Back-To-School Resources
For Administrators
Establishing Culture
- “Ten Questions for Educators to Chew On” by Dr. Rick Hess
- Back Strokes: Taking Time to Compliment Each Other and Celebrate Accomplishments
- Four Corners: Getting-to-Know you Activity for the Beginning of the Year
- Random Acts of Kindness: A School-Wide Activity to do the Month of February
- Scavenger Hunt: A Fun Way to Introduce Staff (Find someone in the room who…)
- The Buck Stops Here: Game to Do with Teachers at a Staff Meeting
- Year-End Toast: a Fancy, yet Inexpensive Way to Celebrate the End of the Year
Another idea… Every item that has a student’s name on it, also has their graduation class on it too. So instead of just name, 6th grade, Ms. Jones’ Homeroom, they put the name and year they will graduate. Advisory assignments are split alphabetically so you basically still have the same information, but are always reminding students (and parents) to begin with the end in mind. This is an example of a simple thing that can have a major cultural impact. You can also add your school logo and motto too!
Staffing your School with Great Teachers
- Building a Great Teaching Team
- Harry Wong’s First Day of School Foundation (Induction Programs)
- How Schools Can Keep their Best Teachers
- Recognizing the Starts on your Staff
- Six Steps to Hiring
- Six Ways to Motivate Teachers
For Teachers
Questions to Consider as you plan the year, semester, or unit: “Ten Questions for Educators to Chew On” by Dr. Rick Hess
The First Days of School
- 5 Getting-to-Know-You Games
- 7 First Day of School Activities
- The Essential 55 by Ron Clark – Interview with the Educational World
- What NOT to do on the First Day of School
Formative Assessments
- 22 Easy Formative Assessments
- Digital Technology Tools to Use in Formative Assessments
- Mastery Connect – Free Webinars
- Video Resources on the Teaching Channel – Assessments in Action
Alternative Views on Homework
- 15 Things to Do with your Elementary-Age Child Instead of Homework
- Does Homework Improve Learning? Based on book “The Homework Myth” by Alfie Kohn
- NEA – Should Schools be done with Homework?
Classroom Energizers
- Brain Breaks
- Brain Energizer Resources K-8
- “Go Noodle” Channel Classroom Energy for Good (Watch the Promotional Video before you Create a Log-In)
- Middle School Brain Breaks