August Planning Guide

Here are some helpful back to school tips to help you start off your year on the right foot:

1. Teach Kindness: Teaching kindness at the start of the school year can have a powerful impact on the on the rest of your year.
2. Build a sense of community in your room.  Come up with classroom jobs such as a door holder, chair stacker, line leader, etc.  this will give the children something to look forward and will help build community in your room.  Also, create classroom rules so the children know what is expected each day.
3. Create an inclusive and caring atmosphere where children feel safe talking to you and their peers.
4. Promote positive behavior by setting up an incentive program.
5. Teach children the interruption rule and bathroom and water signs.  These little tools will help you with classroom management!
   1. Interruption Rule- When you are talking to another child or adult, the children place their hand on your arm and wait patiently and quietly until you are done speaking.
   2. Bathroom Sign & Water Sign- These are helpful to use so you can tell if a child has a question or simply needs to use the bathroom or needs water. For the bathroom, have the children hold their hand in the air and place their hand in a sign language “B” sign, it also looks like the number 4.  For the water sign, have the children hold their hand in the air and place their hand in a sign language “W” sign, it also looks like the number 3.