A Teacher’s Summer Survival Kit

By. Meredith Biesinger

Believe it or not, summer is quickly passing us by! Maybe you’re like me and you’re finding yourself caught in between mid-summer mode while also preparing for the upcoming school year.   

There’s not a perfect balancing act; however, preparation is critical! We all know how busy and stressful August can be, so in the spirit of working smarter and not harder, here are a few tips to help you prepare for your best school year yet!  

* Begin with deciding on what your focus will be for this upcoming school year. Then evaluate and set goals that align with your focus, as well as your students’ needs.   

* Do you need a little inspiration? Check out local conferences in your area that you can attend or reach out to a professional that you admire. Journal your experiences or notes and refer back to them throughout the school year!  

* Take inventory of your classroom supplies. Amazon, Michaels, Target, Discount School Supply, and SO MANY other businesses offer steep discounts for teachers this time of year. Take advantage of these discounts and treat yourself and your students to some new learning tools! 

 * Organize andyour supplies and curriculum. Labels are our best friends! Prepare your units in advance by labeling and organizing all the resources and additional tools that go with your lesson plans.   

* Plan and prepare for the first week of school! Have that first week of school ready to go and build from there. This is especially important for new teachers or teachers who might be teaching a different subject this year. Lay a foundation and build upon it! Programs such as Grammar Point are life savers when organizing activities and lesson plans.  

 * Create a substitute teacher box or folder. Life happens! Be prepared for a substitute teacher to come and teach your class if needs be.  

* Manage your time! Don’t feel like you have to do all of this in one day because you don’t! Set a goal and take an hour or two each day to complete the tasks that you need to do.    

Are you a parent with kiddos at home? Me too. Utilize educational programs such as ABC Mouse or Little Passports to offer opportunities for them to learn while you prepare for your students. After their allotted screen time is up, you can then have a conversation about what they learned—win, win!  

We all teach different subjects, at various schools, and in multiple places. One thing we can all agree on is that we want the best for our students! So, take a deep breath, plan, prepare, and smile…it’s going to be a fantastic school year! 

We’re here for you. Check out all our incredible discounts being offered to help YOU thrive!  

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