Norah Colvin

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Preparing the classroom for a successful school year – #readilearn

preparing the classroom for a successful school year

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A new year begins! Happy New Year!

I wish you all an enjoyable, rewarding and successful 2020.

For many of us in the Southern Hemisphere, the school year begins later this month or early next month. Most of us are already making preparations for the year ahead, thinking about how we will organise our classrooms and what we will teach. Preparation can take a lot of our ‘own’ time but being organised can reduce anxiety when the school year begins.

At readilearn, our aim is to lessen your workload by assisting with preparation, giving you more time for those things non-work-related things you enjoy.

Start out right from day one

Establish a supportive classroom

When you are confident and organised from day one, the children (and their parents) will feel welcome and have positive attitudes to you, your classroom and school. You will set the tone for a successful school year for both you and your students.

The free resource Getting ready for the first day with Busy Bee resources lists some first day resources with suggestions for using them; including a welcome letter, a welcome sign for the door, desk name templates, name badges and a birthday chart.

Continue reading: Preparing the classroom for a successful school year – readilearn

Comments

32 responses to “Preparing the classroom for a successful school year – #readilearn”

  1. Barry Whelan Avatar
    Barry Whelan

    Very true. A good start is half the battle. Definitely worth putting in the time at the start of the year to establish good routines and behaviour. Prevention is better than cure!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Norah Avatar
      Norah

      Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Barry. I’m pleased you also value the importance of getting the year off to a positive start.

      Like

      Reply
  2. Christy B Avatar
    Christy B

    This is a terrific guide for teachers wanting to get their new year off to a great start in the classroom!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Norah Avatar
      Norah

      Thanks so much for your supportive comment, Christy. 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  3. Erica/Erika Avatar
    Erica/Erika

    Happy New Year, Norah! I always find it interesting to get the perspective from the Southern Hemisphere. Even though my children are no longer in school, my grandchildren are just beginning school. I am part of their village. Therefore, I appreciate all gems.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Norah Avatar
      Norah

      Thank you, Erica. I’m pleased you find them gems. I hope your grandchildren have a wonderful experience with school.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Erica/Erika Avatar
        Erica/Erika

        Grade one, and Sadie loves school and reading. She has had wonderful teachers.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        1. Norah Avatar
          Norah

          That bring joy to my heart, Erica. Thank you for sharing.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
  4. Jennie Avatar
    Jennie

    Excellent post, Norah. Thinking of you as the wildfires continue in Australia.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Norah Avatar
      Norah

      Thank you so much, Jennie. The fires have devastated so much of our beautiful country. Many home are lost and lives are in tatters.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Jennie Avatar
        Jennie

        It is so sad! America and many other countries are crying for Australia and helping out. 😥

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        1. Norah Avatar
          Norah

          It is sad, Jennie. The whole world is watching, and many helping, as so much of Australia burns. Hopefully, this will be a turning point.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
          1. Jennie Avatar
            Jennie

            I truly hope so, Norah.

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply
            1. Norah Avatar
              Norah

              It’s overwhelming.

              Liked by 1 person

              Reply
              1. Jennie Avatar
                Jennie

                ☹️

                Liked by 1 person

                Reply
                1. Norah Avatar
                  Norah

                  I meant the generosity was overwhelming. Perhaps I should have phrased it better. Sorry.

                  Liked by 1 person

                  Reply
                  1. Jennie Avatar
                    Jennie

                    I now understand, although overwhelming describes both. Best to you, Norah.

                    Liked by 1 person

                    Reply
                    1. Norah Avatar
                      Norah

                      Thank you for your understanding, Jennie, and your wishes. 🙂

                      Liked by 1 person

                    2. Jennie Avatar
                      Jennie

                      You are most welcome, Norah.

                      Liked by 1 person

  5. dgkaye Avatar
    dgkaye

    A wonderful start to the new year Norah. Australia is in my prayers. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Norah Avatar
      Norah

      Thanks so much, Debby. Appreciated.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. dgkaye Avatar
        dgkaye

        ❤

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  6. Patricia Tilton Avatar
    Patricia Tilton

    I had forgotten school starts mid-summer for you. Love the thought and planning you do to prepare teachers with resources.

    Have thought a lot about you and the environmental crisis your country is facing with the wildfires. So sad to watch on TV. It sounds like you are farther north?? Know that a lot of prayers are headed your way.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Norah Avatar
      Norah

      Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers, Patricia. Yes, I am further north and out of harm’s reach at the moment. There has been so much devastation and today is considered catastrophic for many areas. So much of our beautiful country is burning. The figures published into today’s ABC news are quite frightening: “To give some scale to what has happened here so far, international media outlets have been reporting the 2018 California fires burnt 2 million acres; the 2019 Amazon fires 2.2 million; and the 2019 Siberian fires 6.7 million.
      So far Australia’s 2019/20 fires have burnt 12 million acres.”
      There is no foreseeable end to the fires so it is quite worrying.

      Like

      Reply
  7. Jacqui Murray Avatar
    Jacqui Murray

    Great ideas, Norah. I’ve seen so often where support for a student is as important as knowledge–as I’m sure you have. Have a great start to the new school year.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Norah Avatar
      Norah

      Thanks so much for your support, Jacqui. 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  8. Anne Goodwin (Annecdotist) Avatar
    Anne Goodwin (Annecdotist)

    Hopefully the fires will be gone by the time the kids return to school. Otherwise too scary for the teachers, let alone the kids.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Norah Avatar
      Norah

      Indeed it is. It’s going to take some getting over, if ever they stop burning.

      Like

      Reply
  9. petespringerauthor Avatar
    petespringerauthor

    I like your philosophy about starting school. Kids need to feel safe and cared for. Positive communication with the parents on the first day makes sense too.

    I was talking to one of my brothers last night, and he surprised me by telling me that he and his wife are going to be vacationing in Australia in April. Winter storms are letting us have it right now; I’ll bet it’s quite pleasant in the Southern Hemisphere.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Norah Avatar
      Norah

      Thank you so much for your lovely encouragement, Pete.
      I wonder where you brother and his wife will visit in April. Hopefully, things will have settled down a bit by then and cooler weather (20s rather than 30s and 40s) will be had. At the moment it’s not too pleasant. We’re experiencing a hot, dry summer and bushfires are devastating large swathes of the country, particularly in southern states.

      Like

      Reply
  10. calmkate Avatar
    calmkate

    you know I did enjoy school, it and books were an escape from my family … but reading this I am most grateful that I don’t have to return there 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Norah Avatar
      Norah

      I think there are many who share your sentiment.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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