It’s back-to-school for teachers! I know that each year our school starts earlier, and each year I begin panicking about all the things I want to do in my room. Although we have innumerable items we could tackle on our teacher to-do list, I am going to suggest five entries on your back to school to-do list, some old, some new, to make this your best year ever.

5. Organize your classroom library

Structuring your Library

Students are better readers when they have independent books in classrooms. However, organizing and devising a student checkout procedure can be daunting. Refer to my post about genrifying your library for tips on how to organize the books on shelves first.

Checkout Procedures

In regards to student checkout procedure, I am a big fan of having students write their names on index cards, and then organizing them alphabetically by class in an index card file box. When students check out a book, they write the book title and checkout date on their card. When they return the book, they write the check in date next to the title and put a line through the title. Not a perfect system, but it works for me.

There are several apps that can also work for a classroom library so you know who has each book without riffling through cards; anyone have a specific recommendations?

4. Put up your word wall & other decor

Word Walls

Hanging up my room’s word wall is crucial part of my back to school to-do list because I want to show students from day one that I am passionate about words, and that they too will become lovers of lexicon. See my word walls for ideas. And be sure to subscribe to the blog so you will get an email when my grades 6–12 word walls are complete! Coming soon!

Other Decor

I also find that creating a visually stimulating environment makes me a happier teacher, and creates a more positive atmosphere for students. Therefore, another critical point on my back to school to-do list is to hang up art.

I encourage everyone to seek out posters from not only teacher supply stores, but also ask bookstores, representatives from educational materials companies (we are working on Vocab Gal posters but they aren’t ready yet!) or attend conferences and seek out posters at exhibitor booths.

3. Request to attend high-quality professional development

Conferences Now?

Speaking of conferences, as teachers go back to school, many start requesting to go to conferences. Those who put in their request the earliest tend to be the ones who get permission to go, when professional development funds have not yet been depleted. I find that the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the International Literacy Association (ILA, formerly IRA), as well as my state’s NCTE affiliate and my region’s ILA affiliate, are my go-to places for high quality professional development. To find out about these organizations and local affiliates, use the links below.

Why Conferences?

If you are like me, I tend to revel in this back to school for teachers period, but lose my steam about November, just in time for the NCTE conference. Then in the midst of winter, I tend to get bogged down again, just in time for my state’s affiliate conference. Finally, when I am rested and thinking about next year, I love getting to attend the ILA conference in July and getting lots of great ideas (and posters) for a new school year.

2. Decide on introductory activities

I love a great icebreaker and some introductory activities that get students out of their seats. See my post here and here for some other great ideas to add to your back to school repertoire.

1. Breathe

This is the most important item on your back to school list. Relax, it’s going to be a great year.