As the school year gets ready to kick off, we start thinking about all the prep work we have to do. Obviously a lot of us think of decor but there are a lot of other things (more important things!) that go into a well run classroom. Here’s a big list of documents you need prepared at the beginning of the year to make your classroom run smoothly!

1. Class Lists

Self explanatory. You can’t do a lot if you don’t know who they are!

2. IEPs

Say this with me. You are a certified teacher and are legally entitled to see IEPs. They can not be withheld for “privacy”. If you don’t know what a student’s accommodations are, how are you supposed to accommodate them? This is a hill worth dying on.

3. Medical Information

Same thing. If there is an emergency, you need to know. If a student has a bathroom issue, how can you know to let them use it ASAP when they ask? If you have an allergy, how do you know not to bring that thing into your room?

4. Emergency Information

Same thing one more time. This is particularly important if you release students from things like after school events. You need to know who is allowed to pick up, or who to call!

5. Curriculum

That thing that’s important. Even having a simple curriculum at a glance is a good idea to help you plan but more detailed can definitely make your life easier. Read more about curriculum planning here.

6. Open House Info

A sheet explaining your class, curriculum, rules, extra opportunities, grading, and other things parents and guardians want to know about what goes on in your room.

7. Surveys/Info Sheets

This is always a good idea to get information on students, families, student musical interests, important info, and find out what students are into this year. It lets you know if a student takes piano lessons, or if they love singing at home. It’s a nice way to check in with students (especially your older ones who can write more) but even drawing pictures is a good way to get a little info on your students that may be useful to you this year.

8. Parent Sign Ups

YES! Get a sheet for parents to volunteer in your room. They can make copies, help with after school events and more. Check out this post to see some of the things that parents can do for your classroom.

9. Budget Tracker

Spend that dough! Get every single cent you can out of your budget. If you don’t track it, you don’t know what you have to spend!

10. Sub Folder/Tub

Sick happens and things come up. Having your sub things ready to go on day 1 is really the best way to make sure that you are prepared for the inevitable. Make sure you have the basics ready to go like class lists, emergency plans that involve something easy, important phone numbers, and emergency info. Check out this post for more info on how to get your sub tub ready for the year.

11. PreTests for Growth Goals

Have them ready to go so you can hand them out right away. PreTests should reflect what your student growth goals are, check for understanding for learning goals for the year, and cover concepts that you will cover in that grade this year.

12. Rules/Procedures

Having this set and ready to go will make the transition back to school for students easier. If you need to tweak something from last year, or want to implement something new, starting it on day 1 is the best way to set it up for success.
I think it’s good to keep the rules simple. You can snag this editable set here.
M ake good choices
U se kind words
S how respect
I nvolve yourself
C are for each other and materials

If you are looking to update what procedures you teach, check out this post and get a free (no strings) checklist.

13. Event List/Calendar

Get all your dates together, put them in a list and hand them out at Open House/Back to School night. Post them on your teacher page, send them in an email, and post them in your classroom. Having this all together before the year starts can help you plan backwards from performance dates, and communicates dates early to families. Remember when you make the calendar to put your personal important info in there first!

14. Standards/I Can Statements

Having all of this ready to go with your curriculum is so important to make sure you have everything covered! Take your lesson plans and find the big important take aways from each class (what you want your students to know). Those are drive your “I Can” statements. EX: If you are focusing on learning to write Tika Tika, then the I Can is “I can write tika tika”. If you re focusing on identifying brass instruments by site, then “I can identify brass instruments from pictures.”

15. Rubrics

Have your rubrics ready to go for the year can streamline assessment when it gets busy. You can make sure you are assessing what you really need assessed, and it will fill in your curriculum road map. Know what you want to assess and grade. If you have those ready to go it will help you fill in lessons.

16. PD Log

Make sure you have a place to keep track of all your PD hours. Depending on where you live, it can make a difference for your recertification.

17. Documents for Student Data Collection/Assessment Log

Have a place for it ready to go after you get your class lists. If you like apps, iDoceo is a great option for it. It’s available for Macs and iPads.

18. Contact Log

Put together a log so when you have to contact home you can make sure it is documented. This may be very important at some point and you should always document parent/guardian contact.

19. Seating Charts

Get yourself some templates and make copies for all your classes. Plop in class lists in alphabetical order to start with so that you don’t have to deal with trying to place students in spots the first few weeks. Unless of course you know some student history and can’t have a certain two next to each other. That’s another story!

20. Inventory

Spend the time to make sure you know what you have for materials, what belongs to the school, what’s yours, and make sure everything is labeled. Make sure the list is up to date, and every time you bring something to school of yours, update it!

21. Checklists for Big Events

Big events always lead to forgetting something until last minute (or completely). Put together a checklist of everything you need to do for those big events so you can make sure everything is covered!

Five tools to help you out!

Music Teacher Curriculum Planner

You are constantly looking for a way to get your curriculum in order but what’s out there is so overwhelming. This set will help you get control over all of it. This set includes:

• Concept Plan template
• Lesson Plan template
• Monthly Curriculum Map – done for you K-5
• Monthly Curriculum Map template
• A list of Music and Heritage events throughout the year
• An editable list of music education concepts to cover
• Year at a glance pages including a place for your personal items
• Undated calendar
• Grade level concepts at a glance pages
• Scope and Sequence template
• Scope and Sequence – done for you K-5 (based on Kodaly methodology) 
• Song Analysis Template – A place for you to do a quick analysis of the music you want to use in the classroom
• Song List – A huge, editable list of songs to teach rhythm and melodic concepts

Check it out here

Rubrics

Rubrics are essential. They help students understand expectations, and help us as teachers give effective, consistent feedback, save time, and promote consistency in grading.

This set includes

• 300+ rubrics for rhythm, melody, skills, identifying, and creating as well as Kindergarten concepts.
• Rubrics to be handed back to students
• Log pages for you to keep track of student grades and comments for each assessment
• Blank templates to create your own

Check it out here.

Festive Standards/I Can Statements

These fun, colorful themed cards and posters are a great way to make sure you are posting the standards and I can statements for any music class. Includes 

• Printable cards and projectable for both in class and distance learning. 
• National Standards
• Anchor Standards
• All grade I Can statements
• 238 I Can statements for Grades K-5
• 14 Editable pages for you to include your own I Can statements based on your curriculum.

Check it out here.

Music Teacher Organizer

This HUGE resource includes everything you need to stay organized this year! Lesson planning pages, standards checklists, curriculum at a glance, budget tracker, parent contact tracker, inventory, medical logs and a bunch more! Keep everything in ONE place with this bright and print friendly organizer. Check it out here.

Sub Tub Starter

This Sub Tub Starter Set has everything you need to get your sub materials organized. Includes:

• 3 sub binder covers
• Welcome to the music room letter for procedures and expectations
• Sub cheat seat
• Procedures (table and letter format)
• Daily schedule sheets
• Behavior Issues tracker
• Did a great job tracker
• Sub Report
• Drill at a glance sheet
• Important Medical info sheet
• Daily sub report form
• Where is Form
• What to do if Form
• How to contact Form
• Helpful kids Form
• Activity tracker
• What to do for Form
• Technology for teacher, students and rules sheet
• Video tracker
• Book tracker
• Games my kids know sheet
• Classroom info form (for classroom teachers to fill out for teaches on a cart)
• Daily Travel Directions 
• Lesson Plans
• 2 style seating charts (circular)
• Class list form for attendance, checklists or other needs

Check it out here.