Have you thought about working on National Boards? Are you already? What’s holding you back? Why NBCT!?

How do you get organized for when you return to your classroom after summer break?

For example, I have a notebook where I make a list all summer so I know what needs to be tackled. What do you do to organize yourself?

How can you foster a positive classroom environment?

Get to know each of your students

-Greet them at the door each morning

-Use their interests when communicating with them

-Honor their talents

Encourage your students to interact in positive ways with one another

Praise your students in public. Discipline them in private.

Introduce non-violent ways to solve conflicts.

Praise your students for taking challenges even if they aren't successful

In what ways do you collaborate with other teachers throughout the summer when you were no longer in the same building routinely?

What are some ways you give students ownership of the classroom and what happens in it?

What are some of your favorite professional books that you recommend?

What is a math manipulative that you use multiple ways in the classroom throughout the year?

Have you found ways that AI is helpful in your elementary classroom or with elementary students?

How do you include Science throughout your day when there might not be a dedicated block of time?

I saw this on LinkedIn this morning and thought about how powerful this was. The longer I teach, the more I realize that it’s about channeling the strengths that kids have both academically and social emotionally. Any a-has or connections that you have to share?

What are some quick (5 mins or less) math fact fluency ideas that you love to use with students? Why do you love it?

How do you set up a classroom?

When you think about it, your classroom arrangement is probably one of the most important tasks that you will do at the beginning of the year. This is where everything will take place: learning, building relationships, sharing, etc. Your classroom is one of the very first impressions that you will make on your students. What kind of impact do you want it to portray?

Look at the entire space. What types of interactions will be occurring? Will you need a place for group gatherings? Keep in mind the flow of the room – is there room to move from one space to another without too much of a distraction. How will you arrange the student desks? Will you be utilizing centers? Don't forget to consider where and how you want your own space in the room.

Whatever you decide, know that there is no right way. It can be beneficial to walk through the building to check out how the “seasoned” teachers have set up their classroom. If you want more ideas, you can check out this resource: https://www.azk12.org/Homeroom-SettingUpYourClassroom

Time Management

Do you often feel that there is never enough time to get things done?

This is often a big challenge for teachers, causing stress which can lead to negative consequences. If this is you, know that you are not alone! The good news is that there are ways to increase efficiency and productivity in the way you plan and execute your day-to-day work. Using adequate time management can allow you to have a balanced professional, personal and social life.

Before you start your day, create a To Do List:

Make a list of all the tasks you need to complete and the amount of time you spend on each.

Put them in order of importance with things that must be done at the top. If you have large tasks to do, you can break them up – you don’t have to do them all at once.

Look at your day and see where you can schedule these tasks throughout the day.

Commit to the schedule – find a place to work away from distractions or have 3 set times of the day to check your phone.

You can’t add more time to the day but with some tips and tricks, you can make good use of your time.

Have you ever hosted a parent academy night? Ic so, what type of activities did you include? Was it called something else?

How do you motivate your colleagues? Is there anything special you do to help be their cheerleader?

How do you mentor and inspire new to the profession teachers?

A lesson hook is a short opening to a lesson. It should grab your students’ attention and leave them wanting to learn more. Hooks can prepare your students for the content they will be learning.

A good lesson hook strategy can make all the difference when it comes to engaging students and maximizing their learning. You can use your lesson hook to establish connections between existing knowledge and the new content.

Any break from the ordinary can be exciting. Change your learning setting to get students engaged and excited for what’s to come.

There are tons of lesson hooks that you can use and find online. Here are some ideas:

Theme your classroom for the lesson (posters, learning centers, bulletin boards, etc.)

Use “feely” boxes or bags

Create a survey and graph the results

Use music

Guest speaker

What are some ways you bring nature into your classroom space?

Does your district offer professional development over the summer? If so, does it include a stipend or something similar?

Does your state have any specific requirements for you or your license/credentials if you want to teach in one or all of the STEM disciplines? Is that process any different if you work with younger students rather than older elementary students?