Aug. 9, 2026: Preplanning #33

This past week our new school year underway.  The students don’t start for several more days, but teachers and staff have spent the last week in school preparing for the new school year. Preplanning week is a combination of scheduled meetings and unscheduled time to work in our classrooms. As I begin my 33^rd year as an elementary classroom teacher, I have experienced all kinds of preplanning weeks.

While preplanning is designed to help set up teachers and schools for a successful start to the school year, if you are at the beginning of your career as an educator, even preplanning days can feel overwhelming. So, take a moment, breathe deeply, and look around at your fellow teachers.  These preplanning days are a time to get to know your new colleagues and identify some of the ones who will be “your village” as you start your career.

-       The Social Butterfly

o   These are the teachers who are friends with everyone and love hearing all about your summer.  They stop and talk to everyone and give the best hugs. They have a strong network of friends on campus and socialize with many away from school as well.   If you are a new teacher, they will probably be one of the first ones you meet and will make you feel welcome. Make sure you know where their classroom is and do not hesitate to pop into their room when you need a little break.  They will love it!

-       The Instructional Master

o   These teachers have spent a good part of their summer in trainings or reading up on the latest curriculum materials. They have already mapped out some of the themes and projects they will be doing this year and are ready to hit the ground running. They are also quick to share, so if you are a new teacher, get to know these masters.

-       The Classroom Stager

o   Like real estate agents who stage homes so that buyers will fall in love with them, these teachers work magic with their classrooms.  They probably already spent some time over the summer working in their classrooms and have logged many hours on Pinterest.  Their classrooms are truly works of art and organization.  Color coded, themed, and inviting! Ask them questions, get their suggestions, and do not hesitate to imitate their magic. Yes- imitation is the greatest form of flattery!

-       The Kid-Whisperer

o   This teacher might be hard to spot right away, but once there are students on campus, they will be easy to identify.  They know just about every kid in the school, and most important, the kids all know this teacher. They all want to visit them to say hi, even if they were never in their class. Even the tough kids seem to have a connection. And that is this teacher’s super-power.  They know how to make connections with kids. This will be the teacher you want to go to when you have a kiddo you are struggling with.  Whether academically, socially, or behaviorally, this teacher will have some nuggets of wisdom to share.

-       The Cheerleader

o   This is the teacher who has the most positive personality on campus. They always find the silver-lining, always have a glass half-full perspective, and have a can-do attitude, not matter what unexpected mandate is thrown their way.  This will be the teacher you will want to see when you are feeling overwhelmed. They are also the one to go to when you mess up (and you will!) because they will help you put it in perspective and move on.

Hopefully there will be more than one teacher in many of these categories, and there are likely teachers who embody more than one of these traits. The bottom line is, teaching may seem like an isolating profession because we all go into our classrooms and shut the doors, however, it is not.  It truly takes a village to teach. We capitalize on the talents and skills that each of us bring to campus, and we have each other’s back.

To all the teachers out there, whether this is your first or fortieth year: Best wishes for a fabulous start to the school year!