Welcome to this special back-to-school episode, where we discuss essential preparations for the upcoming academic year. We're keeping it simple, practical, and minimal – perfect for play-based educators! Everything you need for back to school set up is here in the Thrivivial Kit! In this episode: On this episode of Pre-K Spot Talks, we dive into the intricacies of back-to-school preparation for early childhood educators. Melysa shares her experience of managing  time within a fixed school schedule and the challenges that can arise. We explore the importance of creating an inviting classroom environment and the significance of videos that introduce the teacher, read books to children, and allow parents to become familiar with the educator before meeting in person.  Organizing the classroom and setting up the space is another key topic discussed, with an emphasis on cleanliness and creating a wish list for essential supplies. We introduce a helpful shopping website called Doe and the benefits of using wish lists to obtain additional classroom needs. The speaker also reveals their favorite strategy of sending a comprehensive Meet the Teacher letter to parents, covering everything from routines to playtime duration, to prevent repetitive questions.  Our episode also focuses on flexibility in lesson planning and the advantages of being child-led in education. We introduce the Early Childhood Educators Thrival kit, a valuable tool for planning the first 40 days of school and establishing routines. We delve into the importance of collecting information about each child's background, habits, and interests to better understand their needs.  We explore the significance of play in back-to-school preparation and offer tips on incorporating new play ideas based on research. Melysa emphasizes the role of identity work throughout the school year and the importance of accurately representing diverse families. Strategies for successful Parent Nights are also discussed. Throughout the episode, Melysa shares her personal experiences and insights gained from her seven years of teaching. She provides tips on efficient classroom setup and time management, with suggestions on how to handle new projects or materials organization.  Join us on this episode of Pre-K Spot Talks as we delve into the essential aspects of back-to-school preparation for early childhood educators and discover tips and strategies to ensure a successful start to the school year. Topics covered in this audio session: - Managing time within the school's schedule - The role of the master schedule in determining fixed times for various activities - Limited flexibility in schedule rearrangement - Importance of creating an inviting and aesthetically pleasing classroom - Sending videos to parents before the start of school - Organizing the classroom and setting up the space - Creating an essentials wish list and using a shopping website - Sending a comprehensive "Meet the Teacher" letter to parents - Sending videos to both adults and kids - Being flexible in lesson planning and child-led education - Introducing the Early Childhood Educators Thrivival kit - Collecting basic information about the child and their family - The importance of play in early childhood education - Incorporating new play ideas at the beginning of the year - Collecting information a For awesome merch and more info visit Pre-KSpot.com Lot's more topics, tips, and fun on Instagram @prek.spot Even more free content inside out bi-weekly newsletter! Join today. We have so many amazing resources and FREEBIES just for you.