As the school year winds down, it's tempting to slide into summer mode—but trust us, a little prep now will pay off big time in the fall. Before you shut down your classroom and toss your planner in a drawer, take a few hours to check off these 5 simple tasks. Your future self will thank you!
1. Organize Your Google Drive (or Wherever You Store Your Digital Files)
It only takes a few months for your Google Drive (or desktop, or USB stick—no judgment!) to become a dumping ground of random lesson plans, screenshots, and half-finished docs. Before you sign off for the summer, take some time to:
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Create folders by subject or unit
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Delete duplicates or files you know you won’t need again
- Search .zip files and delete them all - you've already downloaded and opened them!
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Rename cryptic file titles (e.g., “Untitled 2”) so they’re easy to find later
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Star or color-code go-to resources for the first few weeks back
Starting the next school year with a clean digital slate will make planning way easier.
2. Repair Broken Books
That class set of novels or basket of read-alouds? They’ve been well-loved—and it shows. Grab some packing tape or book repair tape and fix up ripped covers, loose pages, or torn spines. You don’t need to get every book back to “like new,” but reinforcing the most-used ones now means fewer replacements later.
Tip: Involve students during the final week—they love helping with “teacher jobs,” and it gives them a sense of ownership over classroom materials.
3. Dump and Declutter
From dried-out markers to mystery cords, every classroom collects clutter. Before heading into summer:
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Toss anything broken, dried up, or unusable
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Donate or recycle materials you no longer use
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Label and box up supplies so you can easily unpack in the fall
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Go through your teacher desk—yes, even the bottom drawer!
You’ll walk out lighter and return to a space that’s ready to roll.
4. Prep First Day Plans and Materials
It might seem way too early—but your first-day plans are the one thing you’ll be most relieved to have ready come August or September. Outline a flexible first-day plan, gather the materials you’ll need, and tuck them in a clearly labeled folder or bin. Some ideas to prep now:
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Student name tags
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Morning work or entry tasks
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Icebreaker activities
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Class rules or routines anchor chart
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Parent welcome letter
Even if you tweak your plans later, having a head start takes the pressure off.
5. Make a “To Do” and “To Bring” List for Summer
Before you officially shut the classroom door, jot down two lists:
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To Do: Anything you need to remember during the summer (e.g., complete PD hours, read a new curriculum guide, update your class website).
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To Bring: Personal or classroom items you’ll want to bring in the fall (e.g., water bottle, headphones, spare shoes, that book you borrowed from the library).
Store the list in your planner, phone, or even taped to your teacher toolbox—you’ll be glad to have it when back-to-school brain fog hits.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to do a full classroom overhaul to feel prepared. Just a few focused hours before summer break can save you loads of stress later. Take care of these five things now, then head into your well-deserved summer feeling calm, collected, and ready to recharge.