous possibilities for a classroom website. Here is my personal classroom website: Busy Classroom.

Start Social Media: Almost everyone I know has social media sites. My early childhood professional social media sites are some of my favorite ways to collaborate with other professionals and keep families informed. I have a LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Blog, Website, and YouTube Channel. Here is my page to go straight to the links. Try to make ONE this summer and have your families follow you! This article on "Leveraging Social Media to Build Relationships with Families" goes more in-depth on the ideas.

Research New and Innovative Ways to Reach Families: It is important that we stay abreast of current topics and ideas happening in education. Social media is one great way to reach families. There are several options for alerts and text messaging for families, virtual pages, bulletin boards, digital portfolios, and Family Forums that can keep families engaged.

Reorganize Your Classroom Setup (Environment): Reorganization can mean many things. Going through old and used materials, cleaning up your environment, painting, new bulletin boards, and even a new chair for you to sit in will make you excited about starting the year. Do something or find something that makes you happy. This can even mean decorating the door to your classroom.

Go to Garage Sales/Goodwill: These are great places to find new furniture, bookshelves, books, and anything you want for your classroom for cheap.

Be a Great Teacher: Great teachers inspire change in a child’s life. They build relationships with families, and they take the time to get to know each student individually. The ten ideas in this article go a long way in getting ready and even excited about the new school year!

This list is very basic and minimal. There are so many things you can do to get ready and refreshed for next year. Good luck, and have fun; make it the best year yet!

~ Tisha