Back to School To Do List

Thanks to Lorraine Palmer Vasquez over at Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies for the inspiring idea of making a "to do" list for this coming school year.


I can remember my first few years of teaching back in 1997 and 1998 and how tough it was to get my elementary classroom ready each year. In 1999, I finally began to make a checklist of items that I needed to do at the beginning of the school year. This list has not only helped me become more organized but has saved me a ton of time as well!


I hope you can use this checklist as a way to help prepare your classroom as well. I've included a link to the checklist in Microsoft Word format as well so you can change it if you need to fit your classroom needs.

Beginning of The Year Checklist

___ buy a planner for the school year-write in important dates

___ write parent and student welcome letters to mail over summer (get envelopes/stamps)

___ get birthdays of students (buy pencils, make certificates) and put dates into planner

___ finalize schedule for the school year

___ make nametags for students

___ write students’ names on one set of Popsicle sticks for calling names

___ Make a student of the week spotlight list

___ decorate door with a welcome message

___ get beginning of year 5^th grade booklet ready (talks about subjects, expectations…)

___ write morning message first day of school

___ have assignment notebook ready to model for 1^st day

___ put student names on assignment notebooks/school folders/workbooks/manila folders

___ hook up all computers

___ plan first week’s lessons

___ revise substitute folder (include new schedule, class roster, allergies of students…)

___ organize class library and print off check out sheets

___ run off multiplication flash cards that students can take home and put in envelopes

___ confirm guidance and library times with teachers

___ Daily 5 plan for the first few weeks of school

___ order reading/math/social studies books/workbooks for new students

___ order cm grid paper and dot paper for math

___ type up the morning meeting share list alphabetically by student last name

___ write names for class jobs w/ vis a vis pen on laminated pencils for class jobs bull. bd

___ update crisis folder-new roster, emergency school closing form for parent contacts

___ talk to previous grade level about seating chart and behavior issues

___ buy a bag of jolly ranchers for guessing jar for students on the first day

___ post ABC all about me for me to share about myself (get student paper ready)

___ stuff home folders with forms for the first day of school

___ get Restitution 5 needs cut outs ready and 5 pieces of tag

___ get cardstock for tent name cards for students

___ sharpen pencils so have a huge supply ready

___ collect parent emails for distribution list to send frequent email messages home

I hope you can find this list useful. Please let me know if there are items on your back to school to do list that I missed. Here is to a great school year!