BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

This blog post has been 5 years in the making! That's right, for the past 5 year's I've built (and dare I say, perfected?!) my Back to School Night routine and today I'm sharing my tricks and tips! I'm giddy to share these details with you. Grab yourself a cup of coffee and settle in for a wealth of information and some freebies! 

**Disclaimer: These are the tips and tricks that have worked for me pre-COVID-19. While I wish that I will be able to run my Back to School Night the same this year, there is so much unknown. I am sharing tips for what has worked for me in the past and how I would hope to run my event in the future. I do not know yet what my District's expectation is for Fall 2020 so these plans do not reflect any COVID-19 modifications. Although these plans are specific to an in-person, open house type meeting, I believe that many of the tips I share will be transferable to an online environment. I would be more than happy to be a thinking partner for you if you are looking to take these ideas and tweak them for your virtual or in-person Back to School Night. Please reach out in the comments OR through Instagram!**

In my District, our Back to School Night or "Open House" is the first opportunity that students have to set foot in the classroom, find out who their teacher is, and meet them. Our Back to School Night is always before the 1st Day of School. Because this is such a crucial time for first impressions and setting the tone for the year, I'm sharing a few tips to hopefully put your mind at ease for this momentous occasion. 

One of my biggest tips for Back to School Night is to just be YOU! Try your best to channel any nerves into energy and enthusiasm. Chances are, your students are nervous too! By showing them that you're excited to meet them and having a game plan for the evening, it will put them at ease and make them feel welcome. Now, let's get to that game plan to make sure your night is smooth.

Set up Tips:
As you start planning for your Back to School Night, there are a few things I would encourage you to think through that will help you narrow your focus as you plan for the event. These guiding questions will also set the format for the rest of this blog post...
- How do you want your space to look? Feel? Sound?
- What will your students need to accomplish before the night is over?
- What (if anything) do you want your students to accomplish before you see them again?
- What message do you want to share with parents? 
- How do you want your students to feel when they leave? **This is the question that should drive all of your other planning!

How do I want my space to look? Feel? Sound?
For me, I want my classroom to look clean, organized, and welcoming. One way that I accomplish this is by decorating my space. Depending on when your Back to School Night falls in conjunction with the first day of school, you might not have time to get your classroom fully decorated and set up and that's okay! I would just encourage you to make sure that it has a welcoming feel and that any piles of papers, projects, or to-do lists are tucked out of the way. Throughout the school year I display student work in the room so that they have ownership of our space. For "Back to School Night" students obviously haven't turned in any work yet so I make little signs saying things like "awesome work coming soon" or "your work goes here" just to increase excitement and fill the space. A personal touch that I like to add the night of the event is a slideshow video on loop playing at the front of the room with pictures from previous years. I think this is a special way to showcase the fun that has been had in my room while previewing the fun that is to come in our year together. (If you're a first year teacher and want to try the slideshow tip but don't have any pictures to share yet -- don't fret! You could definitely save this idea to try next year OR you could share some pictures from student teaching. One thing to be mindful of is not sharing faces of the students you worked with during that experience if you were at a different school than you're hired at due to FERPA.) 

I want my classroom to feel warm and fun. Sound and smell are such important senses so I like to have a plan to engage those senses as well. (Side note: for Valentine's Day this last year one of my students wrote me a note saying that they love the way our classroom smells... so I guess it really does make an impact 😂) I love having a Scentsy warmer in my classroom and use an accompanying room spray to give a clean, fresh, and summer-y smell. If you've been friends with me for very long, you probably know that I have a playlist for just about everything and Back to School night is no exception! I have a playlist on Spotify filled with upbeat, instrumental Pixar songs. You can access that playlist HERE. There are so many conversations that take place at Back to School Night and because mine is set up in an "Open House" format, those conversations are usually taking place all at once! The instrumental music adds some depth to the experience without overpowering or drowning out the important dialogue going on. It's also nice to have music on because parents will occasionally share personal details with me that I don't want other families overhearing so the soft instrumentals cover that up a tad. I know that sounds and smells are important ways to connect with emotions and memories, and I want those first memories together to be positive ones, so I'm very intentional about the first scent my students smell when they meet me and the music that greets their ears. 

What will my students need to accomplish before the night is over? 
My main objectives for Back to School Night are for students to get acquainted with me and our classroom while building excitement for the first day of school (and our year together). In my District, many students come with supplies on that night so I also want them to feel comfortable with where to put their things. To make the night smooth and clear I have a little "checklist" that I hand to each student after I greet them that details the steps I want them to accomplish in order. I know that it can be overwhelming to come into a new space when nerves and/or excitement are high, so I try to make my list as short and clear as possible. One way that I do that it by ratcheting down on the things that I need my students to do before the night is over. I also strategically set up stations or places that students and families need to go to around the room so that things are spread out enough for it to not feel hectic or claustrophobic, but also close enough so that the path is purposeful and that things flow based on the order I want students to accomplish them in. 

When families come in I make direct eye contact with the student, welcome them, introduce myself, then I turn to the families and introduce myself to them as well and shake their hands. I will make conversation for a few moments asking how their summer was, asking how they're feeling about 5th grade, and making sure that I'm hitting my objective of making them feel welcomed while also trying to build excitement for the year.  Then I joke with the student and tell them that I'm "putting them to work" on the first night by giving them a little checklist of a few things to do before they leave the room to get to know our classroom a bit better. I also let them know that if they're stuck at any point or have questions as they go, they can just let me know. Below I'm sharing the check list of things that I ask my students to accomplish in hopes to give you an inspiration point as you decide what you would put on your checklist. Below each item, you'll read my little commentary to provide more context and my rationale about what that item means and why I included it... 

1. Locate the desk with your name on it. Find the "Welcome Packet" & make sure you take that home with you!

     - When I was in elementary school I remember that I always wanted to know where I would be sitting right away. After a couple of years of experimenting, I've found that it works best for me to have students' desks assigned for Back to School Night. I typically get plain name tags at Target (or chop up plain construction paper -- hello free!) and just handwrite their name and set them on desks. I don't tape them down because 1- our rosters tend to change right up to this event (sometimes even during or after!), 2- my students rotate during the school day and I don't want my other students from the rotating periods to be picking at their name tags, and 3- I have a hybrid flexible seating model (maybe this requires a separate blog post of it's own?) so I don't want my students to get too attached to any one desk... it's more of a chance for them to feel like they have their own space in our room right from the start and a place to put the items they walk in with. On each desk there is a welcome packet that includes a few informational pieces for families and then also some surveys for them to return to me. I include a check list of what items from the welcome packet they can keep, what I want back, and when I want it back. I do not expect (or want) families to have to sit down and fill it all out that night, so I include this to make things clear and helpful. The last thing students will find on their desk is a punny little gift for them that is also practical. Pencils are like ✨gold✨, so I like to start the year off with a cute pencil and welcoming note for kids as a gift that my students will actually use. To get this freebie click HERE or find it at the bottom of this post. 

2. If you have any personal supply items, keep them in your backpack at your desk. We will organize them together next week. 

     - My District issues out a suggested school supply list during the summer. On our Back to School Night some students come with all of their supplies from that list. I have found that it works best for students to keep any of their personal supplies in their backpack at their desk for us to sort through and organize during the first week of school. Usually class rosters change so much that I don't assign cubbies right off the bat until I'm more certain of who will actually be in my class. If kids have extra supplies that they want to donate, I have a table to the side where they can pile those items and I put a little note about it on my whiteboard. I also word it like you saw on the numbered point above because I know that many students aren't able to bring supplies or haven't brought supplies and I don't want them to feel bad if they don't have things yet. 

3. Check out the sign-up sheets on the back counter. 

     - This area is mostly for the parents! On the back counter I spread out clipboards with sign-up sheets for volunteers, a checklist for contact info, and a sign in sheet. I also include a punny parent gift with mints for them to grab along with my classroom wishlist. 

4. Find the rectangle table in the corner. Make sure you tell me how you're getting home this week and the rest of the school year. 

     - This is a great way to make sure that students, families, and you are all on the same page about daily transportation routines. I have a simple piece of posterboard where students write their name and how they're getting home the first day of school and the rest of the school year. (If they ride the bus I ask them to write which number.) Then I display this posterboard in our classroom the first week for students to refer back to. The first day is always so busy and since our Back to School Night is usually highly attended, it's good to get this important detail squared away and then revisit it on the first day with those kiddos and anyone who couldn't come to the event. 

5. Picture time! Head to the photo area by the side whiteboard, grab a prop, strike a pose, and say cheese!

     - This is one of my favorite ways to add some fun to the night. I have a variety of little props (that I mostly got from the Target Dollar Spot or Dollar Store and then personalized) and a list explaining the area. I draw a frame on the whiteboard to make it cute and whimsical. Parents just use their phone to snap a pic. It's super fun and informal and takes very little prep time while adding some personal flair and a touch of excitement!

6. Take some time to get acquainted with our classroom. Feel free to look around and ask any questions you may have!

     - This important point gives students the chance to look around and check in with me when I'm available. Depending on what point in the night it is, this might look a little different. When there are lulls in incoming families,  I "work the room" and check in with students and walk around. When families come in, I head to the door area to greet them. The great thing is that students have the chance to look around at their own pace since it is an "Open House" style evening, so even if I am in conversation, they can wait until I'm available again to ask questions. I love to see students walk around with their families and watch the excitement on their face and see their curiosity piqued by the different items around the room. 

7. Last one... before you leave find Miss Whittaker & show her that you have completed everything on the list. Give her a hug, handshake, or hi-five!

     - I let the student take the lead on this one! I think it's important to make positive contact with each child and definitely want the night to end on a high note that makes the child want to come back to school. When they bring me their checklist, I ask if there are any questions. I always direct this to the student first and then turn to the family to see if they have any questions. Then I ask the student if they want to say goodbye with a handshake, hug, or hi-five and let them choose what they feel comfortable with.

What (if anything) do I want my students to accomplish before I see them again?
Like I mentioned above, I do have a little "Welcome Packet" on my students' desk during our Back to School Night. I also have an accompanying checklist so that families are clear what they get to keep, what I want back, and when I want it. It is a busy time for families too -- especially if they have multiple kids. I don't want my students to be penalized for their parents maybe forgetting to fill out a little survey about what type of learner their child is. I make sure that the "due dates" for any forms I need back are at the end of the first week of school. I send reminders home to the parents via email and have students put it in their agenda the first week. I really only ask for 2 things to be returned so that I can have a better understanding of my students without asking too much of them or their family during this busy season.  

How do I want my students to feel when they leave?
Personally, I want my students to leave feeling excited for the first day of school! I want them to know a little bit about our room, but also come back looking forward to finding out more. I want them to know that I care and that I'm excited to teach them. Each piece of our first time meeting each other reflects these goals and I would encourage you to make sure that your plans do too!

Other Tips:
- Have coloring sheets on hand! When younger siblings come in I like to offer them the opportunity to color. I've found that this helps the kids who are bored and gives parents a chance to focus in on the student who will be a learner in my classroom.
- Have a notepad nearby! Every year parents will share with me details about their child as a learner or little human. I've found it's really helpful to have a notepad and pen handy so that I can jot down any notes while it's fresh and before I meet the next family.
- Dress to impress, but keep it comfy! I like to wear a dress on Back to School Night. I usually pick a dress that is comfy and won't show sweat or wrinkles easily (just keeping it real!). Footwear is really important as well -- I usually wear my most comfortable heeled sandals or flats so that I don't end up with blisters by the end of the night. I think it's very important to dress professionally for this first impression, but not at the cost of comfort. If I don't feel relaxed, then I won't conduct myself in a relaxed manner. Pick a power outfit that will leave you feeling cute, comfortable, and confident! 
- Just be you! Seriously! This tip is so important that I included it again. Let your passion and enthusiasm shine through. If a parent asks you a question you don't know the answer to, don't be flustered, tell them you'll look into it and get back to them. Being yourself will set your students at ease. Don't feel like you have to share the same speech or points with every family. Let conversation ebb and flow naturally. Showing people your heart for kids and education speaks volumes! 

Let's get to the freebies!
If you click on the graphics below you will be rerouted to the web pages that house these freebies and resources that I use to rock my Back to School Night that I hope can be helpful for you as you rock yours. 

I hope this post gave you some ideas for how you can rock your Back to School Night! If you have any questions or want a thinking partner, let me know in the comments below! I'm rooting you on and wish you the best of luck as you start out your year. 

CLASSROOM MEETING : THEMES & ACTIVITIES

One of my biggest joys in teaching is building relationship with my students and fostering our classroom community. Class Meetings are one of my favorite ways to check-in with students and set the tone for our learning environment and "family." During this challenging time of Distance Learning I knew that I wanted to keep my Classroom Meetings as a staple each week. Today I'm sharing with you a few of my favorite "themes" and activities for Classroom Meetings.

The themes and activities I'm sharing with you today are not only my favorites, but have been popular with my kids during our digital classroom meetings. Some of these ideas are specific to the online setting... but most of these ideas come from brain breaks, class meetings, and other community building exercises I already did with my kids when we met face to face. In these challenging times my goal each meeting has been to check in with my kids on a social/emotional level, go over any questions/announcements for the week, and spend time just laughing together and making sweet memories. I hope that you can come away with some fresh ideas to try in your digital classroom meeting tomorrow or tuck in your back pocket to try the next time you're in your classroom together. 

An important part of my classroom culture is allowing for student choice/voice as much as possible. I knew that I wanted that component to continue throughout this digital learning adventure. The themes and activities you'll see below are from me and my students. Some were inspired by other educators, but I'm sharing how I using my teacher style to incorporate them into my classroom meetings. I hope that these ideas will spark inspiration in you to use them or even put your own teacher style on them. Stick around to the end and you'll find a link to a freebie checklist for all 20 of these Classroom Meeting Themes & Activities ideas. Alright, let's go!

1. Would You Rather
This is a tried and true favorite! In the classroom I've used this for instructional purposes and just for fun. Typically I will pose a question with two different options and have students choose which one they prefer. Students then have to walk to a specific part of the room to "cast their vote." It's fun to see students go through the decision process and commit to an idea. Then I call on a couple of kids from each side to share their thinking with the class. I knew the typical style wouldn't work during our online meetings so I decided to utilize some of the tools/features to give a similar effect. My students and I meet via Zoom. When they click on the "Reactions" button there are two different emoji options that pop up. If students prefer the first option they can react with 👏 and if they prefer the second they react with 👍. It provides a quick and easy way for all students to be involved and then I call on a couple of individuals to share the rationale behind their choice. 
PRO-TIP: Search for kid-friendly "Would You Rather" prompts on Pinterest. Some of our favorites have been holiday/seasonal and Disney.

2. Highs & Lows
This has been my favorite way to check-in with students all year long. Once a week we (used to 😥) sit in a circle on the rug and share 1 "high point" and 1 "low point" from the week. I always preface this sharing time by reminding students that as a family we can celebrate each others successes and happiness while also learning how we can extend grace or support to each other through challenging times. I also have taught my students the sign language for expressing sympathy and showing that they can relate. Whether students are literally on mute in your digital meeting or being a quiet and respectful listener in person, they can show care for their classmates through these signs and other gestures such as a thumbs up or making a heart.

3. Scavenger Hunt
I have seen SO MANY fun versions of this activity on Instagram. Whether you're doing a themed scavenger hunt or asking your kids to search for random household items (like I did) it's a great way to get your students up & moving and LAUGHING! I would suggest that you come up with a list of items you want them to search for ahead of time. Go over the ground rules before the game begins. I told my student that they needed to leave their device where it was and then get up and search for the items. I would announce what the item was, but they couldn't start until I said "go." Then they had to run to find it, come back to their device, and hold up the item so I could see it. We repeated the process until we had made it all the way through the list. I was laughing so hard during this activity and I had several parents reach out to me afterwards thanking me for bringing giggles and joy to their household. 

4. Dance Party
Everybody dance now!! Not only is that the song I played, but it's the perfect activity for a fun little brain break. I started off as the "leader" and students had to copy my every (corny) dance move. Then I called out the name of another student to be the "leader." They led a few moves and then they called out the name of a new leader. The process continued until everyone had the chance to lead the dance. Even my shyest students participated and would throw up a dab or two when it was their turn to lead. And my "Tik Tok" lovers were thriving!

5. Pet Parade
This has been our highest attended Zoom meeting yet! Students got to introduce us to their pet or stuffed animal. They shared their little friend's name, fun facts, and let us see them in their "natural environment." We also spent some time pondering what our furry friends might be thinking about us being home so much these days. 😂 I got to meet several dogs, cats, a gerbil, 30 chickens, bunnies, a lizard, and lots of cute stuffed animals. This meeting was so special to me because even though I always hear stories from kids about their furry friends, I've never had the chance to actually meet all of my students pets before!

6. Digital Vacation
A "Digital Vacation" theme was a great way for my kids to try out one of the fun Zoom features they'd been dying to use while also having the opportunity to get a little escape from reality. I always let my students know the upcoming themes beforehand so they have time to prepare (when needed). For this theme I told them all they needed to do was find a picture of their dream vacation and save it to their camera roll. Once the meeting started I showed them how to change their Zoom background so that it looked like they were actually in that vacation destination. Then we all took turns sharing where we'd want to go and why. I had so much fun "traveling" to Ireland, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Laguna Beach, Australia, Sea World, Paris, a Golden State Warriors game, and more! 

7. 2 Truths & 1 "Lie"
I love 5th Graders. I've played this game so many times with adults, but kids make it SO FUNNY! It was a great way to get to know each other even better. Beforehand we talked about how honesty is important and then we dove right in. 😂😅 Each person shared 3 statements and it was everyone else's job to detect which one was false. One person shared at a time and held up 1, 2, then 3 fingers to correspond with the 3 statements. The other students had to hold up their fingers to represent which of the 3 statements they thought was false. Then the student who shared their statements revealed the truth and gave us a little more context about each of the statements. It was great!!

8. Directed Drawing

There are so many awesome drawing YouTube videos for kids! The possibilities of what you could do during a Directed Drawing themed meeting are endless! I'll share briefly about what I did with my kids... First I read the picture book "It's Not All Rainbows" to set the scene. We talked about how not all days are filled with rainbows and happiness  -- but just like Kevin, the Unicorn -- you're never alone. I let students know that our art activity would be something they could keep and use to encourage themselves or others. I screen-shared a video showing how to draw a rainbow. Then we talked about how rainbows can be a symbol of hope and happiness (especially during these times). We drafted a list of affirmations and words of encouragement. Then students spent time decorating their rainbow while listening to some rainbow-themed songs (because if you know me I have a playlist for everything). I encouraged students to hang their rainbow in their house or window for others to see.
PRO-TIP: Look up "Art for Kids Hub" for great tutorials that are positive and easy to follow. Even my little perfectionists give themselves grace when following these videos. 

9. Simon Says
Everyone knows this one! Enjoy playing with your kids! When there's one student left you can let them lead if you have time. 

10. Work Out
So many possibilities! You might want to do some mindful stretching and yoga or get the blood pumping with some cardio. Encourage your kids to dress in work out gear, screen share a kids workout from YouTube, or facilitate the work out yourself. 
PRO-TIP: I highly recommend "Yoga with Adriene" for your own personal use but also for her classroom yoga videos!

11. Make 'Em Laugh

All that students had to do to prepare for this meeting was find a school appropriate joke to share with the group. Some kids created their own but I also suggested that with parent permission they could look up jokes for kids online. Everyone had a chance to share a joke to make us laugh! Once again, 5th Graders are the best! The jokes (and deliveries) brought a big smile to my face!

12. Creation Station
This student-suggested theme is so pure! 😍 They wanted to see everyones creations of any sort -- Lego builds, origami, drawings, and more! It's basically like show and tell but with this theme your kids get the joy of showcasing something they are the proud creator of. 

13. Disney Day
When you wish upon a star... makes no difference where you are! When my students logged into our Disney Day Zoom they were greeted by a welcoming slide featuring Cinderella's Castle and that classic Disney font (with Disney music playing, of course). To prepare for this meeting students were instructed to share a favorite quote from any Disney movie or Walt Disney himself. I also told kids that they could "bound" as their favorite Disney character, wear any Disney merch, or have Disney toys with them. Basically all things Disney!! We ended with singing along to some Disney tunes at the end. 

14. Beach Ball Q&A (with a twist)
At the beginning of the school year we spend time getting to know each other by playing Beach Ball Q&A. To prepare, I have a beach ball with numbers on it and a list of questions with corresponding numbers. To play, students toss the ball to a peer and one at a time I ask them the question that corresponds to the number closest to their right thumb when they catch the ball. When one of my students asked to play this game over a Zoom meeting I had to get a little creative and come up with a twist. I have the same list with numbered questions, but instead of a ball I'm using a digital spinner. I will call out the name of a student and then spin the wheel on their behalf (I'll use the share screen feature). Then that student will answer the question that corresponds to that number. When they are done they will call out the name of a peer and the process will continue until everyone shares! 

15. Room Tour
Think MTV Cribs, but not. 😂 Students will pick one room that they feel comfortable showcasing to the class. This is another student-suggested form of show and tell. I know that my kids are longing to connect with each other and I'm sure yours are too! This might be a fun and chill way to do that.

16. Talent Show
Everybody has talent! This meeting idea gives your kids the chance to showcase a hidden (or maybe not-so-hidden) talent. I would encourage you to keep it open ended! My kids prepared magic tricks, stand up comedy, playing instruments, singing, dancing, and more! One student suggested that I could act as a judge and choose a winner. I didn't go that route, but I think it could be really fun!

17. Show & Learn
VERY similar to show and tell! The difference -- your kids get to TEACH the group something that they are an expert at. This will take a little longer so I suggest either splitting it up amongst two meetings and assigning students a day to present or planning a longer meeting. To practice giving good feedback you could have students respond after the lesson by sharing something they learned. 

18. Book Bound
Time to play dress up! "Bounding" gives people a chance to play dress up without actually wearing a costume. You just need to style clothes to replicate the look of favorite characters. For this digital meeting theme ask your students to pick a favorite book. They can "bound" or dress up in a way that represents their favorite book character or setting. Then have students take turns revealing which book they chose and what or who their outfit represents!
ADAPTATION: For the secondary setting you could increase rigor by asking students to dress in a way that represents a symbol or theme in their favorite story.

19. Build a Story
I took one of my favorite family campfire traditions and brought it into my classroom. It's fun do to in Zoom meetings too! Your ultimate goal is to build a cohesive story together. Each person works on contributing to the story by adding just one word, popcorn style. It's fun to see how many twists and turns the story can take. One of the funniest one's my class "wrote" together this year was about the adventures of a dragon who played basketball and loved chicken nuggets. 😂

20. Lunch Buddies
Last but not least, try doing lunch buddies with your class! I got this GENIUS idea from Shaunda at "Upper Elementary Adventures" at the beginning of this school year. Once a week, students are given a "lunch buddy" that they need to sit by at lunch. Their job is to find out what they have in common and learn new things about their buddy. After lunch they share what they learned. It's so fun to hear the connections they made! During our distance learning adventures we haven't done lunch buddies every week, but I am planning on using the "breakout room" feature to do one final lunch buddy session before the year ends. 

Thinking about trying one or more of these Classroom Meeting Themes & Activities?? I hope so! I've created a FREE checklist on my Teachers Pay Teachers account that has all of the above ideas listed. You can check it out HERE...

If you try out any of these Classroom Meeting Ideas (in person or digitally) I'd LOVE to see! If you have any questions or want a "thinking partner" as you plan out your next Classroom Meeting, feel free to leave a comment!

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR...

If your weekend looks anything like mine you're probably putting the names of your students on popsicle sticks right now and staring at your lengthy to-do list. I get it. 'Tis the season! Here's a little poem I wrote, an "ode to back to school" if you will, that will take two minutes to read, while hopefully putting a smile on your face and giving you a quick moment to pause during your preparations. Enjoy!

T'was the Night Before School

T'was the night before school started and all through the halls,

that "Back to School" feeling was starting to fall.

The desks were all lined up so neatly in rows

and teachers were losing their nice summer glow.

The children were anxious to lay down in bed

and visions of homework danced 'round in their heads.

Their backpacks were stuffed and their clothes layed out nice

and parents were giving some friendly advice.

Now back to the teachers who were getting all prepped

and hoping for positive change they could affect

in students, beyond curriculum they'd be learning...

for new kids, but also for those who were returning.

With pencils, and markers, and lined paper too

the list just kept growing, there was so much to do!

They couldn't wait to match faces with names

and also try out that new team-building game.

But finally, at half past ten,

the teachers decided to find their zen.

And all around town, parents and teachers alike 

said, "Time for bed! It's a school night!"

This really is the most wonderful time of the year! Enjoy the process, get some sleep, take Vitamin C, and comment below.

UPDATE! As the Most Wonderful Time of the Year is approaching again, I have created a free download-able version of this poem as a gift for you! This is something you can print out, keep for yourself, or gift to your teacher friends/staff members. Enjoy!

LOVE YOUR TEACHER BINDER

Hello there! I'm so excited to share with you my Teacher Binder for the 2015 - 2016 school year. It is so organized & beautiful & I'm geeking out over it! I've seen a lot of adorable Teacher Binders, but I chose to create my own so that it could be organized the way I want and personalized. I'll use it for planning, record keeping, parent contact info, and so much more! I'm looking forward to carrying it into important meetings and having everything I need handy. If you're gearing up for back to school and looking for a new way to organize things this year or are looking for some fresh inspiration to show off your personal teacher style, then read on!

First things first, my binder cover! I printed out my cover and used washi tape to personalize it. My goal was for the cover to look professional without looking too uniform or boring. Not only was I able to achieve my goal, but it was inexpensive, easy to make, and turned out really cute! Let's open it up and see what's inside...

Say hello to my Flair pens! I can't wait to use them to grade papers and color-coordinate my calendar (it's the little things in life)!! I covered my binder divider tabs in washi tape not only because it looks cute, but because if I ever change my mind on my tab labels, I can peel off the washi tape, put a new strip on, and create a new label. Here's a break down of the sections of my Teacher Binder and what you can find inside:

To - Do List:

My to-do list comes from my deep desire to be super organized. I combined a few ideas I had from some books I've read, things I've seen on Pinterest, and ideas from my own brain. I have a few copies of my To-Do List in this section of my binder for me to use either day-by-day or week-to-week, just depending on how busy I am or how much I have to do. 

(If this To-Do List works for your organizational style, feel free to download the PDF and please comment below letting me know how it works for you!)

Calendar:

Next tab is my monthly calendar I got for free from Teachers Pay Teachers! I like it because it gives me a month at a glance view, so that when I'm in meetings I can quickly refer to it and make sure I don't overbook myself. I plan on using my Flair pens to color coordinate the events on my calendar so I can keep things straight.  

School Policies:

This section is where I am keeping important information about school and district-wide policies and procedures as well as my state's Code of Ethics for teachers. Now I can quickly reference those important materials right when I need them and not have to wonder, "now where did I put that again?".

Seating Charts:

I have three sets of students that rotate in and out of my room every day. I photocopied a blank mock-up of how desks are arranged and placed them in here. I will write in students names once school starts. This seating chart will help me match the faces to the names and hopefully help me get down all 90+ names sooner! It will also be a great resource for me to add to my substitute notes. 

Grades:

A place for me to put my spreadsheets... I'm one of those people who loves to have a hard copy of grades everything as well as a digital. I also decided to put my gradebook in this binder because it will go everywhere with me, so I should never have to worry about leaving my gradebook out somewhere or forgetting to bring it.

Communication:

I'm super excited about this Information Sheet/ Communication Log I created! Each student will have one of these sheets that I can refer to to look up contact info, birthdays, and other important information, as well as a record of all contacts with parents/guardians. 

(If this Communication Log works for your organizational style, feel free to download the PDF and please comment below letting me know how it works for you!)

Plan Book:

Lastly, I will attach my lesson plan booklet in the back. This booklet is something given to all teachers from our District and it's basically a weekly calendar with room for lesson plans, and mapping out scope and sequence. 

Is your Teacher Binder similar or totally different? What sections do you absolutely have to have in your binder? Did you download any of my planning documents? Share below!