Back to School
By Beth Lewis, About.com Guide to Elementary Education
Back to School time represents the most important time of a teacher's school year. The first few weeks are a crucial opportunity to introduce your students to constructive, positive habits; and if you approach Back to School with the proper deliberation and focus, these good habits can last all year long.
Start the New Year Fresh
Unless you're a first-year teacher, it's important to clear out both the mental and physical clutter from previous years so that you can start the new year with a clean slate.
- Reflect on Past Mistakes
- Focus on Your Educational Philosophy
- Avoid These Common Teaching Mistakes
- Clear Out Classroom Clutter
First Week Lesson Plans
Certain activities are perfect for the first week of school. Everyone's nervous, things are just getting started, and you want to get good behavior habits settled in right away.
- Ice Breakers for the First Day of School
- Introduce Your Pen Pals Program
- Teach Your Version of "The Essential 55"
Set Firm Rules for Day One
It's almost impossible to correct disruptive behavior habits mid-year. For this reason, the most important way to increase your chances for a successful school year is through designing and implementing strong classroom rules, complete with consistent consequences.
