Ready for some brilliant back to school hacks and teaching ideas? Click to see over 30 back to school ideas to help setup your few first weeks of school!
Back to School Hacks
As an experienced teacher, I understand the excitement and challenges that come with the back-to-school season.
To help make your transition smoother and more enjoyable, I’ve gathered a collection of ingenious hacks that will save you time, keep you organized, and inject some fun into your teaching journey.
From Amazon teacher hacks to teacher organization tips, and from teacher life hacks to life hacks for school mornings, I’ve got you covered.
So, let’s dive in and discover these amazing hacks together!
We’ve rounded up the very best ideas for you all in one spot. So many great ideas here. These are great for teachers, parents, tutors, and homeschool families.
Come back often or bookmark the page, we add new resources regularly for more useful and fun back to school teaching activities and printables.
Amazon Teacher Hacks: Enhance Your Classroom with a Click
Amazon has become an invaluable resource for teachers, providing a vast array of tools and supplies to enhance your classroom environment.
Here are a few Amazon teacher hacks that can save you both time and money:
Classroom Supplies Delivered: Say goodbye to hunting for supplies in multiple stores!
Amazon offers a wide range of classroom essentials, such as art materials, stationery, and even furniture.
Create a wish list and share it with parents and colleagues to help stock your classroom effortlessly.
Interactive Learning Tools: Take advantage of Amazon’s vast collection of educational toys and games.
From STEM kits to hands-on manipulatives, you’ll find engaging resources to enrich your lessons and make learning fun for your little ones.
Here are my favorites for back to school:
Teacher Subscription Boxes: Consider subscribing to a teacher-themed subscription box that delivers curated resources and teaching materials straight to your doorstep.
Check out this post from Bored Teachers all about the best teacher subscription boxes, there’s even coffee in there! yes please.
These boxes often include books, crafts, and other goodies that can spark excitement and inspire creativity in your classroom.
Teacher Organization Hacks: Keep Chaos at Bay
Staying organized is the key to maintaining a well-managed classroom environment. These teacher organization hacks will help you streamline your teaching process:
Efficient Storage Solutions: Invest in storage bins, labels, and color-coded folders to categorize and store your teaching materials.
Clear, stackable containers are particularly handy for keeping manipulatives, flashcards, and art supplies in order.
Digital Calendars and Planners: Utilize digital tools like Google Calendar or online planners to keep track of important dates, lesson plans, and appointments.
These tools offer reminders and notifications to ensure you stay on top of your schedule.
Classroom Setup Station: Designate a small area in your classroom as a setup station.
Keep essential supplies like staplers, hole punches, and laminators within easy reach to save time during classroom preparations.
Teacher Life Hacks: Create a Positive Work-Life Balance
Teaching can be demanding, but it’s essential to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Here are some teacher life hacks to help you find harmony in your personal and professional life:
Self-Care Rituals: Prioritize self-care by carving out time for activities that recharge you. Whether it’s practicing yoga, reading a book, or going for a walk, make self-care a non-negotiable part of your routine.
Collaborative Planning: Share the load by collaborating with fellow teachers. Organize brainstorming sessions, co-create lesson plans, and pool resources to save time and foster creativity.
Celebrate Achievements: Recognize and celebrate both big and small accomplishments with your students and colleagues. Creating a positive classroom culture boosts morale and fosters a sense of community.
Back to School Ideas
Here are some must see resources for some essential back to schoolteacher MUST-HAVES.
Click on each image to see each resource in action and to get your copy from each post.
Starting the school year off right is important, but sometimes having some quick no prep resources you could pull out for your little learners while you ‘settle into’ your hectic teacher schedule are a MUST!
Back to School Activities
These printable activities below will make your life a little easier prepping for back to school work.
If you need a moment in the morning to get your thoughts together, some of these activities are a perfect start to your morning routine!
Don’t miss these FREE and AMAZING simple back to school activities for kindergarten.
Think letter practice, all about me pendants, school bus bane activity, bulletin board fun, class rules, and number cards!
Incorporating Fine Motor
Use these fun clip cards to incorporate some fine motor into your morning tubs.
Use them in morning work, morning tubs or during instructional centers.
First Letter in My Name Qtip Posters
These are perfect for morning work.
ABC letter I Spy Mats
Summer alphabet practice is easy with these Alphabet Uppercase and Lowercase Printables! These Back to School ABC learning folder pages are low prep, and they come in color and black and white for options. Just print, laminate and go! Do your kids love I spy games?
Fine Motor Colour Wheel
Add this colour wheel to your morning tubs! Kids will match and clip the coloured objects onto the wheel. Download your freebie at this post here or simply click on the image below!
Need to motivate your kiddos to be on their best behaviour? Use these motivational ‘school bucks’, assign numbers to ‘deeds’ and then hand them to each kid once they do these ‘good deeds’.
You could choose to ‘calculate their earnings’ at the end of each week. Check these behaviour incentives HERE or click on the picture below to download your copy!
Click on each image to take you to the page and download your freebie!
Back to School One in a Melon Bulletin Board Display
This display is one of my favourites. Not only does it look fantastic but it promotes positivity and brilliant social skills from the get-go!
This Watermelon Themed Bulletin Board Display will be your go-to each year to get kids talking about themselves, introducing themselves to their classmates etc.
The bonus thing about this is that the kids get to practice their writing skills at the same time!
If you’d like to see this activity, head to All About Me One in a Melon Flipbook, A Back to School Craftivity to check it out!
More Brilliant and Fun Activities!
Need some fun and engaging number cards that your kids could use YEAR ROUND? These bears have you sorted! 😉
Click on the fun ice cream craftivity to help your kids build their social skills and recognise the value of a true friend.
- Free Printable Numbers Cards Bear Themed
- Fairy-tale Count and Clip Cards
- What Makes a Good Friend Craftivity
Quick No Prep Alphabet Roll and Color Activity
These fun owl themed alphabet roll and colour activities will engage your kids with a fun game to identify numbers as well as letters.
Download these HERE or simply click on the image below!
Back to School Bulletin Board Ideas
Spruce up your bulletin board this year with these amazing and fun ideas.
I love looking at new bulletin boards, they are always so motivational for kids.
It starts their year off on the right foot and really encourages them to develop their skills in an inclusive and fun environment.
![Christmas Name Tracing Craft [Character Education]](https://www.seaofknowledge.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Christmas-Name-Tracing-Craft-768x768.jpg)
![Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Craft [Name and Social Skills]](https://www.seaofknowledge.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/celebrating-our-differences-activities-for-kids-768x768.jpg)
![Gingerbread Bulletin Board Ideas [Cute Name Craft]](https://www.seaofknowledge.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Gingerbread-Bulletin-Boards-768x768.jpg)
Life Hacks for School Mornings: Smooth Sailing into the Day
Mornings can often be chaotic, but a little preparation can go a long way in making them stress-free. Here are some life hacks to help you and your students start the day right:
Morning Routine Visuals: Create visual schedules or charts outlining the morning routine to help children understand and follow the steps independently.
Include tasks like unpacking backpacks, hanging coats, and organizing materials to promote independence and responsibility.
Lunchbox Prep: Streamline lunchbox preparation by prepping snacks and meals in advance.
Consider using divided containers or bento boxes to make packing lunches quick and easy.
Arrival Activities: Set up engaging and purposeful activities for students to work on as they arrive in the morning.
Puzzles, coloring pages, or simple writing prompts can help ease the transition from home to the classroom.
As we embark on another exciting school year, these back-to-school hacks will undoubtedly simplify your teaching journey and create a positive and organized classroom environment.
Whether you utilize the convenience of Amazon, embrace teacher organization strategies, prioritize self-care, or implement seamless morning routines, remember that these hacks are designed to make your life as an educator easier and more enjoyable.
So go ahead, try them out, and let the back-to-school adventures begin! Happy teaching!