5 Easy Things You Can Do Over the Summer to Make the Upcoming School Year Easier

It’s not just students who anxiously await the first day of school. Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a seasoned pro, these five quick tips and strategies will make the days leading up to the school year a little easier.

CATCH UP ON WHAT YOUR STUDENTS ARE READING

It’s extremely helpful to be aware of what your students have been reading during the summer so that you’re as prepared for a lively discussion about complex themes and character analysis as they are. If you have some extra time before school starts, go ahead and reread those books you plan to assign at the start of the school year and look for areas where you can expand and enhance your current lessons.

UPDATE YOUR LESSON PLANS

It’s always important to go over the first few lesson plans of the school year to see where they can be updated or improved to meet your students’ expected needs. You may decide to switch out a book for a reading that’s more timely, or may want to consider weaving in a few activities to help differentiate learning or ensure you capture your students’ attention when it comes to complex topics. And if you’re a first-year teacher, you’ll definitely want to spend time this summer creating your own lesson plans. This handy template is a great place to start!

DEVOTE TIME TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Summer is the perfect time for personal and professional growth. By devoting a portion of your summer break to professional development, you can grow as a teacher to ensure you meet the needs of all your students and help them achieve success inside the classroom and beyond. This list features the best professional development books for teachers and will help you hone your skills in the classroom with the latest teaching techniques and strategies from top educators.

    Also, check out these books to get your students excited for everything kindergarten has in store for them

DECORATE AND ORGANIZE YOUR CLASSROOM

The earlier you set up your classroom the better. Plan out the theme in advance and create a list of classroom décor you need to make your classroom a dynamic environment that promotes learning, inspires you as a teacher, and helps you and your students meet your goals. If you’re a new teacher, you’ll also want to start planning exactly how you want your classroom organized and start collecting all the things you need to create a robust classroom library.

TAKE A BREATH AND RECHARGE

Most importantly, take a deep breath and dedicate time to yourself, so that you’ll return to the classroom energized and ready to go!