The first week of school isn’t just about teaching – it’s about juggling a hundred little details all at once. You’re learning dozens of new names, answering endless questions, solving unexpected problems, troubleshooting technology, and establishing routines that will shape the rest of the year. 

The good news? You don’t need to have every bulletin board perfected or every lesson polished to perfection. What you do need is a plan. A few thoughtfully chosen supplies, a handful of backup strategies, and realistic expectations can make the difference between surviving the first week and actually enjoying it. Here’s your ultimate first-week survival kit. 

1. Create a “Mission Control” Station 

Every classroom needs one place where you can solve everyday problems in seconds. It’s part of a thoughtful classroom setup. Choose a clear lidded storage bin. Think of it as your classroom’s emergency command center. When a marker dries out, a student needs tape, or you spill coffee five minutes before the bell rings, everything you need is within reach. 

Fill it with essentials like: 

• Extra pens and pencils, dry-erase markers, permanent markers 
• Duct tape, regular tape, sticky notes, scissors 
• Paper clips, binder clips, staplers and extra staples 
• Stain remover pen 
• Phone charging cable 

Veteran Teacher Tip: If you regularly find yourself hunting for something in the classroom, it probably belongs in your Mission Control bin.

2. Pack a Grab-and-Go Emergency Pouch 

You’re not always in your classroom. Between hallway duty, assemblies, fire drills, meetings, field trips, and covering another classroom, you’ll appreciate having a portable survival kit that goes wherever you do. A sturdy zippered pouch that stands upright and opens wide makes it easy to find what you need quickly. You’ll thank yourself the first time you’re stuck supervising dismissal with a dying phone battery. 

Keep it stocked with: 

• Pens and a sharpie 
• Sticky notes 
• Lip balm, hand lotion and hand sanitizer
• Small tissue pack
• Pain reliever (following school policy) 
• Portable phone charger or power bank 
• A few adhesive bandages 

Veteran Teacher Tip: Keep this pouch by the door instead of in your desk. When you’re rushing to hallway duty or an assembly, you can grab it without thinking.

3. Prepare for Cold Season Before It Begins 

The first month of school is famous for sharing more than just school supplies. With dozens of students touching desks, pencils, door handles and shared materials every day, it’s smart to be ready before the sniffles arrive. 

Keep these essentials nearby: 

• Pump bottle of hand sanitizer 
• Disinfecting wipes 
• One box of tissues on your desk 
• A backup box in the cabinet 
• Hand lotion to combat frequent washing and sanitizer use 

Little habits, like wiping down shared supplies after messy projects or encouraging students to sanitize before/after group activities, can go a long way toward keeping everyone healthier. 

Veteran Teacher Tip: Add a box of tissues to your classroom supply list. If each students brings in a box, you’re already off to a great start.

4. Have a Technology Backup Plan 

Technology is wonderful – until it isn’t. The internet goes down. Smart boards freeze. Passwords stop working. Batteries die. The best teachers don’t panic when technology fails because they’ve already planned for it. 

Keep these backups ready: 

• Charging cables and portable power bank (in case outlets are full) 
• Printed class roster/attendance sheet and seating chart 
• A paper copy of your lesson or alternate activity 

Assume the Wi-Fi will fail at least once during the first week. If it doesn’t, consider it a bonus. 

5. Always Have One More Activity 

Even the best lesson plans don’t always unfold as expected. Maybe students finish early. Maybe an assembly gets canceled. Maybe your lesson takes fifteen minutes instead of forty. That’s why every teacher should keep a folder labeled “Plan B (and C!).” 

Fill it with activities that require little preparation, such as: 

• Icebreakers 
• Partner interviews 
• Creative writing prompts
• Brain teasers 
• Team-building challenges 
• Educational games 
• Sponge activities 

Veteran Teacher Tip: Keep a “Fast Finish” folder that students can access independently. It prevents the familiar chorus of, “I’m done…now what?”

6. Teach Procedures Before You Teach Content

This may be the most valuable piece of first-week advice you’ll hear. Students don’t automatically know how your classroom works. Take time to intentionally teach and practice your most important classroom routines. It will greatly help with behavior management. 

Focus on things like: 

• Entering the classroom 
• Morning routines
• Turning in assignments 
• Asking questions 
• Using classroom supplies 
• Bathroom procedures
• Group work expectations 
• Emergency procedures
• End-of-day dismissal 

7. Fuel Yourself, Too 

Teachers are experts at taking care of everyone else. Unfortunately, they’re often the last ones to remember themselves. Lunch gets interrupted. Planning periods disappear. Water bottles sit untouched.  

Keep a small snack drawer stocked with foods that can survive for weeks without refrigeration, including: 

• Protein bars, trail mix, and nuts 
• Whole-grain crackers  
• Peanut butter packets (if your school permits) 
• Instant oatmeal 
• Tea bags 
• Electrolyte drink packets 

Veteran Teacher Tip: Keep a refillable water bottle in your classroom. Staying hydrated helps maintain your energy and focus during long teaching days.

8. Wear and Pack the Essentials

Wear comfortable shoes; you’ll be surprised how many miles you walk in a single school day. Keep a light sweater or cardigan handy since classroom temperatures seem to have a mind of their own. 

Consider creating a “teacher emergency kit” for your car that includes: 

• An extra phone charger 
• Umbrella 
• Comfortable shoes 
• Spare sweater 
• A reusable shopping bag 

Veteran Teacher Tip: Leave one complete change of clothes at school or in your car. Coffee spills, paint projects, surprise rainstorms, and playground mishaps happen more often than you’d think. You may never need it, but when you do, you’ll be grateful it’s there.

9. Give Yourself Permission to Be Imperfect

Social media can make it seem like every classroom has to look Pinterest-perfect before students walk through the door. The truth? Students won’t remember whether every bulletin board was perfectly coordinated. 

They’ll remember how welcomed they felt. 

They’ll remember that you learned their name. 

They’ll remember that your classroom felt safe. 

The first week rarely goes exactly as planned. A lesson may flop. A fire drill may interrupt your morning. You might call a student by the wrong name. None of those moments define your year. Flexibility, not perfection, is one of the qualities that makes great teachers.