Top 20 Back-to-School Resources

From: NEA
http://www.nea.org/lessons/backtoschool.html

Lesson Ideas, Welcoming Students, Setting Up Your Classroom, Meeting Parents, and More

Lessons & Activities

1. Fun Activities Get the School Year Off to a Good Start!These activities help you get to know students and their strengths.

2. Fresh Ideas for Opening DayFive lesson plans help get the year off to a great start.

3. Best of the IcebreakersTen creative, teacher-tested ideas help you start the school year strong.

4. Student Learning-Strengths InventoryStart the school year with an online inventory to determine students' learning strengths and intelligences.

5. Works4Me: Starting SchoolTeacher-submitted tips for welcoming new students, learning their names, and getting to know them. Plus activity ideas you can start now and build upon throughout the school year.

6. Activites for Student-Created RulesEight activities help students set their own classroom rules.

New to Your School

7. 30 Questions to Ask During the First Days of SchoolMake your life as a teacher easier by learning school procedures early on.

8. Advice for New Special Education TeachersA veteran special education teacher offers advice to new teachers for surviving the first few months of school.

9. 33 Ways to Start the First Year Off RightA little planning before school begins can pay big dividends throughout the school year. This checklist will help you plan for the months ahead.

Setting Up Your Learning Environment

10.Order in the Classroom!Practical tips and tools to get your classroom in order.

11. Determine Classroom Procedures Before School StartsUse this checklist to set your classroom climate.

12. Teachers Start Your Engines20 classroom management strategies give your year a great start.

13. Establishing Classroom RulesTen activities help you set the right tone for the rest of your school year.

14.Teacher's Back-to-School Supply List27 things you do not want to forget.

Reaching Out to Parents & the Community

15. Increase Parent Involvement With First Day of School ActivitiesDevelop a first day program that gets the whole community involved.

16. Creating a Professional ImageAdvice for first-year teachers on cultivating a professional image that will strengthen your work with students, other teachers and parents.

But Wait There's More!

17. Planning for Your First Day at SchoolOn the first day of school, the secret to success is in the planning, not the pedagogy.

18. 13 Ways to Beat the First-Day JittersSome steps to take before school begins.

19. Maximizing the Opening of the School DayHow to establish the right rapport and get started on the right foot.

20. Back-to-School Survival KitIngredients for teacher and student "survival kits" provide a welcome start to the new year.