The Back to School Checklist for a New School Year: Class Provider Edition
Dhwani Shah
September 16, 2024
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7 min read
The summer days are drawing to a close, and the excitement of a new school year is just around the corner. As the back to school season approaches, we understand that the excitement and challenges of preparing for a new academic year can be overwhelming. But worry not! We're here to help you seamlessly navigate this process with our comprehensive back to school checklist tailored specifically for class providers. Whether you're an educational institution, training center, or individual educator, these steps will ensure a successful start and a smooth transition into the upcoming school year.
As students gear up to return to learning mode after their long summer sojourn, putting together an appropriate physical space to create a conducive learning environment, whether in-person or online, is crucial for student engagement and success.
If you have transitioned from COVID induced online classes to in-person classes, it's important to ensure that your classrooms, learning spaces and other common areas are clean, organized, and equipped with the necessary learning materials and equipment. If you continue to conduct online lessons, it would be wise to test and optimize your online learning platforms for a seamless virtual learning experience.
Moreover, an organized learning environment can boost productivity and focus for both you as well as your students. After all, having the right tools is key to staying organized and engaged in learning.
Arrange your teaching and learning space with the necessary supplies (stationery, game equipment etc.), and ensure good lighting and minimal distractions. You could make the most of back to school sales to procure all that you need at the best prices.
Invest in organizational tools such as folders, binders, and file organizers to keep your papers, assignments, notes and other documents in order. Note down exam dates, project deadlines, and other significant events to avoid last-minute hassles and rushes. Alternatively, you could explore digital note-taking and journaling apps that can help you keep your materials, documents as well as your thoughts and ideas organized and easily accessible. Using your digital calendar to mark important events is a safe way to ensure you never miss a class or assignment.
Configure your digital set-up to ease the managerial process at the backend. An efficient class management system allows you to schedule classes and publish your schedule online to facilitate online bookings by customers. Moreover, a structured student database management system can aid in keeping a digital track of student records and organizing and analyzing student data (attendance, exam results, assignments) effortlessly. A smart document management system can also ease the challenge of dealing with high volumes of documents throughout the year.
Pro Tip: Add personal touches to your teaching and learning space by decorating it with creative pieces, student work, inspirational quotes or artwork that motivates and inspires you and your learners. Feel free to add pictures of your favorite people (friends, family, pets) and favorite memories to remind you of the good things in life!
If we wish to see where our future is headed, all we need to do is have a look at our past and that will tell us all the answers. - Anthony T. Hincks
As an educator and class provider, each year provides us with new ideas and insights into our profession and performance. Before the new academic year kicks off, take some time to thoroughly review any and all data you may have collated over the past year and update your class offerings and method of operation to meet the evolving needs of your students and the industry.
Take into account feedback from previous students and parents to identify areas for improvement and refinement in your courses.
Assess the relevance and effectiveness of your current curriculum and learning modules and update syllabi, course materials, videos, and assignments accordingly. Consider incorporating new subjects or updating existing ones to keep pace with industry trends.
Consider introducing new workshops, seminars, or courses that align with emerging skills and technologies.
Life as a class provider can be quite demanding and tiring. Taking a moment to reflect on the past year and plan for the upcoming one can make a big difference in your academic journey. The same applies to nurturing your personal life.
Define your professional and personal goals for the year. Having clear objectives can motivate you throughout the year and enable you to motivate your learners.
Plan your working hours and additional activities to strike a balance between learning and relaxation to avoid burnout.
Pro Tip: Think of ways to evolve your feedback system throughout the year to enable the collection of more precise and relevant information. You could employ a variety of tools ranging from simple Google forms and email surveys to social media polls and website analytics. Better quality data will simplify the process of self-evaluation and in turn, the implementation of suitable changes.
Today’s digital age is making the world smaller, and communication quicker. Communication is key, and for a class provider, effective communication is vital for attracting and retaining students.
Refresh your brochures, flyers, and online content to reflect your updated class offerings and any other improvements you have made.
Pro Tip: A creative way to market your business would be to rebrand stationery and class equipment with your brand logo. You could provide your students with a ‘back to school’ kit (if you are a tutoring institute, the kit could consist of a notebook, a pencil case, and other indispensable stationery branded with your logo) at the beginning of the academic year. Within view, within mind.
Maintain a constant and interesting social media presence. In an age where content is king and mobile phones are almost chained to hands, the best way to get your word out is to engage with your audience on social media platforms - Instagram lives, online polls, contests and giveaways - to generate interest and excitement about what you have to offer.
Set up clear communication channels for inquiries, registrations, and updates. Ensure your contact information is readily available and up to date. Class providers are also making the most of QR codes to enable customers to access class schedules, registration and trial forms, and trial bookings online. You could also leverage email marketing and text message marketing to establish and maintain strong connections with your stakeholders.
People are better assets than machines. They self-maintain, adapt and grow. Companies in the top quartile of the “investment in training per employee” have profit margins higher by 24%. Investing in people is simply more profitable, and hence, it's a great idea to equip your instructors and staff with the tools and knowledge they need to deliver an exceptional learning experience.
Provide opportunities for your instructors to enhance their teaching skills and stay updated with the latest pedagogical techniques. Encourage participation in workshops, webinars, and certification programs to keep them inspired and equipped with new strategies. You could also arrange for in-house employee training courses. This not only improves teaching quality but also boosts their confidence and commitment to delivering the best learning experiences.
Ensure your staff is proficient in using any digital tools or platforms that will be utilized for teaching and communication; the future is sure to usher in and harbor newer education technology trends. Most technology providers - Apple, Windows and more - always offer back to school discounts and offers on their products.
Streamlining the registration and enrollment process is important to create a seamless signing up experience for both students and parents.
Offer an online registration option to simplify the registration and enrollment process and reduce paperwork. Reducing paperwork saves you a lot of administrative hassle, and well, it also saves trees! Classcard gives you the option to customize student registration forms, so you have all the right information to nurture student relationships.
Provide clear instructions on how to register, make payments, and access course materials. Provide the option of reaching out to an efficient chat assistant or a helpline number in case of any doubts or difficulties.
Planning the finances for your business is equally essential, if not more so, as planning engaging classes. Prepare for financial aspects meticulously and judiciously to ensure smooth operations throughout the year.
Review and adjust tuition and fees as needed. Communicate any changes to parents and students well in advance. Do not hesitate to charge your worth.
You may choose to offer custom payment plans to clients, by allowing installment payments over time or other flexible payment options, based on their requirements and convenience. Classcard eases your job by sending out timely reminders for invoice payments and generating unique payment links with each invoice. What’s more, it also lets you customize and add installment plans suited to your and your clients’ needs. A unique feature on our class management system allows you to offer your clientele a subscription model for payments and services. And the multiple payment gateway integrations we offer to enable secure transactions are just the cherry on top!
If applicable, offer financial aid options or scholarships and clearly communicate the application process and deadlines.
In the post-pandemic landscape, prioritizing the health and safety of your students and staff becomes paramount.
Develop and communicate careful health protocols that align with local guidelines and regulations, keeping in mind the nature of the activity and the well-being of everyone involved.
Consider offering hybrid learning options that allow students to attend classes both in-person and virtually. This would also enable students to avoid missing out on lessons that they cannot be physically present for.
While you focus on the welfare of your stakeholders, don't forget to look after yourself. A healthy body and mind are crucial for success and ensuring that you are ready to take on the challenges that lie ahead.
Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much. - Helen Keller
Humans are inherently social creatures and being a part of a community gives us the opportunity to connect with people and be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Fostering a sense of community and engagement among your students can make them feel safe, secure and connected and in turn, provide positive experiences.
Organize orientation sessions to introduce students and parents to each other, the class environment, expectations, and resources. Kick off the year with fun and interesting icebreaker activities during the initial days to allow learners to get to know their teachers as well as their peers better. Building a strong support system can greatly enhance learning experience.
Create class groups or online forums to enable learners and parents to connect with classmates for informal chats, discussions and study groups.
Plan extracurricular activities, workshops, or clubs that encourage students to connect with peers who share similar interests, sometimes even outside of class hours. These don't necessarily need to be related to the subject you teach. You could organize activities that allow students to explore new passions and build lasting friendships.
Pro Tip: Organize open days or coffee mornings for the members of your community. This gives them a chance to visit your institute and see all that you have to offer. Giving out branded goodies at these events is an excellent way to market your business and attract new customers. You could also organize events or competitions in your neighborhood to bring residents together for a fun weekend celebration. For example, if you are a tennis academy, you could organize an annual tennis championship at your class premises.
As class providers, your role in shaping the educational journey of students is invaluable. With this ultimate back to school checklist, you're well-equipped to start the upcoming academic year on the right foot.
At Classcard, we're committed to supporting your efforts in providing top-notch education and fostering a positive learning environment. We've compiled a list of the most important things to consider when starting off the new academic year - as well as some useful questions you can ask yourself to help you ease the process of making the shift. Download your checklist here.
If you’d like to make this new academic year the best one yet, try Classcard. Our feature-rich and practical class management software allows you to schedule classes, manage bookings, track attendance and payments, seamlessly communicate with students and staff, and much more. Say goodbye to all your administrative hassle as we make your life easier.
Here's to a successful and rewarding school year filled with growth, learning, and meaningful connections!