Being prepared for everything is one of the greatest lessons that I have learned in my years as an educator.

Be prepared for class.  Never walk into the class thinking “I wonder what we should do today?”

• Create an agenda for the day and build a lesson plan to support the agenda.
• Review your lesson plan and be ready to present the material.
• Have your lesson ready but have a backup plan in mind in case your first plan falls apart.

Student salon educators, this includes you too!  Be prepared by showing up each day with a plan in place and activities you can incorporate during downtime.  Be prepared with daily student salon agendas and classes.

Sometimes things like this happen to knock you off your game plan. (You know what I am talking about!)

• The projection bulb goes out and you can’t use your PowerPoint.
• The internet is out, or the computers are crashing, and you can’t use your planned activity.
• The blow dryers keep blowing the circuit breakers so can’t have all students doing the same procedure at the same time.
• Another educator calls in sick and you must find a way to incorporate her students into your class.
• The products you needed for today’s class didn’t come in on time and you can’t do you planned demonstration.

Things like this happen and if you have a variety of activities, exercises, and project ideas ready, no matter what happens to your plan you have something to fall back on if needed.

Be prepared for a variety of student moods.  Students come into the school and may be excited, apathetic, cranky, crying, and on and on. Be sure to have a dynamic class opening prepared that will help get the students out of their own challenges and focused on the day’s class.

Be prepared for a variety of business needs that pop up… fire drills, state board inspection, or an unexpected NACCAS visits!

If you walk into the school prepared for the day, no matter what comes at you, you will be able to handle it.

Remember, proper preparation and planning promote positive performance!