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The Present Teacher Blog

Learn the systems to confidently leave at contract time so you can thrive in and out of the classroom.

Back-to-School Night is just around the corner and you're wondering if you have everything ready or not. You have no idea what the format should be and you're scrolling TPT for resources. Today we will be taking a 10-question quiz to figure out if you are ACTUALLY ready for Meet the Teacher Night or not. We'll cover questions like which resources you should have prepared, how to follow up, what the format is, etc. Didn't score as high as you wanted? No problem! Stick around to the end for your results PLUS some bonus tips to feel confident and prepared to make a good impression with families this back to school season.
Quiz: Are You Ready to WOW Families During Back to School Night? classroom setup Jun 18, 2025

When I was a first-year teacher, I was terrified of Back to School Night.

I spent hours wondering:

  • What will families think of me?

  • What if I forget something important?

  • Will I make a g

    ...
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You've scrolled social media and seen the horror stories on how the first day or first week of school can be chaotic. Or maybe you've taught before and realized that you focused on all the wrong things, but this year you want to do things differently. Today, we will be diving into common mistakes that new teachers make that lead to a chaotic back-to-school season. PLUS, we'll be talking about which practical steps you can take this summer to avoid all the chaos. We'll be diving into topics such as planning what to teach during the first week of school, how to balance making your classroom cute and the practical, what to focus on to have effective classroom management from day one, how to transition your students from one activity to another, and which procedures to teach during the first day of school.
The Real Reason Your First Day of School Feels Chaotic (And How to Fix It Beforehand) classroom setup Jun 18, 2025

I’ll never forget my first day of school as a new teacher.

I had the cutest classroom. My bulletin boards were Pinterest-worthy. I had a stack of activities prepped and printed. I thought I was ready...

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Its your first or second year of teaching and you're wondering how to organize and setup your classroom strategically. You don't want to make any silly mistakes so you are searching for the top classroom organization hacks to save you time during the school year. Today, I'll be diving into my top classroom organization strategies that will save you hours during the school year. We'll be covering topics like how to organize your student supplies, how to organize your classroom library, how to keep your classroom and desk clutter-free, how to save hours of planning by organizing your digital resources, and how to save hours grading with this easy-to-use grading system.
5 Classroom Organization Hacks That Save You HOURS During Back-to-School Season classroom setup Jun 18, 2025

When I first started teaching, I spent two months prepping for back to school.

I skipped out on summer fun, stressed over every bulletin board, and focused on all the wrong things. And the worst part...

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Meet the Teacher Night is just around the corner, and you're starting to feel nervous. You're wondering how you're going to get parents to like you, what you should say, and how can you be prepared. Today we are diving into everything you need to know to have a successful meet the teacher night. These shy-girl strategies are my full proof method to showing up confidently even if you are terrified. We'll cover things like how to format the night, how to prepare your classroom, which materials you should have, what should be in your handouts, and even what your slides should say.
How to Nail Meet the Teacher Night (Even if You Have No Idea What You’re Doing) classroom setup Jun 18, 2025

Are you a new or first-year teacher who just found out you have a Meet the Teacher Night coming up—and your heart is already racing?

You’re probably wondering:

  • What am I supposed to say?

  • Ho

    ...
Continue Reading...

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Helena Hains

Helena Hains is a coach for new and first-year teachers who helps them with things like time management, classroom management, classroom setup, the interviewing process, and starting their own businesses.

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