How Teachers can Ease Students into the New Year

It’s that time of the year again when schools are opened.  Summer is coming to a close and kids are dreading the first day of school. Faces stricken with either delight or torture, children are anxiously awaiting to see who their new teachers will be and which of their ex classmates will join them on the red carpet of the classroom.  As teachers of a brand new class teachers can be instrumental in the easing “first day of school” jitters.  Here are some ways teachers can welcome their students to their new year.

Podcasting: Students are curious to know what their teachers are like.  Send your students a flyer welcoming them and attach a link to listen to a brief podcast conducted on your part.  Using this medium, teachers  can introduce themselves and explain what exciting opportunities there would be coming up in the new year.  The students love hearing their teacher’s voice and this is one way to get the kids excited about school.

A welcoming web page: Most teachers load their websites with resources, web tools, apps and videos.  It can have pictures, videos and links to sites that can show how much fun they will have in the coming school year.  The website could also have a timer counting off the days until school begins.

An invitation through regular mail:  Kids love getting stuff in the mail with their names on it.  Send a special letter through the mail welcoming the students of your class a few weeks before school starts.  It is also a great way to give a few reminders before the first day of class.  Teachers can also send postcards from their travels over the summer.

Time Capsules:  Time capsules are a really great way to get your students actively take part in going to school.  Asking students on the website to collect things for a time capsule that you will create on the first day of class.  Teachers can take pictures on the first day and take height measurements to include in the time capsule that they can bury or hide away on the first day and open at the end of the school year.

These are just a few ways teachers can get kids excited about school.  Let us know how you plan to get students involved.  Share some of your ideas on our webpage.