Back to School

Blueprint for New

Science Teachers

(C) BEAKERS AND INK

 The Back to
School Blueprint
for New Science
Teachers

Whether you're a first year teacher or switching content areas, this guide is your
blueprint to starting off on the right foot in the science classroom!

LAB SAFETY

NO MATTER WHAT GRADE YOU'RE TEACHING,

LAB SAFETY IS KEY!
A lab safety contract is a must at the beginning of the year!
I love using the Flinn Science safety contract for grades 6-8.
This free safety contract covers all of the general rules
students will need in middle school.

There's also a free science safety test from Flinn so you can
be sure your students are ready for lab! Click the links to
download.

The phrase "it takes a village" couldn't be more true than in the world of
education!

Research shows that more than one in three new teachers leave by their fifth
year without the support of a mentor. If your district doesn't assign mentors

FIND A for new teachers, reach out to a teacher in your content area who is willing to
share their experiences with you. Just like we tell our students, it's ok to ask
MENTOR questions!

Lean on your fellow teachers for support for all things curriculum, classroom
management, and everything in between! Building relationships and
connecting with other teachers will help you to feel a part of your school and
make your job that much more rewarding!

(C) BEAKERS AND INK

 SETTING
EXPECTATIONS
Setting and maintaining expectations is the key to
a classroom that runs like clockwork.

Before school starts, consider what your

expectations are for entering the classroom and
beginning work, working in groups, asking
questions, using the restroom, cell phones.....

It may sound crazy, but you need to teach these

expectations explicitly during the first several
weeks with consistency! Model the behaviors
you want students to see and practice, practice,
practice! After a month, you'll be reaping the
rewards!

STUDENT
ORGANIZATION
I know it's in here somewhere..... I just had it.....

For most students, organization is not an innate

skill! Just take a look inside their locker and
you'll see what I mean! LOL!

Consider using a classroom system for students

to organize notes, labs, study guides, etc.

Whether you're "team composition book," "team

three ring binder," or "team 3 prong folder" (my
favorite!!!), help your students establish a system
for organizing their class materials!

In the long run, you will save SO much time and

appreciate this more than you can imagine!

QUICK TIP:
Lab activities don't have to be fancy or elaborate! You'll find that even the simplest of investigations or
demonstrations can make a huge impact on student learning!
(C) BEAKERS AND INK
 HANDS-ON
ACTIVITIES
I am a huge fan of scaffolding activities in the
classroom! In the beginning, provide LOTS of
structure during activities!

Take the time to model and "over teach" the

processes and procedures you want them to
use during the first few weeks of school.

The extra time you take to explicitly teach

students will be worth it down the road.

Remember, you can ALWAYS give them

more freedom and independence if they
demonstrate they are ready. But it's hard to
back-track and reel the class back in!

JUMPING IN!
Think back to your first day of school. Most likely, you
sat through an entire day of listening to teachers go
over rule after rule.

Starting off the year with a fun hands-on activity is a

great way to spark a love of science and set the stage
for future activities!

Keep these things in mind...

First day activities don't need to be complicated!
Be sure to provide plenty of structure in your
activity.
Be explicit about roles students will have if they are
working in groups so you set them up for success!
Model the expectations for your activity, this goes a
long way in avoiding chaos!

QUICK TIP:
Have a routine for students entering the classroom This could be a warm up question, short video clip and response (if
you're 1:1), or maybe a cartoon to analyze. This gives you a chance to do some quick housekeeping and gets students
thinking and ready for class!
(C) BEAKERS AND INK
 ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Schedule time for yourself! It's easy to get wrapped up in "school" 100% of the time! You
can't be a great teacher if you're stressed out and overwhelmed.
Your room doesn't have to be "Pinterest perfect!" Student products are a great way to
decorate the room as the year goes on.
It's always about the kids! Focus on building relationships - that's half the battle, even with
the most difficult students!
You don't have to reinvent the wheel!!!

ABOUT ME
Hey there! I’m Carrie, a middle school science teacher with a passion for bringing
science to life in the classroom.

As a busy teacher, wife, and mom of a spunky seven-year-old, I know how much
time it takes to create content-rich, engaging resources. I’m here to share my best
science resources and classroom strategies with you!

I remember my first year of teaching, more than twenty years ago. I was a new special ed teacher with more questions
than answers. I was afraid to ask too many questions to the same person. Would you believe that I used to 'rotate"
teachers when I asked questions because I was so embarrassed?!

After ten years of teaching special education, I moved into my dream job as a middle school science teacher! I spent
HOURS learning the curriculum and planning lessons. It was like being a first year teacher all over again!

My goal isM
to o s t you
save i mtime
p o rsot athat
n tyou
l y .can
. . . live your best life – both in and out of the classroom!

Feel free to reach out if you need anything! I'm here to help and support you!

Carrie
carrie@beakersandink.com
www.beakersandink.com

(C) BEAKERS AND INK