Back-to-School Checklist

Please review the essential tasks that need to be completed during your initial week as a teacher upon
returning to school.

Set Up the Classroom Environment

The key to any successful classroom is building a positive learning environment where all students
thrive. To set yourself up for success, prepare your classroom in a way that's neat and filled with all
the items you and your students need on a daily basis.

● Determine your desk and seating arrangement so that you can see everything.
● Organize the classroom library and seating area.
● Create bulletin boards and learning centers.
● Display the emergency evacuation procedure.
● Check that all classroom technology equipment (computer, speakers, projector, etc.) is working.
● Create some posters related to the subject(s) you teach, laminate, and display them.
● Decorate your front door entrance.
● Post the student schedule by the entrance.

Get a Head Start on Classroom Organization

When your classroom is efficient and organized, it will run more smoothly. Both you and your students
should have easy access to teaching and learning materials, without having to sift through messy areas
and disorganized shelves.

● Gather and organize classroom materials and supplies.

● Prepare student desk name tags (or you may want them to create their own).
● Organize your files and get a copy of the first activities you may want to try.
● Label your cabinets with students’ names.
● Create an emergency substitute folder (you may start by putting your class rules there for the
substitute teacher).
● Set up your grade book by listing the student names, dates, assignments, and/or criteria.
● Check the condition of all your textbooks; separate any that are damaged so as not to assign
them to students.
 ● Make a chart for lending the books with columns for student names, book codes assigned,
dates, and signatures for checking out and returning the book.
● Create your Google Classroom for each of the subjects you are going to teach this year.

Prepare Your Classroom Rules and Routines

An essential component of your classroom management plan is to have a clear set of rules and
routines for students to follow daily. Rules set the stage for expectations related to behavior and
performance, and routines help everyone stay on track.

● Create a list of rules and consequences, and post them. During the first week of classes, you
may work to set the rules with your students’ ideas too.
● Determine a few signals to capture students' attention (attention grabbers).
● Create a morning routine (e.g. number talk, mindfulness, etc.).
● Create a dismissal routine (cleaning up, putting away supplies, etc.).
● Create a routine for attendance, lunch, restroom breaks, walking in the hallway, etc. (Preschool)
● Create a homework policy and post it.
● Create a system for students to follow to hand in homework, classwork, etc.
● Determine a routine for when students are absent from class. (Posting in Google Classroom)
● Determine student responsibilities and duties (classroom jobs, etc.).
● Determine how you'll transition students from one practice to another and what they'll do
when their work is completed.
● Make sure to include the above rules, routines, and procedures in your class syllabus.

Miscellaneous First-Week Prep

The first week of school can be hectic. If you plan accordingly, you can set the tone for the rest of the
school year. These tips will help you plan for all the incidentals that arise in week one.

● Create a student/parent welcome letter to send home.

● Save old Google Classroom classes before creating new ones.
● Complete your syllabus and publish it on Google Classroom.
● Check that all students are enrolled in your Google Classrooms.
● Organize your emergency contact forms.
● Prepare icebreaker activities.
● Have time-filler activities ready to go.
● Read through student files to get to know them better. Ask them what they want to be called (if
they have a short name or nickname).
● Create volunteer tasks in your classroom (distributing books, etc.).
 ● Make any photocopies you’ll need for the entire week.*
● Request supply material (markers, white paper, paper clips, etc.).*
● Have your Week 2 lesson plan ready to go and do the same for consequent weeks.

*See Ms. Lissette in the Almacen for details.