We hate to interrupt your summer… but now is the perfect time to start planning for the next school year, which will be here before you know it.
We know that school administrators are faced with more challenges than ever before. From enhancing support for teachers, to improving outcomes in STEM, and choosing the most impactful edtech, there’s a lot to consider before school is even back in session. If you want to make the next school year the best it can be—and we know you do— read on to discover strategies you can implement this summer, and into the first 90 days of school.
5 strategies to implement now to make back-to-school successful
You’ve earned a break this summer! But if you’re looking to improve your STEM instruction in the next year, summer can be a great time to start planning. Discover five tips you can follow as an administrator to ensure that your teachers and students start the new year right and finish it strong:
1. Reflect on the past school year
Look at what worked and, more importantly, what didn’t. What did you spend way too much time working on or fixing? What suffered from a lack of your attention? Then, investigate different processes to help accomplish your goals and clear away some unnecessary meetings, procedures, and mental clutter. And don’t forget to review what went well.
2. Review assessment data
Not in a “how did we do” way (although that’s good too), but take a hard look at what data you actually have. Do you have the data you need to make decisions on instructional methods and to back up the decisions that you’ve made? What data are you lacking, and is there a way to find that data with the tools you currently use? If you find gaps in your data, now is your opportunity to find the tools that help fill them to get the full picture of how well, what, and how much your students are learning and progressing in time for back to school.
Getting an early start on reviewing this data can be vital in closing achievement gaps for your students. ExploreLearning STEM solutions include powerful, easy-to-read reporting for students and classrooms, helping you measure growth and identify gaps.
3. Implement new processes before school starts
Get new processes—and everything else—in place. Now that you’ve looked back at the past year and have determined what needs fixing, make a plan to fix it. Summer is the ideal time to pilot and research new programs, plan usage, and ensure success in the classroom. Whether you need new time management tools, new instructional products, a new org chart, or better desk chairs, now is the time! Looking for ways to cover costs? Discover our guide to finding school funding.
4. Plan purposeful professional development
There’s a learning curve with pretty much everything—including new instructional tools. If your planned improvements involve new education technology for teachers and/or students, make sure you have the time and resources available to get your staff up to speed and ready to start the school year confident in their new tools.
To plan impactful professional development, provide a clear vision for the sessions, don’t ask for unnecessary work, and provide insightful follow-up steps. ExploreLearning tools include on-demand professional development so your teachers are supported from day one and have the skills they need to succeed.
5. Support growth mindsets
A new school year is a fresh start. Whatever the last few years have brought (hint: too much), make fall the inclusive and empowered semester everyone needs and deserves. Start planning now to foster a growth mindset in your staff, your students, and yourself. Taking on new challenges and viewing mistakes as an opportunity to learn benefits everyone in your school community.
Success strategies for the first 90 days of school
You’re ready to set the foundation this summer for a successful back-to-school season. But as you look ahead to the fall, what else can be done in the first 90 days of school to continue to support teachers and enhance student success? Read on for practical tips for once school is back in session.
- Support a positive school climate. Principals set the tone for a positive and collaborative school environment. Encourage a positive culture this year by being intentional with your vision for your school. Think about what goals you most want to achieve with a positive culture (an inclusive environment, a safe space for staff and students, increased student engagement), and collaborate with staff, students, and parents to meet those goals. Make sure to recognize positive actions and give students and teachers opportunities to contribute.
- Enhance critical math skills and build a math culture. Looking to enhance student outcomes in math this year? Start with high-impact areas like math fact fluency and fractions, paired with a strong math culture. Math fact fluency and fractions are research-proven to enhance math outcomes in higher-level math skills, into high school and beyond. ExploreLearning Reflex (for math facts) and ExploreLearning Frax (for fractions) are proven to improve student success in elementary math.
- Choose the right edtech and avoid misguided use. When it comes to edtech, the choices can be overwhelming, but the investment for the right tool is worth it. Ask yourself the following questions when evaluating edtech: Is the tool research-based? Is it easy to implement? And does it improve student engagement and STEM success? Is differentiated instruction possible, and does it support all learners? Can it help save teachers’ time and make their jobs easier? ExploreLearning STEM solutions check all the boxes. Start the school year strong with tools that truly support students and teachers!
How to support teachers during back-to-school
Perhaps one of the most important things admins can do at the start of the school year is to ensure teachers feel supported, heard, and valued. When teachers feel well-supported, they’re better equipped to help students thrive. Make sure supporting teachers is at the top of your priority list with these practical strategies.
- Establish a teacher mentorship program. A teacher mentorship program can provide essential support for new teachers and provides a safe place to ask questions. From building confidence and new skills, to guidance around teaching practices, a mentorship program is invaluable. Veteran teachers benefit too, allowing them to build leadership skills and guide programming in the school.
- Support professional learning communities. A professional learning community (PLC) brings teachers together to share ideas, discuss student outcomes, and strategize. A great team-building program that supports a collaborative environment, PLCs help teachers feel supported by their peers.
- Nurture teacher success and achievement. Communication is key. Talk to your teachers about their students and lessons, and take time to visit classrooms. Make sure your staff knows you are a safe place to voice ideas and concerns. There’s no substitute for strong work relationships when it comes to supporting teachers.
Unlock engaging and effective STEM learning
Support teachers and transform learning with ExploreLearning STEM solutions. Research-based and proven to enhance outcomes in math and science, our solutions include powerful student and classroom reporting. Save your teachers time in the classroom, and help them feel supported through easy-to-implement tools that simplify teaching the hardest STEM topics, and include on-demand professional development.
Everybody's Talking About ExploreLearning
Ready to experience the power of an ExploreLearning product? With a pilot, your staff and students can unlock access for an extended period. Your building can leverage guided implementation for multiple teachers to make a thorough and effective product evaluation. Pilots include the following:
- Allows two or more classrooms of students to use a product for 30+ days
- Provides free training and implementation support for teachers
- Enables administrators to review student results during the pilot period
