Sure, as you finally reach the long-awaited end of the school year, the last thing most teachers want to think about is starting a new one. But not only will your future self thank you for doing a little ahead-of-time legwork, you also might just enjoy your summer break more knowing that you’ve got some chores out of the way.
Use Up Your Budget
If you are lucky enough to have a little surplus budget that needs to be used up, invest in something that will make next year stellar. A classroom set of tools like mini-whiteboards or analog clock manipulatives can help ensure that each student gets the hands-on practice they need. If your budget is big enough, consider some new furniture, rugs, or beanbag chairs to create a designated area, like a reading nook, that will foster learning while making kids feel special.
Restock Supplies
If your classroom is pretty well set with larger items, use up your budget surplus or donations to restock basic supplies for next year. In addition to the obvious consumables like pencils, paper, and craft supplies, consider items like facial tissue and hand sanitizer. While most schools send out supply lists at the beginning of the year, we all know that inevitably, kids will turn up without everything they need.
Organize
Once you’ve got your supplies stockpiled for fall, the next favor you can do for your future self is to get organization down to an art. Life is so much easier when, amidst clamoring students and pressing deadlines, you can quickly find exactly what you need. You may have to try a few different methods or systems of organization to find the one that works best for you, but your efforts will pay off when you can locate your stash of specialty paper or base 10 blocks on demand.
What are your time-tested tips for using the end of the school year as time to prep for the upcoming semester?
