Even though I have been teaching for 5 years, each year I ask myself, “How do I prepare for coming back to school?”
Although the mental and emotional preparation needs a whole different approach, I always feel best when I have a handful of ready-to-go back to school resources that will help me survive the first two weeks.
So, without further ado, I have compiled and categorized some of my favorite back to school resources to save you the time researching (and planning)!
Categorized Back to School Resources
Here are the categories listed for your convenience:
⭐ Escape rooms
⭐ Bell ringers
⭐ Writing
⭐ Reading
⭐ Speaking & listening
⭐ Teacher toolbelt
⭐ Poster sets
Escape Rooms
Benefits:
⭐ Skip the awkwardness between students in the first week by bringing out their fun, competitive nature
⭐ Set an immediate tone for engaging learning
⭐ Have students learn without even knowing it
Have some questions about escape rooms? We’ve got answers!
Click the title of the back to school resources below to learn more.
Includes:
✨ Icebreakers
✨ Supply scavenger hunt
✨ Syllabus close reading quiz
✨ Growth mindset cryptoquotes
✨ An optional growth mindset writing activity
Check out volume 1 HERE and volume 2 HERE!
Want an editable ELA escape room you can reuse & adapt all year long? Here’s one of my most popular escape rooms!
Includes 4 paper tasks:
✨ Get to know you BINGO or a questionnaire
✨ Supplies & resources riddles
✨ Syllabus close read
✨ Growth mindset quotes
Includes 4 digital tasks:
✨ Meet the teacher video
✨ Meet the EdTech scavenger hunt
✨ Syllabus close read
✨ Secret code minigame
Bell ringers
Benefits:
⭐ Community builders
⭐ Reusable year-round
⭐ Gives you time to take attendance, send a quick email, or take a sip of water at the start of class
⭐ You can try a free sampler!
Looking for other ways to incorporate team trivia in the classroom?
Click the title of the back to school resources below to learn more.
Includes 80 different ELA trivia bell ringers (or exit tickets) to strengthen ELA skills and classroom community
Check out the back to school resource bell ringer bundle here!
Writing
Benefits:
⭐ Scaffold writing while engaging learners
⭐ Easy to adapt & differentiate for different learning needs, classes, units, etc.
⭐ Writing fluency is key to improving writing
Click the title of the back to school resources below to learn more.
These journal prompts are…
✨ Low-stakes, short prompts on a variety of topics
✨ Designed to be completed in 5 min. or less
✨ Perfect for bell ringers or exit tickets
✨ Boosts struggling writers’ confidence and stamina
✨ Each prompt asks about personal experiences (meaning there are no “right” or “wrong” answers)
This grades 7-10 ISN bundle is versatile & adaptable for a:
✨ Short story unit
✨ Novel study
✨ Drama unit
✨ Poetry unit
Find out more about this yearlong resource!
Looking strictly for high school ISNs that can be paired with a short story unit?
Reading
Benefits:
⭐ These resources give you an EASY way to incorporate independent reading in your curriculum without dreading the prep work
Click the title of the back to school resources below to learn more.
Use these reading response cards as/with:
✨ Writing prompts
✨ Discussion topics for pairs or small groups
✨ A focused activity for quiet reflection
✨ Independent reading
✨ Class novel
✨ Literature circles
Includes:
✨ A range of proposed activities for independent or class novel reading
✨ Paper & digital options
✨ 100% editable if you want to change things up
✨ Opportunity for student choice
Speaking & listening
Benefits:
⭐ Get students building community within the first weeks of school
⭐ Set the tone for expected rigor AND support with public speaking tasks
Click the title of the back to school resources below to learn more.
Students interview a peer & present to the class.
✨ Increase engagement
✨ Build classroom community
✨ Jumpstart their speaking & listening skills
Teacher toolbelt
Benefits:
⭐ Whether you’re a veteran or new teacher, set yourself up for success with editable, ready-to-go resources that can be adapted to fit your units without a ton of work
Click the title of the back to school resources below to learn more.
✨ Each rubric is available as holistic or analytic
✨ Makes grading transparent, consistent, & quick
✨ Fully adaptable to your needs
✨ Establish clear talking points for conferences, peer review, & self-reflection
Implement this resource ALL YEAR LONG to save time on grading!
✨ Use throughout the year
✨ Mix-and-match for different units
✨ Includes self-reflection activities
Try out these easy-to-incorporate peer feedback activities throughout the year!
Poster sets
Benefits:
⭐ Decorate your classroom meaningfully with inclusive posters that represent the students you teach
⭐ Use your students’ creative literacy-based art projects to decorate your walls, so they feel celebrated
Click the title of the back to school resources below to learn more.
✨ Nine inspirational and historical Queer people
✨ Each poster includes an inspirational quote
✨ Includes optional writing activity
✨ Includes nine famous women in history
✨ Each poster includes an inspirational quote
✨ Includes an optional writing activity
Includes 3 sets of vocabulary activities:
✨ Literary devices
✨ Drama terms
✨ Figurative language
Have your students create your classroom decor at the start of the year!
Closing remarks
If you are looking for another option, this Back to School Resources Bundle is a great combination of some resources listed above! Lastly, here is an article detailing 5 ways to connect with your students at the start of the school year.
I hope ANY of these back to school resources alleviate the chaos of the first few weeks of school.
It can be really hard to remember, but the first few weeks will merely be a blur come October.
Do your best, keep the kids alive, and have fun learning!
❤️🧡💛 Danielle & I are wishing you an INCREDIBLE 2023-2024 school year. 💚💙💜
