Starting A New School Year

Whether you are a new or returning teacher, the new school year brings a host of emotions, tasks, projects, and things to think about. It pays off in the long run to put some thought into what we do in August!

As one colleague said to me, " It's like getting on a big roller coaster at the beginning of the year. I just hold on tight for the ride, and don't get off till June!" Teaching really can be a lot like a ride with ups, down, and maybe some unexpected turns. It seems a teacher's job has no boundaries these days, and more is expected all the time.

Those of us who primarily teach kids who come from caring homes and families that value education are very fortunate. Not all of us can be that lucky; what can be done to create positive environments for the rest of us?

First off, it helps to know that we are not alone. Just like our students, we teachers experience anxiety and questions about the coming weeks and months; changes are not always easy. This is a time to network - reach out to other teachers for strength and support. Being able to discuss our concerns with folks who understand first-hand is important. But choose wisely; there are people out there who are negative and can bring you down at a time when you need to be up.

Creating a networking group to meet regularly within your school building or discipline area can be very helpful, but even finding one positive soul to share with can do the trick.

Another way to relieve anxiety about the coming year is by being well-prepared. Think ahead about how to organize materials, classroom equipment, and even your students into systems that "work by themselves" without much maintenance once you've set it in place.

For instance, as an elementary music teacher, part of my classroom management procedures involved picking a "sticker person" at the end of each class. This person had the honor of coming to the front and lining up the other students by rows or groups (boys and girls). This created an incentive (it was largely behavior-based), and took care of keeping order at a time that the housekeeping doldrums could have set in - the mandatory lining up to go out. Finding systems that work saves a lot of time and energy for teachers.

And teachers are probably the best at developing those systems. What are some of your ideas that work best in the classroom? Weigh in with you systems to share with other teachers, both new and returning. We can all use a little help starting the school year smoothly!