With back-to-school around the corner or having already started (depending where you are in the world), it tends to often come with a mix of anticipation and anxiety; not only for teachers, but for students and parents as well. Whether you’re returning to the same classroom or stepping into a new role, this time of year can bring a rush of emotions and an ever-growing to-do list. As teachers, we prepare materials and plan lessons, but it’s just as important to prepare ourselves for the year ahead.

Here are five grounding tips to help teachers start the school year with clarity, confidence, and care for both themselves and their students.

1. Begin With Check-Ins – Before you start setting up your classroom or organizing your lesson plans, take time to check-in with yourself. What will allow you to feel grounded and present this year? Is it quiet mornings? A new boundary around after-hours work? A daily walk before school starts? Creating even a small check-in ritual can help you anchor into the moment before the full pace of school life kicks in.

Before the school year begins, I like to start getting myself into a routine. For me that means getting to sleep earlier, and waking up feeling well rested so that I can start my day with some gentle movement. That way when the first day of school arrives, I’m already feeling grounded and prepared for the exciting and busy day ahead.

What helps you come back to yourself when things feel chaotic? What helps your students?

2. Set the Tone With Intention– It’s tempting to want everything to be “just right” on the first day, but what’s more important is your presence. Set your tone for the year by showing up as someone who is real, warm, and responsive, and not someone who’s holding it all together at the expense of their own well-being. Whether it’s your classroom environment or your teaching style, let your values guide the tone you set.

As each new school year arrived, I began to realize that the most important thing instead of wishing the day would go perfectly, was to just let it unfold as it would. Many of my preschool students would cry as they adjusted to their new school routine. What was important was that they felt safe and attended to. Not so much that they had participated in the first day of school activities.

How do you want your students to feel in your classroom and how can you model that for them?

3. Build Routines That Work for You – Structure matters for students and teachers. Think about your daily rhythms, not just your schedule. Do your current routines energize or exhaust you or your students? Are there small shifts you can make to create smoother transitions or calmer mornings? Consistency doesn’t mean rigidity. It means developing patterns that support both teaching and living well.

I always found that it took a few weeks of everyone settling, adjusting to a new school year, classroom and cohort, before a smooth flow was established. It took time to determine what was and wasn’t going to work with my classroom depending on the needs of my students. Some years required a bit more movement integrated into the day, while others a more slower pace and supportive transitions.

What routines help you and your students feel steady and supported throughout the day?

4. Nourish Connection First – Relationships are the heart of any classroom. Before diving into academics, invest time in establishing trust, safety, and joy. Whether you’re welcoming back returning students or meeting a new group, slowing down to build connections will make the learning stick later on.

Without making space and taking the time to get to know my students, build a relationship with them, and a level of safety and trust, there would be very little room for much learning to take place. Beginning of school year activities such as Star of the Week gave my students the opportunity to learn about one another.

How can you create more moments of genuine connection in your classroom each day?

5. Give Yourself Permission to Evolve – You’re not the same teacher you were last year and that’s a good thing! Maybe your priorities have shifted. Maybe you’ve learned what you don’t want to carry forward. Let yourself grow and try new approaches. You don’t need to recreate the past and you’re allowed to reimagine what works for you now.

With a little over ten years of experience working with children, I’ve been able to look back and see just how much I have grown. I’ve learned many lessons along the way and different ways of doing things. By no means do I consider myself an expert. When I open myself up to continuing to learn and evolve in my role, I can bring the best version of myself to my classroom in order to best support my students.

Think about what you have learned about yourself as an educator over the past year(s). What are you ready to leave behind and what are you ready to lean into?

The start of a new school year is an opportunity to not just teach, but to lead with presence, purpose, and care. Remember, the energy you bring into the room matters. By grounding yourself first, you make space for others to do the same. Here’s to a school year rooted in connection, calm, and conscious growth.

Additional Readings

Classroom Design Essentials for Educators

A Starter Pack of Resources for New Teachers

22 Fun Ways to Spark Classroom Connections

The Week Before School: Our Job As Co-Regulators

Got more tips for teachers going back to school? Share them in the comments below!

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