7 Tips for a Super Organized Back to School Season

The back-to-school season can be a whirlwind of activities, but with these seven hacks, you can ensure a smoothly organized transition for both teachers and students. From optimizing morning routines to fostering classroom community, these strategies will help you create an organized back to school period and plan engaging learning environment for students in kindergarten, first, and second grade.

Utilize a Teacher Checklist for an Organized Back to School Period

Stay on top of things by creating a comprehensive and organized back to school checklist. This invaluable tool will keep you organized and ensure that no important tasks or supplies are overlooked. From setting up the classroom to planning lessons, having a checklist will provide a clear roadmap for a successful start to the school year.

Streamline Your Morning Work with Paperless Solutions

Make your mornings more efficient by embracing paperless morning work activities. Explore digital platforms and apps that offer interactive exercises and worksheets, allowing students to develop foundational skills in math, reading, and writing while reducing paper clutter in the classroom.

Build Classroom Community through Morning Meetings

Kick off each day with a morning meeting to cultivate a strong sense of community in your classroom. Encourage students to share their thoughts, ideas, and feelings, fostering social-emotional growth and creating a positive learning environment. Use this time to discuss important topics, review classroom expectations, and set goals for the day.

Not only is morning meeting a cornerstone for a healthy classroom community, but it will make for an organized back to school season if you are using morning meeting slides or another pre-made morning meeting. I am a huge fan of morning meeting slides because it means starting your day with one click. If you want to try a week of free morning meeting slides, visit this link.

Engage Students with Ice Breaker Games

Break the ice and help students get to know one another with engaging icebreaker activities. Incorporate the Getting to Know You Knockout Game to create a friendly and inclusive atmosphere. Students stand in a circle, taking turns sharing interesting facts about themselves while participants clap their hands, creating a lively and interactive experience.

Just like the morning meeting slides, being able to schedule in pre-made games and activities like this one allows you to cross off your back to school to-do list without having to waste a ton of brain calories.

Ready Your Classroom Library With Back-to-School Read Alouds

Reading aloud is a powerful tool to engage students and instill a love for literature—but having books already on hand can also make for an extremely organized back to school season. Introduce back-to-school-themed books during read-aloud sessions to explore new concepts, spark discussions, and foster excitement for learning.

You can look for books that specifically address skills or expectations, or find just-for-fun back-to-school books. I’ve compiled a list of both! For a curated list of recommended books, check out my blog post, “Back-to-School Read Alouds.”

Don’t get TOO Organized (Stay Flexible to Adapt to Student Needs)

Flexibility is key to a successful start, even though it can sometimes feel contrary to being organized. One of my favorite quotes is to “hope for the best but expect the worst” and back to school season is no exception to that rule. Understand that each student is unique, and the initial weeks of school may require adjustments and accommodations. Be open to adapting your expectations and plans to meet the individual needs of your students. This approach will create a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

Prioritize Back-to-School Activities Before Curriculum

When we think of having an organized back to school season, we sometimes assume this means lesson plans and curriculum goals right off the bat. Rather than jumping straight into the curriculum, allocate time for back-to-school activities and team-building exercises. Trying to stick to an exact plan can often backfire. Instead, explore the Back-to-School Activities pack for a variety of engaging resources to kickstart the year; these are “grab and go” activities that can be chosen and completed without any notice or prep.

These activities will help students develop social skills, build relationships, and acclimate to the classroom environment — all things that will keep your entire year organized and running smoothly.

As you prepare for the organized back-to-school season, implementing these seven hacks will create an atmosphere that fosters community, active learning, and a productive and enjoyable school year. Embrace the opportunity to establish a positive and inclusive space where students can thrive academically and emotionally. Here’s to a fantastic and organized back-to-school season!