By Jules Rhee, MEd | Last updated 7/20/2026
9 simple back-to-school tips for elementary teachers to organize, prep, and start the year confidently. Grab the FREE checklist for more!
Getting Ready for a New School Year
Did you ever worry you were going to forget something crucial? Or make a to-do list, and then lose it five minutes later? (Yep, that happened more times than it should’ve.) But when that first week went well, it made everything after it easier, for my students and for me.
Every summer, I’d join all the other teachers scrolling Pinterest, hunting for back-to-school tips. Because that’s what we do.
And even after years in the classroom (especially those last few!), I still had moments of what am I forgetting?! as my to-do list morphed into a never-ending project.
But I learned that the more prepared I was, the calmer I felt. And that’s what let me focus on my students instead of my to-do list.
When the back-to-school stress kicked in, I kept these thoughts in mind:
“One step at a time.”
“Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
“I can do this.”
I kept repeating these in my mind, and after a while, they started to kick in.
I knew I couldn’t control everything – but I could control my mindset, my prep, and my priorities. (Still reminding myself of that one.)
So if you’re right in the middle of it, slow down and take a breath. Read over these ideas and pick the ones that don’t cause you stress.
Here are the Back to School Tips Every Teacher Needs:
They’re pretty easy… and they do make a difference!
1. Learn Students’ Names (Yes, It Really Matters)
Before the first day, I’d study my class list and always, always practiced saying names out loud ahead of time.
One year, I stumbled over a student’s name for days, and we both felt awkward. I learned that if I needed to, it was a smart idea to check with last year’s teacher to make sure I got the tricky pronunciations just right.
Quick tricks that helped me:
- Name labels on desks – a visual shortcut that connected names to faces and seating spots.
- DIY name tents – thick cardstock folded into thirds and taped down. Bonus: students could personalize them with arrows (⬆ means “I’ve got it,” ⬇ means “I need help”). Super handy and student-friendly.
- Locker and hook name tags – great for the first week or two. Just be ready to remind students not to pick at the tape like it’s a fidget toy.
- Pre-made sticky name tags – If you want cute or functional, TpT is full of editable options. I used them every year.
Some teachers use student numbers to keep things organized – especially helpful for grading and paperwork. Just be careful: the roster always shifts. New students arrive. Some don’t show.
If you use numbers, wait a day or two before locking them in, and never reassign them mid-year (trust me on this).
2. Teach Daily Routines and Procedures (It’s worth the time!)
If there’s one thing that really helped year after year, it was teaching the routines right away and repeating them often.
Before the year started, I’d make a list of every important (and unimportant) classroom procedure and make sure I taught them like they were part of my actual curriculum. And yes, it’s time well spent.
When you take the time to directly teach and model classroom expectations from day one, the rest of your year runs smoother. Students know what’s expected, and you’re not nagging about the same things in November.
Here’s the routine I followed to teach all my classroom routines. It was kind of a routine inside a routine!
- Model the correct way.
- Model the wrong way.
- Discuss why it was wrong.
- Let a student show the correct way again.
That last step really clicks it in place. And, for that last step, choose a student who might truly struggle with the routine, and it will work even better. It gives them a chance to practice and get feedback right away before habits form.
Procedures worth teaching early:
- Taking lunch count
- Getting your attention
- Sharpening pencils (make sure this is on your list!!)
- Lining up and hallway behavior
- Coat and backpack routines
- Drink and bathroom breaks
- Classroom manners and expectations
3. Make Lesson Plans
I always felt more confident walking into the school year when I had a game plan written out for at least the first two weeks.
Even though those first few days were often filled with some chaos, having some structure helped me feel ready. I’d plan out my goals, important topics, and where I hoped things were headed, even if it didn’t always go according to plan.
Pro tip: Save all of your planning notes, scribbles, sticky notes, and last year’s copies. You’ll be so glad next year when you go through all this again, and you’re trying to remember what actually worked – and what flopped.
I’m a paper-and-pencil kind of planner, and my ideas didn’t always fit in those tiny boxes in the lesson plan book. So I drew arrows, scratched things out, and filled in the gaps as I went.
If you’re more of a digital planning person, you’ve got so many options. TpT is full of editable planners that are cute, functional, and customizable.
Confession: I always got a little too excited about picking out a new planner every year. There was just something magical about a brand new, clean planner and pretty tabs. IYKYK.
At the end of the day, it’s all about what helps you feel ready. And yes, plans will change. Sometimes multiple times. But having a starting point will reduce your stress and anxiety.
Hey Upper Elementary Teachers!
Want to actually feel prepared this year?
Grab your FREE “No Stress” Back-to-School Checklist made just for upper elementary teachers!
This printable (and editable!) checklist is filled with smart, practical ideas to kick off the school year without the chaos.
- Perfect for organizing your to-dos
- Easy to customize based on your school’s needs
- Designed to save your sanity during back-to-school prep
No fluff. Just a checklist that really helps.
Sign up for emails and download your copy now!
If you want to keep your loose papers, schedules, and lesson plans from becoming a paper tornado, I put together the exact template system I used to stay sane. You can check out my Teacher Binder Bundle here to see if it fits your style.
CLICK HERE (or the image below) to learn how to set up your teaching binder and keep track of the essential paperwork you need (and don’t know what to do with).
Plus, grab the FREE Icebreaker activity near the end of this article. It’s perfect for the first few days with students!
4. Hang a Student Name List Outside Your Door
Nothing says “Welcome!” louder than seeing your name displayed when you walk into a new classroom. It sets a warm tone and gives every student a quick sense of belonging. I always decorated the door with names during the first week – it helps settle nerves and makes the space feel friendly.
Plus, it’s practical: it helps prevent lost students wandering into the wrong classroom!
Pinterest has tons of cute and easy ideas for name displays – worth checking out if you want a little extra flair.
5. Clear the Clutter – Start with Your Desk
Don’t be me. Take the time to clean out and organize your desk. There’s nothing worse than needing something, but your workspace looks like a paper tornado hit it.
There were times I had so much clutter, I had to sit in a student desk to have a clear workspace. If I can’t even set down my coffee cup on my desk, something needs to change.
Here’s a trick from a former mentor: touch each paper only once. Decide right then and there to either file it away or toss it away.
And seriously, if it’s cute but not useful for class, consider passing it on instead of adding to the clutter.
I’d eventually unclutter my desk, but while those piles were there, they added to my mental load and stress.
6. Sticky Notes: Your Secret Weapon
These little guys earned a permanent spot in my bag of tricks. I stuck them on my computer screen, desk, and even my purse. And I always brought them to meetings. Got a name or task you need to remember? Jot it down.
If you’re on a Windows computer, open a digital Sticky Note right on your desktop. It’s the same idea, less paper.
Not a sticky-note person? No problem. Old-fashioned to-do lists work too. Embarrassing to admit, but I’ve made lists of my lists. Eeks. But I keep them because I will forget something next year.
When my brain felt like it was going to explode, I’d grab a blank page and do a “brain dump”—write everything down. It’s instant relief, trust me.
7. Build a Sub-Tub… Now!
Pull this together once, and you’ll be so, so, so happy with yourself on your next sick day.
No one likes calling in sick, but it’s infinitely worse when you have to scramble for lesson plans while you’re sick. Creating a Sub-Tub (or substitute binder) today can save you so much hassle later.
I’ve explained my easy-peasy Sub-Tub method in a separate post right HERE.
While I don’t sell sub plans myself, there are excellent quality options on TpT that I purchased myself, and they’re worth every penny.
I invested in a week’s worth of sub plans to prepare for the hospitalization of a family member. I was so relieved to know that everything was ready to go during a family crisis.
8. Read Your Students’ IEPs With Care
Seriously, don’t skip this.
I always printed hard copies of IEPs and 504 plans. I’d grab colorful highlighters and colored pens and study every detail. I marked accommodations and modifications and summarized them on a one-page sheet that got tucked into my planner or gradebook.
Because these are legal documents, there’s no room for guesswork. If you’re unsure, ask your intervention specialist. Better to ask a question now than deal with a mistake later.
9. Finish Bulletin Boards and Decorate
There’s something so satisfying about checking “decorate room” off your list. Bonus: your room might just become the one everyone’s jealous of!
Here’s how I like to get it done:
- Ask a friend, family member, or even your own kids to help. Decorating goes faster with an extra hand.
- Choose your bulletin board themes and add colorful paper or fabric backgrounds.
- Keep it focused, like reading strategies, student goals, and classroom rules, so it looks great and serves a purpose.
With the boards done, you’re that much closer to being ready.
Those were always my key focuses before school started. Keep high-traffic areas tidy, workspaces clear, and, most importantly, stay positive. You’ve got this!
Looking for That Free Icebreaker?
You found it – it’s right here!
Download a FREE icebreaker for the first days of school. Students guess their teacher’s favorite everythings. Click the image below to grab it:
Want Even More Back-to-School Help?
Be sure to grab your FREE Back-to-School Checklist. It goes right along with these tips and helps even more. Sign up to get your copy and start your school year stress-free.
For even more back-to-school ideas, tips, strategies, and hacks, check out this blog article.
Need a new strategy for teaching multiplication and division?
Check out the Visual Math Organizer Strategy!
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Written by Jules Rhee; Published July 2017; Updated July 20, 2026.
About the Author
Written by Jules Rhee, MEd, and a 30-year teaching veteran; published 7/19/2017; Last updated 6/13/2025.
Jules is the creator of Caffeine Queen Teacher (CQT) – Visual Math Organizers + Graph Paper Support. She’s a veteran teacher with over 30 years of classroom experience (SPED, upper elementary, and middle school) and a Master’s in Education (MEd). Jules shares practical, classroom-tested ideas and creates step-by-step resources that help students stay organized, confident, and successful – especially with multiplication and long division.
Read more about Jules here: About Page | Browse resources here: TpT Store