Back to School Tips and Tricks, From a Seasoned Teacher
Hey, y'all! Back to school season is upon us. As a new teacher, many, many moons ago, I was so excited to get into my first classroom and make it my own. It was going to be so Pinterest perfect! Ha! It actually was pretty cute (owls were the thing that year and we had hot air balloons hanging from the ceiling in the library). But over the last decade and a half, I've learned some things about back to school prep. I still go in as soon as the floors are done and try to piece my life together, but my vibe has shifted a bit. With wisdom comes change.
So, if you're still a little green to teaching or just curious about how I get ready for the new year, take a deep, relaxing breath, grab your favorite beverage, and let's go.
1. Create a vision
Before you do anything, decide on a vision for your classroom. What's your vibe? How do you want to feel when you enter this space? How do you want your students to feel? What colors are you envisioning? What colors are already in your classroom and how can you compliment them (or cover them)?
As you start to gather things for your classroom, keep this vision in mind. If you're going for a Montessori, natural-type vibe, maybe a disco ball essential oil diffuser isn't something you want to get. If you're feeling more disco cowgirl, you might want to pass on that cheetah print rug for the library. And just because your teacher bestie got the rainbow drawer thing, doesn't mean that you need to. The clear drawers might more your aesthetic.
Use this vision as you plan out how you'll organize the classroom and all the "stuff" inside it. Create a vibe, and keep it in mind as you shop, plan, and prepare.
Some visions I've had: cool colors (teal, lime, and purple, back when the owls were a thing), travel, camping, rainbows, boho mountain (shown below--there's lots of wood bulletin board paper there), bright dots, and petals and pine. The last few years, my focus has been on natural colors and wood tones, making the classroom calm and cozy.
2. Arrange your furniture before decorating
I have taught in rooms big enough to be an art gallery and ones so small the kids are nearly sitting on top of each other. Before I get too far into planning, I setup the furniture. When you do this, keep in mind where you're going to be teaching from. Will students mainly be facing the smart board, the white board, or will you be teaching from multiple points in the room? Setup desks and tables accordingly so everyone can see wherever you'll be. Sit in every seat so you know what the view is from each vantage point.
Also, plan space for must have anchor charts, sound walls, calendar, etc. so that you leave plenty of wall space visible for students. If you teach littles, be sure to leave space for lining up. And I like to make sure there are no places where someone can hide and I can't see them from the small group table. That's a personal preference (and a safety issue), but something to consider.
During setup days, be sure to wear comfy shoes and clothes. I try to wear tennis shoes so I don't run any furniture over my own toes and mess up a perfectly good pedicure. And, a lot of times, the air isn't on in the building during this time so it feels like a sauna. Dress accordingly.
And make the time fun. Blast some music (with your door closed) or listen to an audiobook. Bring good snacks and a fun drink (I'm thinking iced coffee here, not "grownup drinks," k?). Use the time to get inspired while you work. I do the best thinking while I spin in circles getting the classroom in order. (This is my very first classroom in Texas.)
3. Love the lists
I am a list maker. It works for me. There are too many tabs open in my brain to not write things down. So, while you're setting up, keep a pen and notepad handy (or your phone if you prefer) for making lists--things you need to get, things you left at home, things you need to print. I do this every day during the month of August it seems--make to-do list, go to school, set things up, cross things off, add new things, go home, work on to-do list, rinse and repeat. But, it keeps me organized and focused so I'm not just spinning in circles in the classroom wondering what else still needs to be done. (This notepad is from Callie Daniel.)
4. Do what you can ahead of time
Before I go in, I have as many things ready to go as I can so that when I get there, I can just throw it all together. My calendar and decor is printed and laminated, pride tags are printed and on chains for the first day, I've got my lineup spots ready to be applied, and my bulletin board paper and boarders are ready to go. Folders and notebooks even have labels on them. I just have to copy whatever is going inside them when I get to the school and I'm ready to go. The more you can have ready before you go in, the easier setup will be. 'Cause, you know, there'll be less on the lists, for a few minutes anyway.
5. Make a budget
For your time and your wallet. It is so easy to buy that cute school thing you saw on Instagram or TikTok. And it adds up faster than a first grader can sneeze into your face. So, before you go all crazy getting all the cute things, make a back to school budget and do your best to stick to it. Your wallet will thank you. I can't even tell you how many times I *needed* whatever the latest fad was and it just became a giant pain or a dust collector. (I'm looking at you, light box.) If you're wondering if you need it, you probably don't.
I've found the best way to stay in budget is to make 2--one for school supplies and absolute necessities (packing tape, Command hooks, folders, etc.) and a separate one for "fun stuff" and last minute details. That way, there's still some wiggle room when something cute catches your eye, but you don't go overboard and break the bank.
The same thing goes for your time. It takes me 3-4 days to do all the things in the classroom to get setup. That's if I don't get pulled in to a conversation (or ten) with someone. As much as I like to talk, I know I'm going to see them for the next 185 days. Setup is the priority. I allow myself one week to get ready before all the meetings start. Then, I go home, spend time with my family, have a guilt-free glass of wine, and disassociate with a good book or some trash TV.
You're still on summer break. Don't waste your last few days of it at school getting pre-burnt out. Give yourself an allotted amount of time to get things done and get out of there. If it's not done before the school year starts, you have 9 more months to do the things.
6. You do you
Be true to yourself and your teaching style. I am all for begging, borrowing, and stealing the best tips and tricks to make teaching more engaging and the classroom run more efficiently. The teacher down the hall may have some fabulous ideas, but don't copy something just because it looks good in her room. Do what works for you.
If you know you don't want to take up that much wall space with the cute center wheel spinny thing, don't make one. I use Google slides to tell my groups where to go because it works for us. And my kids learn how to read a chart/table without losing valuable wall space. If you love the hall pass idea that your neighbor is using, but want to modify it a bit, do that!
When I started teaching, my mentor teacher insisted we all needed to use clip charts. (Insert loud groan here.) When I realized by mid-September that it was not changing negative behaviors and was only rewarding the kids who thrived on "being good," we made adjustments. I tossed the clip chart and I've used a "5 star day" system ever since. It works, and it helps me develop healthier relationships with my students.
So, copy what works for you and don't stress the rest. I am the queen of modifying things to work for me and you can be too!
7. Plan, but not too much
I am a planner. Hands down. I start planning for the next school year before the previous one ends. I actually started planning in 8th grade when I realized a good teacher must be able to explain things in more than one way, and that if I ever became a teacher, I would NOT do the thing that one teacher did, or that one.
Anyways, nearly every year for the first few years, I made meticulous plans down to the minute for the first two weeks of school. Then, I'd get to the back to school meetings and they'd throw in an assembly, or we wouldn't have specials the first week, or the principals or counselors would want to come in and talk to the kids at a certain time. All good things, but they all threw a wrench into my plans.
So now, I have a "loose structure" of all the routines and procedures to teach, activities and assessments, and get to know each other games and crafts for the first weeks, and I plug them in as best I can around all the other things.
All I'm saying is, don't get too hung up on your first week plans because something is going to change. Even a parent that won't leave, a runner, a crier, or just a lot of hugs and questions can throw off your schedule, so be ready for changes. Do some yoga because flexibility is key. 😉
8. Don't forget YOU
During B2S season, we spend so much time making sure everything is ready for our students. Between copying, organizing materials, and long walks through the back to school section of your local big box store, it's easy to forget ourselves in the equation. If your needs aren't taken care of, you won't be your best self either.
So in your budget, plan on spending some of your hard earned paycheck on your own back to school supplies: chocolate, snacks for you, flair pens, lotion, an extra deodorant (never know when you're going to need it!), chapstick, mints, anything you might need that would make your day a little smoother. If you have crazy hair like me, keep a stash of hair ties in your room, too. Even keeping some "good" paper towels in the room can make a huge difference in your day.
And the temperature can vary widely in our classrooms. Sometimes my room feels like the Arctic. At other times, it's the surface of the sun. Find clothes and shoes that are comfortable, cozy, and easy to layer. Cardigans are your friend. It's so hard to concentrate when you're freezing or sweating bullets.
Don't forget to get yourself a lunchbox and some cute bento boxes, too. I have a set of cheap silverware (and dish-soap) in my classroom so I never have to worry about forgetting them, a mini fridge and microwave, a Keurig, and a snack drawer. Because, when I get hangry, I get snippy and that's not the kind of environment I want to create. Plan for some lunches you'll get excited about, 'cause the last thing you want after dealing with that one kid or colleague is to have some crappy lunch that brings you no joy. For real.
9. Don't forget you, part 2
Burnout is a real thing in this profession. I'd love to tell you I've never experienced it but that would be a bald-faced lie. We all know how hectic the beginning of the year is. And if we don't plan for our own self-care, it could be June before we finally feel like we can slow down a bit.
So in part 2 of "don't forget you," think about ways you can enjoy the calmness of summertime during the school year. No, I'm not crazy. I know there are still early mornings and evening events and meetings and behaviors and all the things.
But what I mean is, if you're an avid reader, stock up on some books you'll look forward to curling up with after school. If you love a good workout, plan out your gym time and stick to it. 'Cause once you let it go, it is so hard to get back into it. Yoga your thing? Get up a few minutes early and stretch before the stress of the day makes your shoulders tight. Love to cook? Gather the ingredients for some of your favorite meals the first few weeks so you can look forward to a cozy night in. Hate cooking? Gather the things for your favorite feral girl dinner and enjoy it while you're watching your trash TV. To each their own. Do what brings you joy.
The idea is to create a sense of calm so that the chaos of the school day doesn't take over the rest of your life. Even if you have your own kids in sports and after school activities, you can still do things to setup the rest of your life for a little hygge. If we can stop the burnout before it starts (or at least slow it down), we won't be quite so worn out come May. It's all about balance, or lagom. Making self-care a priority goes a long way toward preserving your mental health.
10. Treat yo' self
Or: don't forget you, part 3. Before school starts, do something just for you--be it something as simple as lunch at your favorite cafe or something bigger like a weekend getaway. Do something to help yourself relax before the year starts.
AND, plan ahead for some little treats over the next few weeks. It could be stocking up on fall candles that first weekend, a hike with a friend in the evening, or just a pint of ice cream on Friday night. But plan something. Have something to look forward to that's just for you. These little things keep us going.
Back in the day, I was a full time kindergarten teacher, a single mom of 3 with all kids under the age of 10, and running a TPT store. Throw in some additional PD classes and the kids' sporting and band events and I was exhausted. Even then, I still planned little treats. And I was dead broke, but I still made it work. While the kids were at practice, I'd walk around the fields, just to get time to breathe. I'd have a bag of Hershey Kisses hidden in my bedroom that the kids didn't know about, just for me. On particularly exhausting weeks, we'd get some takeout or some Lunchables, lay a blanket in the floor, put on a Disney movie, and have a picnic, just the four of us, in the living room. Yeah, it could get messy. But it soothed my soul and the kids still talk about those nights 15 years later.
Treating yourself doesn't have to be expensive, but it does give you something to look forward to and helps you keep your sanity a little while longer.
Back to school season can be incredibly stressful, but with a few calculated maneuvers, it doesn't have to run you over. Just remember "VFS": Vision, Focus, Self-care. Keep to your vision, focus on your classroom, time, and budget, and take care of yourself in the process. If you get it done, you get it done. If you don't, oh well.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful week. I'll talk to you soon.
Stay cozy,
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