Using themes can help you focus your ideas. Choose one theme per week, using a variety of topics such as specific seasons, colors or jobs. You may also study one letter of the alphabet each week. If you prefer to spend more time on each theme, choose one per month. Use broader ideas, such as animals or colors. The final option is to choose one theme for the entire year. Teach children about very broad subjects such as respect or other cultures.
You may meet each child's parents on the first day of school, then not see them again until parent-teacher meetings a few months later. Meeting with families helps you build a relationship so you can all work together to help the children. Having an early meeting also allows you to find out about any issues or challenges each student has, preparing you to deal with these issues throughout the year. Schedule an in-school meeting with each family for the first week of school, or arrange to visit each family at home. Request permission from the administration before going into homes.
Using photos in the classroom makes children feel welcome and also keeps the classroom organized. Take a close-up picture of each child's face on the first day, along with candid photos of children playing and eating throughout the first days of the school year. Print several copies of each child's photo. Attach the pictures to your chore chart and place cards for mealtime. When you hang up the daily schedule, attach pictures to show children where to go. Hang photos of children who need to leave the room for therapies, for example, and hang the candid photos next to the corresponding activities. For instance, show children eating next to the word "Lunchtime."
Establish a schedule and rules from the very first day. Young children require structure, so if your first few days are different than your regular schedule, children can become confused. Have a meeting on the first morning to explain what the class schedule is, then stick to it. Ask children to help you come up with a list of classroom rules. Explain that everyone must follow the rules all the time and what the consequences are for breaking a rule. Children feel more comfortable in a new environment if they know what to expect.