Show this exciting and entertaining video the first week of class to get kids pumped about history! Before the video start, ask the class or put on the board as a warm up "Why study History?"- Students can brainstorm in small groups first and then the video will help inform them about why we SHOULD (and NEED) to study History!

Every year while I get ready on the first day of school I watch this amazing teacher on youtube. His name is Tyler Hester and has written some great things about teaching. I tend to speak fast and move quickly;  he reminds me to be patient and extremely clear. If you struggle with classroom management...this is the video for you.

On the first day of school, never let a child walk into your class without something to do. They need to read something or write something as soon a they get to their desk. As a teacher, you need to do a million things when they walk in (take attendance, answer a phone call, add a new student to class...) so keep them busy with this simple worksheet. Download for free, just click the image. 

Where did the summer go? In a flash its gone and you start flooding with emotions and feelings: you realize all the stuff that must be done, anxiety about your new students, stressed about new changes at your school site, and sleepy around 5pm because your body is trying to acclimate to the new early schedule. But, you are also excited to see your colleagues and friends, hopeful for the great things that you and your students will accomplish, and full of anticipation for the first day. 

Here are some ways to feel prepared and enjoy the first day of school: 
1. Plan out the whole week in advance(do this during middle summer). That way the night before you don't panic. In addition, after the first day you are exhausted, but if everything is planned you don't have to worry about anything the rest of the week. (Note: if you need copies, get to the copy machine ASAP, someone is bound to jam the machine right before classes start). 

2. Read this book during the summer and the night before class starts: 

I re-read this book 2-3 times a year. Possibly THE best investment (next to my staple gun) ever, especially for new teachers. 

3. Watch this amazing teacher's videos. He is calm, cool, collected and focuses on procedures. I have a different teaching style, but I like his calmness and that really helps me to slow down and focus on the procedures the first day. I always put this on in the background while I do my makeup on the first day of school. 

I absolutely love and simultaneously dread setting up my classroom for the new school year. I love starting fresh and coming up with new ideas to help my classroom operate more efficiently but it is also a lot of hard work and very time consuming.

Some time saving tips: laminate posters, string together flags and pennants so you only have to use a couple of staples, cover entire walls with paper (top of the ceiling -to the floor) it makes the room look larger, save your borders every year (they are pricy!), go to Allposters.com when they have sales or look in their clearance for inexpensive posters (sometimes only a dollar!) and invest in a staple gun (best investment EVER). 

Keep rules short and sweet, but put them in a VERY visible location. I have this at the front of the room next to the screen of the projector. The little pockets are for Homework/ Tardy Cards for each class to stay organized. I just cut a manila folder in half and stapled the sides. 

College pennants are expensive so a great alternative is to find a color printer (beg an administrator) and print images of college's logos and glue to colored pieces of paper and presto...college pendants! 

Print out tons of facts and words of the day so you don't have to constantly search them up. Kids love these and look forward to reading them.