The Back-to-School Tips You Won't Learn in PD: Home and Life Prep for Teachers

As educators, we spend so much time prepping bulletin boards, lesson plans, seating charts, and supplies (or watching other people’s Instagram reels wishing that magically happened in our classrooms) that we often forget about the other side of back-to-school preparation—our homes. The transition from summer to the school year can feel like a whirlwind, and reality hits hard after the first few days back when you're too tired to cook, laundry piles up, and your own kids need help with homework. The secret to a smoother September? Prepare your home before the chaos begins.

Although the August denial has hit my household as I head back for my 11th year of teaching, I know that if I don’t prepare a few things at home, my September self is going to be very annoyed…and my dining out budget will be consumed before Labor Day. Doing just a few strategic steps now saves me time, energy, and sanity during those jam-packed first weeks, and I hope they can do the same for you!

Make “too tired to think” meals – Let’s be real: after a long day of professional development, new students who you are trying to do ice breakers with, and standing on your feet for hours in shoes you haven’t worn in months, the last thing you want to do is make dinner from scratch. Stock your freezer with “too tired to think” meals—crockpot-ready freezer bags, layered casseroles, or one-pan oven meals. Spend an afternoon prepping a few family favorites so that all you have to do is dump it in a pot or slide it into the oven. Label each with cooking instructions and sides to serve. Some of my favorites include:

Stock up on essentials – Stock the pantry. Stock the linen closet. Before school starts, take inventory of your household staples and stock up on everything from snacks and coffee to paper towels, laundry detergent, ziplock bags, snacks and TOILET PAPER. Pick up enough to last you for a while so you're not running errands after a full day of teaching. Don’t forget your personal must-haves to make your classroom a little less stressful—your favorite pens, drawer deodorant, or that brand of sticky notes you can never find mid-year. Having these essentials ready to go means fewer last-minute trips and more time to rest and recharge. Did you know that Target gives a 20% discount off your order one time in the month of August for verified teachers? That is my time to stock up on life so I don’t have to think about it later.

Create a "back-to-school basket" for your own kids – If you’re a parent-teacher, set your kids up with a school supply basket at home stocked with pencils, glue, scissors, and paper. This keeps after-school homework time smoother and cuts down on “Mom, where’s a pencil?” every evening. Add some calming extras, like fidget toys or headphones, for a peaceful after-school zone.

Deep clean before the daily mess begins – Let’s face it: once the school year starts, your house will collect clutter faster than your inbox fills with emails. Use one weekend before school starts to tackle a deep clean of the high-traffic zones—kitchen, bathroom, entryway, and laundry area. Wash bedding, wipe baseboards, clean out the fridge (especially if you’ll be doing meal prep), and declutter the “drop zones” where shoes, bags, and papers pile up. Consider it your reset button. Coming home to a clean, calm space after a long day of teaching can do wonders for your stress levels and mental health. And if your energy allows it, don’t forget the car!

Did I mention meal prep?Start the habit and save yourself a lot of panic beyond the September struggles. Spend just 1–2 hours each Sunday prepping breakfast, lunch, and snack options for the week. Chop veggies, portion out snacks, and prep grab-and-go breakfast items like overnight oats, egg muffins, or smoothie freezer packs. For lunches, think bento boxes, wraps, or mason jar salads that stay fresh for days. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just functional. And if you're a teacher-parent, involve your kids; get them engaged in some quality planning time. When you’re scrambling out the door before the bus comes or crashing at 5 PM when decision fatigue hits hard, you’ll be thankful your food is ready to go.

By preparing your home the same way you prep your classroom, you're setting yourself up for success on both fronts. September will still be busy—but at least you won’t have to figure out what’s for dinner or run to the store to grab toilet paper when you’re running on empty. If you are still looking for a way to save yourself even more mental strain that first week back, we might be biased, but our Back to School Bundle is a no brainer here! Think icebreakers, get-to-know-you surveys, and some little activities that buy you breathing room while you get back into the routine both at school and at home. And as you’re moving on from those first couple weeks, check out our other resource bundles that support multi-day lessons and activities to give you back prep time!

Wishing you all the energy as you navigate the next school year. We’re cheering for you!