The first six weeks of school can make or break your school year. The strategies and plans you put in place will set the tone for the year. Along with taking care of yourself physically, there are things you can do to insure a positive and successful school year.
Attitude is everything. Most likely you have chosen the teaching profession because you want to make a difference in a child’s life. Start each day taking a moment to appreciate how fortunate you are to spend each day with a captive audience that will most likely be thrilled to be with you. Teaching is more than a profession; it is a calling.
Plan, and then plan some more. There is an old saying in the teaching world, “Fail to plan, plan to fail.” Experienced teachers know to expect the unexpected. When planning for a week, they include back-up plans in the event of lesson failures, interruptions and unexpected occurrences. Maintaining a flexible approach will make the bumps in the road easier to navigate.
Schedule your teacher and personal life. Once you receive your weekly schedule, determine the times you will use for grading, planning, and parent correspondence (emails and or phone calls). What are you willing to work on at home? What items on your weekly "to do" list must be accomplished during school hours. Approaching your week in an organized way guarantees efficient time management.
Classroom management is the cornerstone to a successful school year. The time spent on establishing routines, rituals and expectations will pay off down the road. Instructional time will not be interrupted later if this is addressed thoroughly during the first six weeks. It is always easier to start out a little more stern and strict and gradually ease up then to start out to lenient and try to get control back.
Look for red flags! Begin to document as soon as possible any behavior or academic issues that you observe. Trust your instincts. The earlier and more thoroughly you can report your concerns, the better. Documenting is better than relying on memory.
During the first six weeks, teachers can feel overwhelmed –even the most experienced can feel this way, too. Do not be afraid to ask for help or even a friendly “consult” with a colleague. Teachers are the kindest, most generous and helpful people.
A good start will set the precedent for the entire school year.
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