Tips for Prepping Activities Ahead for Next School Year
The end of the school year is coming, which means summer break and time for relaxation! Before you head out for the summer, get a head start with activities to prep ahead for next school year.
It will be so worth it to head into the new school year with more confidence and less stress.
After you've taken some time to look at your kindergarten pacing guide, you can determine what you have, need, and want to incorporate next year.
This is the first step in the “getting ahead” process. Once you've followed these 4 tips for planning ahead for next school year, it's time to start PREPPING.
What Are The Benefits Of Prepping Activities Ahead For Next School Year?
The last thing you may want to do at the end of the school year is plan and prep ahead for the next school year. However, you will be so glad you did come August! Let me tell you why.
Save time and stress
By getting ahead before summer break, you'll save yourself a ton of time and stress during back to school season.
When all of the other teachers are rushing around to print and prep materials, you'll be able to feel confident knowing you've already done yours.
By getting everything printed before school is out for the summer, you'll be able to avoid the copy room chaos in August.
Plus, at the end of the year, the copy room tends to be a little quieter. Therefore, you can print and prep in peace.
More time to organize and prep
With all of your copies made before leaving for summer break, you can get them organized and filed just the way you want them. Then all you have to do is pull out the files you need for the first weeks of school.
If you have more prep to do, such as cutting, laminating, and organizing, you can easily take those materials home over the summer to prep in your own time.
Instead of rushing to do it all in the jam-packed week before school starts, you can do it gradually over the summer in your PJs with your coffee and favorite Netflix show.
More time to find storage solutions and label materials
As a kindergarten teacher, there are a lot of materials, manipulatives, and supplies to organize in your classroom.
Finding storage solutions and labeling materials is a great way to stay organized and keep your classroom tidy.
By prepping activities ahead for next school year, you'll have more time over the summer to find storage solutions and get everything labeled just the way you want it.
You'll also have time to think through the flow of your classroom and where materials should be placed for maximum efficiency and easy access.
Your classroom inventory will be fresh in your brain
Have you ever been home over the summer, browsing Teachers Pay Teachers, only to forget if you already have that bundle of materials purchased or if you still need to purchase and prep it for your students?
By prepping activities ahead for next school year, it'll be fresh in your brain. This can save you a lot of money and frustration.
Make a quick classroom inventory before heading out for the summer. This way, you'll know exactly what you have prepped and what you still want to search for over the summer.
Prep for the entire year
Prepping activities ahead for the first few weeks of the new school year is a great start.
However, if you really want to go all out and save yourself a ton of time and stress during the school year, you can prep materials for the entire year at once.
One of the best ways to do this is by purchasing bundles of resources and materials for your students to use throughout the year. You can print them all before school gets out and prep/organize them over the summer.
Imagine how good that will feel in August knowing you are prepared for the entire year.
Using bundles is also a great idea because it gives students consistency in the activities and directions. This will help them be more successful and confident working independently.
4 Must-Have Kindergarten Bundles to Prep Ahead for Next School Year
1. Kindergarten Morning Tubs Bundle
The Kindergarten Morning Tubs Bundle is the perfect way to create a consistent morning routine from the get-go in your classroom.
Students will love the hands-on math and literacy activities as they warm up their brains first thing in the morning. These activities give students a soft-start to their day.
The activities are easy to prep and work perfect for morning tubs, early finishers, or even math and literacy centers.
2. Kindergarten Math and Literacy Centers Bundle
The Kindergarten Math and Literacy Centers Year Long Bundle is your one-stop shop for all of the math and literacy centers you'll need every month of the school year.
This is an all-in-one bundle that includes 17-25 monthly math and literacy centers in fun seasonal themes.
Each monthly set comes with hands-on centers, recording sheets, and bonus no-prep pages for additional practice and review.
Skills progress throughout the year to accompany your students' developmental levels and needs.
3. Kindergarten Writing Centers Bundle
If you're looking to make planning for writing instruction easier, the Kindergarten Writing Centers Bundle is for you!
This bundle of monthly writing centers will help you provide the writing instruction and support your students need as they progress their skills throughout the year.
You can use these writing center activities for writing centers, small group writing instruction, or independent learning.
Each month, your students will get a new set of themed vocabulary words and activities to make writing fun!
The activities are easy to prep and only require basic student and classroom supplies.
4. Kindergarten Emergency Sub Plans Bundle
Take the initiative to have sub plans prepped and ready to go for the whole school year!
Sub plans often end up being the last thing on our list to get done as we prepare for an absence. By having monthly sub plans prepped and ready to go you're setting yourself and your substitute up for success!
This Plans in a Pinch bundle includes a variety of literacy, math, science, and social studies activities for your sub to complete while you are gone. Everything is no prep or very low prep, which means they can be ready quickly when it's an emergency or you’re short on time and in a pinch.
These are also perfect when you need some quick and easy activities for your class. They work great for early release days, special schedules, the day before a school break, before or after a field trip, etc.
FREE Kindergarten Pacing Guide
Ready to plan and prep activities ahead for next school year, but aren't sure where to start? Grab this FREE Kindergarten Pacing Guide to help!
This pacing guide will give you an overview of what your kindergarten students will need to learn each month of the year.
You can get this kindergarten pacing guide delivered straight to your inbox by filling out the form below.
I hope these tips for prepping activities ahead for next school year have been helpful!
If you're looking for more ideas and support, be sure to join our Kindergarten Palace Facebook Community, where you'll be surrounded by thousands of other amazing kindergarten teachers!
