Preparing for September
Now we are coming towards the final weeks of the summer holidays - our minds might naturally start to think about preparing for September. If you are in that space and feeling motivated - have a read through our top tips for getting ready. If you are not there yet, don’t worry - there is plenty of time. Just come back to this when it is right for you.
Plan a day in class
Getting into school and sorting out your classroom will definitely get you feeling prepared and motivated for that first day with the class. If you are in a new classroom or new to the school it is really important you go in and have a sort out. Almost certainly, the previous teacher will have left some unwanted treasures behind - things you may not have even realised you needed. Make sure you have a notepad and pen to hand as you work your way through the room because no doubt your mind will start creating a list of things that you will be eager to get completed.
2) Seating plan
The final seating plan will only take place after a good couple of weeks of getting to know your class, but having a free for all on the first day rarely works. Think of a way you can sit your class and inform them of their seats rather than letting them choose for themselves. Keep it simple for now - maybe boy/girl/boy/girl, register order or birthday order. Like I said, this will only be temporary until you really know the class. As you move through the first few days it is always good practice to move children accordingly to support those who might need it most.
3) Get your first day planned and the rest of the week mapped out.
Organising the first day with your class can really help you feel prepared for September. Check in with your SLT teams and ask if there are any must-do’s they require before planning your own activities that allow you to get to know the class. You could work on a joint display, get straight into maths and english, or, complete some classroom admin together (there will be a blog to follow shortly all about ideas for the first day in class). Most importantly - always have too much organised rather than two little - you can always hold back on activities to fill in time throughout the week. With the rest of the week in mind, it is a good idea to have it mapped out in terms of subjects and activities you plan to do. It will fly by!
4) Research a little about your school or new class.
It’s always a good idea to have a bit of background knowledge about your school and pupils within your class. Although you can not predict everything that might happen over the first few weeks, having some information beforehand will really help. So let’s split it into two groups: schools and classes.
Schools
You may be completely new to school, you may have had a training placement there, or you may have been a staff member for many years. Whatever category you fall into there are always things to consider. Each school will have an action plan created in order to focus and drive forward new initiatives or changes they intend to make. I think we can safely say that within education, ‘the only constant is change.’ So it is a good idea to ask your SLT team what they intend to focus on during the next academic year. Once you know this, you can reflect on your own practice and decide if you should develop on your knowledge in this area - or perhaps volunteer to support others with this if you feel particularly good at it. Secondly, each school will have a behaviour policy that they require staff to follow, ensure you have looked through this so you are ready to be consistent with this on your first day.
Class
Getting some background information on your class is really handy. But remember when you are speaking to previous staff who have worked with the class - always take their comments with a pinch of salt. Sometimes as human beings we focus on the negatives more than the positives and this can really create anxiety for you as the new teacher coming up. I can tell you now, no class has ever been as challenging as I first thought. That being said, find out where the needs of your new class lie. Questions I would ask a previous teacher or attempted to find out would look like this.
1). Do any of the children have an EHCP or particular SEN needs?
2). Are there any children you feel should be on the SEN register and are not? Why do you feel they should be?
3). Did you have any new starters this year? Who?
4) Are there any parents who require more support than others?
5) Are there any children who do not work well together?
This should give you a rough guide but other than that, iit is best to build your own relationships and opinions regarding your class. One year classes can be notoriously known for being the ‘challenging class’, the next year they are known as the class that everyone would like to go in and cover.
5) Finally - rest!
It can feel really overwhelming and as if the ‘To do’ list will never end - most likely it won’t. There is always something to do. So set time aside to just rest. Maybe book a day out the weekend before school starts? Arrange to meet friends for dinner? Or, if home life allows you to, have days where you don't leave the house at all. Things do get sorted eventually and if you have worked through steps 1-4 you are in a really really good position..
