Teacher Action Plan: Starting the School Year

Any teacher will tell you there is a huge amount of excitement about starting a new year with new students and families; however, it can also be a very stressful time for teachers as they plan for a new year. As the new school year quickly approaches, I would like to give teachers a few things to consider while preparing to return to school. When thinking about the list, I hope it will help you formulate a checklist of things to do as you prepare for the first days (and weeks) of school.

Whether you are a first year teacher or someone preparing to begin his or her 30^th year of teaching, consider the following:

Preparing for the first day(s) of school – How do you prepare? What should you do first?
Ways to get to know your students (individually and collectively)
Ways to create a safe (empathetic) classroom environment where kids can take academic and social emotional risks
Ways to get the support you need within your school – Who do you turn to when you need support?
Ways to get and keep parents involved in the life of your classroom as well as the life of the school
And, last but not least, consider effective ways to take care of you throughout the school year

Remember, it is never too early to start planning so do not wait to think about the things you will need to rejuvenate and inspire your students, parents, and you. If you come up with tips/suggestions you would like to share to help others create their action plans, please add them to this blog. tlb