| Teachers, do you know how to get ready for the new | | | | * Markers (a large variety of different colours) |
| school year and then what to concentrate on that first | | | | * Experienced Chart Paper (lined and graph) |
| week? Many teachers get stressed out just thinking | | | | * Metric/Yard Sticks |
| about it, because it's important to get started on the | | | | * Tissue Paper (a variety of colours) |
| right foot. | | | | * Blackboard Chalk (a large variety of different |
| Thinking about the beginning of each school year | | | | colours) |
| always gave me mixed emotions. I was excited to get | | | | * Blackboard Erasers |
| going but had some butterflies and felt slightly stressed | | | | * Construction Paper (all different colours) |
| with the work to be done to get the year started off | | | | * Powder Paint and Brushes (powder lasts longer than |
| right. I always had trouble sleeping the night before | | | | liquid) |
| starting school. | | | | * Paper Cutter |
| I usually went in to school towards the end of August, | | | | * Popsicle Sticks |
| as many teachers do, to set up my classroom and get | | | | * White Glue |
| organized. | | | | * Scotch and Masking Tape |
| Each teacher has their own routine, some don't set up | | | | * Kleenex Tissues |
| their classroom until school begins, but whatever you | | | | 3. Classroom Activities |
| do, you must know what you're doing that first week | | | | At the start of each new school year, I set three goals |
| of school because your students are evaluating you | | | | for myself for that first week. |
| as you are evaluating them. | | | | 1. My main goal is for me to learn more about my |
| So here are some of my suggestions to get the year | | | | students and for them to learn more about me and |
| started off right. | | | | each other as well. I do this by using several different |
| 1. Classroom Layout | | | | classroom games and activities. Here's an example of |
| A classroom that is comfortable, friendly and colorful | | | | one of the games that I use. |
| creates a very positive learning and social environment | | | | I call this game "My Favourite". The objective was for |
| for your students. | | | | teacher and students to learn everyone's first name |
| You can make your classroom a place where your | | | | and get to know some things about about one |
| students want to be with your classroom decorations, | | | | another. Now here's how it goes. |
| classroom displays and bulletin boards. Displaying a | | | | * To play the game you need a soccer or similar type |
| student's work for others to see, is also a great way | | | | of large ball. |
| for you to build up their motivation and self esteem. | | | | * Everyone sat in a large circle. |
| You can set up your student seating arrangements in | | | | * I would start with the ball and think of a favourite |
| different ways, although personally I organized the | | | | thing, for example "food". |
| students desks in groups of 4-6. Eventually you have | | | | * I would say "My name is Mrs Krumholz and my |
| to socialize and work with all types of people later on | | | | favourite food is ice cream". |
| in life, why not start now!! | | | | * I would roll the ball to any student. The student getting |
| Once your students are settled, allow them to take | | | | the ball would say his/her name and his/her favourite |
| part in some of the decisions on the classroom layout, | | | | food and roll the ball to another student. |
| displays and seating arrangements, although you | | | | * Get the idea? Any student getting the ball would |
| should keep in mind and they should know, that you | | | | have to roll it on to someone who hadn't received the |
| have the final word. | | | | ball yet. Eventually everyone had a turn. The last |
| 2. Classroom Supplies | | | | person having a turn in a round, would start a new |
| Each teacher will order their classroom supplies based | | | | round and could choose a new "my favourite" topic. |
| on what they determine to be essential. Students and | | | | 2. Th next goal of mine was to get my students |
| teachers will have different requirements based on the | | | | focused back on school work after a full summer of |
| grade but here's a list of the basics: | | | | vacation. I started with a review of their previous |
| * Pencils and Pens (for the older grades) | | | | year's work. For example, I would have made up 15 |
| * Ruler | | | | math questions or give the students a spelling review |
| * Eraser | | | | of previous year's words, grammar sheets, etc. |
| * Notebooks (one for each subject, Math books should | | | | 3. My last objective for the first week was to set the |
| have graph type paper) | | | | classroom rules, explain the student agenda, and make |
| * Lined Paper | | | | sure the students understood what was be expected |
| * Blank, 3 Hole Paper (different colours - used for | | | | of them for the year. |
| science or social studies units) | | | | So a few final words - Be prepared, be organized, be |
| * Labels | | | | yourself. But most of all be thankful that you have a |
| * Duotangs (many boxes of different colours) | | | | job you love or really like and ENJOY!! |