Shawnette Brown

There was a lot going on in September. As I prepared for the new school year, I intentionally took time to reflect on the students who would be entering my classroom. I prayed for them—that they had enjoyed a wonderful, refreshing summer and that they would feel welcomed, valued, and connected as members of our classroom community.

The beginning of the year is always one of my favorite times because it gives us an opportunity to build relationships. Through community-building activities, I was able to watch students interact, connect with one another, and begin finding their place within our classroom family. These early observations often tell me so much about who they are as learners and as people.

This particular September was especially challenging, and I honestly could not have accomplished everything without my student teacher. Her support was invaluable as we navigated the excitement and demands of the start of the school year together.

One of my favorite traditions is sharing carefully selected back-to-school read-alouds. This year, the books resonated beautifully with the students. One of my all-time favorites is Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco. I also love many of Patricia Polacco’s other books because they remind students that everyone has strengths and challenges. There are things they may excel at right away, and there are things that may require patience and perseverance. Most importantly, they learn that they will not be the same students in June that they are in September. Growth happens throughout the year, and that is something worth celebrating.

Another activity I look forward to every year is the “What’s in the Bag?” activity. Students go home and select three items to bring back to school. One item represents something they love, another represents a place they visited during the summer, and the third can be anything they choose. One by one, each student sits in the rocking chair and shares their items with the class.

It is such a simple activity, but it is filled with joy. I love learning about my students, hearing their stories, and taking little notes about what makes each child unique. It helps me begin building connections that will last throughout the year, and it is a tradition I truly cherish.

Taking individual student photographs, capturing our class picture, printing and laminating them, and displaying them throughout the room made everything feel real. Looking around the classroom, I realized that this was my new group of students. This was our classroom family. Together, we were about to embark on a year of learning, growth, challenges, and accomplishments.

As I stood there looking at their faces, I couldn’t help but smile and think: we’re going to do great things together.

After being away for much of the summer and then unexpectedly delayed in Peru, returning to my classroom felt like a breath of fresh air. Walking back into a familiar space and preparing for a new school year brought a renewed sense of excitement and purpose.

Of course, one of the most important parts of the summer was spending quality time with my husband and reconnecting as a family. We were also navigating a significant transition as our youngest child had recently graduated from high school and was preparing to begin his journey at West Chester University. It was a season filled with pride, reflection, and change.

Professionally, I was eager to begin working with my student teacher, knowing that the 2025–2026 school year would bring new opportunities for collaboration, growth, and learning. The combination of mentoring a future educator, supporting my students, and embracing new challenges made me confident that the year ahead would be both engaging and rewarding.