How to master back to school: 6 best practices for teachers

It’s that time of year again! Stores are filled with school supplies, eager children and even more eager parents. As teachers, we are shopping for bargains, and are fastidiously decorating our classrooms. The new school is about to begin, and although your desks may be in neat rows and posters of cute kitties may abound, are you really ready?

Here are a few things you should do at the start of the new school year.

Whether you are a kindergarten teacher with a teddy bear theme or a middle school teacher who just slaps a couple posters on the walls, classroom environment plays a key role in our students’ learning.

For the best results, place furniture and materials in places that contribute to the classroom’s flow and minimize distractions or interruptions. Consider flexible seating options like stools, floor mats or pillows; for many students, these seating options will increase production.

Lighting is another factor. If natural lighting isn’t a possibility, inexpensive lamps can help decrease glare. These may seem like small considerations to make, but since you will be spending long hours in this classroom, you and your students will reap the benefits.

From the very first moment of school, your students are aware of the expectations you willingly, or unwillingly, establish. Start early and establish your expectations for classroom management and learning behaviors. Here are two types of expectations to start with: 

• Pet peeves. If you can’t stand students who sharpen their pencils while you are speaking, then start by teaching new students your procedures for sharpening a pencil. 
• Academic goals. Try a goal-writing activity in which students write a letter to themselves; then at the end of the year, you can redistribute these letters and have students reflect.

Certainly, if you spend the time setting your expectations at the beginning of the year, you will spend less time dealing with interruptions as time goes on.

The great educator Madeline Hunter once said, “Kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Your students will be far more interested in learning from you if they know that you are interested in them. Spend some time each day making connections with kids and getting to know them. When you ask about a favorite pet or notice a new pair of shoes, you’re communicating that you recognize them as human and not just a sponge or worker bee.

Kids thrive on structure! By establishing routines, you set their swirling minds at ease.
Having an activity for students to do right when they come into your classroom will help them settle and give you time to take attendance or complete other necessary tasks.
Post an agenda in the same location daily. You can include homework assignments, special notes or changes, as well as daily objectives and learning expectations. You will quickly find that students immediately check the agenda to see what is in store for them today.
It’s a great technique to include a fun activity or video somewhere on the list to give students something to look forward to. Flocabulary is a terrific video resource to introduce concepts, and most kids will be more than willing to get through some seat-work if they know that they are going to get a four-minute music video.