A School Year Start Up Checklist

• 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).