How Can You Get the School Year Started If You Are New to Education?
As a Mentor Teacher, I work with novice teachers. Some teachers are novices to my school system, and others are traditional novice educators, teachers who completed educational programs in college. For the last three years, half of the teachers I supported were new to the field of education, having earned a degree in other fields. No matter the teachers' background, our initial mentoring conversations focus on starting the school year on a positive note. We discuss what should be done first, how you prepare classrooms for students, and develop relationships with parents, amongst other topics.
What should I do first?
I advised teachers to prepare their classrooms for instruction as soon as possible. The first items on my list include placing students' desks, covering the bulletin boards, and identifying instructional areas such as learning centers, where students will place their belongings, the teacher's desks, and the small group/reading group area.
Students must have a welcoming place to sit on the first day of school, so ensuring all students have a place to sit is always at the top of the list. All other areas can be “a work in progress.” The classroom does not have to be fully functional on the first day of school. Creating a welcoming environment is more critical than having functioning centers.
Another top priority is locating instructional materials for the first week. Depending on the grade level and curriculum, students may not need textbooks the first week. Locating the appropriate textbooks for all students may take a few days, so put that on your list of must-do items. For the first week, teachers need a plan to introduce themselves, get to know the students, and review the class rules daily. Beyond getting to know you activities, planning for instruction may be determined by the school system, so check with instructional leaders to determine must-do instructional items for the first week of school.
What's next? What should I do after I prepare my classroom?
Putting procedures in place is essential. To lessen your stress, make a list of things your students need to know, for example:
How to sharpen pencils?
How do you get supplies?
Where to sit?
Procedures for distributing and collecting materials.
Procedures for going to the restroom, lunchroom, and special classes.
How will students line up to enter and exit the classroom?
Where is the lunchroom, the playground, the main office, the nurse's office, etc.?
Start on day one, teaching students expectations. Remember, students don't know how "your classroom" works. They don't know where to line up or where to put homework, or how to start the day. Start modeling, practicing, and reinforcing behaviors on the first day and keep teaching and refining during the school year.
Teaching each item on your list must be ongoing and continuous; none of the items are one and done. Acknowledge students that try and students who complete tasks correctly. Students will be as excited as you are about learning. You are their role model, and they will feed off of your enthusiasm or negativity. They learn to extend grace by your example, so extend grace to your students and yourself.
How do we get parents to support our learning environment?
Parents are your partners. Share updates and plans with parents frequently. Consider sending a Welcome Newsletter or correspondence to families, sharing your expectations. If you have a class website, make a Parents Corner. Have a way for parents to communicate with you. The best communication goes both ways: you communicate with families, and families communicate with you. If you don't have a website, you can post updates in your Google classroom or create a class newsletter. With all of the great technology, you could create short videos or have a virtual Family Meeting (when parents could meet to receive information and ask questions). The important thing is you communicate and collaborate with parents.
For this post, I'm focusing specifically on classroom preparation needs. My next post will focus on getting to know staff members. I do not want to minimize getting to know grade-level team members and other staff members. Building those relationships is essential for a successful school year.
