Season of Transition

 This week I helped move our church into a new building, I moved into my new office officially, help to move my nephew into his college dorm, and also moved my son back into his dorm at his college. During this week of moving it made me think  another season of transition that is just about to occur in our lives. And that’s the back-to-school season! Transition is hard for adults that change for our children leaving from the home and going off to college, me taking on a new role in a new school as one of two counselors, and also our children moving from one grade to another although it may be something that we say they should just get used to it still may be very difficult for them. When students start in a new classroom it is a new role that they are taking on because they had to adjust to new friends new expectations from a different teacher perhaps even uncertainty about the difficulty work that they’re going to have to deal with.

Three things that a teacher needs to do to support their students with their back to school anxiety:

1. An important thing that teachers can do to help reduce anxiety for students is being prepared on the first day of school. Being prepared means being present at the front door to greet the student with a warm smile,  having a prepared space for their students that they can easily find, (pre-labeled desks) as well as labeling where you’re going to have them place their supplies, lunch boxes, book bags, and any papers they may bring in.

2. Spend time getting to know your students and allow them to get to know one another.  Plan get to know you activities. This will help you learn their names, and provide  them an opportunity to learn the names of the other students that are in their class. Teachers pay Teachers has free resources available for back to school activities. Please click the link below (I am NOT a TPT seller, just a fan of the resources available.)

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Free-Back-to-School-Activity-Getting-to-Know-You-Games-for-First-Day-of-School-1310541

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/STEM-Challenge-Back-to-School-Rules-FREEBIE-3365426

3. Meet one on one with as many students as you can just speak it to them for a minimum of 1 to 2 minutes so that every student feels seen and noticed by you the teacher.

Bonus tip: Throw out the old classroom management saying, that teachers should not smile until December or January. Classroom management is about being consistent and maintaining your expectations with your students. It is not about how tough you are. Set your expectations, be clear about your expectations, be consistent, and then smile and have fun! If you are enjoying having them in your class and they feel it, your students will enjoy being at school too.

During the first few days it may be tempting to ask students to share how their summer went but that is practice that should be abandoned. Avoid asking the students about what they did over the summer, because everyone doesn’t get to go on vacation, everyone doesn’t have fond memories of their time away from school.  Some students don’t have the luxury of snacks, snacks, and more snacks at home. Some kids didn’t take vacations. Some students were home all summer watching younger siblings and doing housework while their parents had to go to work. Some students have been waiting for school since school let out in May or June.