5 Back To School Tips To Help Teachers Prepare For A New School Year

7/26/2026

Did you take the time to organize your classroom before school ended, or did you mostly move things around, thinking, "I'll deal with it at the end of the summer?"

Does your classroom get cleaned from top to bottom during the break? Ours always did. We had to wait until the custodial staff finished cleaning the room and waxing the floors before we could move everything back in. Looking back, that was probably a good thing because it forced me to stay away for a while.

But I have to admit, I could hardly wait to get back into my classroom. I loved puttering around, rearranging furniture, organizing supplies, and thinking about ways to make the room feel warm and welcoming before my kids arrived.

Some of you are getting ready to head back to school in just a couple of weeks. Others have only been on summer break for three or four weeks. Wherever you are on that timeline, I'm willing to guess that school has popped into your thoughts more than once.

Teachers have a hard time completely switching off. I know I did. Even while I was enjoying summer with my family, I'd suddenly think, "That would be a great idea for my classroom."

If you're starting to think about heading back, here are a few things that always helped me ease into a new school year.

1. Start with one small area

It's tempting to think you need to tackle your entire classroom in one day. Instead, choose one space, a bookshelf, your teacher's desk, a cupboard, or your math manipulatives. Finishing one area gives you a sense of accomplishment and makes the next task feel much easier.

2. Think about your routines before your decorations

It's fun to create bulletin boards and hang colorful displays, but the first few days of school run much more smoothly when you've already thought through your classroom routines.

How will children enter the room? Where will they put backpacks? How will they hand in work? A little planning now saves a lot of time later.

3. Gather your first-week activities

The first week is all about building relationships and helping children feel comfortable. Having a few engaging activities ready means you can spend less time worrying about what comes next and more time getting to know your class.

4. Make the room feel like a fresh start

If you teach in a school where classes are reorganized each fall, chances are some of last year's children will be back in your room as part of a split class. I always wanted them to feel they were starting a new chapter, not repeating the old one.

A new bulletin board, a different desk arrangement, a cozy reading corner, or even a few new displays can make the classroom feel fresh and exciting for everyone. You don't have to buy anything new; sometimes simply seeing familiar things in a new way is enough.

5. Give yourself permission to ease back in

The beginning of the school year is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. You don't have to have everything finished before the first bell rings.

Prioritize what your class needs for the first few days and let the rest come together over time. Your students won't remember whether every bin was perfectly labeled. They'll remember how you made them feel.

As you're getting ready for another school year, remember that you've done this before. You know what works in your classroom, and you'll continue to make adjustments as you get to know this year's group of children.

I hope you still find time to enjoy these last weeks of summer. Read a book. Go for a walk. Spend time with family and friends. The school year will be here soon enough.

When you're ready, check out my Back to School and Classroom Management categories for some of my favorite back-to-school activities and classroom management resources to help make those first weeks a little easier.