Going back to school usually refers to what students do around this time of year, but it also applies to teachers. Sure, you won’t be buying a new backpack or lunchbox, but there are some important things you can do to prepare for your upcoming educational odyssey. Teacher Tamara S. Andrew Birch has a new list of tips to help you get set for September. The number of bullet points comes out to a baker’s dozen, so I’ll narrow it down to my personal top 3:

1. Figure out your classroom furniture arrangement. You can organize your student desks in traditional rows or arrange them in a circular or U-shaped formation for face-to-face student communication. The key is keeping it flexible depending on the kind of activity or lesson you have planned; don’t be afraid to change from day-to-day depending on your syllabus. Also, maintain an open path between student desks and your teacher desk so students can reach you quickly and easily when they have questions or issues to discuss.
2. If you own a bulletin board, think about what you’ll post on it. Like Birch, I think it makes sense to designate certain areas of your board for messages, graphics and posters that you like, while using other areas to showcase student work on a rotating basis.
3. Update and acclimate yourself to your technology. Whether you have an interactive whiteboard or a laptop computer in your classroom or lab, learn how to use it and keep it as up-to-date as your budget allows, whether it means buying new software or utilizing a web application. Students can’t learn in a vacuum, so it’s important to familiarize them with the most recent technology possible as they strive to keep up with the rest of the world.

And that’s just the beginning of what you can do to get ready for the new school year. Good luck and if you have any ideas or tips of your own to share, feel free to leave a comment.