By Jenaya Shaw, Guest Blogger The beginning of the year can be very hectic, especially the first few days. Organization is a key component to maintaining your sanity and establishing those initial classroom management techniques. I already have the students desks labeled so they know exactly where to sit. Each nametag has a number on
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I love saving little mementos from the big, and sometimes not so big, events in my family’s life.  Ticket stubs from a trip to local amusement park, a pretty pebble that my youngest found on a walk in the woods, and a tiny feather from a baby bird that we saw hatch in a nest
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Back to School or Meet the Teacher Nights can be stressful for teachers and new parents and students. This year we have some ideas from real classroom teachers who know how to put their new pupils and their parents at ease. Whether your Back to School Night is before school starts or after it is
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Ease into the school year with this insightful idea by John, a 4nd Grade Teacher in Bloomington, MN. In an attempt to help my children ease into the school year, I used to plan a lot of fun “getting to know you” games and activities for those first couple of weeks back. But over time,
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It is that time of year when visions of classroom set-up begin dancing in the heads of teachers throughout the country. Deciding where to put centers, group lesson areas, classroom libraries and more fill many waking hours. And why do teachers worry about planning their classroom? It is because they care about their students’ success
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Mid-way through July, there comes a point when it is time to start thinking about going to back to school. As much as you may dread the loss of summer, chances are that the excitement of a new school year and the possibilities that come with it are also on your mind. To help you
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The first day of kindergarten can be a traumatic experience – especially for parents! While children often approach the day with a  mixture of fear and excitement, parents see the day as a significant turning point and are often emotional. This mix of emotions puts kindergarten teachers in a peculiar situation. While they must prepare
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This idea by Lucinda, a 5th Grade Teacher in Littleton, CO, helps students put their hopes and concerns about the new school year down on paper! “On the first day of school, I have my kids write a friendly letter to themselves.  I invite them to include information such as their goals, expectations, fears, and
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Meet the Teacher night is fast approaching!  Try this great idea by Karen, a 1st Grade Teacher in Wichita Falls, TX, to help you with first day transportation organization. “My school schedules our Meet the Teacher Night before school opens. I have come to regard that night as my personal “Collect Information from Families Night.”

When it comes to organizing, some teachers are pros! They can find the perfect spot for every poster, every manipulative and every paper. For the rest of us who have more piles and boxes and bags than we know what to do with, we stand in awe of those who have amazing organizational skills. Since
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