I don’t know if I’m the only one who feels that pressure when a new school year starts.
That weird mix of excitement, fear, and the urge to run home, lock the door, and never come out again. You think a lot about everything that’s coming… and it feels a little overwhelming.
The first few weeks are like a wave of pressure telling you, “Hold on tight!”
It all starts in your head, and when reality hits, you realize, yes… You were right: this is tough.
It doesn’t matter if it’s your first year or your twentieth; every start is a complete restart. It’s like living in an endless loop: introducing yourself, learning names, meeting families, and so on. Sure, some cases are similar, but there are always new ingredients in the mix.
And then comes that day. I don’t know if it’s still hot where you live, but I feel like the temperature rises 20 degrees just for me. It’s like the sun is saying, “Let’s see how long it takes for this teacher to melt.” Between new faces, family stories, and advice from everyone (the school, parents, the janitor, even the printer and the coffee machine…), you just try not to look like you’re about to call an ambulance.
I’ll confess something: I forget 80% of what I’m told I have to do.
My priorities are clear:
- Make sure the kids have a good day.
- Make sure they eat well.
- Make sure they get home happy.
Everything else… I process it once my brain stops buffering. And yes, sometimes I forget about myself: eating, drinking water, that I’m human. Meanwhile, my mind whispers, “Take care, this is just the beginning.”
Those first days are like trying to build a house, decorate it, and move in, all in the same week.
Mistakes? Thousands. Solution: ask for help and plan.
Ask other teachers and assistants (if you’re lucky enough to have them), and especially rely on the materials you’ve planned. I always have something ready to stop students from testing whether the eraser tastes good.
This is where a good resource to connect with kids and families can save you. I always recommend using fun survey resources that students open up faster, and families feel informed from day one. Back-to-School Activities for Self-Discovery and Family Engagement for Kids
To make sure you don’t miss anything, here are some tips that have helped me (and might save your day):
Connect with kids and families from day one
Creating a warm and trusting environment is the foundation for students to feel safe and motivated. Use resources that help this initial connection, like creative intro activities, where you also show your human, sensitive side. Include families by sending them what the kids did at school and having the kids talk about their families. Back-to-School Activities: Craft, Teacher Welcome Card, and Family Message
Get to know your students deeply
Beyond learning names, find out their interests, strengths, and worries. This lets you design activities that fit better and encourage their participation and growth. A tool that helps collect this info gives you a huge advantage for effective planning. Back-to-School Goal Setting Album and Writing Activity for Elementary Students or Back to School Bucket and Spade List Craft Fun Creative Writing Activity
Plan ahead, but stay flexible
Having material ready for different situations avoids chaos and gives you space to react calmly to surprises. “Overplanning” means preparing more activities than you think you’ll need, but always with the goal that they’re meaningful and support real learning.
Encourage critical thinking from the start
Include tasks that challenge students to think, analyze, and create, not just complete exercises. This keeps them focused and gives you valuable info on how they reason and work together. An activity designed to promote this kind of thinking has double value. Back to School Activities, First Week of School Worksheets, Monsters Theme
Set clear and doable rules
Define a few expectations that you and your students can meet. This makes respect and order easier and helps you focus on what matters: trust, listening, teaching, and the group’s well-being. Promote activities that deepen your understanding of how your students think and behave, while also teaching them that kindness and collaboration are essential for everyone’s success. Back to School Task Cards Social Problem Solving Activity with Cute Monsters
Prioritize your emotional and physical well-being
Being a leader takes energy and emotional balance. Include small breaks and relaxation moments for you and your students during the day. Know your limits and recharge so you can keep a positive vibe that spreads calm and security. Five minutes of group meditation relaxes and calms everyone.
Communicate constantly
Keeping an open channel with students and colleagues helps solve doubts and avoid misunderstandings. Asking for help, informing, and clarifying doubts is key to building collaboration and trust that benefits everyone.
Define your priorities and stick to them
With so much info and demands, knowing what’s essential helps you not get distracted. Identify your “non-negotiables” and focus on those, delegating or postponing the rest without guilt.
The way you see the start of the year and how you define it directly impact how you experience it and how your students see it. If you face these days with a positive mindset, your body and mind will show confidence and calm, and the kids will notice.
Use language that lifts you and your group. Speak with phrases that inspire confidence, motivation, and care. Remember, your emotions are contagious: a teacher who radiates calm and positive energy is like a magnet that attracts cooperation and joy. (Bonus points if you can do it without coffee… but who are we kidding?).
Tony Robbins always says, “The label you put on your experiences becomes your experience.”
Take a deep breath, straighten your posture, and focus your mind on the growth potential ahead. Stress can turn into a boost to create a space where everyone, including you, shines and grows.
When you take on this role with love and compassion for yourself and your students, every challenge becomes a chance to turn the classroom into a safe, exciting, and lively place.
If you want to make your back-to-school easier and save time in the flood of papers, names, and tasks, I have special back-to-school activities and a collection. These ready-to-use activities will help you connect, get organized, and save time for what matters: enjoying the start of the school year without feeling like you’re running a marathon in heels. Here are more activities that will definitely help you a lot:
Back to School Monster Theme Collection BUNDLE: Decor, Activities, and Crafts
Back to School Monster Theme: Decor Bulletin Board, Door, and Writing Activity
Back to School Student Gift, Monster Bookmark Craft, Digital, and Printable
Back-to-School Pop Quiz: Free Resource on Key School Staff and Their Roles
So if this first week feels like juggling, Smile. Breathe. And remember: this is your start, your chance to grow and collect stories you’ll one day tell, saying, “I survived… and I even had fun!”
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