Marilyn Gardner Milton discusses how educators can prepare for the upcoming school year now that COVID-19 has interrupted things.

1. HOW
EDUCATORS
CAN PREPARE
FOR THE NEW
SCHOOL YEAR
Marilyn Gardner Milton

2. With the 2020 – 2021 school year starting soon or having already
started in some places, it’s time for teachers and professors around
the country to make sure they’re prepared for the year to come.
Teaching isn’t an easy profession and there are countless aspects
that go into it, from lesson plans to supplies and everything in
between. This year, in particular, is especially unique due to the
COVID-19 pandemic still deeply affecting our country, meaning that
in many places teachers are either doing remote learning or some
type of remote/in-person hybrid. Something like this is new to the
current generation of educators, and it’s understandable if they
don’t know how to approach the situation. Here are a few ways
educators can prepare for the new school year.

3. Communicate With
Your Class Early On
In order to make the teaching and learning experience smoother
for everyone involved, it’s best to stay on top of communication
with your students or their parents, especially in the times we’re
living in. Consider your options for reaching out to everyone – if
you’re a college professor, you can likely email your students their
syllabus and any important information they may need a week or
two before class starts, giving them plenty of time to read
materials over and reach out if they have any questions. If you’re
teaching younger students, you’re likely better off reaching out to
their parents. This can be done via email, but it might be better
for you to reach out with a phone call in order to introduce
yourself and ensure everyone is in the know when it comes to
your class.

4. Check Out Old
Lesson Plans
One of the best things about being an educator is that
with each new year or semester, you effectively get to
start all over again. This means you can take a look at
your previous years teaching and apply what worked
while leaving what didn’t work at the door. Being an
educator often involves a lot of trial and error, and not
every lesson will stick with your students. The fact that
you get to take on a new group of students each year
means you start fresh and employ new ideas.

5. Discuss With Fellow
Educators
One of the few great things about how the pandemic is
affecting education is that no teacher is alone. There are
educators all over the country who are in situations just
like yours, and most of us are figuring it out as we go.
With so many peers who understand what you’re going
through, a good way to prepare for the new year is to talk
to your fellow educators and determine what they’re
doing, and what might work for you. Share your various
ideas and experiences and perhaps you may come out
with a brand new idea that might make this year that
much more impactful for you and your students.

6. Thanks!
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Marilyn Gardner Milton MA
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