It’s the beginning of the school year, which is always busy for education staff. MDE-LIO’s education consultants have been in your shoes and have put together some tips to help ease the back-to-school chaos:
- Create a list of all students on your caseload.
- Document your due dates by month.
- Make initial contact with staff, students, and families.
- Prepare student technology and materials.
- Prepare your “bag of tricks.”
- Build your service schedule.
- Set up your car.
- Use systems that feel intuitive for you!
As you start preparing your 2023–2024 school year folders and calendar, take time to make lists that will help you wrap your mind around the students you provide services for, students you are a case manager for, and students you plan to follow up on. Organizing your list by district, or buildings within a district, may improve efficiency and planning during equipment/material drop-offs, scheduling teacher in-services, demonstrations, or simulations, and ordering supplies. (Perhaps you want to color code your supplies as well!)
Using tools and systems that are intuitive to you can help with managing individualized education program (IEP) due dates and deadlines. A snapshot view of all IEP due dates for the school year will be worth the work! Note the three-year re-evaluations and use your electronic calendar to set reminders for yourself one month ahead of due dates.
Systems, such as color-coding or electronic calendars and notes versus paper and pencil, are easiest to implement at the beginning of the school year. If last year’s method needs improvement, don’t be afraid to change it up! Electronic data collection may be a big leap; perhaps try it with a small handful of students on your caseload so you can compare the results. As you prepare equipment and your bag of tricks, reach out to your colleagues in the field for ideas on organizing and inventorying the items you use daily.
Don’t forget that MDE-LIO offers support for a variety of needs. You can reach out to consultants on our team individually or by emailing [email protected].