4 last minute Tips to crush your first day of school

dress: walmart (size small– only $12.99!!!!) | shoes: walmart (wearing size 7) | all about me activity sheets

We are in the final countdown of back-to-school season and this might be the most excited I’ve ever been for a school year to start. Every time I walk into my classroom, I catch myself in these moments of serenity as I look around and imagine the learning adventures that will soon fill these walls. I’ve been stressful trying to remember what to do and make decisions. I’m incredibly grateful for Walmart and their constant inventory of décor, planning, and organization supplies and ideas for us busy teachers. Every time I walk into Walmart looking for the perfect solution for my classroom, I walk out feeling like I have it totally under control.

My classroom isn’t going to be 100% set up by the first day of school and I’m anticipating at least 75% of my first day plans are going to get scratched… a natural part of the teacher life. Throughout my rebuilding and planning process, I’ve realized there’s not enough time in the day to do it all. Not everything is going to be “perfect” and it shouldn’t be—perfect doesn’t exist. However, I do believe some aspects of first day planning and classroom set up take precedent over others, especially if you’re trying to have the smoothest day possible.

These four tips will definitely help us crush our first day of school!

1. set up a weekly organization plan

c/o walmart
calendar | planner | stickies | bin | pens | label maker

This is one thing you don’t want to figure out as you go along. Going into the school year with a clear process for how you’re going to keep track of meetings, upcoming events, deadlines, etc, is so, so, so important. I’m obsessed with this calendar from Walmart. That way it’s right in front of me and I won’t experience my typical “out of sight, out of mind” stress that happens way more than it should. And yes… the out of sight, out of mind” struggle even occurs with the use of a planner… It takes an extra 60 seconds every week to plot items on my desk calendar which is well worth the saved stress!

2. An activity that can be completed and displayed within the classroom on the first day.

all about me activity sheets

Classrooms are a community and sometimes that can be hard for students to see and feel on the first day of school. Having their own space and names is a wonderful start, but having space for, and planning for, an easy activity that can be instantly incorporated into your classroom on the first day of school is so important for community establishment and building. How cute are these? For only $3.00 you can have your first back-to-school activity and first student work display. Best part? Zero planning. Only teacher modeling and you’re good to display. Student work can be up on the walls by recess!

3. Clear physical boundaries for my students

rug: walmart (sold out but similar here) download the labels for free here!

When students enter a new classroom, they are often so excited to get their hands on all the cool new things we have. Given, my students may struggle a bit more than the average student with understanding and maintaining the physical boundaries within a classroom, having expectations labeled and identified on the first day is so, so, important. I often teach students the difference of “teacher” and “student” zones by adding a visual representation for all the areas they are allowed to explore. Laminating and double-sided tape are my two best friends with setting up these parts of my classroom.

my go-to decor design tools!

4. A pair of comfortable teaching shoes 

shoes (wearing size 7- run big)

For teacher comfort, this is perhaps the most important. For the last week I’ve been testing out a few different pairs of stylish kicks from Walmart and these little no boundaries sneaks have stolen my heart AND comfort level. How they are only $14.97, I will never understand. To be honest, all the pairs of shoes I’ve been wearing have been comfortable. If you don’t have time to break in a new pair of shoes (for blister and cut purposes) you have to try this body glide anti blister balm. It’s life changing! Order one and keep it in your desk ASAP. It will come in handy. 

WAH! I’m so excited to go back-to-school. To read more about my favorite classroom essentials, click here!

Wishing you a wonderful back-to-school season.

with kindness | ashley