Let's Get Organized!

Ready...Set...Go!

4 Ways to Organize
Your Teaching Life

Are you beginning to have sleepless nights? Dreaming about bulletin boards and how everything goes wrong on the first day of school?

Well...no worries! Here's your Back To School Checklist to help you get organized for the upcoming school year!

Click here!

Put your mind at ease! Being proactive is key to getting ready for that new school year. After that, you can simply enjoy getting to know your kiddos on that first day of school!

Rather than ruining those last few weeks of summer, take small steps to get in the right mindset for a successful new year.

3 weeks before school-Teacher Prep

I call this Teacher Prep because what it really does is get the teacher excited and prepared to start thinking about a new school year. It allows you to take small steps to admit to yourself that summer is coming to an end. Here are some suggestions on what you can do.

Get a copy of your class list
Begin collecting pertinent information that will impact your planning-upcoming meetings, schedules for special classes, lunch and recess, etc.
Do something to say "welcome" or meet your new students-send a letter introducing yourself, some teachers like to do home visits or phone calls, plan an Open House, etc.
Take a motivational trip to your local teacher store to get ideas and supplies to spiff up your classroom
Definitely take a trip to Target and peruse their dollar section-so many things that you can use to brighten up and organize your classroom

2 weeks before school-Classroom Organization

Choose a rainy or cool summer morning two weeks before school to go into your classroom and start unpacking boxes, moving furniture around and pulling out things you'll use again this year. It will give you peace of mind and may even get you excited about the year ahead. Save those beautiful days you have left to enjoy your summer. Some suggestions to get a head start.

Arrange your furniture-desks, cubbies, shelves, etc. I think finding a new arrangement will spark possibilities for the new year but you may be more comfortable with the status quo. Do whatever works for you!
Create center areas in your classroom that will provide seating flexibility and easy transitions in your classroom. Some areas you may want to incorporate are a place to meet with small groups, a large group meeting area for mini-lessons, and a quiet corner for your reading area.
Create and hang bulletin boards-consider a theme for your classroom and which boards will stay up all year and boards that you can change periodically. Some suggestions are a "Welcome to Our Class" board, helpers, calendar, birthdays, a board to display student work and subject area boards. So many possibilities!

1-2 weeks before school

Below is a list of things you can do at home when you are watching a movie and enjoying those last few weeks of summer vacation. All of these tasks can be finished up in the classroom the week before school begins.

Label and hang locker tags.
Label and attach desk tags.
Organize student supplies-sharpen pencils, make supply boxes for your groups with necessary supplies for sharing keeping in mind the students who don't have their own personal supplies.
Label student folders, composition books, workbooks, etc. for easy distribution the first week

1 week before school

Get ready for that first day! It seems like I'm always doing this last minute! Help is on the way if you're like me and you need some activities to get your year off to a great start!