Back to School Must-Haves In My ELA Classroom
It’s that time of year again! The back-to-school wheels are starting to turn in my head, and I’m thinking about what I want to do differently this year, how I want to set up my room, and exactly what I will do the first couple weeks of classes. I’m big on reflecting, and even though there is a lot that changes in my classroom each year, there’s also a lot that doesn’t. Some tried-and-true activities and handouts just WORK. And as the saying goes, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.
Here are some activities and resources I already have either prepped or queued up to assign in my first few weeks back to school. Regardless of the exact grade or class I’ve taught, these activities and materials set me and my students up for a successful year.
1. In the first week of school, I always require students to find an independent reading book, and I spend a lot of time talking about different titles and setting up our reading routines. I’ve found that when I, as the teacher, devote my time and energy to something in the classroom, students find it as important and meaningful as I do. I write all about setting up reading routines here, but I always make sure to start the year with some very compelling book talks from my Volume I or Volume II book talk guides. I also begin assigning page goals at the end of week one or beginning of week two using THIS system. It’s quick, easy, effective, and low-maintenance. Finally, to make sure that I can help my students find a book that they truly enjoy, I ask everyone to fill out a brief reading survey. Get it FREE, here.
2. Next, I prioritize my relationships with students by getting my hand-drawn check-in notes printed and ready to go and by assigning this getting-to-know-you creative writing activity. I like to have the check-in notes printed in color and stacked in my desk so that they’re easy to reach for when I notice a student might need a little extra attention or a pick-me-up. I don’t always have time during class to have a full-length conversation with a students when I see that they’re struggling with something or when I’m really proud of them, but these notes never fail to show students how much I care about them and that I do truly see them, even if I appear busy with other things. My back to school “I am a school supply” activity is the BEST way for an ELA teacher to begin the year. I might be biased, but this assignment is so perfect because it has an element of surprise, it allows you to introduce the idea of a metaphor, and it pushes students to think creatively--right from the beginning of the year!
3. And of course, I always make time to establish my high expectations and teach the basic skills I know students will need all year long. I do this using three highly effective resources: a Google Slides Tutorial (because no matter how tech-savvy your students are, they seriously have no idea how to use Google Slides), my Effective Written Responses Sort & Practice (because if I get one more “idk” answer on my beginning of the year questionnaire I will scream), and my Writing Complete Sentences Lesson Sequence (because even though middle schoolers “should” know how to write in complete sentences, they don’t).
That’s a wrap! Every resource and activity I plan is super simple AND engaging because that’s what everyone needs in the first weeks of school. I hope these help you fill your plan book and, more importantly, help your students feel successful all year long.
Happy back to school!
♥ Kara & Riley
