When teachers return in August we usually have a few days in our rooms and then a few days of meetings (to review curriculum revisions, be trained on new materials, be reminded not to touch human blood - always a tough one with little kids crying, bleeding, hurt on the playground and we all should be wearing plastic gloves). Coming back to the room is a combination of exhilaration and panic; we want the room up and going and ready for the kids, but can be overwhelmed with so many small things that need to be done. To help with time management and efficiency, I created a "TO DO" list. As the years passed I continually added to the list, sometimes having a great idea months into the year. Copied in below is the version from last year, which I will be dutifully checking off item by item in a few weeks!
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BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
General to Do:
Print
business cards
Sharpen
pencils for 1st day of school
Print
copies of staff phone list from school website for 1) under phone, 2) my bag,
3) sub folder
Get school calendar
In
teacher planner:
Fill
in months/days, student birthdays, testing, back to school, open house, etc
Make
Daily Schedule for plans
Make
schedule for back of nametag
Make
enlarged daily schedule for student reference in the room
Recess
equipment aired up and name put on it
Put up
monthly calendar
Post copy
of monthly lunch menu
Review/print
copy of grade level objectives/common core (especially if revised during the
summer)
Review/print
copy of any revised long term plans from district
Create recess kit w/ bandaids, wipes,
and emergency kit for teacher to take to recess (inside bucket)
Update
Sub folder
Daily
schedule
Copy
of everything in emergency contact folder.
IEP
at a glance (legally required)
Get copy
of class list
Print
labels with kid’s names
Update
Web Backpack
Create
Emergency Contact Folder
Get from office:
Copies
of emergency release forms for every student
Copy
of student password for computer
Printouts from office that show
students’ names, addresses, student number, parent e-mails, allergies or other
special medical conditions, guardian/spouse names, zip code, mailing address,
city name, etc.
Originals to be copied by
school aid:
DWU
Monday/Tuesday
Wednesday/Thursday
Weekly
Quiz
Student
Dictionary
Morning work
Super
6/Daily Language Review packets
Spelling
2nd and 3rd grade
Weekly
list words
4
weekly worksheets – duplexed
MAPS+
Power
Drill
Quick
Check
Multiplication tests
Welcome to 2nd grade packet
(teacher profile, parent survey, AR
explanation sheet, expectations, rights and responsibilities, home work
guidelines, daily schedule, etc)
Red Notes
DWU redo, PRG warning, extra work notes, no
homework pass
AR coupons (Blue and Red)
Create / put student name on:
Desk
Nametag
Hallway
bulletin board (Look What Wonder Work We Have Done – Coming Soon)
Lunch
stick
Fairness
stick
Class
list in hall
Weekly
Job
Art
Supply bucket
Mailbox
(and highlight names that are youngest only)
Hallway
cubby
Behavior
Modification check-off sheet
Report
Card envelope
Textbook
check out
Attendance
/ lunch check-off for office
Student
file for teacher records
Sub
Folder list
Class
/ subject groupings (posted or in sub folder)
Student
planner
Folders
Homework, all subjects, Work in
Progress folder, correction folder
AR
Classroom chart
Make
personalized reading range
Chart for multiplication tests
Card for each kid with username (student number) and
password
Nametag
– “I am ________. I am in Mr. Coleman’s
Class” to be picked up on Back to School Night so teacher can quickly learn
student names and know which kids in room belong and when they travel the
building other teachers know as well.
Computer Programs
Microtype
Behavior
Modification
Student
check-off
Weekly
projector table
AR
(Student list report w/ passwords)
Grade
book
Other
Emergency
list from office
Lunch
Card
