Back to School Tips for Preschool Teachers: Strategies for starting the year on the right foot

Get your Preschool Program Ready for Back to School

As summer winds down and the excitement of a new school year begins, preschool teachers have the unique opportunity to set the stage for a successful and joyful year. Whether you're a seasoned educator or new to the classroom, starting the school year on the right foot can make all the difference in creating a positive and productive learning environment. With more to do, It's easy to start to feel overwhelmed. To save you a little time, energy, and money I've gathered up some of my my favorite tips, freebies, blog posts, and resources from Pre-K Printable Fun to help you get ready for back to school. Here are some essential tips and strategies to help you get started:

Be kind to yourself

I've listed this first, because it's the most important. We can't care for others, if we don't care for ourselves. Doing our best is all we can do. This advice rings true-but especially during a pandemic (or crisis). Our best is going to look different depending on the week, or even the day. Allow yourself grace even if you don't have the perfectly planned day, or if your perfectly planned day doesn't go as planned.

Make caring for your mental and physical health a priority. Schedule extra self-care time for yourself, and your students this year.

Prepare Your Classroom with Care

Your classroom is the heart of your students' learning experience. Creating a welcoming and organized space can help ease students into their new routine.

• Organize and Label: Ensure that all classroom materials and supplies are organized and easily accessible. Use labels with pictures and words to help students navigate the space independently.
• Create Learning Centers: Set up different areas for various activities, such as a reading nook, a sensory table, and a creative arts corner. This helps students understand where they can engage in specific types of play and learning. Download our free set of Learning Center Posters here!
  

Preschool Center Signs

Build Strong Relationships

Forming strong, positive relationships with your students is key to a successful school year. Invest time in getting to know each child and fostering a supportive environment.

• One-on-One Time: Spend individual time with each student to learn about their interests, strengths, and needs. This helps build trust and makes students feel valued.
• Welcome Rituals: Create special welcome rituals or activities to make students feel at ease. Having a welcome routine, where you take just few minutes a day to welcome the children into your program, will help them build a stronger relationship with you, and ease their fears around drop off time. A morning circle where each child shares something about themselves can be a great way to build connections.
  

One fun way to welcome new children into your program (and practice name recognition) is to encourage them to sign in with a daily sign in and sign out activity. They will love coming in and finding their names each day! Other fun ways include a special daily greeting such as an elbow bump, or a dance off!

Pre-K Printable Fun Sign In & Sign Out Activities

Establish Routines Early

Consistency and predictability are crucial for young children. Establishing clear routines helps students feel secure and understand what to expect each day.

• Daily Schedule: Introduce a visual daily schedule that outlines the day’s activities. Use pictures and simple words to help children follow along and anticipate transitions.
• Classroom Rules: Establish a few simple, positive rules and discuss them with your students. Use visual aids and role-playing to help them understand and remember the expectations.
  

Pre-K Printable Fun Visual Schedule

Assign Jobs

You don't have to do it all! Delegate! Kids love being helpers. Classroom transitions go much more smoothly when everyone helps! Encourage independence, and develop self help skills with a job chart.

Pre-K Printable Fun Job Chart

Observe and Assess

Start the year off using my free assessment pack to assess where the children in your care are developmentally. Knowing which developmental skills the children in your care are working towards will help you more effectively plan lessons and choose the activities that are appropriate for your program. Be sure to track their developmental progress and record it throughout the year.

Free Assessment Binder from PKPF

Involve Families

Engaging families in the school experience creates a partnership that supports student success. Keep open lines of communication and involve parents in the classroom community.

• Welcome Letters: Send home a welcome letter outlining what students can expect in the coming weeks. Include information about the daily schedule, classroom rules, and how parents can support their child's transition.
• Family Involvement: Invite families to participate in classroom activities or events. This can include reading a story, sharing a cultural tradition, or volunteering for special projects.
  

Plan Engaging Activities

Kick off the school year with fun and meaningful activities that capture students' interest and enthusiasm for learning.

• Icebreaker Games: Use icebreaker games and activities to help students get to know each other and feel comfortable in their new environment.
• Thematic Units: Plan thematic units that align with the beginning of the school year, such as “All About Me” or “Our Classroom Community.” These themes help students learn about themselves and their new surroundings.
  

Need new ways to make your printable activities more engaging? Consider combining your printables with hands on manipulatives! Place them in sensory bins, or even take them outside! Check out this post for some more fun ideas!

I know how much time you spend looking for educational activities to compliment your lesson plans. Let me help you re-gain your free time! Join my Pre-K printables club! As a member you'll have unlimited access to my complete library of current and any new releases during your term. Are you new to printable activities?  Try out some of our free activities to compliment your lessons, lean on us we're here to help!

Plan Ahead

Start your school year organized!  Pre-K Printable Fun has done a lot of the work for you! On our site you can find 50+ themed lesson planning pages, free preschool plans, and a ready made theme pacing calendar.

On our free Theme planning pages (found under the Themes tab at the top of our site) you will find: free sample lesson plans, educational activities, process art ideas, related Pre-K Printable Fun products, and suggested items to add to your learning spaces that are perfect for your ​home daycare or Pre-K at home lessons!

Planning Crafts and facilitated art projects take up a lot of time! Offer more open ended art and less adult directed activities. Find several process art activities here.

By planning and knowing your meals and snacks ahead of time you are able to save time preparing and shopping.

Start the beginning of the year with  goal to improve fine motor skills

Strong fingers and hands are important so that children can work towards developmental goals such as pre-writing and improved self help skills. Plan fine motor activities this fall.

Make time for a group meeting

Group meeting time is a great opportunity to build social emotional skills such as working as a team and taking turns. Short on space? Make your meeting time a snap! This circle time binder makes it easy to conduct group meeting time wherever you are, including outside!

Be Flexible and Patient

Starting a new school year can be a big adjustment for both students and teachers. Be prepared for some bumps along the way and approach them with patience and flexibility.

• Adapt to Needs: Be ready to adapt your plans based on the needs and responses of your students. Some children may require additional support or time to adjust, and that’s perfectly okay.
• Encourage and Support: Offer lots of encouragement and positive reinforcement. Celebrate small successes and milestones to build confidence and a positive attitude towards learning.
  

Be Flexible and Patient

Reflect & Adjust

Regularly reflect on what’s working well and what might need adjustment. Continuous improvement ensures that you’re meeting the needs of your students effectively.

• Feedback: Seek feedback from your students, parents, and fellow teachers. This can provide valuable insights into what’s going well and where improvements might be needed.
• Professional Development: Engage in ongoing professional development to stay updated on best practices and new strategies for early childhood education.

Starting the school year with these strategies in mind will help create a nurturing and dynamic environment where your students can thrive. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead filled with growth, learning, and joyful moments!

Featured products:

Circle Time Binder

$8.00

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Editable Preschool Job Chart

$3.00

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Visual Schedule

$5.00

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Attendance Daily Sign In Activities

$7.00

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Free Preschool Theme Planning Pages
Preschool Educator Resources