Have you received your teaching assignment for the next school year? Are you teaching the same grade level and subject or are you starting a new teaching job in science?
Either way, how exciting! If you have the same job assignment, you already know the ropes and can continue to improve your craft. If you are starting something new, or maybe teaching science for the first time, it’s also great to take on a new challenge.
If you are starting in a new position, whether teaching science for the first time or teaching a new grade level, there are some things you can do to get started on your journey to make sure you are ready to hit the ground running when the new school year begins!
If you are interested in bringing the WOW Factor to your science classroom this year, check this out! With you are starting a new teaching job or now, you can bring the WOW Factor!
Preparing Over Summer Break
Now, before you get to doing too much this summer, please rest and relax! Check out these things that teachers should do on summer break!
However, teachers know, the job is never really finished. There are always things to do, even in the summer months. If you are starting a new teaching job, you will have to prepare. The week that they give you before teaching begins is nowhere CLOSE to enough to getting done everything that you need to get done!
Here are some things to look into over summer break if you are starting a new teaching job is science.
Familiarize Yourself With The Science Standards
If you are starting a new teaching job, it wouldn’t hurt to become familiar with the new science standards you’ll be teaching over the summer. I’m not saying that you need to break down the standards piece-by-piece, but just take a look at it every now and then to start to brainstorm ideas!
- Make sure you can find where the standards are located. Your district may have a hub where these standards can be found and resources that go with it.
- Make sure you can understand the structure of these standards. Most standards are organized in grade levels or grade bands. Focus on the key components over the summer. Like I said, you are on break, so don’t worry about diving into the details. There will be time for that.
- Brainstorm! I wouldn’t worry about creating a detailed plan for the school year. SO much can change over the summer. Administration could change you to a new position in a heartbeat!
Do you teach in a school where there are no standards? That is awesome! Start thinking about what you want to teach your students.
Summer break is a time of rest, relaxation, inspiration, rejuvenation, and more! Don’t get bogged down in the details. Let ideas, inspiration, and overall exploration take over.
Connect With “Your People”
To gain more excitement for your new grade level or position, connect with “your people”. If you can connect with other teachers locally over the break, that could be fun! Especially if you have a teacher bestie.
Don’t have that kind of connection yet? I feel you! You can connect with those online. There are SO many teachers online that are full of ideas, tips, and tricks to motivate and inspire you this summer.
Here are some of my favorite science teachers to follow on Instagram!
Bright in the Middle (of course 😊)
I also like to get inspiration from:
Following other people’s journey can making starting a new teaching job in science so much more exciting!
Think About Your Classroom Décor
Like I said, summer is a time of resting, relaxing, and enjoying all of the good things. For me, thinking about classroom décor brings me joy! If you are starting a new teaching job, this is a fun place to start.
If it doesn’t bring you joy, you can skip this step. If it’s motivating for you, go for it!
So, how will you decorate your classroom? Will you have a theme? (yes, middle school can have a theme).
Some of my favorite and easy classroom décor ideas include word walls (pretty and effective) and fun bulletin board ideas! Here are NINE science classroom décor idea that are actually useful, and not just cute!
There is SO much inspiration online with beautiful, fabulous, and creative classrooms. Search “classroom makeover” in Pinterest and thank me later!
The First Few Months of School
Over the summer, you will learn a thing or two about what you will be teaching, you will gain a lot of tips, tricks, and ideas from “your people”, and you will have ideas to decorate your classroom and to make your classroom your home away from home. Now what do you do the first few months of school when you are starting a new teaching job?
Let’s dive in!
Create Your Space
The first few weeks of school (work days and school days) can be so overwhelming. There is always so much to do and not enough time.
I know that some schools do allow you to come in over the summer time to work in your classroom, and yours may do that as well. If you hate to wait until the last minute, this may be a good option, especially if you are starting a new teaching job.
If you are not about that life, don’t fret. YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE YOUR CLASSROOM FULLY DECORATED ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! Of course, you need the basics and to make sure it’s functional, safe, and inviting, but if you have a million ideas and not enough time, this can be a project you work on over the first few weeks of school. Your students would actually like to see the little changes you make and may actually help you! Students love to help!
Create your science space that works perfectly for your classroom in the time that it works best for you!
Like I said, the most important thing at the beginning of the school year is that your classroom is functional, inviting, and safe. The classroom “look” can transform over the school year. It can become whatever you want it to be over time!
Create a Pacing Guide
Another essential item if you are starting a new teaching job (or any teaching job for that matter) is to create a pacing guide. You should have an overview of what you plan to teach the whole year, but really focus on one quarter or one semester at a time, because things WILL change.
Over here in North Carolina, a hurricane day, snow day, or something else always changes around the schedule! Even if it is too cold over here, we are canceling school!
As you create your pacing guide and lesson ideas, keep the WOW Factor in mind! How many days do you need to get your students excited about the topic? How many days will you need to teach a particular topic? What are the most important topics to teach for your state?
Don’t be afraid to ask a fellow teacher for assistance in creating one!
Plan Your First Week
The first week of school is one of the most crucial times. It’s when you lay down the rules and procedures. It’s also when students get their first impressions of you and when they make predictions on what your classroom will be like.
When starting a new teaching job, you’ll have to figure out what you want to do.
If you don’t have this book, the First Days of School, go ahead and get it! This is one of the best classroom management books! This is the perfect starting point to make sure you know what classroom rules and procedures you need to share with your students. The Essential 55 is also great!
Not only do you need to go over rules and procedures, but you need to think about activities too! There are so many options. I love to use these Back to School Task Cards to get to know my students.
You can also do a team building STEM activity like building a tower with spaghetti and marshmallows or stacking cups to make the tallest tower.
So, starting a new teaching job? Go ahead and prepare a draft of that first week of school!
Ask For Supplies
Don’t be afraid to ask for supplies that you need from your administration. Many times, they have money that needs to be spent. There is grant money, federal money, and more, especially at Title I schools. If you are starting a new teaching job whether it is teaching a new grade level or are new to the subject, you will need supplies!
This could be physical supplies like lab materials, or it could be online resources like those on TPT or a teaching resource membership that you are interested in.
You’ll never know unless you ask!
Build Rapport
Last, but definitely not least, build rapport. If you are at a new school or starting a new teaching job, build relationships with all staff and students. You know how they say that “It takes a village to raise a child.”? It surely takes a village to teach all of those children in a school building.
If you are teaching a new grade level, get to know the new teachers you are working with. Maybe you’ll make a new teacher bestie!
As always, build rapport with your students! When you have this, teaching a new subject or grade level will always work out!
Whether you are starting a new teaching job or not, are you looking for ways to improve your teaching?
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