The Importance of Goal Setting for Teachers

As educators, it’s important to continue learning and looking for ways to grow in your teaching practice. However, it’s easy for teachers to take on too many goals at one time! It’s important that you narrow your focus.

By narrowing your focus, you can make real progress toward a goal. Just like you teach one lesson at a time, so students can truly master it, your goals should be narrow to allow you room to focus and grow.

Creating a Goal

At the end of the school year, I recommend doing an end of year reflection to think back on the challenges you faced, the wins you had in the classroom, and the areas you want to improve on next school year. This reflection is a great way to determine the areas in which you want to grow and improve.

However, goal setting for teachers is still possible even if you didn’t do a reflection at the end of the year. Instead, think back on last school year. Did your principal offer any feedback? Was there a particular struggle that sticks out? Are there any new strategies you are excited about?

You may also get an idea for a goal when attending summer or back to school PD. During a session, you might learn about a new teaching tool you want to focus on or dive into a particular struggle students have that you want to help them overcome.

Why Goal Setting in the Summer is Effective

Summer is definitely a time to rest, relax, and unplug from school. However, it’s still a great time to think about your professional goals for next school year.

During the school year, it can be hard to sit down, reflect, and think about the areas you want to grow in. Your mind is going a mile and minute, and your time is limited.

In the summer, you have more time and mental space to think about the goals you want to work towards. You also can focus on getting specific on your goals. There’s a difference between saying, “I want to be a better reading teacher” and “I want to implement literacy centers in order to improve as a reading teacher.” The second option is specific and states exactly what it is you want to learn and focus on. 

Additionally, you have more time to research, learn, and dive into professional development. You actually have time to consume information that relates to your goal without distraction.

Goal setting is also effective in the summer because you have time to prep the materials you may need to achieve the goal. In the example of the literacy centers, you can actually take the time to learn what you’ll need, find the literacy centers you want to use, and prepare them ahead of time for the year.

Goal Setting Ideas for Teachers

When setting goals, you want to make sure they are SMART goals. This means they are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Based. By setting SMART goals, you’ll be able to get specific and create an action plan that’s in line with your timeline and what you want to achieve.

In the list below, I’m sharing some of my favorite goal-setting ideas for teachers. I’m also including an example SMART goal for each one. These are some of the most common topics that I hear from teachers that they want to improve on.

Increasing Classroom Organization

If you struggle with organizing your classroom, this might be the best goal for you. With this goal, you can focus on how organization impacts classroom learning and behavior. This could also be a small goal that gets you started at the beginning of the year, but you don’t have to focus your entire year on it.

Example SMART Goal: Organize all of my manipulatives and classroom supplies into labeled totes before I report back to school in August.

Improving Classroom Management

Classroom management is on every teacher's mind during back to school. Even if you’ve been teaching for twenty years, you know that every year is different, and it can be a challenge to predict what classroom management strategies will work for this particular group.

Instead of trying to figure out the entire school year, set a goal for how you will knock off classroom management with students or conquer a particular part of the day, like dismissal.

Example SMART Goal: Establish 5 main classroom rules, and plan and prep for a mini-lesson to explicitly teach them on the 2nd day of school.

Focusing on Relationship and Community Building

Relationships are the backbone of every successful school year. However, building relationships can take time. You can set a goal for how you will build relationships with your students or how you will maintain those relationships throughout the year.

Example SMART Goal: Choose 3 classroom community building strategies and implement them during the first week of school.

Setting up and Implementing Centers

Getting kindergarten students to be successful in centers takes a lot of time! With this goal, you can decide how you will implement centers, what your year-long goal for centers will be, or how you will make centers easier for you. 

Example SMART Goal: Print, prep, and organize math and literacy centers into labeled baggies for the entire year before I report back to school in August.

Improving Writing Instruction

The longer you teach, the more strategies and tools you can implement in your classroom. Maybe this year, you set a goal for where students will be out throughout the year with their writing skills. Perhaps you also determine what new writing activities you will implement, like interactive writing prompts and writing centers.

Example SMART Goal: Plan a daily directed drawing activity for our writing lessons for the first month of school.

Establishing a Morning Routine

If your morning routine has been a bit chaotic in the past or super time-consuming to plan, this is a great goal. You can set a goal to implement a new morning routine, like using morning tubs.

Example SMART Goal: Prep and store a Back to School set of morning work activities for students to complete each day during the first month of school.

Tracking Your Progress

After you’ve completed some goal setting for teachers, you want to track your progress and check-in with yourself frequently in order to achieve your goal.

This is where the Measurable and Time-Based portion of the SMART goals come in. You want to be able to measure your progress and give yourself a deadline for when you’ll accomplish the goal. If you don’t set a deadline, you may fall victim to procrastination and constantly putting your goal on the back burner.

Make sure you write your SMART goal down so you know exactly what it is you want to achieve. You can even write it in a journal so you can take notes, make to-do lists, and track your progress toward your goal.

Another way to ensure you’re moving forward on your goal (and to make it a little more fun) is to get an accountability partner! Maybe your team teacher wants to also implement centers next year. Check-in with each other on how the prepping is going. You can even get together over the summer to print, laminate, and prep.

Is there another teacher in your building that has a great morning routine? Pick their brain over the summer and ask them for their best advice. Tell them the goal you’re working towards. Ask them to hold you accountable by checking in with you once or twice over the summer.

Lastly, you don’t have to be perfect. It is summer, and you shouldn’t be spending every day thinking about your goals for next year or working on school tasks. Give yourself grace, adjust your plans if needed, and keep moving forward.

Join Teacher Facebook Groups

One of the easiest ways to get in your summer professional development for teachers (and look for year-round ideas) is to join Facebook groups and learn from other teachers out in the field. There are so many Facebook groups out there that focus on different grade levels, subjects, and topics.

You can find groups just for kindergarten teachers, groups about classroom management, and so much more. These groups are full of supportive educators that you can learn from, ask questions, and collaborate with. You can share tips, advice, ideas, brainstorm strategies, and ask questions.

There’s something comforting knowing you’re in a safe space with people that are in the same spot as you. Plus, you can ask people inside these groups about their favorite PD books, online resources, and more.

Read Professional Development Books

Summer is a great time to dive into a great professional development book. Teachers often struggle to find the time to read during the school year, let alone reflect on what they’re reading. During the summer, when your schedule is more relaxed, take some time to read a PD book on a topic you’re most interested in. 

You can align your PD book choices to an area in which you want to grow or improve next year. That may be classroom management, books surrounding a specific skill, or a book about a certain teaching strategy.

A couple of my favorite PD books are A Fresh Look at Phonics by Wiley Blevins and Teach Skills and Break Habits by Dan St. Romain.

Listen to Teacher Podcasts

Another way to get in your summer professional development for teachers is to listen to podcasts. Podcasts are great because you can squeeze them in mid-day. You can turn on a podcast while you go on a walk, garden, fold the laundry, or prep materials for next year.

Just like with PD books, you can find teacher podcasts on a variety of topics, subjects, and grade levels. You can go to your favorite podcast app and search for the topic or grade level that you want to learn about. 

Attend a Virtual or In-Person Conference

Attending a virtual or in-person conference is great summer professional development for teachers that allows you to connect with other educators and collaborate. 

If you want to travel, ask your administrator if there is a budget available for teacher PD. You can even research fun travel abroad or larger PD events and apply for a grant.

You and a teacher colleague can also attend together. It’s always nice to have a buddy to attend with so you can share ideas, go to different breakout sessions, and share what you learned.

If you can’t attend an in-person conference, there are several virtual conferences offered over the summer. Invite a teacher friend or your team over to attend with you. Then, grab a coffee and some snacks, and grow as educators in your comfy clothes together this summer. 

After the conference, you can brainstorm ways in which you can apply what you learned to your teaching, classroom, and school building.

Learn a New Classroom Strategy

One of the greatest summer professional development for teachers is to simply learn something new. During the school year, you’re so busy planning lessons, teaching, analyzing, and working with students. Therefore, it’s challenging to find time to learn something new or dig into PD.

Maybe this is the year you dig into morning tubs, commit to making writing centers more effective, or look for ways to make word work more fun.

If you want to kick-start trying these new strategies, grab the free morning tubs below. You can use these during your first week of school while you practice routines and expectations with students.

When deciding on your summer professional development, think about your goals for the upcoming year and what you are excited to dig into. Align your PD with those goals to truly become an expert and apply what you’ve learned in your classroom next year. 

Reflect

The first step in the end of the year reflection for teachers is to simply look back on the year and notice its ups and downs.

Each school year brings different challenges, twists, and turns. It’s okay to acknowledge that not everything was perfect and there were tough moments. However, you should also acknowledge the positives, big and small. Think about all of the ways that you adapted, changed, and overcame those challenges. 

Whether you take some time to reflect by journaling in the peace and quiet, while out on a walk, or as you pack up your classroom, I encourage you to make some time for reflection. It will help you decompress and leave this school year on a positive note so you can enjoy your summer. 

Overcome

As you are reflecting on those challenging and tough moments of the year, it can be easy to slip into a negative head space. Some of these moments might be difficult to revisit or feel uncomfortable.

However, I encourage you to begin to shift your perspective of the situation. Sometimes we only see how we “failed” or “fell short”, but we forget to acknowledge what we did right or the positive intentions that we had.

For example, you may have had a tough moment with a student where you lost your patience. It would be easy to see this as a failure, but what if you acknowledge how you apologized to that student? Or the great conversation you had with this student later? Or how you maintained your patience during the next tough moment?

Grow

As you begin to examine this year's challenges, you’ll probably also notice your growth! 

Ask yourself: What did you learn through your challenges and tough moments? Did you overcome challenges that you are proud of yourself for? What new strategies and techniques did you learn because of these challenges?

No matter what was thrown at you, I bet you found different ways to teach, motivate, and inspire students. And that is something to be proud of. I encourage you to look for the good that came out of this year’s tough moments.

Connect

You might also notice in your end of the year reflections that connections were essential to your job. Relationships with your students, their parents, administration, and other teachers are important to being the best teacher you can be.

With colleagues and administration.

Think about the connections you’ve made with your colleagues. Who was there for you during the tough moments? Who helped you see the light when things felt overwhelming? Those are the people you want to keep around!

During your end of the year reflection, you can also ask yourself: How did your relationships grow this year? Did you work collaboratively to solve problems, plan lessons, and provide opportunities for students to learn and enjoy school? How did these relationships affect the school morale this year?

With your students and their parents.

Your connections with your students are one of the most powerful ones you have! These connections can help you make strides in learning and help you out when there is a behavior issue.

Of course, the relationships with their parents can also make a big impact, especially with kindergarten students. Having a parents trust and support can impact your year in a really positive way.

During your end of the year reflection, ask yourself: How did you feel about the connections you made with students and their families? Is there anything that worked really well? What do you wish you did more of? How did positive relationships impact your year? Was there a method of communication that was really helpful?

I hope this end of the year reflection inspires you to honor the challenges, celebrate the growth you’ve made, and appreciate the connections you’ve formed. No matter how this year went, you have powerful lessons and experiences to bring to next school year!

Tips for Planning Kindergarten Sub Plans

You never know when you'll have to be absent from school, whether it's a stomach bug, an appointment, or a family emergency. Therefore, it's best to always be prepared for a sub.

Some schools require teachers to have backup lesson plans and some don't, but it's better to have your sub plans ready for any time you're in a pinch.

Having backup kindergarten sub plans makes life easier when you're planning to be out, are gone half a day, or even on the days where you just don't feel great.

Tip #1: Have a folder with all important class information.

It's important to provide subs with all the important class and school information they'll need (or could need).

This Includes:

• Class list
• Class schedule
• School map
• School staff contact list
• Emergency folder with evacuation procedures
• List of allergies, medications, and medical issues of your students
• Transportation list for bus riders, car riders, kids that walk home with siblings, etc
• List of where to find important items
• Class rules and procedures
• List of specials teachers and teacher's aides and/or paras you work with
• Technology instructions, procedures, and passwords
• Any other notes, such as helpful students or students who may need extra guidance

Be sure to revisit and update this information throughout the year so subs always have the most current and accurate information. It's especially important if students change the way they go home and/or you get new students.

After you compile this information into a sub folder, tell someone, such as a teacher on your grade level team or a neighbor teacher where to find the folder in case you're out unexpectedly.

You can also give them a backup copy or provide your school secretary with a backup copy.

Tip #2: Create a set of lesson plans that a sub can use in a pinch.

Creating a set of kindergarten sub plans that a guest teacher can use in a pinch will ensure your bases are always covered.

Plan and prepare 3-5 days worth of basic, low to no-prep activities for each subject to get them through the days in case you have to be out for more than one day unexpectedly.

You may want to tweak the activities you include monthly or quarterly to match the skills you're working on.

Make copies of the activities ahead of time so you're always prepared. You can even prep them at the beginning of the year. If you don't use them all, you can use them as a review later on or for next year's sub plans.

Tip #3: Be detailed in your lesson plans.

The more detail you can give in your kindergarten sub plans, the better.

Think of any possible situation or question a sub may have, such as:

• Where do I find manipulatives?
• Do students stay in their seast or move around?
• Where do I put the completed work?

Include that information in your lesson plans. Always give options for what students can do if they finish early. Activity mats and games they can play are great to include.

If you follow a curriculum and there are parts of the lesson you skip or tweak, let them know in your notes.

Tip #4: Create a sub tub to place everything in.

Place everything your sub will need in a large tub or crate, including your 3-5 day set of lesson plans, your folder of important information, and any materials/activities they need for the lesson plans.

Having it all in one place will keep you (and them!) organized. If they will need additional supplies that don't fit in the crate, leave a sticky note telling them where to find them in the classroom.

You can also leave time fillers, such as read aloud books, brain break ideas, and quick time filler games to pass the time if needed.

Leave one day's worth of lesson plans and activities in a smaller sub tub and the subsequent days in a separate tub. These tubs can stack inside the larger crate.

Ask a neighbor teacher to set each day's lesson plans and activities out so your sub doesn't get confused. This is especially helpful if you have a different sub each day.

Do this in return for your teacher friends. Teachers always have to have each other's backs!

Tip #5: Include a classroom management tracker.

Classroom management is one of the most nerve-wracking parts of having a sub. It's natural to wonder if your students will behave, follow directions, and respect the guest teacher.

The key is to keep your behavior management plan consistent by including a classroom management tracker for your sub to use with your students.

This tracker should state what the class reward is that the students are working towards. Maybe they are working towards earning 5 stickers as a whole group in order to get 5 extra minutes of recess when you return.

This is a great way for the sub to keep track of their behavior and leave feedback.

Tip #6: Ask the sub to leave feedback.

When you're absent, you're likely thinking about how your students are doing and wondering how the day is going.

In order to stay in the loop, ask your sub to leave a note about how the day went and if they got through all of the activities and lessons you had planned.

This will help you praise your students and have conversations with those that may have needed extra reminders. It also lets you know what activities they did and didn't get through.

Emergency Kindergarten Sub Plans

If you're looking for easy prep kindergarten sub plans for the year so that you're always prepared for the unexpected, check out this Plans in a Pinch bundle.

This year-long resource has everything you need for your emergency sub plans (or anytime you're in a pinch).

This sub plan resource features:

• Binder covers and storage labels
• Editable sub forms, such as class lists, schedules, procedures, and dismissal routines
• A classroom management tracker
• Literacy, math, and writing worksheets
• Science and social studies activities
• No prep math and literacy activity mats
• Time filler games and activities with optional follow-up pages
• Teacher-led Listen and Color activities

No more stressing over lesson plans or throwing activities together when you don't feel good. With these tips and kindergarten sub plans, you'll be covered all year long.

Do you have a helpful tip for preparing for a sub? Comment below or come share it in our Kindergarten Teacher Facebook Group.

#1: Be fully present.

You’ve invested a lot of time, care, and effort into this unique group of students. As their teacher, you've seen them grow and change.

Together you’ve celebrated their victories and guided them through their challenges. Saying goodbye (even to the students who’ve challenged you in every way) is often the hardest part of the job.

Don’t let the year slip away without bringing some closure to these very important relationships. Soon you will miss the hugs and high fives, the way they make you smile, and the sweet pictures and notes they create for you.

Slow down and listen carefully when your students have something to tell you.

Look them in the eye, wonder at their innocence, indulge in a little extra recess, read that extra story, and plan some special end of the year activities or outdoor activities.

In short, enjoy them, celebrate them, and love them! Don't forget, they are going to miss you too. Give extra smiles, love, and words of affirmation. 

If you need some fun end of the year class games to play with your students, you can grab this set for FREE! Just fill out the form below and they'll be delivered straight to your inbox!

#2: Create memory books.

Reminiscing with your students about their favorite parts of the school year is definitely on the list of end of the year must-do's.

Take students back through the calendar and recall all the fun new things they learned and did.

Take time to reflect on books they read, games they played, and the projects and skills they tackled and mastered.

Remind them of special assemblies and events, field trips, and guest speakers. Discuss what they enjoyed most about special classes, such as art, PE, library, and music.

You can even have your students share their favorites, such as favorite lunches, favorite days, favorite things they learned about, etc.

A perfect way to capture all of these memories is with an End of the Year Memory Book! This is great for PreK, Kindergarten, and First Grade students. It will become a cherished memento for them and their parents for years to come.

There are a lot of pages and options for differentiation included in this memory book. It is a great way to recap the end of the year during the last few weeks of school.

Your students can complete one page per day for the last month or so of school. Before they head out for summer, they can take home their special memory book to keep forever to remember their year.

#3: Say thank you.

We all know it truly takes a village to have a successful school year. As part of your end of the year activities, be sure to take time to thank those parent volunteers or staff members that have really gone the extra mile for you.

Remember those who have lightened your workload, been a support for you and your students, or helped in any way.

Even though most people don’t expect it, it feels good to be recognized and appreciated.

There's no need to be extravagant. A simple card, a small potted plant or candle, or an inexpensive gift card will be more than plenty to show your gratitude.

#4: Nurture your adult relationships. 

Another end of the year must-do is to check in with your work besties, coworkers, and teammates. Remember, if you’re feeling the pressure, more than likely, so is everyone else in the building.

Stop by for a quick morning conversation and cup of coffee to start the day. Leave chocolate on their desk.

Take the time to eat lunch together, even though you may have a million other things to do. You can even plan to meet for appetizers or a meal on a Friday after school.

Your relationships with teammates and co-workers are integral to your daily happiness. There's no better friend than a teacher friend.

Show your appreciation by checking in and sticking together during the final days and weeks of school.

#5: Celebrate with your students.

Celebrating the year and all of your students' accomplishments is key on your list of end of the year must-do's.

It will make your students feel proud and ready to head into the next year with confidence.

Take some time to celebrate academic accomplishments as well as positive attitudes and other areas of growth.

To make it really special, you can have an End of the Year Awards Ceremony with your students and hand out these End of the Year Class Awards!

You can even invite parents and school staff, such as the principal, specials teachers, etc., to attend your awards ceremony.

This is a special way to give each student a unique award that fits them and their unique personality and accomplishments.

#6: Pitch in and help each other out.

When it comes to end of the year clean-up and packing, it’s a bummer to still be lugging boxes to your car when the rest of the staff is heading out for happy hour.

Pitch in and help each other out. Go by the motto: Nobody’s done until everybody’s done.

Sharing the workload sets the tone for next year and helps everyone leave for summer on a positive note.

#7: Reflect on the year.

This last end of the year must-do may have to wait until all is said and done. You may need a week or two of doing nothing but relaxing, basking in the sunshine, and catching up on Netflix before tackling it.

However, it’s really important for your professional growth to take time to do a teacher end of year reflection. Reflect on what went well this school year and think about ways you can improve next year.

For instance, maybe in the middle of a unit or teaching a skill this year, you realized it would be much more effective to take a different approach.

Maybe you tried a new classroom management technique and it worked great. Write it down now! At the same time, if something didn't work well, write that down too. 

Chances are, if you wait until it comes up next year, your memory will be foggy. As the new school year approaches you can refer to your list and decide what to do again and what areas you want to tweak and improve upon.

Plus, by doing your reflection early on in the summer, you can set goals and find professional development opportunities over the summer to help you achieve them.

You made it!

Most importantly, don’t forget to acknowledge and congratulate yourself for all of your successes.

Gather up all those drawings and sweet notes you received from students and put them in a special place. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done, because teacher friend, you made it!

The end of a year can be bittersweet. Most teachers find themselves excited for the freedom and relaxation of summer, but sad to say goodbye to the precious relationships they've invested in.

It is the cyclical nature of the profession and part of what keeps it fresh and exciting.

Never lose sight of the difference you have made in those precious children that were entrusted to you for all these months. The work you do is important and it matters, every single day, even on the very last day.

Tip #1: Prioritize.

When it comes to tackling your to-do list at the end of the year, prioritization is key. Determine which jobs are considered a “must do” and which ones are “would like to do” projects.

Make a list of each and then prioritize each list. You'll want to work on the “must do” list first as these are things you NEED to do in order to leave for the summer.

Set a date that each task needs to be done by and stick with it. If it's a date set by the school (returning library equipment, textbook counts, supply requests, etc.) then you'll need to factor those dates in too.

Afterwards, if you have time, go back and tackle the list of projects you would LIKE to do. Those might be changing bulletin boards, sharpening new pencils, etc.

Want to instantly make yourself feel better? On your list, write down something you've already done and then immediately cross it off. It feels SO good to cross items off of your to-do list and gives you a boost of motivation and accomplishment!

Tip #2: Manage Your Time.

Once you have prioritized, decide on one task to tackle and complete it right away. Don't stop until it's done. Be realistic though. Don't set out to do a huge project if you only have 10 or 15 minutes.

Work in one area of your room at a time, rather than jumping around to different areas.

Another great tip for packing up your classroom is to dedicate one or two days a week to come in extra early or stay late, rather than doing a little “here and there” organization and packing throughout the day.

It can be helpful to work in a longer time span when you can really get focused rather than in several short, 15 minute windows.

Tip #3: Start Early. 

If you know that you are finished using a resource or an item in your classroom, organize it and pack it away. That way you don't have to wait until the very last week of school.

This does not mean that you should start taking down bulletin boards or putting away classroom manipulatives several weeks before school is out. You don't want to send a message to your students that school is over.

However, you can start organizing and packing up some of the small things behind the scenes without your students noticing, such as the inside of drawers or cabinets. If you have seasonal items that you are done using for the year, those can be packed up too.

Tip #4: Get the Kids Involved.

By May or June, your classroom manipulatives, such as magnetic letters, math cubes, and puzzles tend to get really unorganized. Your classroom library may look like a pile of books in one area instead of an organized reading oasis.

A great tip for packing up your classroom that will save you time and energy is to have your students help you. These are not projects that you need to sit and do yourself. Save them for last week of school and let the kids do it!

Kids can sort puzzle pieces, math manipulatives, magnetic letters, broken crayons, and dried out markers. It keeps them busy and it makes them feel helpful. Plus, it teaches them about responsibility and teamwork, which is always a win!

Tip #5: Clean, Don't Cram.

At the end of the school year, teachers just want to get out the door. It's easy to shove papers, supplies, etc, into hiding places and deal with it later. It's really, really tempting to just get it out of sight, out of mind.

However, when you return to school in August, you'll probably regret that decision. There is no magic fairy that comes in over the summer to tidy it up. It's still there when you get back.

Do your future self a favor and take the time to clean, organize, and file items away before you leave for the summer.

If your school allows it, clean and organize your shelves, then cover them with bulletin board paper. You can always re-use the paper for students to color on during the first week of school or to cover the tables during Open House.

If you have a lot of shelf space, another great alternative is plastic table cloths or plastic drop cloths. They work just as well!

Tip #6: Purge Baby Purge.

Most teachers are savers by nature. It's nothing to be ashamed of! It's part of their nature and creativity. You just never know when you'll need 30 toilet paper rolls or a chip canister to make that really cool project you saw in your Pinterest feed.

While there are definitely things you may want to save for next year, it's simply not practical to save everything. Cue the song, “Let It Go!”

If something has served you well, you haven't used it in years (or ever), or you know you won't need it next year, get rid of it.

Ask your colleagues or any new teachers coming in if they would like it. One teacher's trash is another teacher's treasure, right?!

If possible, start a “free” table, recycle it, or throw it away.

Tip #7: Take Pictures. 

One of my favorite tips for packing up your classroom is to take pictures of your classroom from multiple angles.

In August, it can be difficult to remember what your classroom looked like the previous school year. Pictures serve as great reminders and can help you get your classroom set up quicker during back to school time.

Bonus, totally non-teacher related tip: do this in your house at Christmas time or for other holidays/seasons. It is so helpful to remember where you had your decorations and what you used from year to year!

Take a few notes of things you liked and that worked well. Also take notes of things that didn't work so great. If you've got a few ideas of how it could work differently, jot those down while they are fresh in your head.

Tip #8: Pack a Back-to-School Survival Box.

Have you ever packed to move, got to your new house, desperately needed a cup of coffee, and you realize your coffee pot is nowhere to be found? Or you have no clue where your paper plates and plastic silverware are that you are surely going to use for a while?

When packing, you always want to pack important things that you'll need right away in an easily accessible box. Packing up your classroom is no different!

Think about what you'll need first when you get back to school in August. You may need scissors, a stapler, sticky notes, Sharpies, pens, tape, etc. in your box. All of the items you'll need to help get your classroom decorated and organized.

Tip #9: Pack a Take-Home Box.

Clear bins or containers make the best take-home boxes. They are sturdy and you can easily see what is inside. Also, the items are contained so they aren't taking over your dining room table or your entire house.

In your take-home box, you may want to include any personal items that you don't want to leave at school. This might be that stash of chocolate from your desk, extra cash or change you had in your desk, etc.

You can even take your back-to-school survival box home with you over the summer so you know exactly where it is when it's time to head back to school. That way if your room gets rearranged during summer cleaning, you're not left searching for it in August!

As you are planning ahead for next school year, think about what you may want to work on and prep ahead of time over the summer.

You may want to include your first week of school activities and read alouds in your take-home box.

It might also be a good idea to pack up your community classroom supplies like bins, scissors, whisper phones, etc, to take home and wash or disinfect (this is a great job for the dishwasher!)

Tip #10: Be a Label Lady.

Have you ever told yourself, “I don't need to write this down, I'll remember it?”

Funny, right?! As teachers, especially at the end of the school year, there are a thousand thoughts running through your mind. Face it, you're going to forget what's in the boxes you are packing.

When August gets here, you're going to have memories of vacations, sleeping in, and spending time with your own kids, not what you packed in May or June. That's ok, it should be that way!

Just do yourself a favor and stick a label on it now as you are packing up your classroom. Label everything so you know what everything is and where it goes.

Tip #11: Make Lists. 

As you are cleaning out and purging your classroom, make a list of the things you need to reorder, replace, or replenish over the summer. It's also a great idea to make a list of things that you don't need or have plenty of.

You can make these lists on your phone, that way you'll always have them when you're out shopping over the summer.

This will allow you to take advantage and stock up during the back to school sales, summer sidewalk sales, or yard sales.

Having a list of what you have plenty of will help you avoid buying things you already have a healthy supply of.

Tip #12: Plan Ahead. 

The final tip for packing up your classroom is to plan ahead! The copy machine line is always so long right before school starts. It's no fun standing in line with a million things to do thinking “I really should be in my room working.”

If you know there are some lessons or activities that you always do the first week of school, make copies before you leave for the summer so they will be ready to go when you get back.

Now is also great time to prep activities ahead for the new school year. You can reference a kindergarten pacing guide to see what skills you'll be teaching in August and September. That way, you can gather and prep those materials over the summer.

Want to snag a FREE copy of this comprehensive Kindergarten Pacing Guide? Fill out the form below and it'll be delivered straight to your inbox!

Remember this: You've worked hard all year long. You've taught, loved, and nurtured your students as if they were your own children.

You've met standards, wrote lesson plans, held meetings, planned field trips and special events, and prepared too many report cards to count.

All of this, and so much more, you've done with beauty, grace, and a positive attitude! Give yourself a break. Relax, and do not get overwhelmed.

Plan ahead, get it done, and then leave it behind as you drive away to enjoy your summer.

I hope these tips for packing up your classroom will help you have a smooth transition right into summer! You've earned your break, teacher friend. Go enjoy it!

7 Teacher Interview Tips

Tips #1: Practice, practice, practice.

The best thing you can do to prepare for an interview is to practice! Do your research and look up some common teacher interview questions.

Think through as many of the questions as possible. Research shows writing builds better memory connections, so grab those flair pens and write down your answers.

Ask a good friend or trusted colleague to rehearse with you and give you feedback. If you're a new teacher and your university program offers mock interviews, take full advantage of them.

Have a solid grasp on current educational trends and your personal teaching philosophy. Think about how you will explain your stand on educational topics and prepare detailed examples that show that you know your stuff. 

Tip #2: Do your detective work.

One of the best teacher interview tips is to learn as much about the school as you can. This shows administration that you are willing to go the extra mile to learn about them.

Go to the school's website to learn as much as you can about their district and educational philosophy. Use these findings to prepare accordingly.

Think about what types of questions may be asked and how you can tailor your answers to their school and their needs. This is a great way to personalize your questions and relate on a meaningful level.

For instance, if academic achievement is heavily stressed in a school's bio, prepare examples of your proficiency with standards-aligned instruction and assessment methods. Show that you know how to use data to drive instruction.

If artistic expression is highly valued, prepare work samples to show how you've integrated art into your instruction across the curriculum.  

Tip #3: Prepare physically.

There's no amount of teacher interview tips that can help you if you are physically exhausted. The last thing you need the night before an interview is to stay up tossing and turning with anxiety.

Do what is right for you to prepare for a good night's rest so that you can be at your best the next day.

Maybe that means you head to bed a little earlier than usual or wind down with a nice warm bath. Perhaps you dig into a juicy fiction book until you're good and sleepy.  

Set your alarm early enough that you won't be scrambling in the morning. If there's time, take a walk or do a short workout. Eat a healthy meal and try to limit caffeine. You don't want to have the coffee-shakes at your interview and feel quesy!

Give yourself plenty of time to get ready. Get excited for the day by turning on your favorite music of Netflix show to listen to while you get ready!

Tip #4: Dress for success.

First impressions are so important, so one of the best teacher interview tips is to dress the part.

Although schools may have a casual work environment day to day, most school districts expect interview candidates to show up in proper business attire.

That means nice slacks and a shirt and tie for men. For women, it means dress pants or a skirt and nice top or a professional dress.

Be sure to choose shoes that are comfortable and easy to walk in. No one needs the stress of trying to walk in tricky shoes into your interview!

Try to choose colors that suit your personality, but that are also professional. I've always heard that navy is the go-to color for interviews and big events.

Just remember, you are a professional and should dress the part!

Tip #5: Prepare mentally.

Pre-interview jitters are super common, so don't feel bad if you feel them coming on! Shower yourself with positive self-talk.

You've put in an enormous amount of time and effort to get to where you are. Your credentials are solid and your attitude is stellar. You've got this!

Remember, an interview is a two-way process. It's a time not only for the school to get an impression of you, but for you to gather a lot of information on the school and administration. 

Ask yourself during the interview:

• Do you like what you're hearing? 
• Does it feel like a good fit? 
• Do your philosophies seem to be in sync?
• Do you feel welcomed by the administration?

Trust your gut and you'll find the right fit for yourself as a teacher. 

Tip #6: Be fully present.

As hard as it sounds, take a deep breath and try to not let your mind race during your interview.

Take it one question at a time. Answer each question honestly and fully. Find a friendly face on the interview panel and draw in their energy.

If you need clarification on a question, don't be afraid to ask. Keep your answers concise and give a lot of real world examples to back up your professional knowledge. 

Tip #7: Put the process in perspective.

It's hard to remain objective after an interview, especially when you meet a teaching team that seems like a great fit. But it's best to not get too invested just yet.

Before you picture yourself moving into a particular classroom and planning your set-up, keep in mind that a lot of factors go into finding the right person for the job. 

Give each interview your best effort and then let it go and try not to dwell on it or overanalyze.

When you're a new teacher especially, you may need to go on several interviews before you get hired, and that's ok!

Keep your cool and count every interview as a valuable experience and preparation for your professional future. 

The teaching job search process is a tough one, that's for sure. However, with a little hard work, a lot of faith in yourself, and some grace, you'll end up right where you're meant to be.

I wish you the best of luck and all of the success in the world! There are so many students out there that are just waiting for you to touch their lives!