I’ve compiled my 5 favorite back-to-school ideas for preschool teachers in this post. The focus is on things you can do before school starts. These tips will make your Welcome letter, Meet the Teacher day, and Back to School night easy on you, the parents, and the kids!
5 Back to School Ideas for Preschool Teachers
Getting ready to go back to school is always a busy and stressful time for teachers. However, it can be less stressful if you plan ahead and have a few things ready before school starts. If you can have a simple welcome letter, a few things for Meet the Teacher Day, and all your forms and information ready for Back to School Night, you’ll breathe a little easier.
Back to School Ideas for Preschool Teachers #1: A Simple Welcome Letter
Create a Welcome letter as soon as you get your class list. One way to do this is to create a template complete with photos of yourself, your family, and maybe a pet or something else representing you. Include a short description under or next to each photo with information that would be appealing to students. Such as favorite foods, children’s books, fun family facts, and silly things your pet likes to do. In addition, leave an editable space for each child’s name. Make sure you have your aides give you photos and descriptions too! Finally, if you want to make it extra-special, send your welcome letters by snail mail! Kids love getting mail!
Back to School Ideas for Preschool Teachers #2: Meet the Teacher Day
If you are anything like me, Meet the Teacher Day kind of sneaks up on you during the hectic week of getting your classroom ready. For this reason, I get two things ready at the end of July, so when that day finally comes…I’m ready to go! First, I created a 3-item scavenger hunt/checklist for my kiddos. The 3 things I want them to find are their coat hook, cubby, and the bathroom. When they come back to me with a completed checklist, I give them a little prize. The prize can be a sticker or a small which I purchased and packaged a few weeks ago. I have found that this leaves them knowing a little bit about their classroom and school. In addition, it allows me to make a positive and personal connection with each child from the start. What could be better than that?
Back to School Ideas for Preschool Teachers #3: Back to School Night Information
Back to School Night used to be a flurry of information handouts for parents that would inevitably end up in the trash. As a result, I would get hundreds of emails asking questions that could have been answered if parents had kept the handouts. To remedy this situation, I created a grab-n-go flip book for parents with all the information they will need during the year. I made tabs for class information, my contact information, drop-off and pick-up procedures, important dates to remember, and the class snack schedule. Consequently, I rarely get parent emails with simple school or class-related questions. Make sure you print a few extras…my aides always want one, and there are always divorced or separated parents who need their own copies.
I have made a free editable version complete with instructions if you’d like to give it a try, just click here. The moment I get my class list I print out what I need to give each family their own flip-book.
Back to School Ideas for Preschool Teachers #4: Essential Forms
Another thing I like to do when I get my class list is to send an introduction letter to all of the parents of my students with all the essential forms attached. There are 3 standard forms that most schools require. This includes a pick-up authorization form, a medical release form, and a family information form. Because I want to start bonding with my students right away, I include a student information form. This form tells me what the children like to do, eat, and what kind of pets they have. Consequently, I know a lot about my kiddos before the first day of school. Another thing, I ask for the parents to print these out and bring paper copies to me at Meet the Teacher so that I can put them in a binder for easy access.
As with everything else, I do this 2-4 weeks prior to the first day of school.
Back to School Ideas for Preschool Teachers #5: Assessments
Just like Meet the Teacher Day can sneak up on you …so can assessments. Therefore, I make sure I print out as many assessment packets as I need as soon as I get my class list. At my school, we assess within the first 3 weeks. As you know, those first 3 weeks can be quite the roller coaster ride, so it is best to be prepared.
I have a simple cognitive/behavior/social/emotional assessment along with all the forms mentioned above in my TPT store. You can read more about it in a previous blog post here.
A Great Start = A Calmer You and an Easier Year
In conclusion, I hope you have found these back to school ideas for preschool teachers helpful. I promise, if you implement even one of these tips, your year will start off smooth and calm.
