All Are Welcome Back to School Ideas for the Classroom

There is no stronger message that I want to send my students during the first few days of school than all students are welcome in my classroom! When students enter your classroom they want to feel safe, loved, and welcomed. We can make that experience happen for them very simply.

Your warm smile is the BEST way to send that message to students, but with these welcoming read alouds your students will feel like they are home in no time at all!

All Are Welcome Here Read Alouds

These picture books help to send the message home to students that you are glad that they are there!

• All Are Welcome written by Alexandra Penfold
• All Welcome Here written by James Preller
• A Hundred Thousand Welcomes written by Mary Lee Donovan

All Are Welcome written by Alexandra Penfold follows a class of students during one day of school. The students quickly learn that all students are welcome in their classroom and loved by their teacher regardless of their race or background. This book beautifully illustrates that their classroom is one of diversity and a strong community. Such an important message to send to all students. 

Follow up a read-aloud of this book by inviting students to create a colorful, welcoming poster that includes all students to hang in your classroom. These make an adorable display. Grab this activity and a welcome banner to use in your classroom for free right here:

All Welcome Here written by James Preller celebrates each unique child that makes up a complete class. This book sends the message that no matter what you look like, act like, or are interested in, all students are welcome and are an important part of the classroom community!

Follow up a read-aloud of this book by having students complete activities that celebrate themselves and help them share a bit about themselves with their new classmates! My favorite activities to celebrate students are right here in this blog post.

Welcome Students and Families

Go one step further and help students feel welcomed before school even starts by sending them a welcome letter! All kids love getting mail and what happier mail to get than a welcome letter direct from your new teacher! {Insert huge student smiling face here}

In your letter, you can tell students about yourself professionally and personally and tease them with some clues about some upcoming units and topics they will be learning about.

You can see this letter that I use HERE.

Don't forget about welcoming parents and families and sending them the same message: everyone is welcome! Parents and families want to feel welcomed and valued, just like their students. Send a formal invitation to parents for meet the teacher day, night, or open house. They will appreciate the time you took to help them feel welcomed.

Once parents and families arrive for meet the teacher day or night or open house help them understand what is in store for the year and how they can help! Be clear with the information that you give parents in an organized slideshow. 

Once parents and families have arrived at your classroom for the open house, enlist their help to stock your classroom by displaying a classroom wishlist. Parents love to donate and feel like they are needed and also a part of your classroom community!

Classroom wishlists are so easy to use! The concept is simple. I create a bulletin board with cards labeled with a classroom supply that is needed that parents pull down to donate.

Classroom items that I include in my wishlist display:

• pencils
• highlighters
• papertowels
• wipes
• hand sanitzer 
• glue sticks
• sticky notes
• crayons
• markers
• lined paper

 

You can put any item that you need for your classroom. I try to include items that are easily available for parents to find in stores and that are not too expensive. I also include items that go fast on more than one card for parents to take. Hand wipes and glue sticks are examples of ones that I include multiple times.

I pull this wishlist display back out during Parent-Teacher Conference Week in the fall and spring so that parents can once again donate to our classroom so that we can collect new items we now need or to refresh dwindling supplies. Parents know what to do the second (and third) time around, so be ready to get a lot of donations!

When it comes to welcoming your new students, creating a classroom community, and celebrating students as individuals send the message that all students are welcomed and an important part of your class. Taking the time at the start of the year to build classroom community and make each student feel welcomed and valuable is worth every minute you spend on it!

You might be interested in reading:

Celebrating Students and Their Names with This MUST DO Activity

Back to School Read Alouds to Create an Inclusive Classroom

Community Building Activities to Kick off the Year

Community Building Read Alouds You Will Love

Check out my favorite community-building activities HERE. 

Like this monthly writing set! 

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*affiliate links: “Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.” (source: Section 5)

3 Things to Do to Start the Year Stress Free That You Can Prep Over the Summer

When it comes to the back-to-school season I always get so excited! Even after teaching for 18 years, the excitement is real!

I love the back-to-school commercials, shopping for school supplies, planning out new bulletin boards, and creating getting to know you lessons to welcome my new bunch of students!

Buuuut, that excitement does dwindle a bit when the thought of back to school night creeps in. Even after so many years of teaching, back-to-school night and meet-the-teacher days still make me nervous! In fact, just the thought of them ruins my excitement a bit. It is probably because I always want to put my best foot forward and make an amazing first impression on my new students and families.

To combat that nervous feeling and still be able to enjoy the last few weeks of summer and the back to school season I always prep three things that will help me feel prepared and organized for meeting my new class and families. If you like to be organized and ready for the new school year, you will definitely want to try them out! Once you complete these activities and check them off of your to-do list, you too will be able to enjoy the summertime and back-to-school seasons!

Must Do #1: Write Your Meet the Teacher Letter

I love giving students a special personalize note from me personally to say hello, introduce myself and welcome them to my classroom community! 

I have used teacher postcards like these, to send my new students a quick hello note over the summer and I have also used a more detailed Meet the Teacher Letter like these, to give students a bit more information about myself.

The information that I include is divided into these sections:

• All About Me: I like to include a bit about my family and pets, allergies that I have, and something that they can relate to, like playing outside or going on nature walks
• Experience: Here I tell the kids a bit about my teacher life! I include what grade levels I have taught, other districts or schools that I have taught in, and what subjects I enjoy teaching.
• My Favorites: This section I try to change each year to include popular shows and songs that the students may also like. This is important to do because it helps you make connections before the year even begins! I also love to talk up how much I love reading and working as a team!
• Contact Information: I love to include my email and school phone number so that the kids can reach out to me right away! There are always a few students who love to get in touch with me before the year begins, and this is a great way to show them that you are ready to hear from them!

You can grab these editable teacher letters to create your own sections or use the ones that I always use! These letters are welcoming, professional, and include a photo of you so that your students get a peek at what you look like before the big meeting day! These letters truly help you to make connections with your students even before that first week of school.

Must Do #2: Create a Classroom Wish List

My classroom wish list is used throughout the year, but it is most enjoyed during the first week of school during Meet the Teacher Day and Night and Open House. The concept is simple. I create a bulletin board with cards labeled with a classroom supply that is needed that parents pull down to donate.

The wishlist display includes with the following items:

• Bulletin Board Header
• Welcome Letter 
• Donation Item Cards

Classroom items that I include on this display often include:

• pencils
• highlighters
• papertowels
• wipes
• hand sanitzer 
• glue sticks
• sticky notes
• crayons
• markers
• lined paper

 

You can put any item that you need for your classroom. I try to include items that are easily available for parents to find in stores and that are not too expensive. I also include items that go fast on more than one card for parents to take. Handwipes and glue sticks are examples of ones that I include multiple times.

I pull this wishlist display back out during Parent Teacher Conference Week in the fall and spring so that parents can once again donate to our classroom so that we can collect new items we now need or to refresh dwindling supplies. Parents know what to do the second (and third) time around, so be ready to get a lot of donations!

Must Do #3: Sketch Out a Meet the Teacher Slide Show 

While you may not be able to finalize your Meet the Teacher Slideshow just yet, you can certainly sketch out what important information you want to include and what you want to say.

I like to prep the slides with information that is specific to me and my classroom. This includes a bit about me, class rules and expectations, a little about the content or curriculum, books that students will read, what makes the grade level so special, how students submit assignments, and other classroom specific information.

Information that I usually have to wait until the first week of school to add include:

• specific daily schedule
• special area class schedule
• information that our team agrees to include
• information from the front office

When creating your slide show do not forget to include a welcome slide, a thank you slide, a slide with contact information and a final slide that reminds you to ask parents if they have any questions! 

This set includes 40 editable slides and a blank slide to create your own back to school slide show in a snap!

Love these ideas to get organized? Then let's find your style! 

• Watercolor Cactus
• Bright Apples
• Farmhouse Mason Jars
• Farmhouse Lightbulbs

Bonus Organizational Tip...try this!

Don't forget to start a file of all of your informational materials for students who enroll late or join your class mid-year. I keep a large folder like this one to hold any information about our classroom that I would want to share with new students. Class supply list, class rules, school information, contact information, and student interest inventories (grab a free student inventory at the bottom of this post) are all examples of what I save for new arrivals. 

You deserve to enjoy the summer and not worry about the first few events of the new school year! Take time at the end of the year or during the summer to set up these three things and take back your summertime off and the excitement of the new school year! 

You might be interested in reading:

The Best Back to School Writing Lesson

Back to School Math Activities You Will Love

Back to School Read Alouds to Create an Inclusive Classroom

Check out my favorite back-to-school activities HERE. Like this Growth Mindset Bundle! 

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Back to School Must Haves to Kick Off the Year Smoothly

The beginning of the year is an exciting time. The newness of everything, the excitement of new students, anticipation for the year ahead, and the reunion of friends and colleagues make those first few days of school the best of the year.

The only problem is the exhaustion that comes along with it!

That is why I like to work smarter not harder during the back to school season. And you can, too!

Here are a few of my favorite ways to kick off the year smoothly and effortlessly so that I can spend more time getting to know my new students and get myself back into the school swing of things.

Back to School Activity That Serve Double Duty

Nothing says welcome back to school then a fun and engaging getting to know you activities. There are so many fun ice breakers and community building activities to get to know your new crop of students, but I like to do activities that serve double, or triple duty.

My favorite back to school activity are these Acrostic Apples Activity. I love this project because it ties together a getting to know you activity with poetry writing. The best part is that it makes an adorable bulletin board to leave up as long as you like! It makes a great display for Open House and Meet the Teacher Night and helps the students to get to know each other.

Teacher bonus:This activity is a great informal assessment of students brainstorming, writing, and fine and gross motor skills.

One and Done!

Another way that I like to work smarter, not harder, is to create bulletin boards that I can leave up all year long. One way I do this is by creating bulletin boards with meaningful information and anchor charts that will help the students succeed, especially at the start of the year when everything is new. Another great bulletin board that you can leave up all year long, is one with positive messages and motivational quotes.

My favorite academic bulletin board to leave up all year long is focused on the Writing Process and the different writing genres. This helps the students stay on track during writing workshop and by including a writing process clip chart to the bulletin board it helps me get a pulse of where students are in the writing process. Grab this FREE back to school writing activity to kick off your year that your kids will love!

Teacher bonus: This writing process reference bulletin board will help students stay on track even when a substitute is in charge!

Meet the Teacher Night Forms

As soon as the school calendar is released, I immediately look for the date of Meet the Teacher Night. Even after so many years, I get so nervous to speak in front of parents. That is why I love having student information forms for parents to fill out during Meet the Teacher Night. Since so many of them complete the forms that I give them that night during my presentation it takes some pressure, and eyes, off of me. I also add fun pages like this one for parents to fill out so that students get a surprise letter on their desk the next morning. Keep the communication going with your parents with this FREE communication log.

Teacher bonus: The forms that parents complete give me valuable insight into each student as an individual and help me to build meaningful relationships with parents right from the start of the year. It is the perfect piece to add to your student files.

Classroom Wish List and Meet the Teacher Letter

Speaking of Meet the Teacher Night, there is no better #teacherwin than enlisting the help of your parents in the form of classroom donations. I love displaying my wish list on our "Classroom Walk Through Day" which is the day before school AND on Meet the Teacher Night. It is is simple:

• Create an eye-catching display.
• Create cards with items you want and need to be donated to your classroom.
• Ask parents to take a card and donate that item to the classroom.
• Follow up by sending thank you cards from the class.

Teacher bonus: Reuse this classroom wish list display during parent-teacher conferences in the spring when you need to restock your supply closet.

Print, Copy, Keep a Stash

Printing thank you cards ahead of time at the beginning of the year is a great way to always be ready to show gratitude for every small gift a student or teacher surprises you with and especially for the holidays as they always seem to sneak up on you! I print different styles at the start of the year and keep them in a large baggie with colorful pens. That way when I need them, I just pull them out and write or take the bag with me to write out thank you cards at home.

Teacher bonus: Digital thank you cards allow you to have an endless stash of thank you cards that you can print at any time, year after year!

Teacher friends work harder not smarter this back to school season! Remember these easy to implement tips:

• Use a back to school activity that serves double duty.
• Create student reference bulletin boards to keep up year-round.
• Have parents fill out meaningful forms during Meet the Teacher Night.
• Create a classroom wish list to enlist the help of parents.
• Get your thank you cards prepped and ready to go for the year!

Have a great back to school season!

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Looking to get organized and prepared for open house or meet the teacher night in a snap? Grab this completely editable in PPT or Google Slides™ presentation! This set comes in many different designs to match your classroom decor! 

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Back to School Student Gift and Checklist

When it comes to the first day of school, there are so many different things to think about that our “to-do” lists seem endless! Many schools offer official "Meet the Teacher" days to welcome students back to school before the first day of school. I love the idea of Meet the Teacher days, and am so glad that my school offers these days, but it is another thing to prepare for! So how can we make the most of these days?

Our Meet the Teacher day always takes place the day right before school begins. It is a great opportunity for teachers to meet their new students and parents before school begins to start building those important relationships! I have found that this day always helps to ease the nerves of everyone involved: students, parents, and of course, teachers!

Our Meet the Teacher day is only about an hour long. Below is my checklist of what I have prepared for the big day!

Meet the Teacher Checklist

1. Provide one on one time with each student and their parent to personally welcome them, listen to any concerns, and answer quick questions.

2. Display books we will be reading and using during the first month of school to build excitement.

3. Have important documents copied for each family such as my teacher welcome letter, school supply list, class list of names, special class schedule, and any paperwork from the office.

4. Display of “Teacher Wish List” items for parents who ask what they can donate to our classroom.

5. Stack of sticky note pads and pens for parents to write additional questions that they have that may require me seeking out the answer or a more in depth answer. I ask parents to leave these sticky note questions on my desk for me to read after everyone has left for the afternoon. After I read the sticky notes, I can answer and respond to them individually in email form.

6. Have a sign up sheet for parent volunteers.

7. Welcome gift for students all ready for their arrival!

The best part of Meet the Teacher day is seeing the smiles on each students' face as they walk into their new classroom, meet the teacher, and receive a small welcome gift. Since the school I work at has a strict no candy or food policy, I like to tie in my student welcome gifts with school supplies that I know the student will use during the year. Simple supplies like pencils, highlighters, rulers, and crayons have all worked well for me in the past. The tags below work perfect for highlighters!

Click on the picture to grab these free gift tags that you can attach to highlighters for a fun and useful welcome gift for your students. 

Welcome Tags FREE

If you are looking for more traditional welcome certificates, you can scoop up this version for free on my Teachers Pay Teachers Shop by clicking the image below.

Remember to have fun and relax on Meet the Teacher day! It goes by so quickly! How do you welcome your students on your Meet the Teacher day or first day of school?

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