My 5 Favorite Back to School Resources: From My Classroom to Yours Cathy Collier

Had a teacher recently ask me what my favorite Back to School resources from my store were. “You have so much in your store, and there’s so much on TPT, I get overwhelmed.” Well, teachers don’t need any additional stress. After some thought, I picked these 5 resources. So here are my ideas.

Don't be overwhelmed by Back to School. Let these resources help you get the year started off right.

Favorite Classroom Organization resource

I couldn’t teach kindergarten without keeping things organized.

Kinders need organization.

It provides safety and independence.

This set of center signs gives to all different sizes for clear organization.

The largest size is hung from the ceiling.

The middle size is put on material buckets and on in a pocket chart or on a bulletin board for easy independence and directions. The smallest size is taped the shelf to make sure the material buckets are put back where they belong. There are 43 center options, so start small and have fun. Classroom Center Signs can be found by clicking the link or the picture.

Favorite back to school character center

No matter what, I love reading The Kissing Hand by Don and Audrey Wood, who doesn’t.

We made kissing hand crafts and even made a special snack for the first day (hand shaped sugar cookie, chocolate icing, kiss in the middle).

These centers are designed with Chester and with Back to School ideas in mind.

Matching letters, letters to sound, numbers, colors, shapes, making sight words with the help of Chester makes this center the perfect way to start the year. Back to School Centers with Chester can be found by clicking the link or the picture.

Favorite routine center

More center ideas!

I am a freak about magnet letters.

I look at garage sales, thrift stores and catalog sales.

I have buckets and buckets of them.

Here are 5 centers to use with magnet letters.

Having students manipulate letters by building, sorting, organizing, and sequencing letters makes this ready-to-print center a great idea for beginning centers.

This Magnet Letter set can be found by clicking the link or the picture.

Favorite Writing routine

Once you have a few sight words (I, see, the), students can write a sentence.

These 4 square writing templates for fall are a great place to start.

Looking at the School Tools 4 square, students can write 4 sentences on a topic.

I see the crayon. I see the pencil. I see the glue. I see the scissors.

These 4 squares can also be differentiated for students by changing sentence starters, creating their own 4 squares, and building details into each square for a more complex writer. 4 Square Writing Fall can be found with link or by clicking the picture.