Teacher in September: 5 Inspiring and Unique Ideas

Instructional and Assessment Strategies, Reading Instruction

September is a captivating month: the Hogwarts Express leaves the station, I celebrate my birthday (21 again!), and cardigans and cable knits begin to emerge. At school, everything starts to settle into a rhythm. You recognize repeat behaviors, identify data patterns, and make adjustments along the way.

Since September is one of my favorite times of the year, I wanted to share 5 inspiring and unique ideas for your classroom.

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2 Easy September Changes

As September begins, the easiest way to embrace the season is the invite it into your classroom. Of course, you can be as elaborate your want to with decor as you’d like, but I don’t always have the time or energy for door decorations. Instead, I make these two quick, sustainable changes.

First, I switch to my Autumn Visual Writing Prompts. Students enjoy visual writing prompts because they encourage creativity. I often “frame” the prompt based on the season or based on a subject we’re discussing in class. For example, if we’re working on word choice, I may encourage students to highlight strong word choices in their writing.

Second, I spotlight a few fall favorites in the classroom library. This is such an easy change. All I do is pull 3-5 seasonal favorites to the front of the bookshelf. If we have time, I may do a brief book talk. Here are some fall suggestions:

Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey is a school mystery but with magic. It’s not as picturesque as Harry Potter, but it’s far more aware. That back-to-school vibe makes it perfect for this time of year.
Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall is kind of a magical and YA spooky road trip book but without cars. Along with its prequel Our Last Echoes, this is a prefect pre-Halloween read.
A Question of Holmes by Brittany Cavallaro is the first Charlotte Holmes novel. This is an autumnal mystery with just a little bit of romance. I found this book totally charming!
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is not an explicitly autumnal read, but something about its tragedy puts it safely in the “sad girl fall” category. I actually think several of Green’s books would fit here, and I almost put Looking for Alaska on the list.

Poems for September

Choosing seasonal poems is another way to invite September into the classroom. Even though you may choose an autumnal poem, you can still focus on any skills or standards. The best text choices lend themselves to a variety of skills. Here are some fall favorites:

“Courage” by Anne Sexton takes readers through the speaker’s “seasons” of life, including a devastating fall. Read it here.
“Spring and Fall: To a Young Child” by Gerard Manley Hopkins is my favorite poem of all time. Something about the imagery of “Goldengrove unleaving” captures the beauty of autumn. Read it here.
“Luke Havergal” by Edwin Arlington Robinson uses rhyme in a way that captures the thunder of falling leaves. The sparse color imagery also highlights the season. Read it here.
“Deer Hunt” by Judson Jerome and “To Kill a Deer” by Carol Frost capture the frenzy of hunting season. In my neck of the woods, deer season is a big deal, so these poems engage students. Grab them both in Synthesis Bundle #2.

Celebrate the Season

September is also a time to spotlight important people and ideas. Add these key ideas to your calendar!

First, Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15, so this is a good time of the year to spotlight Hispanic and Latinx authors. As with seasonal poetry, teachers can match texts from Hispanic and Latinx authors with a variety of skills and standards. Increasing diversity and representation in the texts I choose in my classroom is an ongoing priority. Check out these 14 poetry recommendations!

Additionally, September 22-28 is the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week. There are so many ways to celebrate Banned Books Week, but these are my favorite texts to spotlight.