Another week closer to the start of school, and I am still trying to stay in vacation mode but thoughts about school are starting to pop up more frequently, and I even had a first day of school nightmare. Oof.
I’ve come to keeping a note pad on my nightstand for middle of the night school thoughts that pop up, as well as a running list being documented on my phone. If I can get these thoughts down on paper they don’t reoccur as frequently as they do if I don’t write them down.
Here’s what I’m up to this week (and again, I will spend about an hour or LESS on these tasks). If you want to skip the read check out the video here:
Lesson planning prep. Outline dates for units. I am teaching two courses next year (you may have more, and if you are in elementary you will DEFINITELY have more). I used my school year calendar that I created last week and then looked at the curriculum I will be using this year. Luckily, one class has a pacing guide planned including the number of days each unit will take, the other class didn’t have as detailed pacing guide, but I know how many units there are so I will plan to distribute those throughout the school year. I did not put anything on my school year calendar yet…Just either added to an existing pacing document or for my other class I went old school and jotted down dates on a scratch paper. This is what my pacing for lesson planning looks like so far:
For each unit, put the dates for the unit of the detailed pacing guide.
For each of these units I jotted down a note for estimated dates.
I consider the next recommendation “a half of a task” because it can be passive.
Record any ideas that pop into my head, but don’t spend too much time or energy flushing these ideas out. I saw a cool graffiti wall in a classroom that I think would be cool, so I snapped a picture and I’ll just think about how I’ll make it happen over the next few weeks.
*I saw this really cool “Graffiti Wall” in a classroom, so I snapped a picture, I’ll mull over how to make it a possibility during the next few weeks, but won’t stress about it.
There are a few things I will need to start hammering out in the next few weeks, so IF I feel like google searching, Pinteresting, or casually perusing Teachers Pay Teachers i will. Here’s my list of things I may consider investigating (but only if I feel up to it):
Running list of supplies I think the classroom will need
Classroom furniture arrangement ideas
Policies and Procedures
Welcome Letter
Classroom Management Ideas
Syllabus/Course Policies
If you missed last week, here is what I did.
And, if you want more guidance and ideas check out the FREE New Teacher Crash Course!