It’s about that time again – Back to School! Whether you are excitedly ready and raring to go or sticking your head in the sand for a few more days/weeks, it’s coming! Who couldn’t use a couple tips to help them start the year off right? No tips needed – then how about a freebie?! This blog post has both!
Let’s face it – you’re busy! So how about we keep it to five simple tips that you can easily implement.
Here you go!
Tip #1 – Overplan!
There’s nothing worse than breezing through everything you had planned for the entire day by lunch. (Been there, done that! I was a bit lot clueless that first year I taught Kindergarten!) Make sure you plan enough meaningful activities to get through the entire day. Think you’ve got enough? Plan some more! It cannot hurt you to over plan, but being under-prepared can be a bad thing.
Tip #2 – Explicitly Teach Your Expectations!
Make sure you teach every.single.thing you want students to know! Do you expect them to line up a certain way? Teach them that expectation/procedure. Do you have certain rules? Teach them what they do and do not look like! Want to make sure there’s no foul language in your classroom? Make sure you teach that too! I’ve even had to teach students to close the door to the bathroom. If you want it taught, don’t assume they know it! Teach it!
Tip #3 – Reteach!
Everything you taught in Tip #2. Teach it again. Show another way. Let the students practice it. You won’t get all of your procedures taught on the first day. But be ready to repeat yourself a.lot! That’s ok – they’ll get there! 🙂
Tip #4 – Introduce yourself!
Make sure the students learn a little bit about you! Whether you show students a five minute Prezi you made, bring in a few pictures, or just tell them a little about yourself – do it! You are going to be with these kiddos a LOT in the next few months. Make sure they know a real person – not some robotic teacher – is with them every day.
Tip #5 – Watch the clock!
It’s not fun to be the person who has to have someone come in to remind you that your students were supposed to go to lunch 10 minutes ago. {Hand raised! Been there, done that!}
Make sure you keep track of the time! Once the year gets rolling and your students are in a routine, they will help remind you of what’s going on during the day. (Well, normally…unless they don’t like that activity.) But on the first few days of school, it’s up to you! Don’t be like me and forget to take your students to lunch! 🙂 {They got to eat, no worries!}
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