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The Ultimate Guide to Your First Day at School
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Classroom Materials
Make sure you have the following things ready for the first day of school:
- • Forms
- • File system
- • Lesson planner/grade tracker
- • Substitute/Emergency Lesson Folder
- • Nametags, if applicable
- • List of classroom jobs
- • List of classroom routines (Pledge, bathroom breaks, etc.)
Share school supply shopping tips with other teachers
Homework Assignments
Develop a homework policy that your students will understand. Talk with them about your expectations for completing homework assignments, and how your grading system works.
Letter to the Parents/Guardians
Devise a letter to be sent home to parents/guardians making yourself available to answer their questions. Let them know you are excited about working with their children. Include copies of your behavior management plan, homework policy, and other pertinent information about making the school year run efficiently. If you have a parent/student orientation night, you can give this letter out at that time.
Classroom Schedule
Record a schedule of how each day of the week will run. Go over this schedule with your students on the first day, and post the schedule in a place that is easy for them to see. Kids work well with routines, and being able to see what they are doing day-to-day will help them stay focused.
h4. Join the discussion. What do you do to prepare for the new school year?
etrapp
about 1 year ago
66 comments
Does anyone have some good ideas about classroom management for a middle school class? (6-8) I'm great with the little ones but am having a hard time keeping junior high kids queit!!!!
Shupiker
about 1 year ago
6 comments
I'm going to be student teaching next week, and I'm not sure exactly how to establish my role as a teacher while remaining a student. Any suggestions?
Julia
about 1 year ago
52 comments
I had a friend with a crying child who did not want to go to school. It is heartbreaking, but what my friend did worked--after a few weeks. Brace yourself. She was matter of fact about it and just got her daughter ready and took her--day after tearfilled day. She made sure that teachers knew her number so that if anything really was wrong, that they could call her. She was positive and upbeat and realized that the crying stopped each day after the teachers got her daughter settled down and busy. HANG IN. Good luck to you both.
Brandye
about 1 year ago
2 comments
Anyone out there have any tips on what do if a child is not wanting to go to school? She is making herself so upset with the crying. This is her first year of kindergarten but did go to preschool for two years. I am the mother and I am struggling. It is breaking my heart. I am open to anyone's suggestions. I am going to school to become a elementary teacher and we haven't learned anything yet to help with this situation. I figured all you teachers out there have experienced this and could give me some pointers.
Thanks Brandye
SBonilla07
about 1 year ago
578 comments
really can't wait until September, just a week and a half for school....wooo
SBonilla07
about 1 year ago
578 comments
Thank you for this article :)
MsLui
about 1 year ago
20 comments
There are many tips for classroom teachers, but how about those who are outside of classroom teachers? I am a cluster math teacher who teaches K-2 and go to different classrooms for 45 minutes each. Where can I get tips for the beginning of school?
mamadeeds
about 1 year ago
8 comments
I will be teaching Kindergarten as the lead teacher with 2 assistants. It is a team, in a sense. I don't like the red light, yellow, green light/card thing. I like natural consequences. I plan fun centers. You don't follow the rules (warning and clear description of rules) you are out of that center for the day. You break it, you fix it. Use "I statements" not tattling. Be a little relaxed and make sure there is plenty of wiggle time. Otherwise, anyone have other ideas? Incentives for little guys?
titiempi
about 1 year ago
4 comments
I am starting my new job this August. My students are middle schoolers.
I have taught for five years but this is my first year teaching in an international school. My major is TEFL but I 've been offered the position of teaching Host country (i.e. Vietnam) culture to international students. Uhm, tons of things to prepare! But I'm so excited.
I'm thinking of some games for the first day. Well, personally I think you can know lots about your students while observing how they get involved in games... Knowing your students well will give you the key to be a successful teacher!
ITeachtheabcs
about 1 year ago
118 comments
Whatever your teaching style may be, the first days of school are crucial to how smoothly the school year will run for you and your class. It is imperative to have a class structure and class expectations set-up the second the students walk through the classroom door.
TallAnna
about 1 year ago
32 comments
I think CTT = Collaborative Team Teaching.
Mich246ele
about 1 year ago
2 comments
What is a CTT environment?
rluna1
about 1 year ago
4 comments
I will be working in a CTT environment for the first time this September. I will be working in a kindergarten classroom. Does anyone have any experience working in a CTT environment? I am the special education teacher. I've never taught kindergarten. I have experience in middle school--for 3 years, and 1 year prior to that, in a 3-5 self-contained classroom.
mrdnbp
about 1 year ago
2 comments
thanks for this. i will be working in US for the first time this august. This article indeed helps.