Back to School Checklist for Teachers
It’s time for teachers to prepare for back to school! To help teachers set themselves up for success at the start of the year, we created a checklist inspired by recommendations from the LEGO® Education Ambassadors – teachers across the U.S. who use LEGO Education solutions and hands-on learning approaches in their classrooms. Read through this checklist to find out the five key things teachers can do to get the most out of hands-on learning with LEGO Education solutions.
1. Find learning opportunities for yourself
Adopt a learning mindset and prioritize your own learning! Find professional development opportunities that interest and energize you. Connect with other educators in-person or virtually to find valuable learning resources. Join the LEGO Education Community to find materials and lessons to support your work with students.
2. Set up your classroom
Start preparing your classroom by making materials accessible for your students. Print the copies you will need and try curating folders to organize by subject or topic. Check your LEGO Education sets and use labels to remember which parts belong to each set. Engage your students in checking and organizing inventory during the first week of school – turn it into a fun game!
3. Get tech ready
“Where are the charging cords?” Take the time to look for them now and make sure you have one in each LEGO Education set. Download and update the SPIKE™ app for your set and update your Hub to ensure your students benefit from the latest features, improvements, and fixes.
4. Curate lesson plans
What worked well last year? Reflect on your successes and challenges as you create your lesson plans. Ask other educators about the resources they find most helpful. You can also check out LEGO Education resources including our Lesson Plans, Career Toolkit, Build to Launch: A STEAM Exploration Series, Lessons and Inspiration, and Activities and Challenges.
5. Integrate play
Bring play into your classroom! Worldwide, 9 in 10 teachers believe that their students are most engaged during hands-on activities, and over 80% say learning through play supports improvements in collaboration, problem-solving skills, self-motivation and knowledge retention. Play is also important for teachers - make sure to find time for yourself to play and get creative!