What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a large language model developed by OpenAI that is capable of generating human-like responses to a wide range of questions and prompts. It is based on the GPT-3.5 architecture, which is an advanced version of the GPT-3 model, with a significantly larger number of parameters and improved training techniques.

How does ChatGPT work?

At its core, ChatGPT works by leveraging a deep learning algorithm that is trained on massive amounts of text data from the internet. This includes everything from news articles and books to social media posts and online forums. By analyzing this vast corpus of text, the model learns to recognize patterns and relationships between words and phrases, and it is able to generate coherent and contextually relevant responses to a variety of queries.

When a user inputs a prompt or question into ChatGPT, the model uses its knowledge of language and context to generate a response that is most likely to be relevant and informative. This process involves several steps, including parsing the input text, identifying key concepts and themes, and generating a response that is both grammatically correct and semantically meaningful.

Ways teachers can use ChatGPT

1. Generating lesson plans

As an experienced teacher I don’t really have a use for generating lesson plans. However, one thing I HATE doing is generating lesson plans for a cover lesson when I am sick or absent from school. ChatGPT has made this sooooo much easier. 

By providing a few prompts or questions, ChatGPT can quickly generate a detailed lesson plan that is tailored to the teacher’s needs. If I am wanting a lesson for a casual/sub teacher to teach then I tell ChatGPT this. It will provide the learning intentions, activities, assessment opportunities and even options for early finishers and differentiation options if you ask it to!

This is the sort of phrase I would type into ChatGPT:

“Create a lesson plan for grade 7 classification of living things in science suitable for a substitute teacher to teach. Students do not have technology. Lesson runs for 60 minutes. Include at least one activity with group work.”

2. Differentiating content

I often have a class of very mixed ability. In particular I find it hard to source materials that are available in multiple reading levels. ChatGPT can generate multiple passages on a topic and then regenerate the same material in a different reading level.

For example, some things I have typed in to ChatGPT for this are:

• Write 500 words on what allotropes are in chemistry suitable for a grade 11 student reading level
• Regenerate the above material but suitable for a grade 9 student reading level

This has made it so much quicker to find exactly what I want for my classes. While I still find I like to tweak the output, it still saves so much time. 

It is also helpful to be as specific as possible. ChatGPT will try and meet all the criteria you put in. 

3. Drafting Emails to Parents

Want to contact parents via email regarding students not completing homework? Or misbehaving in class? Teachers can use ChatGPT to draft a professionally appropriate email! 

Just type in the details of the incident and ask ChatGPT to write an email to that parent for you!

Definitely make sure you proofread and edit these ones – you want to make sure the tone of the email is right for the situation. But I find it really helpful to not be starting with a blank page.

4. Report comment writing

Writing report comments can be a monotonous and time-consuming process. By inputting student data into ChatGPT you can ask it to generate an appropriate comment for reports using that data!

While I don’t like to put student names into ChatGPT alongside the data for privacy reasons, it is easy to use the data to generate the comment and put in the student name later on.

It can even be used to generate a bank of helpful report-type comments or statements that you can pick and choose from for some inspiration.

5. Generating questions WITH full working out or marking criteria

If you’re a maths or science teacher then this is going to be a win.

Teachers can use ChatGPT to generate questions for a topic, and provide full working out or full answers. This is awesome for creating worksheets, tests or assignments.

I used this the other day to generate worded problems for gravimetric analysis in Chemistry. I first asked it to “generate worded problems for gravimetric analysis in Chemistry suitable for grade 11 in which students were to calculate the percentage composition of a sample”. Next I asked it to generate the full working for each of the questions it had previously generated.

Even if I didn’t have to generate the questions and I just found some on the internet, for me to then do the full working out for each problem would have taken a lot of time.

6. Providing Feedback 

Teachers can use ChatGPT to provide feedback on an assessment task or lesson plan you have designed yourself using data from what has worked well for previous educators. You can also ask it to offer ideas for assessments or lessons as well.

7. Answering student questions

Sometimes students ask questions that are well above their level of understanding (or at least this happens to me a lot in science). It has been helpful to ask ChatGPT how it would answer that question for the age of the student as it is able to simplify or pull out only the key information needed for them at their age.

8. Creating Assignments and Tests

Teachers can use ChatGPT to generate test questions and assignments customised to the teacher’s needs. You can even ask it to include the marking criteria! For some tests, you can even have ChatGPT mark it for you (particularly if it is short answer or multiple choice).

9. Writing articles for the school newsletter

When I was Head of Science this was something I dreaded doing. I hated trying to work out the wording and what to include in our school’s yearbook or for more regular parent updates. Teachers can use ChatGPT to do this! Just give it a few class names, teacher names and a brief summary and it will write it in an appropriate format for you.

10. Providing Ideas

Sometimes you just need a spark to get your creative juices flowing. ChatGPT is a great resource to ask for ideas. Whether it be ideas for differentiating for a student with dyslexia, or hands-on activities to show a particular phenomena, or ideas for promoting more collaboration in class. 

Give it a go next time you’re feeling stuck or with ‘teacher-block’!

General ChatGPT tips

1. Be as specific as you can to get better results
2. Proofread – make sure your end results actually sound like you 
3. Check the tone (particularly for emails)
4. Ask ChatGPT to try again if you’re not happy with it or want to tweak it
5. Use multiple inputs to get to the result you want
6. Train it – you can input data, other texts, assignments etc to help train ChatGPT in what you are hoping for.

What ChatGPT itself thinks teachers can use ChatGPT for

For good measure I asked ChatGPT to provide 10 ways to use it as a teacher and this is what it came up with:

1. Generating lesson plans: Teachers can use ChatGPT to generate lesson plans for various subjects and grade levels. By providing a few prompts or questions, ChatGPT can quickly generate a detailed lesson plan that is tailored to the teacher’s needs.

2. Answering student questions: Teachers can use ChatGPT to answer frequently asked questions from students. By training ChatGPT on common questions or providing specific prompts, teachers can save time by having ChatGPT handle some of the more routine questions that students may have.

3. Providing feedback on assignments: Teachers can use ChatGPT to provide feedback on student assignments. By providing specific prompts or questions related to the assignment, ChatGPT can generate detailed feedback that is customized to the student’s work.

4. Creating assessments: Teachers can use ChatGPT to generate assessments for their students. By providing specific prompts or questions related to the subject matter, ChatGPT can quickly generate a quiz or test that is customized to the teacher’s needs.

5. Checking for plagiarism: Teachers can use ChatGPT to check student work for plagiarism. By training ChatGPT on a set of original texts, teachers can quickly check student work for instances of plagiarism.

6. Automating grading: Teachers can use ChatGPT to automate grading of assignments and assessments. By training ChatGPT on a set of rubrics or criteria for grading, teachers can save time by having ChatGPT handle some of the grading process.

7. Providing personalized learning: Teachers can use ChatGPT to provide personalized learning experiences for their students. By analyzing student data and providing specific prompts or questions, ChatGPT can generate personalized learning plans that are tailored to each student’s needs.

8. Creating content for online courses: Teachers can use ChatGPT to create content for online courses. By providing specific prompts or questions related to the course material, ChatGPT can generate detailed content that is customized to the teacher’s needs.

9. Analyzing student data: Teachers can use ChatGPT to analyze student data and generate reports. By providing specific prompts or questions related to the data, ChatGPT can quickly generate reports that help teachers make informed decisions about their teaching.

10. Communicating with parents: Teachers can use ChatGPT to communicate with parents about student progress. By providing specific prompts or questions related to the student’s performance, ChatGPT can generate detailed reports that are easy for parents to understand.

Conclusion

I don’t believe that AI can ever replace teachers. There is nothing that can compare to a teacher’s knowledge of their students as individuals beyond what’s on paper. There is nothing that can compare to a teacher’s ability to ‘go with the flow’ of a lesson and engage students in a meaningful way. However, I do believe that this type of technology can and should be utilised by teachers to save time and energy wherever possible.

Have you found other ways teachers can use ChatGPT?

Please share your thoughts in the comments!

5 common teacher fears

1. Common teacher fears #1: Losing control of the class

Often teachers, in particular beginning teachers, avoid trying new things, like allowing students to work in groups, for fear of not being able to get students’ attention back afterwards. There is a fear that allowing students more freedom or choice in the classroom requires you to loose a sense of control.

This does not have to be the case. 

You can overcome this fear in the following ways:

• Have well established classroom routines
• Practice with students using the technique you want to use to get students’ attention back without raising your voice if possible
• E.g. Counting down 3 – 2- 1
• Use a timer on the board
• Raise a flag
• Have clear consequences for not following classroom rules / routines or bad behaviour during activities

2. Common teacher fears #2: Losing respect of your students

This can go hand-in-hand with the first point. If you don’t have control of your classroom it can also feel like you have lost the respect of your students. Other common ways to lose student respect include allowing students to talk to you in a disrespectful way and not doing anything about it, and not having confidence when teaching the content.

You can overcome this fear in the following ways:

• Have and follow through on consequences for students who talk to you (and other students) in a disrespectful way. 
• Spend time learning the content and gaining confidence that you know what you are teaching
• For science teachers: practice experiments before running them with your entire class where possible
• Show compassion and patience with students
• Spend time building relationships with your students in the playground and during class time by showing a genuine interest in their lives

common teacher fears

3. Common teacher fears #3: Not doing enough for your students

As teachers we really do care about our students. If you are also quite an empathetic person this can be felt 10 fold. With this, it can often fear that we are not doing enough for our students and feel teacher guilt that we are letting them down at certain points.

This may be due to not having enough time to plan a great lesson, seeing students achieve poor results on a test, or due to various welfare struggles you are aware of. These things can weigh on our hearts and, from experience, can lead to teacher burnout. 

You can overcome this teacher fear in the following ways:

• Ensure you are meeting the requirements of the curriculum
• Provide as much information and direction as possible for assessment tasks
• Allow students to ask you clarifying questions for classwork and tasks
• Have a few resources on hand to direct students for welfare issues. This may be within the school, such as a school counsellor or year advisor, or outside the school, such as beyond blue or local youth services.

It is also helpful to remember:

• You are not a counselling service and there are places you can direct students to with people who are trained in those sorts of areas
• You are not solely responsible for student achievement – there are a whole range of factors involved that are out of your control.
• You are also responsible for your own wellbeing, and your family and friendships. You need to reserve energy for these too.

4. Common teacher fears #4: Not knowing enough 

Often students expect teachers to know everything about anything related to their subject area. While this is obviously not possible, it does put pressure on us to feel like we can answer all our students’ questions.

You can overcome this teacher fear in the following ways:

• Spend time learning the content and refreshing your memory of content you haven’t taught in a while. This is as important as actually designing the lesson.
• Create videos. Sometimes if I am teaching a really complex idea in chemistry, I create my own video of it for my students so that I can plan my delivery in a clear and concise way, and I don’t get tongue tied. It also means I can revisit my own video for the next time I have to teach it. 
• Have a statement to use when you don’t know the answer. To avoid you stuttering or being put on the spot and giving out incorrect information, being prepared with a statement that will give you time to find the answer is the way to go. Some examples may be:
•  “Oh that is a really interesting question! I’m not confident I know the answer to that one so let me do some research and get back to you”. 
• “That is a great question to ask. How about you and your partner spend 10 minutes now seeing if you can find the answer to your question and share it with the class”.
• “That question is not in my area of expertise, however, Mrs ________ loves that topic so let me ask her and get back to you”.

common teacher fear

5. Common teacher fears #5: Dealing with parents

Dealing with parents can be scary, and rightly so! They are advocating for the people they love most in their lives. In staff rooms, parents can cop a lot of flak for being overzealous or unrealistic. On one hand I ask you to give them some slack – remember that they are just trying to be a good parent and look after their child’s wellbeing and academic future. On the other hand I support your fear in this area – you are dealing with some passionate mumma bears. 

Having dealt with a number of parents and parent-types over my many years teaching, I have found that there are some really helpful things you can do to ease the tension, not just for you but also for the parents’ of your students. 

You can overcome this teacher fear in the following ways:

• Break the ice early. Start the year by sending out a ‘meet the teacher’ page that introduces yourself, provides expectations for the class and how to contact you if the need arises. This will help parent’s feel comfortable to approach you and also ensures your first correspondence with parents is a positive one that you are in control of.
• Get on top of issues early before they end up out of control. If you have a concern then it is a good idea to make contact with parents early on – before it becomes a huge issue. 
• Keep communication as open and honest with the student and the parent.
• Plan what you are going to say and potentially have a practice with a colleague if you are nervous about it.
• Remember that often parent’s just want to feel heard. Have some phrases handy like 
• ‘I understand why you feel like that’. 
• ‘Yes I can see why you think / feel that way’.
• ‘I understand your concern regarding that’. 
• ‘What are your thoughts on how we can move forward here?’ 
• ‘Do you have any ideas for how we can help your student in the classroom?’

common teacher fears

Conclusion

 These teacher fears are not stupid. They are 100% warranted and you fear them because they definitely do happen from time to time. 

For all of the above, it can be helpful to talk to more experienced teachers or your teacher mentor about strategies and how they might go about dealing with a particular situation. While you might not have the experience to draw on yet, people around you will and their advice and support will be valuable to you.

As always, please do reach out if you have any questions or comment below with your own fears you would like me to address. 

Make sure you join my email list for top tips, free resources and classroom ideas. 

common teacher fears

New Science Teacher Advice

Tips for running labs as a new science teacher

One of the most overwhelming part of being a new science teacher is having to run labs with teenagers. It’s terrifying!

Apart from there being so so so many things that could go wrong, you are also required to be able to watch all students at all times while predicting problems and responding to things as they happen. 

1. Practice labs before you do them with your class

It is impossible to be able to practice every lab or activity before you do it with your class. There simply are not enough hours in the day. However, if they are particularly dangerous, require preciseness or you are unsure about how they work, then I highly recommend you take the time to run through them yourself first. Even though I am not a new science teacher any more I still try to practice labs that are new to me.

Why?

Because:

• It will help you predict potential issues the students will have
• It will help you identify the safety precautions that will be necessary for the particular experiment 
• It helps you realize if you forgot to buy/order any necessary equipment or materials, and,
• It helps you gain a deeper understanding of what the experiment is demonstrating

2. Order your experiments well ahead of time

If you are lucky enough to have a lab assistant or, even if you’re not, you will do yourself a lot of favours if you order your experiments and materials ahead of time.

I like to put all my orders in at least a week before doing the experiment. This allows me time to check for the materials we have, buy the materials we don’t have and practice the experiment if I need to.

3. Ensure students know emergency procedures

Make sure you constantly revisit emergency procedures including evacuation procedures, where the fire blanket and extinguishers are located, where the emergency gas cutoff, emergency power shutoff, and emergency showers are located, and how to use them.

4. Spend your first few lessons drilling in safe practice and classroom routines 

A big part of being able to run your classroom well is to ensure the safety of your students and yourself. By establishing and enforcing strict, clear lab safety rules and routines right from the beginning, you can run safe and smooth lab lessons. 

Every classroom will be different, but here are some clear things to consider when setting up your classroom routines:

1. How will students enter the room?
2. Where will students sit?
3. Where will students put their bags?
4. How will students complete labs?
5. How will students clean up after a lab?
6. What is the expectation for homework?
7. Where do students find the work they missed?

   New Science Teacher Advice

My favourite all-year-round posters

New Science Teacher Advice

5. Use poster and anchor charts 

Posters and anchor charts are excellent to have a visual reminder and reference point each lesson. I love using lab safety posters and these FREE science variables posters in my lab all year round. 

6. Have students sign a lab safety contract 

It is important that students hold themselves accountable for their own actions. I like to have my students sign a lab safety contract at the beginning of the year to hold them accountable. It helps them to understand the seriousness of working safely in the lab and it gives you a reference point if students are misbehaving or acting unsafely. 

7. Share expectations with parents

It is a good idea to share the expectations of students with parents. This includes expectations for homework, class behavior, and assessment tasks. You could even consider having them sign the lab safety contract as well to say that they understand what is expected of their child and that measures will be taken if students do not adhere to the contract. 

I like to send home this Meet the Teacher page at the beginning of the year to share a bit about myself as well as my expectations for students for the year. Feel free to grab a FREE copy of my template here.

8. Don’t be afraid to make students miss out on labs if they are unsafe

It is your responsibility to look after the safety of all the students in the class. If a student is behaving in an unsafe manner then don’t hesitate to make them miss out on the lab. I would follow this up with a chat with the student to ensure they understand exactly why they are not able to participate and a phone call home. If you are nervous about the phone call home, I often phrase it in terms of the student’s own safety and the safety of others in the room. 

9. Have multiple lab groupings on hand 

Sometimes labs call for work in pairs, other times in groups of fours. Sometimes you will want students to work with their friends, other times in ability-based groups, and other times in mixed-ability groups. Having these lists on hand makes these groupings quick to allocate and communicate with students.

I often have these groupings printed on A3 paper that I can quickly put up around the room so students can check their groupings rather than me having to call the names out individually every time. 

New Science Teacher Advice

10. Utilize teachers aides with explicit instructions for lab time

Often teachers’ aides want to help but are unsure when it comes to experiments. Give them clear objectives to follow so they are helpful and feel a sense of purpose too.

It may be that you want them to stay with a particular group of students and re-read the instructions to them one step at a time.

It could be that you want them to roam around the room reminding students of safety protocols or helping you ensure they are on task. 

11. If you are unsure about something – ask

There are so many things that can go wrong when teaching science, particularly if you are a new science teacher. If you are unsure how an experiment works, how equipment should be set up or whether you can substitute one chemical for another – please ask! Ask your lab assistant (if you have one), another teacher, or someone you follow on Instagram or look it up on youtube or google.

There are also many credible sources of information out there now so if the internet is your only option then don’t hesitate. You could also look it up online first then just double-check with a colleague as well. 

12. Ask to watch another teacher complete new experiments

As a new science teacher, if you are completing a lab for the first time, don’t hesitate to ask for help or to watch another teacher do it first. 

I don’t specialize in biology, however in Australia, the way our timetable is set up means that I teach all sciences in years 7-10 before specializing in years 11 and 12. When it came to doing my first pluck dissection I asked my lab assistant to come and demonstrate it for me with my class. She had a lot of experience in biology labs and was more than happy to come and show my class.

Not only was it fantastic having her expertise in my classroom, it also meant I got to watch and learn from her and my students also had the opportunity to learn from another scientist too. 

13. Utilize youtube videos

Not every opportunity for an experiment can be used as such. While I love hands-on learning, sometimes there aren’t enough lessons, isn’t enough preparation time, you don’t have the equipment, or the class’s behavior has made the experiment impossible.

In these circumstances, I highly recommend utilizing available YouTube videos and virtual labs. 

The other reason to check out YouTube videos as a new science teacher is if you need a refresher of the content or you are teaching outside of your subject area. There are many great tutorial videos out there to help you. 

14. Label everything 

Label everything so students know where things are and where to put them away. Draws, cupboards, boxes, and tubs should all have a label on them. 

15. Keep a shopping list

When you are in the middle of an experiment or lesson and you notice that your materials are running low or you need more of something you need to make note of it then. Otherwise by the time you go to order things you will have forgotten important items. 

My suggestion is to use an electronic ‘note’ or document to keep a running list that you can quickly add to on the go. 

New Science Teacher Advice

Tips for teaching science as a new science teacher

16. Review vocabulary as often as possible

Teaching science is often like introducing a whole other language with the amount of new vocabulary for students. Some fun ways to review science vocab include racing games, self-marking quizzes, escape rooms and murder mysteries. 

17. Use modeling as often as possible for complex concepts

As many concepts in science can be abstract or hard to visualize, modeling provides students with a way to visualize and make sense of them. Use lollies, modeling clay, dioramas, and role play. 

For example, Le Chateliers principle in Chemistry and the concept of a chemical reaction reaching equilibrium is difficult for students to grasp because they cannot see what is happening at a particle level. I love to use m&m’s to model this concept as seen here.

18. Learning intentions for each lesson with success criteria including relevant labs

Help give students clear directions by providing learning intentions and success criteria for each lesson. If you are completing a lab, my suggestion is to include a skill in the success criteria relevant to the lab as well. For example:

• Students can perform an experiment safely using appropriate equipment
• Students can choose the most appropriate equipment for accurate measuring. 
• Students can design an experiment to determine…

19. Organise your lab

An organised lab is safer, easier to tidy and will help your students feel safe. 

20. Utilize free resources 

As a new science teacher it can feel like you have to start from scratch with resources. But don’t forget that there are so many free resources out there now that are well worth having a look at. PHeT, Kahoot, Quizlet, and YouTube. Utilizing these resources is a great way to provide variety in your lessons as a new science teacher without creating extra work for you.

New Science Teacher Advice

21. Find a mentor

Having someone mentor you in your early years of teaching is a great way to grow as an educator. It provides you with someone to go to with questions and to run your ideas by. If your school hasn’t set you up with a mentor already then see if there is an experienced teacher you connect with to ask if they would mind. They don’t need to be in your faculty.

22. Don’t recreate the wheel

Don’t feel that you have to create your own resources or come up with new ideas. Your first years of teaching should be focused on learning the content and working out your classroom management routines. Feel free to use pre-made lessons, worksheets, textbooks and resources. 

23. Skip labs if you need to

Organizing labs is time-consuming and can be exhausting to run. If you are feeling the pressure of time and energy then it’s okay to skip a lab every now and then. Potentially swap it for a virtual lab online that doesn’t require the same level of preparation or cleanup. 

24. Show your excitement

Enter the classroom with a smile on your face and let your students see your excitement for teaching and for science. Students will vibe your energy and it will help your students connect with you as a person.

25. Be confident

Students like to know you are in charge. It’s okay to fake it til you make it. 

New Science Teacher Advice

Conclusion

Being a new science teacher can be overwhelming and hard work. Try these tips to help make your job a little more manageable. 

Are you a new science teacher? Make sure you join my email list for top tips, free resources and classroom ideas. 

New Science Teacher Advice

How to start the school year off right

1. Be organized

This shouldn’t come as a surprise when we are talking about how to start the school year off right. But how do we do it? I guess this looks different for everyone.

For me, I prefer to give up some of my holiday time in order to prepare for my first two weeks of teaching including lesson planning, assessment task writing, setting up my work diary and admin tasks.

While a lot of teachers don’t like to work in their holidays, I find it gives me a better work-life balance throughout the year if I do. 

2. Check your wardrobe

There have been so many years where I have started the school year realizing that so many of my ‘good’ work clothes are definitely not ‘good’ anymore. They are worn out, stained or don’t fit properly anymore.

It is worth doing a quick run through your closet and allowing yourself some time during the holidays to keep an eye out for those staples you want to replace because once term starts there will be many other things that will take priority over this. 

I don’t enjoy online shopping for clothes as I prefer to look in shops and try them on first. During school term, I don’t have any time to do this (particularly with 2 young kids in tow), so holidays are the only time I can do this. 

3. Set routines for your workload

I find this important for staying organized and saving time during the term. I map out when I am going to lesson plan for each year level, and when I will set aside time for assessment writing, grading, and report writing.

Setting routines is a really important time-saving hack for teachers. To see my full list of 49 time-saving hacks click the link here!

How to start the school year off right 

4. Schedule ‘you time’

It is important when setting your routines that you also include time for family, exercise, rest, and the things you enjoy. For me, having a scripted timetable for each week ensures I maintain a balance between work and home. 

Yes, there are definitely times these routines need to adjust to suit variations in workload or family needs, but if you have one to start with then, it allows you to make those adjustments in a sensible way as well and also to be aware of when the balance starts to go off.

5. Get to know your students before you meet them

What do I mean by this? Data. 

Have a look at the data you have on your students before you meet them in class. This is even more important if you haven’t taught them before.

At my school, we have a range of data collected on each student including NAPLAN (Australia), CogAT, PAT tests as well as class and subject-related data and reports.

This data helps me to make my class groupings, seating plans and differentiation options ahead of meeting my students face-to-face. 

I also find it helps me learn my students’ names faster and cater to their learning abilities right from the outset instead of just guessing for the first few weeks. 

How to start the school year off right

6. Have your assessments written 

Having your assessments written ahead of the term starting or within the first few weeks is important for multiple reasons.

1. It ensures you know where you are heading with your classes so you can plan your learning sequence appropriately
2. When the term gets busier and workload starts to pile up, it takes the pressure off knowing it is already completed. 
3. Parents and students will often enquire about the assessments early in the term. This allows you to answer their questions honestly which will help build their confidence in you as the teacher.

7. Set routines with your students 

Classroom routines are important for you and your students to start the school year off right. They help the students feel that you have control over the classroom and they know what to expect.

Routines also help you to save time as you don’t have to explain yourself every time as students get to know what the ‘normal’ is. 

For instance, some routines I have in my classroom include:

• Where students are to wait to enter the room
• Where they place their bags
• Where students sit when they enter the room
• Where to find work if they were absent, 
• How to turn in homework, 
• What to bring into every lesson 
• How to find important notices and assessment notifications
• How to contact me if needed 

8. Introduce yourself to your students and their parents

While a lot of teachers introduce themselves to their students, they often forget to introduce themselves to their parents. 

I like to send home a ‘meet the teacher’ page so that both my students and their parents feel they know who I am, what is expected, and how to contact me appropriately if needed. This ensures a positive first interaction and it goes a long way to start the year off right with these important stakeholders.

How to start the school year off right

9. Invest time to build relationships with your students

No, I don’t mean do heaps of ice-breakers (I hate those!) 

Now that you are meeting your students in the first week of school, get to know them! 

I actually hate ice-breakers. I feel uncomfortable with them, the majority of my students feel uncomfortable with them, and they are just awkward and a waste of time. 

Instead, I created this ‘all about me in science lab bunting’ resource to get to know my students in a less threatening way whilst also creating some free decorations for my lab! If you aren’t a science teacher, I also created this non-subject-specific bunting too! (And it’s FREE).

In addition to this activity, and actually more important than the above activity is just making time to chat with your students. Plan some activities in the first week which allow you time to walk around and have a chat with students in pairs or small groups. Ask them how their holidays were. What was their favorite memory of their holiday time? What friends did they catch up with? What sports or games or activities did they do? What are they looking forward to this year? What is their favorite subject? 

10. Sketch out your lesson sequence

Sketch out your term so you see well in advance gaps you might have in resources so you either have time to create them / find them or buy them.

While I don’t have time to lesson plan an entire term before I start back at school, often I will map out my learning intentions for the term and make a note of any sections where I don’t have my own resources or I want to update my resources.

This gives me an idea of whether I have time to either create the resource myself, update an existing resource, or purchase a new resource.

When I have planned this it also allows me to take advantage of things like Teachers Pay Teachers sitewide sales so I can grab the resources I want at a discount rather than getting to the week I want it and having to pay full price.

11. Think about how you can prepare healthy lunches 

This may not be on the normal ‘start your school year off right’ blog post – but I guarantee it is actually one of the most important.

Eating a well-balanced lunch every day is essential for your energy levels throughout the day and for sustaining you throughout the term. It also helps you to maintain a healthy immune system and makes you less susceptible to the many illnesses that walk through the door with your students. 

Need some ideas? Read my post on 33 easy lunch ideas for teachers here!

Conclusion

If you start the school year off right, it sets the tone for the year. It can make a huge difference in your energy levels and confidence throughout the term.

What do you do to start the school year off right? Please share your top tips below!

How to start the school year off right

How to build positive relationships with students using the 5 love languages

We often talk about differentiating our teaching to meet student learning needs, however, I’ve never heard anyone talk about differentiating the way in which we show students we love and care for them. I believe this is key to building positive relationships with students in your classroom.

Chapman (2016) believes there are five key ways in which people care for others and want to be cared for. He calls these The Five Love Languages. 

These include: 

1. Words of affirmation: a person likes to be told that they are loved and cared for in words. 
2. Gifts: some people feel loved and appreciated by receiving gifts.
3. Time: refers to spending quality time with the people they love.
4. Touch: is not referring to anything sexual, but rather other forms of physical contact.
5. Acts of service: refers to a person feeling loved by the thoughtful actions of others. 

While most people tend to favor one or two of these methods, using a range of these in the classroom will ensure that all students feel known and loved. 

How to use the 5 love languages to

build positive relationships with students

Here are some suggestions for how you can implement these ‘Love Languages’ into your classroom:

Words of affirmation: praise students by telling them what a great effort they had put into a particular project or tell them how you appreciate the attention they paid to detail.

When they achieve something, be sure to tell them how proud you are of their commitment and perseverance. 

It is important when using words of affirmation to also encourage a ‘growth mindset’ as coined by Professor C.S Dweck. Dweck (2010) encourages teachers to emphasise challenges and to praise hard work as opposed to praising success or ‘smartness’.

Gifts: In a classroom setting, students could be rewarded with lollies, stickers or merit awards.

For my senior Chemistry class, I made them ‘survival kits’ to help them get through their exams.

These don’t need to be expensive or lavish gifts. Rather, it is providing something concrete they can take away with them. 

Below are some of my favourite affordable Amazon finds:

Scratch it bookmarks

These are a great gift as students can personalize them themselves!

100 pack of cute erasers

These are actually great for both primary and secondary students. Again I thought my high school students would think they were silly, but I was wrong!

Time: students whose love language is time may appreciate you taking the time to have a conversation with them or playing handball with them out in the playground.

Touch: showing a student you value them or congratulate them using touch appropriately could look like a handshake or a high five. I like both of these methods as it offers the student the opportunity to accept or decline if they don’t feel comfortable.

We know we have to be so careful in the ways we interact with students; I think these two options allow us to still meet our students’ needs while also protecting ourselves.

Acts of Service: Show a class you appreciate them by treating them with a particularly fun activity or educational game such as a kahoot or quizlet at the end of a lesson.

Show individual students you appreciate them by inviting them to help you perform a cool science demonstration or by allowing them to choose how they want to finish the lesson, where they want to sit, or who they want to work with. 

How to build positive relationships with students in high school or middle school

Conclusion

Building positive relationships with students can be a daunting prospect. However, if you have an idea of the different ways people feel loved then it might help you to identify these in your classroom as well.

The 5 love languages provide us a great template for how we can use various methods in our classroom to ensure all students feel cared for and appreciated and therefore build positive relationships with students.

Comment below with your favourite way to build positive relationships with students in your classroom!

References

Chapman, G., 2015. The 5 love languages: The secret to love that lasts. Northfield Publishing.

Chapman, G., 2016. The 5 love languages of teenagers: The secret to loving teens effectively. Northfield Publishing.

Best science lab decoration ideas on a budget

Back to school checklist for teachers:

What to purchase

This list will vary from teacher to teacher but here is a list of essential things that are relevant for most teachers.

In addition to this checklist, read my blog post on teacher must-haves 2022 here.

1. New teacher planner

This is my #1 when I am getting ready for the next school year. It helps keep me organised and I can easily look ahead to see what important dates are coming up for my school or classes. 

2. Diary

I usually have a diary in addition to my teacher planner. This is where I keep all my personal life appointments and activities. This is just as important as having your teacher life organised. 

3. General supplies

A teacher can never have too much stationary. Whiteboard markers, pens, highlighters and post-it notes are what I stock up on at the beginning of each school year. 

4. Subscriptions

Now may be the time you need to renew any subscriptions you have or decide to purchase new ones to suit your needs this year. Here are some that may interest you:

• • • STEM Club subscription

If you are pressed for time and don’t have the capacity to keep up your creativity throughout a long and difficult term then this is a must have! This subscription gets you at least 52 STEM projects throughout the year that you can use in your own classroom or with a STEM/Science club.

• • • Canva (free version available)

Canva is perfect for all sorts of templates from worksheets to presentations to newsletters – there is a FREE version as well as a paid version. Get your account set up and ready to go before school returns.

• • • Magazine subscriptions

I know many teachers who love to have their yearly magazine subscription to things like Science Focus and National Geographic that they can use in the classroom. 

But this is also a great time to grab a subscription for something that is just for you! Something you can look forward to and unwind reading each month. This could be a part of your own regular mental health care.

• • • Screencast-o-matic

Screencast-o-matic is an excellent (and affordable) way to record your lessons, information, demonstrations etc for students. Whether you use it for flipped learning or when you are away sick, this is an excellent tool for teachers. 

5. Teaching resources

If you are teaching a new grade level or subject this coming year, it’s a good idea to see what is out there in terms of free and paid resources to help reduce your planning time. 

This is particularly important if you are going to need the time to teach yourself the content required in a new subject area as you won’t have time to develop your own resources as well. 

My favourite places to find high quality teaching resources are:

• • • Teachers Pay Teachers
    • Amped Up Learning
    • TimeSavers for Teachers

6. Classroom decor

This list will vary from teacher to teacher depending on what grade level you teach and how much autonomy you have in setting up your classroom. 

If you are someone who loves to ‘theme’ their room or decorate it each year, here are some items worth checking out for your space:

• • • Wood Wallpaper 
    • Pretty globe lights
    • Bulletin board decorations

The essential back to school checklist for teachers

8. Work clothes

If you are like me then during the school term you can never find time to go shopping for work appropriate clothes. 

When you are on break now is the time to get a gauge of your wardrobe and the items that need replacing, updating or adding. This may be seasonal wear or just wardrobe staples like a nice pair of black pants. 

Break time could give you opportunity to visit a factory outlet or two which you may not have time for during school term. 

If you aren’t into going to the physical shops, I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised by how many great teacher options there are on Amazon! 

The essential back to school checklist for teachers

Back to school checklist for teachers:

What to brush up on

Before school returns, you may need a few days to get your head back in the game. If you are starting at a new school then some of these things will be completely new to you and so it is important to take the time to review them. 

1. Content knowledge

Even if I am teaching the same content as the previous year, after a long break I often need a couple of days to just brush up on my content knowledge and how I want to teach it. 

2. Fire escape and emergency procedures

This is super important if you are starting at a new school. However, even if you are at the same school, it is a good idea to check evacuation routes for each of the classrooms you are scheduled in as well. 

3. Get to know your new students

While you may not meet your students until the first day of term, you can’t appropriately plan if you don’t use the data you have access to already. 

Check their student plans, testing scores, allergies, and any other data you have on them so you can appropriately differentiate for your class. My 53 Easy Differentiation Strategies might be helpful for you! The essential back to school checklist for teachers

Back to school checklist for teachers:

What to organise before the first day back

1. Seating chart
2. Bulletin board
3. ‘Meet the teacher’ handout for parents / students (get my freebie)
4. Lesson introduction slides (get my freebie)
5. Classroom decorations 
6. Coffee and snack supplies (should probably put this at the top of the list!)
7. Your own planning and work routine or schedule to maintain work/life balance
8. Check your technology works e.g. that your device can connect to an interactive whiteboard etc. 
9. Set up Google classroom or online portals
10. Ensure student textbooks or programs are accessible
11. Print class lists
12. Order necessary materials (e.g. science experiments, food tech ingredients)

The essential back to school checklist for teachers

Back to school checklist for teachers:

What to cover during the first lesson

1. Go through emergency procedures

It is so important that you don’t get caught up in the excitement of the first lesson and forget to go through emergency procedures with your students. 

This includes evacuation plans, location of fire extinguishers, and classroom emergency expectations. 

For those teaching in a high-risk “classroom” such as a science lab or woodworking workshop, it is important to go through the subject and room-specific requirements.

2. Classroom procedures 

To ensure your classroom runs smoothly for the year it is important to plan your regular procedures in advance. This includes:

• seating plan arrangements, 
• where students should leave their bags, 
• what students are expected to bring each lesson, 
• where they should look for work they missed when absent
• where homework and classwork can be found
• how you will get their attention after groupwork etc
• safety procedures

3. Teacher expectations 

It is important to set clear expectations from the beginning of the year as it will set the tone for the whole year. Your expectations of them should include:

• Homework (how much and how often)
• Behaviour, including respect of classmates, teacher and school property
• Consequences 
• Talking – when is it ok and when isn’t it?

4. Get to know you activity or ice breaker

I hate ice breaker activities and never do them in my class. Instead I opt for a ‘get to know you’ activity that is less confronting. My favorite is this ‘all about me in science’ lab bunting that students can fill out for me and their classmates to see, AND it becomes decoration for the classroom at the same time!

5. Introduction to the course

Help students get a picture of what they will be learning this term or year with an introduction to the topic. This is a great time to build excitement with them about what they are going to learn and some fun activities they might look forward to. 

6. Assessment tasks to expect throughout the year 

In addition to the above point, its also good to let them know how their learning will be assessed through the year, both formally and informally. I usually have my students record their formal assessment task dates in their diaries during the first lesson.

The essential back to school checklist for teachers

Conclusion

Planning to return to school can be much less stressful if you have a checklist that ensures you don’t miss anything!

Did you find this back to school checklist for teachers helpful? 

Best back to school checklist for teachers 2022