by Shelley | Organization
As the summer draws to a close and the start of a new school year lies ahead, it’s time to think about the challenging back-to-school season. Preparing for the return of students can be a daunting task, but with effective organizing strategies, teachers can set the stage for a successful and smooth transition.
Here are some essential tips and suggestions to help you organize for back to school, and create an environment that fosters learning, engagement, and growth.
- Create a Master To-Do List: Kickstart your back-to-school preparation by compiling a comprehensive to-do list. Divide it into categories such as classroom setup, curriculum planning, administrative tasks, and professional development. This list will serve as a roadmap to guide your efforts and ensure that no critical aspect of preparation is overlooked.
- Declutter and Deep Clean: Start the school year fresh by decluttering your classroom. Get rid of unnecessary materials and clean all surfaces, shelves, and storage areas.
- Designate Learning Areas: Create specific zones for various learning activities, like reading corners, writing centers, and science exploration stations.
- Organize Supplies: Arrange school supplies in labeled bins or drawers for easy access during lessons.
- Update Materials: Check teaching resources and update or replace outdated materials to keep the content fresh and engaging. Ensure your lesson plans align with your district’s requirements.
- Integrate Technology: Explore educational apps, online resources, and interactive tools to incorporate technology into your lessons effectively.
- Create a Yearly Calendar: Develop a yearly overview of key academic events, holidays, assessments, and deadlines to help you plan accordingly.
- Set Realistic Goals: Define achievable goals for yourself and your students. Break them down into smaller milestones to track progress effectively.
- Draft a Welcome Letter: Draft a warm and informative welcome letter to introduce yourself to parents and provide them with essential information about your classroom and contact details.
- Parent-Teacher Communication: Establish clear channels of communication with parents, such as email updates, a class website, or a communication app.
- Join Professional Communities: Connect with other educators in person or through online forums to share ideas, resources, and experiences.
- Prioritize Well-being: Remember that taking care of yourself is essential for being an effective teacher. Prioritize self-care, maintain a work-life balance, and avoid burnout.
- Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Avoid excessive after-hours work and dedicate time to hobbies and relaxation.
Organizing for back-to-school is a crucial step in setting the tone for a successful academic year. By creating a comprehensive to-do list, organizing your classroom, refreshing your curriculum, managing time effectively, fostering parent-teacher communication, connecting with colleagues, and prioritizing self-care, you can ensure a smooth and successful start to the new school year.
Remember, a well-organized teacher creates an environment that encourages students to thrive and reach their full potential. Here’s to an exciting and productive academic year ahead!
by Shelley | Organization
Numerous stories highlight how much teachers personally invest in their classrooms. I’m sure this isn’t news to you! And let’s not forget about all the “off the clock” time teachers dedicate to preparing their classrooms!
During the 1995-96 school year, I embarked on my journey as a fourth-grade teacher. I vividly recall feeling incredibly overwhelmed by numerous aspects. Teaching in a low-income school was a significant culture shock—I had some foresight, but it still took me by surprise. What truly astonished me was the utter scarcity of supplies and the condition of the building and classroom I was assigned. College never prepared me for the complete lack of support I encountered when it came to classroom supplies!
During my initial year at the school, which dated back to 1912, it was clear that it was in dire need of maintenance. Between 1995 and 1999, the building showed its age. Stepping into my classroom for the first time, I encountered a collection of 20 older metal desks, a worn-out teacher’s desk with broken drawer locks, a single empty bookshelf, two smaller tables, and a dusty, antiquated overhead projector on a cart!
After a thorough cleaning, I took inventory of what I had. The supply room offered some giant rolls of colored paper for projects or bulletin boards, a few pencils, and that thin, brownish-tinted student paper. To acquire basic supplies like scissors, pens, and other essentials for my desk, I had to place an order. Unfortunately, our school lacked any form of a Parent/Teacher organization, leaving us without additional funding sources. Despite the limited inventory, I was excited to decorate and transform my classroom into a welcoming space for our community to gather and learn!
To create a reading area, I purchased a carpet remnant and scoured garage sales for an old chair and as many chapter books as I could find. With hardwood floors and lofty ceilings, the room lacked coziness and had terrible acoustics!
Given the income level of the area and district policies, we couldn’t request students to bring any school supplies. I took advantage of Target’s back-to-school sales to stock up on folders and necessary supplies for the students. Of course, I depleted my checking account at teacher resource stores, buying bulletin board supplies and classroom decor—the days before Teachers Pay Teachers, where creating and printing resources yourself wasn’t an option.
A computer wasn’t added to my classroom until about a year later. I found solace in using the laminator provided by the district at the Teachers Administration Building in another part of town.
I was immensely proud of how inviting my classroom looked, but my bank account definitely felt the strain of those initial school days!
Throughout the year, I made efforts to expand our class library with $1 books from Scholastic orders, desperately seeking chapter books. As our school only went up to the fourth grade, the school library had a limited selection, especially of chapter books. Unfortunately, many students didn’t have access to public libraries, making the school their primary source for books. It was crucial to me that they had access to age-appropriate books. Expecting fourth-grade reading levels without appropriate materials felt unfair when they had access only to second-grade and below books.
I continuously replaced folders and other supplies, ensuring a steady stock of tissues. Surprisingly, the district didn’t provide tissues, leaving us with coarse paper towels that were uncomfortable and not very hygienic!
Over that first year, I ended up spending around $1400—more than a month’s pay—on supplies to create a conducive learning environment in my classroom. I didn’t go for anything extravagant; I aimed to furnish the basics to transform the room into a proper learning space.
Reflecting on that room fills me with pride. However, there’s a lingering feeling that the school should have provided more. I don’t regret spending on those kids; they deserved a welcoming classroom. Yet, it shouldn’t have solely relied on someone earning a mere $10,000 per year*!
In the subsequent years, I didn’t have to invest as much since items like the carpet, chair, and bean bags were reusable. However, I continued contributing to various other supplies, and it all added up!
Seeing the media portray teaching as a cushy 9-month job and hearing disrespectful comments really frustrates me. The public often doesn’t realize that my experience is a common reality in classrooms across the country every year. How many other professions expect employees to contribute a month’s pay annually back to their employer or clientele?
I’m aware that teachers’ financial situations haven’t improved over the years; if anything, they’ve worsened due to legislation that harms or eradicates teacher unions.
Statistics reveal that 94% of teachers spend from their own pockets. Frankly, I find this number surprisingly low—I’ve never encountered a teacher who spends nothing, let alone just 6% of them! The national average spending by teachers out of pocket is $479. How does this compare to your experience? Do you receive adequate support for essentials or extras?
Where do you usually find the best deals for classroom items? Share your thoughts and any fantastic deals you’ve come across in the comments below!
*In my first-year contract, I received a stipend of $10,000 with my tuition for a Master’s Degree at UNO covered. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive any medical or other benefits.
