4 Steps for Beginning Year Success: Science Back to School

This is one of my favorite times of year- back to school- so I want to share some beginning year tips to get the year started right!  I love the fresh start.  New groups of kids.  Planning those engaging lessons.  All of it!  So, let’s forget the overwhelm of the start of the year and begin the year with preparedness and success!

In this blog post

In this blog post, I will share some ways to plan and set up before school starts.  I’ll give some action steps you can take and share some of the resources to save you time or give you more info.

Be sure to grab your free guide 7 Daily Must-Do Routines to Run Your Science Classroom Like a Pro! 

Science Classroom Setup

I love seeing all the creative and beautiful classrooms online.  Kudos to you if your room is so beautiful!   I used to do that, but it takes a lot of time. So, I keep it pretty simple and go for colors that I like (I like blues and oranges), and keep my classroom functional.  Each quote or section on my walls has a purpose.  The blank spaces on my walls are for kids’ work throughout the year. 

Organizing

In addition to decorating your classroom and making it feel welcoming, you want to make sure it is organized.  There should be designated areas for you and your things and areas for student materials.  This is my first year teaching two grade levels in-person (I did it online during the pandemic).  So, I am creating ways to keep 7th and 8th grade papers organized.  I have extra lab materials so I try to plan labs on different days too. 

Desks and Tables

Decide how you want to arrange your desks or tables.  I have desks and I like to group them into fours.  I love when students are able to discuss what we’re learning and sharing their ideas and I find it easier to do when they are sitting in a group.  I can quickly move the desks into rows facing the front when they have a test.  And if you have tables, think of how you want the layout to look.  For any seating arrangement, make sure you can walk around to each student and that they can see the board or screen where you teach from. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with your set up, try to release some of the pressure of making a perfect room.  You have a whole school year to add to your room.   Start small with the things you like.  Then add to it as time allows you to.  

Action Steps:  

✔️Decide where your student supplies will be held, including extra papers.  

✔️Organize your lab materials and your supplies.  Remember you have all year to organize, so start with the important stuff first.  

✔️Arrange your desks or tables.  

✔️Keep your room simple if you’re feeling overwhelmed, otherwise let your creativity flow when you set up your room.  

🔔 Here is a blog post about setting up your classroom and organizing it.  

What are Your Science Classroom Procedures?

As you know, procedures are VERY important in the classroom.  I reflect on my procedures throughout the year and at the end of the school year.  I revamp some of my procedures at the start of the year.  But if you are new to a grade level or teaching, you’ll want to start fresh.  

Begin by listing all the procedures you can think of from the moment students are waiting to come into your classroom until the moment they leave.  Write down every little thing that takes place during a typical class period to start.  Then come up with how you want it to look in your classroom.  Then as the year goes on, you can make adjustments as needed or add to your list. 

If you have time, add the list to your teacher binder.  We will go over the teacher binder in the next section. 

Here are some of my basic classroom procedures-

When students walk in, they know to sit down and read the screen for directions.  They start their bell work.

They know how to talk and listen in their group and when someone is speaking to the whole group. 

At the end of class, they read the screen again for an exit ticket and a reminder of their clean up directions. 

Action Steps:

✔️Make a list of all the things that take place in a class period from beginning to end.

✔️Write a procedure for each.

✔️Add your list to your teacher binder. 

✔️Here is a blog post about the 10 most common classroom procedures to teach at the beginning of the year. 

And here is a resource that may be helpful for you.  It is the Science Classroom Management Ultimate Bundle!

Organizing your Teacher Binder

Before school starts, begin setting up your teacher binder.  Some like to use an actual binder while others make a digital version of it.  I like to use a regular binder.  It also serves as my sub binder, so when anyone else has to take over my class, they have all the information at their fingertips. 

What’s in a teacher binder?  I have sections for my class list, class procedures and routines, general information about each of my classes, a list of students with accommodations or health concerns, copies of IEPs, 504s, and medical information, and school information.  I also have copies of my emergency lesson plans in the back of the binder so someone can easily make copies.  You can also include your seating chart.  I have my chart on my wall by my desk next to the phone list and under the bell schedules. 

Action steps:

✔️ Choose a physical binder or digital version. 

✔️ Create a template or use one from the Middle School Teacher Survival Kit of your general information and procedures.

✔️ Add your class list (keep it updated as your roster changes)

✔️ Note the students with IEPs, 504s, and medical information.  When your rosters are finalized, print the copies for your binder. 

The Middle School Teacher Survival Kit is a helpful resource to get everything you need organized.  

First Week(s) of School Activities 

Now that your room is set up, your procedures are ready, and you have some general organization going on, it’s time for the FUN part!  Planning for the kids!  When I plan for the first 2 or 3 days, I like to type up my plans the way I print sub plans.  This helps me stay on track with time.  It’s totally optional, but for me it helps (even after 18 years). 

During the first week or two of school you’ll be teaching and practicing your procedures.  You want to build a community, have students moving and talking to each other, and teach them how to conduct themselves in your science classroom.  

On the first day, I go over the following procedures:

🔔 Entering the classroom and reading the screen for their bell work

🔔 Restroom policy

🔔 Food and drinks policy 

🔔 Attention signal(s)

🔔 Walking around the room (we do this with an activity, rather than a lecture)

🔔 End of class procedure  

The actual activities I do on the first day are completing a birthday chart (with the procedure of walking around the room), and a find someone who activity or classroom scavenger hunt.  I want them out of their seats and talking to each other.  

On the second day I review the procedures and teach them our group discussion procedures. 

Then we get into lab safety.  I spend about a day teaching lab safety and a few days giving them more time to practice it.  They learn or review using lab equipment, create a project, and then I’ll give them a lab safety test. 

Action Steps:

✔️ Brainstorm your ideas for back to school activities and how you’ll teach procedures.  

✔️ Write them in your lesson plan book or calendar. 

✔️ Prepare your materials.

If you want some ideas about team building in your classroom, check out this blog post!

You can get plenty of activities in the Back to School Activities Bundle!  

Here is the Lab Safety Bundle that includes the activities that I made and use in my classroom each year. 

Wrap Up

We went over a lot of beginning year tasks to do for a successful start!  Think of your classroom setup and how you will organize your materials.  Be sure to have an area for student supplies that is separate from your own teacher supplies.  Brainstorm and create a procedure or routine for everything that can happen in the classroom.  Put that in your teacher binder and revamp as needed.  When setting up your teacher binder, be sure to include class information and student needs.  And finally, plan those engaging beginning year activities that get kids moving, talking, and learning your procedures.  Build a positive community along with teaching students about how to conduct themselves in the science classroom.

Your Turn

Now it’s your turn to take some action to get your year off to a great start!  Reply and let me know how you plan to set up your classroom, what some of your procedures are, and/or what your plans are when the kids return.  Have a great back to school!