August: Top 10 Resources on Back to School for Teachers
Get ready for a great school year. Discover ideas for planning a sparkling back-to-school night, creating a literacy-rich classroom that is welcoming to all students, establishing an effective 90-minute reading block, building parent engagement, and more.
Bright Ideas for Back-to-School Night... and Beyond
Back-to-school night is an important annual ritual — a wonderful opportunity for parents and teachers to meet, connect, and share their vision for the school year. We've gathered up the very best resources to help you make the most of back-to-school night — and set the stage for a year of learning and growth.10 Tips for Special Education Teachers
Our top 10 back-to-school tips for special education teachers emphasize communication, organization, and a focus on student success.Literacy-Rich Environments
Learn the "why" and "how" of creating a language- and literacy-rich classroom, especially for kids with special needs.The 90-Minute Reading Block
Research shows that students need at least 90 minutes of uninterrupted reading instruction per day in order for sufficient student reading development. Here's a chart that shows how to set up an effective 90-minute reading block.Creating a Welcoming Classroom for English Language Learners
Your ELL students are adjusting to new ways of saying and doing things. As their teacher, you are an important bridge to this unknown culture and school system. Here are things you can do to help make your students' transitions as smooth as possible.Creating a Classroom Library
Teacher Mandy Gregory shares her ideas (and photos from her own classroom) for acquiring reading materials, organizing and labeling the shelves, and making the space cozy and inviting for young readers.Arranging Your Classroom
As a teacher, setting up your classroom is one of the most exciting parts of August! Where should the classroom library go? Where should the teacher desk go? How should the student desks be arranged?Parent Involvement Checklist
Does your school do a good job of reaching out to parents? Use this checklist to evaluate and improve parent-school partnerships.Weekly Classroom Newsletter Template
Parents love to know what's going on in their child's classroom, and a weekly newsletter is a great way to keep the communication going. Reading Rockets offers a ready-to-use, editable newsletter template complete with extra graphics and more than 50 reading tips.Growing Readers Newsletter
Subscribe to these free one-page articles for parents on topics ranging from building background knowledge to helping your kids succeed in school. Ideal for sharing with your families. (In English and Spanish)
