It’s the School Preseason
Ideas for a powerful reframe
Educators, I know that this time of year is met with mixed emotions.
Some of you are already back to school with learners, while others are gearing up for Preseason — you know, teacher week.
Today, I saw on social media where a fellow educator and friend called teacher week “preseason” and I cannot get this idea out of my head. So many visuals enter my imagination: educators in jerseys, collecting their classroom supplies from the marketing department (front office), running drills with their coaching staff (professional development sessions), and talking to reporters about their hopes for the upcoming season (back to school events).
So many feelings going into this season, the preseason for the school year, whether you have already begun or are preparing for the return — it’s time to gear up and get hyped.
It's the perfect time for a reframe rather than back to school (with a groan); it’s preseason, fresh gear, fresh ideas, fresh perspectives, and a fresh roster (all literally and figuratively!).
Also, if you are feeling all the feels … so are your learners, so what’s the game plan, Coach (educator)?
How will we help ourselves and our learners build hype and enthusiasm for the year amidst the anxiety, fear, and mourning of summer time?
How are you intentionally planting fun into your plans? How are you engaging these feelings into your time with learners and colleagues?
What do you need to feel successful? What do you learners need? How will you find out?
I am seeing a whole lot of ideas on social media to build relationships with learners — take 15 minutes on Instagram, and you will have a cadre of ideas.
How can we extend that summer feeling into our learning spaces? Is there an opportunity to be outdoors, to integrate popsicles or water games, sunshades or fans?
I have a list of ideas below to help get your preseason started — the rest is up to you! These ideas can incorporate content or just add a little fun into your day … it’s up to you!
Ideas for a powerful reframe and successful preseason
- popsicles and reading (for funsies while we read)
- popsicles and paint (paint WITH popsicles? primary and tertiary colors)
- make your own popsicles (incorporate states of matter)
- sidewalk chalk (art, draw diagrams, do math problems, play a game, create an obstacle course, measure different things, sorting circles….use water toys to “erase” what you did)
- art wristbands (I have a reel on my social media — can be a get to know you, for fun, pattern, colors, textures, shapes…)
- Sunshades (wear them in the hallway, to lunch, while reading, on a walk outdoors….whenever — make it a game)
- Fans (use geometry to create your own)
- design, build, test sailboats (in a small container of water, kiddie pool, pond outside — use simple materials, paper, cork, cardboard, plastic, foam, straws…..)
- lego storytelling (use minifigures and imagination to set scenes, take photos, create movies or short stories about them)
- Stick writing (use sticks to write your name or a silly message)
