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Preparing for the new school year is one of my favorite things about teaching; there’s something beautiful and unique about a career in education, where everyone gets a fresh start. I am refreshed, my classroom is refreshed, my curriculum is refreshed, and I’m filled with joy and excitement of getting to meet my new students.
One of the things I love doing is heading in to school as early as the principal allows me to start setting up my classroom!
I put a lot of sweat (usually because it’s 100 degrees in FL in July, and also the school AC units may or may not be running yet—lol) into prepping my classroom. I can tell you; it gets easier the more years you do it. Also, if you are changing classrooms, changing grade levels, or changing schools, it’s also more challenging. But above all, give yourself grace. You do not need a classroom that looks just like some TikTok teacher your first year, or even your second or third years. Kudos to them, but you gotta do what works for you, and that's a 100% A+ for you! If you’re a first-year teacher or first year in a new grade-level or school, you’re going to be in survival mode, and it’s okay to not go crazy trying to decorate your classroom. Figure out the minimum that must be done to it so it’s clean and organized, and then move on to other things, like the curriculum or planning your classroom management. Those are arguably much more important.
Walking in on the first day back can be rough! It is always scary and funny to see what state my room is in on my first day back!
Here are five tips for setting up your classroom based on my personal experiences!
1. Do the student desks last. I end up stacking boxes and random stuff on them anyway. When everything else is in place and put away, then I clean the desks and arrange them. This is usually the day before Meet-the-Teacher, aka the first time parents and students would be in my room.
*TCC Tip: I always start the school year in rows, which looks boring, BUT I'm going to be learning names and personalities, and I will be doing direct instruction of the rules, procedures, etc. I usually chose a much more fun seating arrangement after Labor Day (depending on when school starts).
2. Plan a balance of what will be décor for fun and what will be educational and purposeful on your bulletin boards and wall space. I love theming my classrooms (yes, even in middle school-- and the kids LOVE it!). I theme my classrooms after things I love; at the end of the day, YOU are the one staring at those walls the most! Make it a happy place for you, too!
Some of my classroom themes have been PIRATES (3rd grade), MOVIES (middle school), and DISNEY (middle school). All things I love and get so excited planning and putting together. For the movie-themed classroom, my mom even helped me make curtains for the cubbies (to cover them for storage purposes) with Captain Jack Sparrow material. It was extra, but it was AWESOME. It brought me so much joy. :)
It is very important to me to have most of my wall décor to be USEFUL items. Here's a list of things I had hanging in my last ELA middle school classroom.
*DISCLAIMER-- This was my 11th year as a teacher, and my 5th year in the same room and teaching the same content. It took A LONG TIME to get to this point. lol I do not want you to compare yourself to me-- my intent is to serve as ideas in case you need some.
*TCC Tip: If you are a first year teacher, only focus on the procedure posters you want to make for your room. Classroom management will be the most important thing to help you get through the year!
--Classroom Rules (#1 most important thing!)
--Commonly used classroom procedures (raising your hand, how to ask to go to the bathroom, etc.)
--The bell schedule
--Opening Class Routine (I really wanted them trained on my expectations for entering the room and getting started.)
--Classroom library procedures
--My certification and other awards I'd won as a teacher
--Labels on the doors for entering and exiting the classroom (my room had two doors, so I had a desired flow)
--Active shooter procedure poster (school requirement)
--Active shooter door window cover (school requirement)
--Parts of Speech poster set
--Cursive handwriting strip over my whiteboard (my school taught cursive)
--Why Reading Matters poster
--Literary Elements poster set
--Word Wall set up
3. Set yourself a budget. I'll be the first to admit that when walking into those "teacher stores" or the Back-to-School deals at Staples, Target, etc., I spend waaaay more money than I should. There are just so many awesome posters and bulletin board borders and fun smelling stickers and erasers! I want it ALL. Do not start the school year in debt if you can help it. Remind yourself that each year you can build up your instructional poster collection (those were always my weakness).
*TCC Tip: On the note of budgets, do not be afraid to ask your school for supplies. I lived this life far too long. Your principal may say no, but if you don't ask, you never know! I FINALLY got a beautiful desk for myself my 5th year at my school because I'd finally gotten brave enough to ask for one. Before that, I was using a huge, monster desk (which I hated because it took up too much space) and then a regular table.
4. Organize yourself as best as possible. I had crates and boxes of old teaching supplies that I "might use one day", and when that day came, I had no idea where those materials were! LOL Don't be like me! If you have paper files (which, truly, who does that anymore?), try to use a crate system or filing cabinet with folders to organize your loose paper materials. Organize your boxes of materials and LABEL THE BOXES. At least then you'll just be digging in one box for those National Park brochures you'd been collecting for that one lesson.
5. De-clutter as much as possible. Clutter in the classroom
makes me feel disheveled and gives me anxiety. I'm also the kind of person that
LOVES throwing stuff away-- the purge just feels so satisfying. I probably didn't need to hang on to all those old, cut-up magazines for five years. Time for the dumpster!
What tips do you have for setting up your classroom at the beginning of the school year? Comment your tips below!
Movie-themed, 6th grade homeroom!
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