Tips for Starting the New School Year

Believe it or not the start of the new school year is just around the corner. Many of you have developed a successful routine to start the school year that has served you well over the years. However, if you are new to the classroom, here are a few tips that might help you start the school year READY TO GO!

Set One Goal to Start the School Year:

Goal setting is a very important skill set in any profession but especially for teachers. Before school begins, think about what you would like to accomplish during the upcoming school year? Remember, everyone has something they would like to try for the first time or an area in which to grow. What would you like to try for the first time or grow in this year? When thinking about your goal, pick one that is (first and foremost) attainable so that you can succeed in accomplishing the goal. Start out with just one goal before starting a new one.

Would you like to find a better way to communicate with parents? With peers?
Would you like to implement new technology into your classroom? Curriculum?
Would you like to discover a new teaching tool/method/resource?
Would you like to be more organized?

Create a Plan for the First Month of School:

Having the first month of school completely planned is a great way to begin the school year. Doing so will free up precious time for other important beginning of the year tasks like (setting up your classroom, preparing for Back to School Night, memorizing student names, connecting with peers). As the month proceeds, you can begin to plan for upcoming months.

Create a Personal Learning Network:

If you haven’t already, consider creating a Personal Learning Network (PLN). Networking and professional development are essential in any field, and this is also true in the field of education. A (PLN) is the best example of a personal village. It is essentially a global learning network for folks who enjoy connecting, sharing, and working with other professionals within their field. Therefore, if you are someone looking for other people to connect with creating a Personal Learning Network is a worthwhile thing to consider before the school year begins. Here are a few social media tools you may want to explore in order to begin (or fine-tune) your PLN:

Pinterest – Follow (or create a following) of educators who share classroom secrets, lesson plans and strategies, curriculum resources, and great books.
The Educator’s PLN – This is a site dedicated to the support of a Personal Learning Network for Educators.
edWeb.net – A social network site that allows educators to connect and/or mentor colleagues, collaborate on projects, form their own professional learning groups, and practice using great new technology.
Google + – Create a circle of friends and/or add connections to your circle as you interact with others anywhere.
Twitter – Interact with other professionals in 140 characters or less. This is a quick and easy way to find others with similar interests.
Facebook – make friends with others on Facebook and join a Facebook group.
A comprehensive list of educational networking sites can be found on EducationalNetworking.com.

Keep Smiling:

Remember, you became a teacher because you enjoy teaching and love working with children. Don’t let the stress of long days, grading, or teacher conferences get in the way of your excitement for the upcoming school year. Smile and remember that your students benefit from all of your dedication, hard work, and support. Being well prepared will not only help your students have a great year, but it will also help make your year go more smoothly as well. tlb