5 Tips to Start Back to School Season!

It's that time! Target has already started putting that "you know what" aisle out and you're starting to see all the things circulate social media. Yep. Back to school season!

Now.... it is still JULY. JULY. So tip #1 is very important. Whether you are a year-round school and just took a couple weeks off, or you go back after labor day it's very important to starting thinking and prepping when YOU ARE READY. For me that's at a different time every year! If seeing all the school supplies is triggering... avoid the aisles! You don't need to be pressured into doing ANYTHING whether that's creating, buying, checking emails. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO SET YOURSELF UP TO AVOID BURNOUT. Feeling inspired? GO FOR IT! Not ready? PUT THE CRAYON BOXES DOWN!

If you ARE ready... I recommend starting to visualize your room and make a physical map. Literally. There's a moment when you go to your classroom on that very first day where you spend a monstrous amount of time just sitting on a table or desk just staring. I'm not kidding, every teacher I know does it. Thinking about your room set up and your walls BEFORE this moment can reduce the time you're eyes are glazed over and your brain is overwhelmed just staring at the stacks of chairs, everything pushed to one corner, and all the boxes that are delivered over summer. This also helps me ensure that a good portion of my walls are PURPOSEFUL. We want our classroom decor to include areas that are student centered, areas that are interactive that you teach from, and some that are visually appealing for learning and not busy.

#3 is a no brainer but I always forget. Get a cute notepad... make a note on your phone.... keep a BRAIN DUMP. Especially now that I'm a mom it never fails that I remember things at the weirdest times and then the next day when I don't remember exactly what that was I get frustrated and feel all over the place. Throw all that into a note WHEN you think of it. You'll thank me later.

#4 Prioritize your prep. Do this by timeliness, access to materials, and important. Around the end of July I like to start with some not to deep classroom decor. New alphabet posters, SEL posters, new calendar accessories, etc. Then I'll see what I have at home and move on to that first week/month of school and see what I can prep at home, it's so helpful to know what projects to do and to start prepping them especially when Kindergarteners have so much trouble doing things independently for awhile.

Lastly #5 romanticize your year. I do this every year and it helps me get excited. I dream about how I'm going to use brand new goodies, I imagine what my class will be like after I get a couple of kids on my roster, I envision how I'll feel when I'm knee deep in all the good busy back to school activities. This also helps burn out. Others like to call this something like manifesting what you want.

If you're feeling good to dip your toes into B2S season this is the best way to start! No need to dive into the deep end. We all know there's trainings, the prior year to recover from, and that day teachers report back will be there no matter what. Enjoy your time whether that's reading a book at the pool, or making new things for your classroom!

Big hugs teacher friends!

Chelsea