During the summer, I am sharing thematic posts bringing together responses on similar topics from the past 10 years. You can see all those collections from the first nine years here.
Here are the ones I’ve published so far:
The 11 Most Popular Classroom Q&A Posts of the Year
School Closures & the Coronavirus Crisis
Today’s theme is on the best ways to begin the school year. You can see the list of posts following this excerpt from one of them:
* Classroom Activities to Start Your Online or Hybrid New Year Strong
Katie Hull Synieski and I share a book excerpt offering ideas on building relationships as an online or hybrid school year begins, including question starters and “show-and-tell” activities.
*Start the Year With a ‘Primary Focus’ on Relationship-Building
Four educators share ideas on how to start a pandemic-effect school year, including by organizing scavenger hunts and having students share and write captions for their favorite photos.
*Steps to Make Your Students Feel Welcome This Fall
Three teachers explain how they are going to start the COVID-19-affected new school year, including by sending videos or letters to students before classes begin.
*Classroom Activities to Start Your Online or Hybrid New Year Strong
Katie Hull Synieski and I share a book excerpt offering ideas on building relationships as our online or hybrid school year begins, including question starters and “show-and-tell” activities.
* Giving Students ‘a Place to Belong’ When Starting a School Year
Tricia Ebarvia, Maia Heyck-Merlin, Debbie Diller, Erik M. Francis, and Jennifer Orr write about their experiences and recommendations in this fourth and final post on ways to successfully begin a new school year.
* Begin the New School Year With a Positive ‘Mindset’
Jen Schwanke, Kevin Scott, Pia Lindquist Wong, and Otis Kriegel provide their ideas on good ways to begin a new school year.
* Starting the New Year by ‘Building Relationships’
Jeryl-Ann Asaro, Anabel Gonzalez, Karen Nemeth, Kristina J. Doubet, Jessica A. Hockett, Stephen Lazar, and Timothy D. Walker contribute their ideas on the best ways to begin a new school year.
* Ways ‘to Launch a Successful Year With Students’
Roxanna Elden, Dave Stuart Jr., Ekuwah Moses, Matt Wachel, Pam Allyn, and Kevin Parr offer suggestions on how to start a new school year on the right foot.
* “A Good Beginning Is More Than Half of the Whole”
Author/educators Joanne Rooney, Harry and Rosemary Wong, and Peggy Campbell-Rush provide their suggestions on how to start a new school year well.
* Ways to Start Off the New Year on a Positive Note
This post is a special-guest response from author and educator Julia Thompson.
* Several Ways to Get the New Year Off to a Good Start—Part One
Two of the best thinkers and writers on education issues today, Rick Wormeli and Roxanna Elden, respond to this issue.
* Several Ways Teachers & Parents Can Start the New Year Well—Part Two
Teachers Neil Wetherbee, Marsha Ratzel, Jessica Lahey, and Robyn Shulman share their suggestions.
* Don’t Wait Until Christmas to Smile
Author/educators Annette Breaux and Neila A. Connors contribute their thoughts.
