Back to School!

Back to school is an exciting time of year, but one that can be fraught with stress and anxiety–for both students and teachers. If you’re like me, all through the summer, you’re thinking of new and innovative ideas for your classroom. And many of you spend countless hours going in to your classrooms during the summer months to prepare for the new school year. There is no shortage of creative ideas you can adopt to make your classroom more inviting and comfortable for your students. Many teachers are offering flexible seating options for their students–from Pre-K to high school. Check out these awesome classrooms!

I teach high school English, and on the first day of school, I don’t begin with the syllabus or the class rules. I like to ease those first day jitters by offering the students a creative way to express who they are. I teach in a small town, and my students know each other well, but yet, there’s always a chance they don’t know everything! I’ve had seniors create memes about what they think senior year will be like. I simply offer blank copies of some of the most recognizable memes–Philosoraptor, Angry Cat, Winter is Coming, etc., and they write their own captions. They’re hilarious, and the underclassmen always get a kick out of reading them.

I’ve also developed a few new back to school activities that are sure to be a hit.