3 Simple Ways to Prepare for a New Semester
Do you notice the thought of the new semester is daunting? It can be intimidating to think you’re starting over reteaching all of the things that hopefully were working well last semester. It’s a new group of students and a new set of challenges.
It is always fitting to start a new semester while ringing in the new year. It can be a fresh start, a reset to modify what might not have worked well during the fall semester, or a continuation of what you feel went well last semester.
I cringe a little thinking about getting back into a routine, but I sure am appreciative of a work day before the kids return. I would much prefer a little time in my classroom to put on finishing touches rather than use my break or leave in December hoping I’ve thought well enough ahead. Regardless of the situation, since each year provides different scenarios, I have found 3 simple, yet powerful ways to start the semester.
Print multiple calendars
I have two preps- FACS 1 and FACS 2. Keeping track of two preps can be tricky enough, but I know there are Family and Consumer Science teachers with 5 and 6 preps! I find free printable calendars with a Google search and print one for each month of the semester. I should note, in the fall, I don’t print any for the spring just yet. After printing, I like to copy those calendar months on colored paper- one color for each prep.
My courses are more introductory for 7th and 8th graders. My students don’t cook the entire semester, but I do try to align cooking labs. For that time frame, I will print the corresponding months in a third color.
I always write out the semester at a glance in pencil. In my district, there are considerably more days in the spring semester than the fall for the second year in a row. Enough days to add an entirely new unit for the spring students. Plus we have block scheduling during our standardized testing. Considering both of these things, I like to leave the spring semester a bit more open and flexible. We have career day during the morning periods one day, plus students seem to miss more for track meets and field trips in May.
After mapping out the semester at a glance, I feel more comfortable taking it at a week-by-week approach to add the information to my lesson plans. I want my lesson plans to be concise and pretty, but not full of scribbles as plans change and move around.
In the past, I have used Plum Paper Planners. They sure are beautiful, but I found I wasn’t utilizing a paper planner as well as I used to when I taught elementary. I needed a digital set of lesson plans that made it easier to access at home if needed and at school.
A dear friend and Google Spreadsheets guru recreated my paper version into a digital one. I can type in a new date number and it automatically updates for the correct weekly dates. I duplicate the page for a new week and printing is easy for me to then add to a binder on my desk for those that like printed plans.
Now as I am ready to add to my January lesson plans, I can easily copy/paste from the fall to save even more time. I try to diligently take notes of what copies I need and changes I should make for the next semester when I’m in the thick of it.
Make a list of copies
When I went on maternity leave, I created a digital list for my maternity leave sub of copies I had prepped for her, the location, whether they were front or front/back, the number needed, etc.
This template ended up being a great way for me to stay organized when I was back in the classroom and in future semesters. Some units are more copy heavy versus others and I am always forgetting one set of copies.
The proactive teacher in me likes to channel the quote from Amy Porterfield and Jenna Kutcher, “Let it be easy.” I interpret this in the classroom as not waiting until the morning of to make copies. I really dislike the morning rush to the copy machine, everyone’s copies are of high priority, and then the overworked machine jams. I may have multiple college degrees, but the last thing I’m certified in is copy machine paper jam removal.
Reset expectations
The former elementary teacher in me knows the importance of reteaching and resetting in January. Sure, we are halfway through the school year and students SHOULD know what is expected. However, as an elective course, most, if not all students are new to our classes.
I feel it is much more important to set myself and my students up for success by spending a week on expectations now versus playing “Whack-a-mole” later with behaviors.
I believe strongly in email etiquette and will spend time on this lesson. Other teachers have focused on this in the spring, but a reminder is always a great idea. I also focus on expectations for how to enter and exit my class, using the bathroom, not filling water bottles during my 49 minutes, turning in work, finding absent work, etc.
Some expectations I will make sure to focus on to start the semester:
- Entering and exiting the classroom- seated by the tardy bell and wait until I dismiss at the end of class.
- 4 minute passing is when to use the restroom and fill water bottles. It’s too much for students to fill water bottles in the kitchen or during class.
- How I use Modules in Canvas by unit to organize assignments.
- Email etiquette in a friendly letter format
- Turning in paper assignments
- Staying out of the kitchen unless you have permission- my room has kitchens on one side and the classroom on the other
- Finding absent work
- Where to find information about missing a cooking lab
- How to complete all assignments- writing in complete sentences with proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar. (I wrote about this in another blog post here).
I’m also a proud Swiftie, so I like to use her lyrics as a way to teach expectations. It’s memorable enough that students will point it out to each other when needed. I found a TikTok several years ago that highlighted a similar idea. You can use my template here.
“This is why we can’t have nice things, darling, cause you break things” … I’m sure you can relate?
Streamline line your to-do lists
I suppose this isn’t a suggestion for starting the semester, but a daily lifesaver.
Amazon sells a 4 pack of Steno pads in various colors. Rather than writing 57 stick note reminders a day, forgetting where I put them, losing others, and feeling scatterbrained, I transferred all thoughts to a Steno pad.
Not only is it easy to write down all the lists for all the things, but it serves as a simple reminder seeing the colored paper when I’m packing up at the end of the day and making sure I take it home if needed.
My students were tasked with completing window covers for doors. I could easily write down the teacher’s name and room number, sent two girls out with the notepad and all measurements were safely in the notebook when needed later.
I can also quickly look back on previous to-do lists, shopping lists, phone numbers, etc. Faculty meeting or quick reminder when asking about something in the office? It goes in the notebook.
It’s all in one place. That was a game changer for me. And a 4 pack of Steno pads for $15ish was acceptable in my opinion. I can even use one at home.
A new semester doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. It can be a welcomed reset to better get your ducks in a row. Props to you if you finished the first semester prepped and ready! If you’re not, take a deep breathe, and focus on one or two things you can do to make yourself ready for students. Maybe it’s a slideshow with some pet peeves you’d like to reteach and classroom expectations you’d like to address. Taking the time to get the foundation for a well-run classroom ends up being priceless later.