8th September 2023

How to prepare for a successful school year as a teacher

The beginning of a school year can be daunting and nerve-racking but it is also an excellent chance for new beginnings and a clean slate. As the new school year approaches, proper preparation is key to ensuring a successful academic year. Preparing for a new school year requires thoughtful planning and organisation, here are some ideas to help you get ready:

Get organised

A great way to kick-start your preparation for the new school year is to get organised! Having a tidy classroom, desk and workspace can set you off to a great start if you want to be organised, as it can help your focus and build a positive learning environment.

Positive classroom environment

The classroom environment can determine whether students struggle or thrive. Having a positive learning environment will give your students the best opportunity to succeed. This environment will ultimately be created through your lesson atmosphere, but the way your classroom looks and is set out also contributes massively to this as well. There are a few things that you can do to create this classroom environment:

• Arrange your classroom desks, furniture and seating plan so that it is set out in the most efficient way possible. Have your desk placed so that you can see everything and everyone
• Create interactive and eye-capturing bulletin and display boards that will interest your students. Using colour, card and laminating your decorations can make your displays more interesting and fun
• Decorating the classroom with vibrant and visually appealing displays makes the workspace more welcoming for students. Consider leaving space to create a classroom calendar, a birthday chart and other displays that celebrate student achievements and foster a sense of belonging

Rules and routines

Create a list of classroom procedures and expectations to ensure a smooth and structured learning environment. Teach these procedures at the beginning of the year and reinforce them consistently. Clearly communicate behavioural expectations, homework policies, and the marking scheme so that students understand what is expected. Some of the rules and routines that you could implement are:

• A list of rules and consequences, that can be put up on a display and given out in a copy form to students as well as being explained to the class
• A morning routine will make students aware of what they need to do when the day begins, that way everybody gets off to the best possible start to the day
• As well as a morning routine have a plan for dismissing students at the end of lessons and the day – tidying up, leaving the workspace presentable and tidy for the next person/ day 
• Creating a homework policy and setting reminders will ensure that students stay on track with their studies
• Having routines for the students is important, but also a routine for yourself as well – setting time aside to mark work/homework and to plan lessons (if you are feeling overwhelmed, check out this blog)

Classroom Organisation 

Similarly to preparing the classroom environment, make sure that your class is organised and set for the beginning of the term so that both you and your students have easy access to any materials that you may need. Ways to stay more organised are:

• Rearrange your files and documents
• Label all of your furniture, drawers and desks to know what goes where. If you have more than one class then have all of your seating arrangements printed out and stuck in a space where you can see them so that you don’t forget or mix classes up
• Label all of your own textbooks and supplies to ensure that they do not get mixed up and misplaced as well as getting your students to label their workbooks so they don’t get lost

Plan and Prepare Lessons

Take the time to plan and prepare engaging lessons that align with the curriculum. Review the syllabus and textbooks to gain a thorough understanding of the material if you’re not already familiar with it. Consider using diverse teaching strategies and incorporating technology to enhance student engagement. 

Incorporating technology into the classroom can be a more diverse strategy and will enhance learning experiences. Try to use educational apps, online resources and interactive tools that align with your teaching goals. 

Connecting with Colleagues and Parents

Collaboration with other teachers is invaluable. Reach out to colleagues to share ideas, resources and best practices. Attend professional development workshops or conferences to stay updated on the latest teaching strategies and trends.

Effective communication with both students and parents is essential. Set up channels for regular communication, such as email, newsletters or online platforms. Clearly communicate expectations, assignments and important dates to keep everyone informed.

First Week Preparation for School

The first week of school can be a whirlwind, planning accordingly can help you have a successful first week and set the tone for the rest of the school year. Some things that you can do to prepare for the first week are:

• Create a welcome letter for the students and parents of students introducing yourself, this isn’t necessary but will show you care and go the extra mile from day one
• Prepare some classroom icebreaker activities, some students will be nervous as will you. These activities can help to ease the tension, and they are time-consuming!
• If you have a bulletin board, make some sign-up sheets for clubs, voluntary schemes and off-curriculum activities, this will give students opportunities from the moment they arrive
• Gather all of your materials. If you need a checklist of what you will need, check out this blog!

We hope that some of these ideas will help you, and we wish you good luck for the new academic year! If you are still searching for  your dream role, check out our vacancies page or sign up with us here