Hey, friends! Tonight I posted a video about this exact blog post to my facebook page. I’d love for you to check it out! You can click {HERE} to see it. Also, there is a freebie within the video, so you’ll definitely want to grab that!
I have gathered my TOP TEN tips and tricks for Back to School. Some of them revolve around classroom set up. Others have to do with student activities. And a couple are just random! Let’s get started!
1. Create a meeting area in your classroom where students can sit at your fit to read a book, take part in a minilesson, and make classroom charts together 🙂 Side note- I also put read alouds that relate to our theme of the week on the board. The students can use these all throughout the week!
After visiting the Ron Clark Academy, I knew I had to incorporate students pictures into my classroom. I’m so glad I did because they students just about exploded with pride when they saw themselves in my classroom!
3. Create book buckets that you can leave at the table groups during the first week of school. Gather 20-30 books per bucket. Place the book bucket in the center of the table group. Students can grab those books to read when they are finished with their work. They don’t have to get up and walk around the room. They don’t have to ask what to do next. They get to read all those great books you’ve had stashed in your teacher cabinet!
4. I’ve blogged a lot about my student generated alphabet. You can read more about that HERE. To find out how to make your own student locker tags click HERE!
5. Think LOW (when you can!)… move some of classroom decorations or resources down low so that your students can utilize them more effectively! You can find the number line shown HERE. My number word pennants are HERE.
6. Bring in a classroom pet! Okay, not a real one… of if you want a real one, go for it! Mine are stuffed snakes 🙂 The students get together to name them on the first day of school. The snakes visit students working well throughout the day and leave little notes around the room occasionally!
7. Create a classroom promise with your kids. This gives your students “buy in” to the classroom expectations because they are helping to form those with you! You can find mine HERE. The pre-printed pledge is in our Rooted in Reading August unit.
8. Get to Know You Games! Games are a great way to break the ice and get your students comfortable in the classroom. You can find the Get to Know You Cootie Catchers, Battleship, and Uno games HERE. The Lego Challenges and Partner Bookworm are from HERE! Also, if you watch the video I’m sharing a FREE get to know you game! Check that out HERE!
9. Find a GREAT book to share! I love You’re Finally Here by Melanie Watt. It’s difficult to find for purchase, but you can find it on Amazon Canada HERE. Grab my directed drawing for free HERE. Check out Linda Kamp’s fabulous unit to accompany it HERE!
There are also a gajillion other Back To School books. I’ve linked all of the titles below the pictures
I love this! I am definitely going to be putting books in their seat baskets, thats a great idea. Thank you for posting.
Amy, what are some BTS things you do for Math time? Or, do you jump right in to your curriculum? We start on a Thursday this year. I have a “Math about me” craftivity that I've always done that the kids like. But, I'd like to do some sort of fun review that will incorporate some sort of review with it. You know- to get their brains back into thinking mode again! Lol!! Any ideas?
Thanks!!
Do you have the spanish words available? I teach Spanish in Preschool!!
I don’t, so sorry!
Hi Amy! I saw someone on Instagram last week someone posted a writing activity with The Energy Bus. I can’t find it anywhere! Can you tell me where I can purchase it? I bought the book and would love to do the activity.
Hi Amy! I was wondering where you purchased the green caddy at that was in your picture from the beginning of school? I printed the table labels from your blog and was wanting to find the blue, green, pink and yellow caddy to go with your labels.
8 Responses
I love this! I am definitely going to be putting books in their seat baskets, thats a great idea. Thank you for posting.
Amy, what are some BTS things you do for Math time? Or, do you jump right in to your curriculum? We start on a Thursday this year. I have a “Math about me” craftivity that I've always done that the kids like. But, I'd like to do some sort of fun review that will incorporate some sort of review with it. You know- to get their brains back into thinking mode again! Lol!! Any ideas?
Thanks!!
Do you have the spanish words available? I teach Spanish in Preschool!!
I don’t, so sorry!
Hi Amy! I saw someone on Instagram last week someone posted a writing activity with The Energy Bus. I can’t find it anywhere! Can you tell me where I can purchase it? I bought the book and would love to do the activity.
Thanks a million!
We used that book in this unit: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/BACK-TO-SCHOOL-Top-Ten-Activities-To-Kickstart-Your-Year-3206084
Hi Amy! I was wondering where you purchased the green caddy at that was in your picture from the beginning of school? I printed the table labels from your blog and was wanting to find the blue, green, pink and yellow caddy to go with your labels.
Thanks,
Christa
They were from the Really Good Stuff