The First Week of School-What To Do?

What Do You Even Do That First Week of School?

I still remember my very first week as a brand-new teacher. I also remember the headache I got after the first day! I had so many big ideas, fresh decor on the walls, and a color-coded binder for everything. But once that first bell rang, reality hit hard: no specials, no solid routines yet, and so many hours to fill. I quickly realized… I wasn’t quite sure what to do with all that extra time.

It turns out, those first few days are their own kind of challenge. You can’t launch into full lessons yet, but you also can’t afford to waste time. You need to build classroom community, figure out where your students are academically, and somehow keep everyone engaged and learning—even if you're still trying to remember where the staff bathroom is.

Thankfully, my mother-in-law (a veteran 5th-grade teacher in Utah) came to my rescue. She shared some of her go-to beginning-of-year assessments—simple, low-stress activities that helped me quickly get a sense of my students’ skill levels and filled a solid 45 minutes of that long, unscheduled day. I was so grateful. It was the kind of support I didn’t even know I needed.

Since then, I’ve made it my goal to create those kinds of resources: fun, low-prep activities that give teachers time to breathe, build relationships with students, and still meet learning goals during that hectic first week.

That’s exactly why I created my Back to School Bundle. Every resource inside is designed to:

• Build classroom community in a fun, low-pressure way

• Give you informal ELA data without formal testing

• Help students start writing right away (without it feeling like a chore!)

• Fill up those awkward time gaps without going off-curriculum

Whether you're a brand-new teacher or a seasoned pro looking to simplify your first week, these resources were made with you in mind.

Check out the Back to School Bundle HERE