Back-to-School Strategies to Help Teachers Thrive

It is the first day of school. You are either refreshed and ready to go, or you are scrambling to finalize everything before your students arrive. No matter how you feel, the first day is coming whether you are ready or not.

Need a few suggestions, tips, or words of wisdom? As a classroom teacher for a little over a decade, I was fortunate enough to teach every student in my school throughout the year. At one point, I had nearly 800 students every week. Yes, you read that correctly!

I know I'm not the only teacher who has managed a large student body, but over the years I learned a few tricks that helped me stay organized, keep my sanity, and most importantly, have fun.

Suggestion #1: Create a Comfortable Learning Space

Teachers spend 8–10 (or more) hours a day at school. Your students become your children, your colleagues become your family, and your classroom becomes your second home. So why not make it a space that feels warm and welcoming for everyone?

Simple changes can make a huge difference. Add soft lighting with lamps or light covers to reduce the harshness of fluorescent lights. Create a cozy reading nook or quiet corner with pillows, beanbags, or even camping chairs. Arrange your tables or desks so they can be moved easily to create different learning environments throughout the day.

Flexible seating is almost always a win with students. Giving them some choice in where they learn helps increase engagement and allows them to find the space where they do their best thinking.

Suggestion #2: Stay Organized (and Help Your Students Do the Same)

If you're a veteran teacher, you've probably developed an organizational system that works for you. If you're new to teaching, you've probably created a beautiful binder with color-coded tabs and labels—and you're convinced you've figured it all out.

A little advice from someone who's been there: you'll probably reorganize yourself a dozen times before you find the rhythm that truly works.

One of my cooperating teachers shared some "old-fashioned" ideas that I still use today.

Create a physical Beginning of the Year folder (yes, an actual folder—not a Google Drive folder). Place copies of everything you use during those first few weeks: welcome letters, parent notes, login information, first-day activities, and anything else you find yourself recreating each August.

Do the same with an End of the Year folder for all of those year-end activities and forms.

Another simple trick that has saved me countless hours: whenever you print a document, include the file location in the footer. When it's time to make updates next year, you'll know exactly where to find the original file.

She also encouraged me to keep:

• a folder of unplugged activities for unexpected internet outages

• a folder of quick lessons for those shortened class periods caused by assemblies, field trips, or testing

Those folders have rescued me more times than I can count.

Helping students stay organized can be just as challenging.

Encourage students to use a planner. Many schools provide one, but if yours doesn't, consider adding it to your supply list. During the first few weeks of school, check planners daily to make sure assignments are written clearly and completely. Once students consistently demonstrate responsibility, reward them with Planner Independence—meaning they no longer need their planner checked each day.

Another classroom lifesaver is a dedicated supply station. If students need paper, a pencil, or a highlighter, they can quietly grab what they need without interrupting instruction.

One of my favorite ideas came from another teacher who created a Pencil Graveyard. When students used a pencil down to the very end, they "buried" it in a pan filled with soil beneath a sign that read RIP Pencils. It became a fun competition each year to guess how many pencils would end up in the graveyard—and amazingly, there were far fewer pencils left on the floor at the end of the day.

That same teacher also kept a Lost & Found tote. Any stray pencil, eraser, hair tie, or other classroom item found on the floor was placed inside for students to claim later.

Finally, don't underestimate the value of classroom jobs.

Many people associate classroom jobs with elementary school, but I've seen them work successfully at every grade level. Students can sweep, organize papers, collect assignments, distribute materials, or complete any task that helps the classroom run smoothly.

For younger students, take it one step further by introducing classroom "paychecks." After completing their job, students visit the classroom banker (another student job) to collect their daily or weekly earnings. They can then spend their classroom money on special privileges such as:

• Lunch with the teacher

• A homework pass

• Choosing their classroom seat

• Extra computer time

• Or even having a pizza lunch delivered

It's a fun way to build responsibility while creating positive classroom culture.

Suggestion #3: Try Something New

This may be my favorite suggestion.

As teachers, it's easy to become comfortable with lessons we've taught year after year. But I challenge you to try one new thing every school year.

That challenge kept teaching exciting for both me and my students.

For me, it was usually a new piece of technology. One year I introduced Cosmo and Vector robots. Another year I brought in Meccanoid. One year I decided to try coding with my students—and it became part of my curriculum from that point forward.

Your "something new" doesn't have to be a complete overhaul. Sometimes it's simply adding one fresh experience to an existing lesson.

I worked with an amazing fourth-grade teacher who taught social studies and science. She loved teaching the American Revolution and had a tradition where students dressed in period clothing and performed a Revolutionary War skit for the entire school.

That year she wanted to try something different.

Together, we added a virtual reality experience that allowed students to explore Revolutionary War battle reenactments and take a virtual museum tour.

The students absolutely loved it—especially the battle reenactment.

The excitement spread beyond her classroom. The ELA teacher heard about the experience and had students write opinion essays comparing the live performance and the VR experience, explaining which they enjoyed most and why.

One small addition created meaningful learning across multiple subjects.

Bonus Tip: ASK 3 B4 ME

One classroom strategy that saved me countless interruptions was ASK 3 B4 ME.

When students were working independently or in groups, they were expected to consult three other resources before asking me for help.

Those resources might include:

• Their notes

• A classmate

• A textbook

• A classroom anchor chart

• A trusted online resource

When a student approached me with a question, my first response was always:

"What were your 3 B4 Me resources?"

If they had genuinely tried, I was happy to help. If not, I encouraged them to continue searching.

Before beginning any major assignment or project, we spent just a couple of minutes brainstorming possible resources students could use. Over time, students became much more independent problem-solvers.

One Last Thought

I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Seymour Papert:

"The goal is to teach in such a way as to produce the most learning from the least teaching."

Keeping yourself organized, creating a classroom where students feel comfortable learning, and challenging yourself to try something new each year can make a tremendous difference—not just for your students, but for you as well.

Teaching is a journey. Enjoy it, give yourself grace, and have an amazing school year!

About the Author

Allison has over a decade of experience in education, spanning roles as a teaching assistant, AIS (Academic Intervention Services) math teacher, high school business teacher, and most recently, a digital literacy instructor. Her dedication earned her "Teacher of the Year" nominations in 2000 in Providence, Rhode Island, and in 2020 in Broadalbin, New York.