9th August 2024

6 tips to prepare for the new school year

The beginning of a school year can be daunting, with students being full of nerves and excitement and everything in between! However, a new school year is a chance for new beginnings. It’s important to prepare for the coming academic year to ensure success and also peace of mind. Here are 6 top tips to help you get ready for this academic year:

Re-arrange your classroom and give it a refresh

Remember when you were a kid and rearranging your room felt like a ‘fresh start’ – well the same applies to your classroom! Think about what did (and didn’t) work the previous year with your seating plan. What look and structure is going to be best for students and optimise your teaching space? Whether it’s rearranging desks or getting rid of clutter, all of these elements should be considered when preparing for the new school year.

Include a visual list of rules and a new reward system

It’s important to provide structure to children, whether you’re a primary teacher or teaching students about to go into sixth form or college. Having a visual list of rules and what your reward system is sets boundaries and precedents for all students.

Create a new morning routine

Starting the day right doesn’t just put you and your students in the right frame of mind, but it can also increase productivity and positivity across the board. Your morning routine determines this. 

Something that can be a great way to start the day is to get students to go around the classroom and say one thing they are grateful for and what they want to achieve for the day. Practising gratitude doesn’t just keep us grounded, but it also enables us to have a positive influence over our day. This can be useful for children who might struggle with mornings or simply have a negative outlook to school or what is going on at home. Gratitudes are a quick and easy thing to integrate into your classroom morning routine.

“Ultimately, you want your students to experience and express gratitude to improve well-being and nurture relationships. By affording them the freedom to decide how to do that, you’re meeting the needs of diverse and variable learners and honoring the interests of the individuals who make up your learning community.” – Edutopia

Re-think your homework policy

What was your homework policy last year, and how did that work? Instead of rinsing and repeating what you did in previous years, think on how you can adapt and improve your homework policy to work with your classes this year.

Label, label, label

If you find that certain resources and equipment seemed to sneak away last year, then it’s time to start labelling. Not only will this keep your classroom organised, but it’ll enable you to stay on top of your resources and keep what is yours, in your classroom.

Connect with parents and guardians

Creating a connection with parents and guardians is crucial to ensuring that they’re in the loop with what is going on with their children, as well as having clear lines of communication. We recommend doing this using e-mail, and updating parents as and when you see fit. A great way to kick this off is by sending a welcome letter to parents of students introducing yourself. This will show you going the extra mile from day one, as well as keeping parents informed on who you are and what you’re doing!

Another great option for staying connected with parents and guardians is a monthly update on what students are doing and giving students shout-outs for great behaviour and work.

We wish you the best of luck! Preparing for a new school year is exciting but daunting all at once, but take each day of prep as it comes and we’re sure you’ll have an excellent year ahead of you.