Teaching Themes
Back to School: Everything You Need
Start the new year with back-to-school lesson plans, book lists, printables, and learning activities for all grades.
Articles
Back to School Checklist: Organizing for Success
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12
These helpful checklists and suggestions from real teachers will spark ideas for starting the year right.
Scholastic Reading Club's New SpotLit Collection
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8
Scholastic Reading Club's SpotLit Collection features 50 books for each grade that have been hand-selected by expert teachers, librarians, and book professionals.
Back to School Resources
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12
Find reading and writing programs, teaching resources, expert libraries, Common Core solutions, and more in The Teacher Store.
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Book Resources, Books Welcome to the BSC, AbbyGrades: 3–5 Trying to help her hard-working mother and twin sister adjust to life in Stoneybrook, Abby Stevenson becomes the newest member of the Baby-Sitters... |
Articles How to Prep for the Start of the School YearGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5 There is so much to do for that first week back -- where do you start? Here are a few suggestions from 1st-grade teacher Jill White. |
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Collections Top 10 Interactive UnitsGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 The top ten interactive activities from Scholastic, including Immigration, The First Thanksgiving, Flashlight Readers, and more |
Articles Shoot for Higher Learning as a TeamGrades: 3–5 Third grade teacher Marissa Ochoa shares tips for getting students settled in and motivated to learn. |
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Activities and Games, Articles Quick Ideas Grades 1-2: Back-to-School CentersGrades: 1–2 Boost social and academic skills by setting up these back-to-school centers. |
Articles Settling In to KindergartenGrades: PreK–K Welcome kindergarten students to school by establishing clear and consistent classroom rules and routines. |
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Articles Building Bridges of FriendshipGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 A unit on friendship that involves music, crafts, teamwork activities, and identifying shared values and interests |
Articles, Writing Activities Getting to Know Your StudentsGrades: 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Sixth-grade teacher Kechia Williams explains how she has her students introduce themselves and the methods she uses to assess their learning style... |
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Articles Critical First Week of High SchoolGrades: 6–8, 9–12 High school teacher Nicole Sledge shares her strategies for building rapport with students and breaking the ice. |
Articles, Book Resources 5 Back-to-School Stories and Other Picks for Classroom LibrariesGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 Calm you child's fears about starting a new school with these 5 stories about first-day jitters and making new friends. Titles for kids of all... |
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Lesson Plans A Great BeginningGrades: 9–12 Classmates get to know each other by creating autobiographical brochures containing narrative writing and photos. This lesson is especially useful... |
Lesson Plans READ 180 Routine AssessmentGrades: 9–12 Presents the steps involved in an effective Read 180 reading assessment. |
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Lesson Plans Beginning the READ 180 Routine: Teaching the RotationsGrades: 9–12 Presents the steps involved in an effective Read 180 reading assessment. |
Articles Teaching Tip: Using Literature CirclesGrades: 1–2 Tips for incorporating Literature Circles into reading instruction |
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Articles Top 5 Ways to Get to Know Your StudentsGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 New teachers can use these icebreakers as community-building activities in the classroom. First year teachers will find they double as assessment... |
Articles Fabulous First-Day IdeasGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Primary- and intermediate-level teachers offer exciting suggestions for first-day-of-school lesson planning. |
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Articles Inspiration to BeginGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 First year teachers, use these inspiring suggestions about classroom management to start the new school year right. |
Book Resources High School Books for a Great StartGrades: 9–12 Books for starting the new school year, including topics on bullying, skills for success, reading and interactive learning |
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Articles The First Morning: The Formation of a CommunityGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5 Tips for creating a sense of classroom community on the first day of school. Covers both how to establish authority and what to do to make the... |
Engaging Students: Keep Them on the Edge of Their SeatsGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 New teacher tips for classroom management that keeps students engaged but under control. First year teachers will note that it emphasizes the... |









