Whether your school has opened or not -- this is a great time to think about How to plan for the start of school.  If you've just gone through the process - then it's time to reflect.  If you are in the process right this minute, then maybe these ideas will help.

Teacher Work Week.  Many schools that I know hold a teacher work week during the last week before school starts back.  Depending upon the structure of your coop, this will take on a different meaning.  

• If you work in a coop that is broken into separate classrooms, then the meaning would be in the group meetings that you hold.  Since each teacher would be in his or her classroom setting up, the dynamic would be in having other teachers confer on your ideas for your classroom.  
• My school is one large open space with 7 teachers for 35 children each day.  We met each morning during work week to discuss the calendar for the year, the intention for the year, to work out our first theme, and how we wanted the parents involved.  We took a glimpse at the kids (on paper and their pictures) and set up the cubbies, hooks and sign-in sheets.  
• Another school that I worked in spent a few days of the week on professional development to come to their intention for the year.
• Repairs are made to the classroom -- often with the help of parents. Trips to Ikea and Home Depot are essential.  Painting and scrubbing are hopefully done with the help of the parents.
• This is our time to think about the upcoming year -- take a look at our budget, and order supplies to get us through at least the first stretch.  
• Some schools have the teachers visit the home of every child who will be attending their class the next year.  These home visits allow the child to see the teacher on their own turf, and they allow the teacher to see how each family lives.  With this knowledge and perspective, the teachers can have a deeper understanding of a child's behavior once the child gets to school.  This is very time and labor intensive and extremely rewarding for all.

As we all know, once the kids set foot inside the school doors, time seems to accelerate and planning time has to be snatched.  That's when we look at our notes from the work we have done prior to the start of school.  Here are some ideas to prompt your work week:

• How does your playground look?  Is there a place outside for art?  Ever think of creating an outdoor easel?  It could be as simple as attaching paper to a fence or climber, and bringing out some paints.  Or, it can be as formal as purchasing an easel and creating a space for the children to do the painting.  
• Ever thought of having an area in your classroom for just light play?  Using flashlights for shadows?  Or better, a light table to give clarity and intensity to color?  Or, an overhead projector to throw images onto a wall giving the children quite a lot to think about.  How in the world does that projector allow that image to be on the wall?  How is the image made bigger and smaller?  Why?  Anyone who has ever shown an old-fashioned movie to their preschool class knows that putting the child's body between the light source and the wall is much more fascinating than the actual movie.
• Are you planning any plantings this year?  Fall crops are a fine way to begin and to be sure there is a spot for Spring Planting come May.  
• What about themes for the year?  Do you take the cue from the kids and follow their wonderings?  Or do you plan out a theme based curriculum?  At our school, we do a little of both.  Our themes stay basic: 

These are our last few weeks of planning time for year.  I hope your time is fruitful and satisfying.