Prepare for back-to-school and make a big impact with your students and coworkers with these 5 quick wins.
Some teachers are so excited to head back to school. Some teachers are nervous or even feel overwhelmed. Most of us have been in both of these places at some point or another. The important thing is to start your school year off with some quick wins that can make a big impact in your classroom.
This will give you the motivation and momentum you need to make this the best school year ever.
Here are 5 ways you can easily make a big impact and prepare for back-to-school. Be sure to grab the free downloads as you go through!!
1. Setting up a structured walk
Structured walks are a great way to teach rules and expectations in a step-by-step manner that provides clear visual cues while remaining engaging for your students.
Transitioning between classrooms and walking down the hall can be a challenge for some of our students. And most of our kiddos need LOTS of practice to master the activity or expectations. That is why I came up with the idea of structured walks.
Structured walks are set up so there is a clear purpose to the activity and a defined endpoint. It is super simple to set up.
Structured walks are very similar to scavenger hunts, except that you lead the class along specific paths through the school. Students are not just walking around looking for hidden symbols. They are practicing the expectations of hallway behavior while looking for specific symbols.
The other difference is that these symbols are NOT hidden. They are clearly affixed in obvious locations. Students should focus more on their behavior rather than searching for symbols.
Read about all the specifics in my earlier blog post, Setting up Structured Walks.
Right now, click the button below for a free set of symbols, and use this strategy to prepare for back-to-school.
2. Using music to start each lesson
As you prepare for back-to-school, you are likely starting to write lesson plans. As you do, consider using music to start each lesson.
I mainly did small group teaching in a K-5 classroom. That meant I was trying to get 5-8 kids to sit at the same table so they’d be ready for the lesson.
Most students were fidgety and often reluctant to stay sitting in a chair. And, I had very little extra adult support.
So, I would ALWAYS start the lesson with a song. If it were a math lesson, I would use a math song. If it were a science lesson, I would find a science-themed song.
I would start the song as soon as everyone was at the table. This would give the students about 2 minutes to settle down and give me some time to gather up all my materials (and thoughts) for that lesson. I found the music to be calming and very effective at getting students ready for the lesson.
If you want to add this strategy to your lesson plans, check out my blog post, Using Music to Teach, and download a list of 175 songs with links to YouTube that you can start adding to your lessons.
3. Creating an IEP calendar
When you prepare for school, you realize there are so many dates to keep up with in a special education setting.
One way to make a big impact on your own sanity is to document all IEP and evaluation dates due during the school year. Then make a plan for how to spread these out while still staying in compliance.
I kept a totally separate calendar to note all my IEP dates. This included:
- annual reviews
- re-evaluations
- transition plans
- inclusion timelines
It seems so simple, but going through and making a clear schedule of upcoming meetings as you prepare for school is worth the time and effort.
4. Meeting with enhancement teachers
When preparing for the start of school, it is incredibly helpful to sit down and talk with the enhancement teachers. These are the teachers who will have your students for things like PE, music, art, library, or maybe even a foreign language.
Do not assume these teachers will have the tools or knowledge to make their lessons meaningful or even accessible to your students. Especially if you teach in a classroom with students who have significant needs, the job can be even more intimidating for these teachers.
Share your strategies with them, but keep it SIMPLE. Do not overwhelm these teachers with elaborate behavior plans and modification strategies. If you keep it simple and in plain language, they are more likely to do their best to try your suggestions.
Finally, ensure each enhancement teacher has at least some basic understanding of any communication devices or aides your students may use. It is important to ensure that students take their devices everywhere and are encouraged to use them.
5. Determining the best type of schedule for each student
It can be so tempting to use a single schedule for every student in your class. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that all the students will be ready for pictures, symbols, or words.
The key is to find a schedule that is accessible and still allows the student to move as independently as possible throughout their day.
When we think of schedules, we typically think about:
- Objects
- Photos
- Picture symbols
- Single words
- Phrases/simple sentences
Most special education classrooms will use at least two, if not more, of these types of schedules.
You may not know the best type of schedule for each student before school starts. When preparing for students’ return, it is helpful to gather a variety of materials to test during those first few days.
Object schedules can be the most challenging to set up, so I have included a free download here of some common objects you can easily use when setting up a schedule. Just click the button below.
So, this year as you prepare for back to school, plan to make a big impact with these 5 simple strategies:
- Plan to set up a structured walk
- Use music as a transition strategy
- Set up a calendar with IEP dates
- Meet with enhancement teachers
- Determine which schedule levels you will need
