The Essentials
What does your dream classroom look like? You might be the type of teacher that likes to colour code everything from scribblers to book boxes. Do you have everything organized a week before a student steps foot in your class? Or, do you like to build your classroom style with the students? Whatever style you like to stick to, these resources will keep you organized and ready to tackle the year ahead.
#1. Classroom Calendar
I like to use a big class calendar showing two months at time. Put it up where your students can see them. On the calendar, you can include important events, including outings, guest appearances, and birthdays. This visual allows students to know what to expect week by week. It also allows them to look forward to upcoming events.
#2. Daily Schedule
Much like the calendar, a visual daily schedule lets your students know what to expect. As teachers, we can appreciate having an idea of what to expect of the day. Many students like knowing what subjects they can expect to work on, when they have Phys. Ed., and Music class, and what time their recess and lunch breaks are. A visual schedule, made available to students, can alleviate many questions from your students on a day to day basis.
#3. Billboard borders
Billboard borders are a really easy way to add some colour to your classroom before having your students’ work plastered everywhere. Borders are a great way to show your students that you are excited to showcase their work. Stick to solid colours and you can leave them up all year.
#4. Easel with Chart Paper
This old-school tried and true resource is a must. Use the chart paper for anything you might want to refer to more than once throughout a unit of study. For example, use it to write adding strategies for math class. Keep the big paper as an anchor chart for students to refer to while they practice the new strategy. Rip and post it to a billboard or keep it on the easel and easily flip back and forth between papers.
#5. Labels
It’s a good idea to have your class list printed on labels of various sizes. Whether your school supplies students with resources ahead of time, or they bring them the first day of school, a stack of labels will help you quickly organize their scribblers and duo-tangs. Labels are great for creating a class reward poster, Ziploc bags for earphones, or extra packages of loose-leaf paper. You might want to give each student a plastic bin for books and a label can be stuck on top of last-year’s label, year after year. If you’re a first-year teacher, you will be amazed at how many things need labelling!
Voilà! You’re ready for the storm.
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