During the summer, educate yourself with the curriculum if unfamiliar with the new grade, subject etc.

Reach out to parents, introduce yourself, and become a familiar figure for the parents who will have your children around. 

Planning engaging, diverse, inclusive, positive and challenging activities that engage and enhance the minds of your students.

Create a classroom for students to walk in and feel included. Use different banners, languages, colours, sensory corners and bins with supplies/feminine products (depending on your teaching grade) that will benefit your students. Understand that each student will walk into the classroom in a different light financially, mentally, physically, and intellectually to create a safe space.

Before the bell rings, greet each student with a smile at the door, using a welcoming voice. Respecting students and actively going out of your way to learn about your kids through icebreaker activities, or introductory sheets (my name, hobbies, background, etc) will be a great way for you to keep files and be constantly reminded of the cultural diversity in your classroom. Mention safety procedures, very very important!! (escape route, fire drill location, where to hide in a lockdown, etc.)

Introduce yourself not as an intimidating teacher, but as a potential role model, pair of ears or even a friend to your kids (while presenting yourself professionally). Talk about yourself, allow your kids to learn that you’re human and you may share a lot of similar hobbies/interests as your students, building trust!! They need to know you are NOT just a teacher.)

Engage with student’s lives, ask about extracurricular activities, summer that just passed, etc.

Do trial tests/activities to learn intellectually where your students are at. Make sure you create a safe, non-pressuring environment by giving students flexibility to where they’d like to complete the work, having a vote when during the day they feel most comfortable (as kids can only take so much, so doing an afternoon/mid-day test may be most beneficial).

Take notes, and understand the lives that some students face, are they in sports, or extracurriculars? Are they in competitive sports that may disrupt due dates or academic performance? What about school intimidates them, and creates ideas to change that for them?

Make your students smile, don’t be too intimidating but first impressions mean the most to students. Allow students to know they can laugh and have connections with them; Not there to yell, but to achieve goals, have fun and have a good school year

Do checkpoints with your students, and actively communicate to see if any students are still thriving or beginning to plummet mentally/physically/academically.

Stay educated with student’s grades and consistencies. Major drops of grades are a potential red flag as there tends to be a factor behind it. 

Adjust activities to classroom engagement. Do students get bored of just taking notes? Do they love a specific site to complete activities on? Capitalize on these and create lessons based on your students' interests that still follow the curriculum/learning goals.

Constantly praise students, and celebrate the mini-wins with them. Each child has their weaknesses, so promoting positivity will allow students to still try and not lose interest/hope in academic performance.

Treat your students! Pizza parties, ice cream day! By learning about your students at the beginning of September, you can adjust rewards and treat your students as per preference/safety concerns. Students need something to work towards, especially if they struggle to strive for themselves.

Pulling students aside and talking to them in a comforting, calm manner in a private space

Being firm, fair consistent, hold all students accountable for standards and rules.

Praise students for the mini wins to allow confidence build-up. Be patient with students, provide support to fit each child’s needs and listen to requests with no judgment (flexible)

Just because you treat students the same, doesn't mean it’s equal. Learn about your students and their backgrounds, and ensure values are respected.

Promote diversity; Banners, posters, music, and food variety during class awards (samosas, etc)

Constructive criticism, sandwich method! (good, bad, good.)

Motivate and cheer students on, it will become contagious and be reciprocated among the students

Have respect, integrity, care, and trust among students

• Hold yourself accountable as a teacher, be educated with the curriculum and provide differentiation in your lessons

• Respect all students, treat students how you want to be treated

• Be gentle and caring to your students, safety is the top priority in your classroom.

• Keep student concerns confidential, and communicate in a non-judgemental manner (this helps build trust and form a teacher-student bond).

Promote diversity; Banners, posters, music, and food variety during class awards (samosas, etc)

Constructive criticism, sandwich method! (good, bad, good.)

Motivate and cheer students on, it will become contagious and be reciprocated among the students

Have respect, integrity, care, and trust among students

• Hold yourself accountable as a teacher, be educated with the curriculum and provide differentiation in your lessons

• Respect all students, treat students how you want to be treated

• Be gentle and caring to your students, safety is the top priority in your classroom.

• Keep student concerns confidential, and communicate in a non-judgemental manner (this helps build trust and form a teacher-student bond).