Summer Teacher Prep

There are SO SO SO many things that teachers can prep SLOWLY over time during their summer break. The trick to this “Summer Teacher Prep” is to do it so spaced out that it doesn’t even feel like a chore AND it doesn’t interfere with your summer plans or family plans.

There are so many small things that you can do over the summer in small bursts of work; or by “chunking” things together. Below are a few items I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

Complete the “skeleton” to your Teacher’s plan book
create bulletin board themes and labels
organize your digital files
review your routines
make student desk name tags

One of the biggest tips (I talk about this A LOT) is to make a list. My list for preparing over the summer (and the week before school) is super long. After I just do a “brain dump” and list EVERYTHING, I go back and cluster the tasks with other “like items.”

For example, one list is for bulletin boards, one for things that need to be labeled, one for lesson and curriculum planning, a shopping list (or to ask office staff or custodians for) such as a new table I need.

I get pleasure and satisfaction from crossing things off my list. It’s just something that makes me feel accomplished and satisfied.

Work at Home in small Chunks!

Here are some items that you can “CHUNK.” Are you wondering what I mean by “chunk”? Well, to me, it means do similar tasks all in one time setting – in order to get quite a bit of work done quickly. Look below at the things I think are condusive to “chunking.” (the online business world calls this batching).

laminating all your bulletin board items
cutting out bulletin board letters or items after lamination
writing student names on name tags, folders and other items
review the TE for each subject to revise your year-long plans (for this I’d do them one at a time over a longer period).
organizing your class library
cleaning out a cabinet in your classroom (do one at a time & purge).
putting up some bulletin boards (if they will let you in your room).
working on your long-term curriculum plan (unless your grade level does this together).
preparing for the first week
preparing for the first day
begin your power point presentation for parents for back-to-school night (even if it’s done via zoom).

In case you are searching for a comprehensive classroom routines list, here is a PDF you can download for free. Just complete the form below.

Prepping Your Classroom

Once you are able to get into your classroom you will really be able to get lots of things done. I used to go in the three weeks before the students return for about 2 hours each morning. I’m a morning person so this quiet morning time worked well for me. I was able to crank out a lot of prep BECAUSE I had made a list ahead of time.

The best use of time at school is to do “chunked” items listed above. So, for example, put up all your bulletin board backgrounds and borders at all the same time. Another day, clean out a cupboard all in one setting.

I made sure that I left each day after about 2-3 hours so I could get back to my family, my home and my summer activities.

I’ve written two articles that will help you set up your LA Focus Wall and your Math Calendar board. You can access them here.

10 Steps to Create the Perfect Language Arts Focus Wall

How to Set up a Math Calendar Board

I have a FREE PDF download about setting up the perfect classroom. You can get it here by filling out this form.

The Unexpected Benefit

One of the best benefits that happens when you do your classroom prep in this manner is the sense of calm that you have the week prior to school starting.

You see other teachers running around frantically (often asking how you can possibly so READY already). Then the days leading up to students returning you will be able to concentrate on lessons, the first day items, professional development, doing some of those things assigned by the principal or the office. And you begin the school year READY instead of BEHIND.