August 2025

My First Day Lesson Plans for Upper Elementary

August 30, 2025 / Back to School, Developing Skills, Planning

The first day of school is always a mix of excitement, nerves, and “Wait…how should I fill all these hours with meaningful activities?” (Anyone else still have that dream where you show up with no plans and 27 pairs of eyes staring at you?…Just me?) At my school, we don’t have specials on the first […]

My First Day Lesson Plans for Upper Elementary Read More »

Boy and girl with book bags sitting on school steps, smiling and sharing notebooks — a perfect example of the buddy system for welcoming new students.

Welcoming New Students the First Day of School

August 16, 2025 / Back to School, Developing Skills, Exit Tickets

Imagine Being the New Kid We’ve all been the “new” something at some point—a new teacher at a school, a new face at a staff meeting, a new parent in a school community. It’s awkward. It’s exhausting. And even when people are kind, it takes real effort to feel like you belong. Now imagine being

Welcoming New Students the First Day of School Read More »