Episode 5: What To Do With Your New Class List
Are you thinking, “Just got a new class list. Now what? What do I do first?” Don’t stress that to-do list, it’ll still be there when you get back but I got some tips for preschool teachers I think will really help you get your back-to-school tasks prioritized.
Episode Highlights:
1. What to do with your new class list
2. How to get your curriculum and lesson planning done stress-free
3. My advice to preschool teachers getting a new class list this school year
Resources Mentioned:
FREE Kindergarten Readiness Checklist
https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6070813a1717a7a075fd2e35
Connect with your podcast host:
https://www.instagram.com/chanty.macias
https://www.chantymacias.com/contact
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Are you thinking, “Just got a new class list. Now what? What do I do first?” Listen, don’t stress that to-do list because the truth is, it’ll still be there when you get back but I do have some tips for you I think will really help you get your tasks prioritized and keep your overwhelm down to a speck of dust. That’s for all the Horton Hears a Who fans!
Hey, hey friend! You’re listening to Episode 5 and we’ve got an exciting episode lined up for you! We’re talking about what to do with your new class list, how to get your curriculum and lesson planning done stress-free, and my advice for all the preschool teachers getting a new class list this back-to-school season. Speaking of back-to-school, if you’re looking to get your littles ready for Kindergarten soon, I have the Kinder Readiness Checklist you need in the show notes that is perfect for knowing exactly what they need help with so you can prepare them for an amazing Kinder year! Alright, let’s get to it.
What to do with your new class list: So you got a new class list. The first thing you do is take a deep breath and get excited about the fresh start ahead. You may notice the number of students you have. It could seem low in the beginning of the year but expect to get new students throughout the year. It definitely should not pass district or state regulations so if you notice your class list has too many students, go see your administrators.
These lists should be created with a good mix between girls/boys, demographics, and documented special needs unless you specifically teach a Special Education class. Then, you carefully review the class list to familiarize yourself with the children’s names, ages, and any specific needs or accommodations they may have. This will help you get a sense of each child’s individuality even before the school year begins.
The next step is to connect with the families of the children on your list. You can reach out to each family to introduce yourself, welcome them to the preschool community, and gather any additional information that might be helpful for me to know about their child. It’s crucial to establish a positive and supportive relationship with parents or guardians right from the start. This will really set the tone for all future conversations with them throughout the school year.
Building that rapport with families is everything. This is a lesson I learned in my very first year teaching. My co-teacher already had 35 years of experience in the classroom and had me sit in on her meetings with parents so I can see how she modeled a parent-teacher conference, a not-so-great phone call, and a meeting with the administrative team.
You know what else you can do that will really set you up for success? Planning a back-to-school event or orientation for the families. Now, I know this may seem like it’ll take all this extra time but chances are your school will already host this event. All you have to do is show up, allow the parents to meet you and other teachers, and invite them to familiarize themselves with the preschool environment. It’s also an opportunity to share important information about the daily routines, expectations, and policies, easing any anxieties parents or children may have.
Let’s talk about some of your immediate priorities for a minute. One of the first things I prioritize is creating a warm and welcoming classroom environment. I carefully look at the space, visualize each area and make sure that it flows well (I’ll talk more about this in Episode 9 because I’m seriously obsessed with classroom layout). Then, I organize the space, making sure that it’s conducive to learning, play, and exploration. I also try to create visual displays for all the areas like displaying a classroom schedule, learning center signs and rules, and student artwork, to make the environment visually engaging and exciting for the children. Oh, and this will definitely get you bonus points with your admin for creating a print-rich environment. Oh yeah!
How to get your curriculum and lesson planning done stress-free: Ok, so we’ve talked about what to do when you get your class list, but what about curriculum and lesson planning? As a preschool teacher, I created a flexible curriculum that aligned with the developmental needs of the children in my class. I carefully designed engaging activities and lessons that promoted their social-emotional development, cognitive skills, language development, and fine and gross motor skills. It’s important to remember that at this age, learning happens through play and hands-on experiences, so I made sure that my lessons reflected that.
I know what you’re thinking, “Hold up Chanty, no one said anything about me having to create a curriculum. They just said, ‘here ya go. This is what we’re using. So what do I do with it?” I got you, my friend. Believe it or not, this actually makes your job easier. You just have to see it that way before getting overwhelmed about what is expected of you. Let me explain.
If you’re given a curriculum set with a pacing guide, teacher’s edition (back in the day we called them basils) and all the works, all you have to do is add what your teacher edition tells you to teach that day in your lesson plans. Quick note: I have seen this so many times when I was grade level chair and I may even get in trouble for saying it BUT I’m here for you so here we go.
Just because your TE tells you to teach a phonemic awareness lesson, a phonics lesson, a color, a shape, a number lesson, a comprehension lesson and a vocabulary lesson all in one day DOES NOT mean you actually have to teach all of that in one day. The district may come and tell you what to do and heck, your admin may even tell you the same. BUT it is your class and those babies are your responsibility. You know them best and it is your job to teach them at their level and challenge them as needed. If you can only get through some of those lessons in a day with your allotted time, then pick and choose the ones that are most important to your kiddos and teach those as best as you can.
Seriously, don’t let overwhelm get to you or get in the way of you planning fun and meaningful activities for your children because you’ll end up teaching what you were told, being miserable and your kiddos won’t have any fun. Therefore, they will likely not consume the content the same way as if you would have taught it YOUR way. I promise, it’ll be worth it.
My advice to other preschool teachers: It’s time for a little friendly advice from your fellow preschool consultant and teacher bestie. To all the teachers getting that class list soon, embrace the uniqueness of each child and celebrate their individuality. I honestly wish there was more time to do this in the schedule but make it a point to do it when you first meet them. Get to know them on a personal level. The bond you share will last a lifetime. Always maintain open lines of communication with parents. I used to have an open door policy with mine and invite them to come and talk to me whenever my students were not in class but I was still physically at work. Update them regularly on their child’s progress and involve them in their child’s learning journey. Remember to be flexible and adaptable. Preschoolers thrive in an environment that allows them to explore and make their own choices. So, be prepared to adjust your plans based on your kiddos’ interests and needs. One last thing, keep it simple. Your to-do list does not have to be 3 pages long and you definitely don’t need to spend an entire month preparing things at home for back-to-school. One to three tasks a day and prioritize.
If you’re still not sure what you need to do when you get your class list or need more help on simplifying/prioritizing your to-do list, send me a DM on Instagram @chanty.macias and let me know how I can help! That’s all for now.