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A School Year Start Up Checklist

By: Kristina Robertson and Colorín Colorado (2007)
  • Make bulletin-board decisions: where to post announcements, menu, and calendar; what kind of welcome-back display to make; which boards will be for subject-area work and which boards students will design; where to display students' original work
  • Set up learning centers - perhaps with some cultural themes for "getting to know you" activities
  • Make signs for room — translated or with visuals
  • Prepare class rolls and permanent records
  • Make class list to post on door
  • Put your name outside the door
  • Make student name tags for desks or have them make their own
  • Find out schedules for lunch, gym, art, music, library
  • Obtain supplies:
    • Textbooks and supplemental materials — anything bilingual, or audio books/CDs are very useful
    • Plan books
    • Storybooks for read-alouds — bilingual, and also books with pictures — even for older students so beginning English speakers will be able to build comprehension
    • Attendance materials
    • Paper clips
    • Construction paper
    • Manila folders
    • Different kinds of tape
    • Extra writing paper — if you have beginning-level students in upper grades you may want to stock some elementary "wide lined" notebook paper for developing literacy skills
    • Grade book
    • Rubber bands
    • Stapler and staples
    • Handwriting paper
    • Spare pencils/pens
    • Tissues
  • Prepare packets for students to take home the first day. Include the following: (Most districts have these in a variety of languages. If your school doesn't have them you may want to check with your district office.)
    • Emergency forms
    • School rules
    • Supplies
    • Bus or transportation rules
    • Note to parents/request for room-parents
  • Check to see which students may be going to special classes
  • Meet with ESL/bilingual and Special Ed. specialists to discuss collaboration opportunities
  • Check out library books and read-alouds
  • Set up a folder for a substitute to use in case of emergency. Include:
    • Daily schedule (fill in as soon as possible)
    • Seating chart (fill in as soon as possible)
    • Reproducible activities
    • Helpful phrases in ELL students' first language or the name of a bilingual staff member who can provide support if needed
  • Prepare a file for correspondence from parents
  • Prepare a calling log for record of contact with bilingual parents who may not be comfortable with written correspondence
  • Prepare a file for faculty bulletins
  • Write tentative lesson plans for the coming week
  • Duplicate materials needed for the first few days
  • Write your name and other important information on the board.

Don't forget to make a checklist for returned forms (can be used later for report cards and other items).

Comments and Recommendations

Prepare packets for students to take home the first day. Include the following: (Most districts have these in a variety of languages. If your school doesn't have them you may want to check with your district office.) http://www.club-penguin.org/
Posted by: john mish  |  March 18, 2010 10:35 PM
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