You’re resting your sleepy head on your pillow while lying underneath your sheets in your nice cozy bed. You’re enthralled in a magnificent dream when suddenly your old friend the alarm clock jolts you up out of a deep sleep. And then, you hear those three dreaded words coming from the kitchen – “Time for school!”
Summer is just about over, and students across the country will soon be stepping foot back in their school’s hallways. While most students – and teachers – would probably prefer to have summer extended a few more days, that first day is inevitable. Getting a head start on back-to-school preparations will make sure school starts off on the right foot.
Here are some tips for teachers to prepare prior to the beginning of the new school year:
- Start going to be early and set your alarm. You can start building up your energy for the long school days to come. Also, it’s wise to practice waking up early enough to get to work on time.
- Find out when you can set up your room. Call your school administrator to see if your classroom is ready for its tenant. If so, create a schedule of days and times you can begin so you can gradually decorate rather than leaving it all for the last minute.
- Organize your calendar. Be sure to look at the district and school calendars and mark down any training dates, teacher planning day, and days off ahead of time. Plan out your vacation days, if possible, to be able to request those days off as soon as possible.
- Inventory your teaching and classroom materials. Many teachers spend the summer months buying, creating, or repairing items they hang or use in their classroom. Now’s the time to make sure what you have is substantial enough and what other items you may have to borrow, make or buy. Many teachers use sites like Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers to find materials for free or at low cost.
- Plan a day just for yourself. The start of school can be quite demanding on your time and thoughts. Choose a beach day, a spa day, a day shopping or browsing at the mall, or a relaxing day at the coffee shop. Making sure you reserve at least one day to yourself right before going back to work will help you feel more relaxed and less stressed.
So rub your eyes and get out bed – school is just around the corner. And the sooner you can start getting ready, the better off your start of the school year will be.
