Well it's hard to believe but Back to School time is upon us!  The kids might be dreading it, the parents are loving it and if your a teacher like me, you're conflicted about it!

Happy Thursday All!  Katie form The Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life Blog, here and I'm so excited to be posting on The Blended Blog today, with my Back to School Survival Guide for Teachers.  Now these are tried and true methods that have worked for me for the past few years and help me to cope with the busy back to school chaos and help to keep me somewhat sane!    Hopefully with this handy dandy list, you can find something that will work for you, whether your a teacher or not!







Plan...and not just your lessons!!
These first few weeks (really every single week!!) are often overwhelming for teachers and it sometimes easy to get caught up in it all.  I've found that my planner has been a huge help.  I've always had a paper planner, but this year I upgraded to the Erin Condren to help keep my life on track.  I sort it out with home activities, school activities, and my blog life.  I get huge satifiaction in checking things  off and always have a blast decorating it with stickers!  I'm a tad sticker obsessed!! It's also great to write everything down in, so that you can make sure ALL your time is not taken up on school related activities!! This is separate from those pesky lesson plans I have to do.  But I hear she has cute lesson planners as well.  Check out the Erin Condren site here!

Treat Yo Self!
If the kids can have brand new clothes and shoes for school, why can't we?  One of my favorite things to do, is back to school shopping for a "first day outfit"!  It's something I treat myself to every year.  it's fun, makes me feel good and gets me a little pumped to start a new year!  This year I've am wearing a new striped dress I bought during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale!!!



Email can wait!  Up until 4 years ago this was my biggest downfall!!  Don't check school email after a certain point during the day!  I know most people have their email on their phone nowadays, but if you respond to a parent's email at 11 p.m., they'll think it okay to email you then and always expect a response then.  Set a limit...maybe 5 or 6 p.m.  Then shut it down and make yourself present for your family the rest of the night.  Or if your single like me, do something for you for the rest of the night!!  I've committed to shutting everything down and reading 30 minutes before bed every night this year!



Laugh...a lot!  Because what's the alternative!?!  While at work, laugh with your friends and co-workers...and do it OFTEN!  These are people you see every single day and guess what, they're in the same boat as you!  Even if you don't talk about it often, they have the same feelings as you...so many times.  Talk and laugh with them.  The day will go quicker.  Same can be said of your students!  Find something to laugh about everyday in class!  Celebrate both successes and failures!!  Failure is a learning experience!! And most of all, have fun!!  Dance parties in your living room at the end of the day work well too!!



Wine a little!  C'mon would I post on TBB without mentioning some sort of alcoholic bevvie?  Of Course not!!    Teaching is stressful!  Wine a little!  Or enjoy your favorite adult beverage on Fridays! Or Wednesdays, or Monday....no judgement!!  I often say that coffee in the morning and the promise of wine when I get home is what gets me through the day!  I'm only half kidding!! LOL

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Katie is a regular contributor to The Blended Blog. When she's not blogging, she's laughing.  She spends her days as a teacher-librarian to "her" 300 kids in her hometown on Long Island, New York.  She enjoys online shopping, fun nights out with friends, or in, binge-watching Netflix and drinking wine. Follow along with her at The Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life.