The start of the school year can feel like a juggling act – lesson planning, grading, responding to parent emails, attending after-school meetings, and somehow still remembering to switch the laundry.
The truth is, teaching doesn’t just require classroom routines; it requires life routines that help you keep everything going both at school and at home.
When you streamline the “behind-the-scenes” work, you free up your energy for what really matters: teaching and connecting with your students AND having energy for your personal life.
Here are some routines and time-management strategies to help you find your rhythm this year.
1. Establish Anchor Points at Home
I think of “anchor points” as non-negotiable routines that set the tone for my day.
Here are some examples.
Morning Launch Pad: Prep lunches, backpacks, and your teacher bag the night before. Having one place where everything goes prevents last-minute scrambling in the morning.
Evening Reset: Spend 10–15 minutes tidying common spaces (kitchen counters, desk, living room). Waking up to a clean (or clean-ish) house helps you start your day calmly.
Weekly Meal Rhythm: Instead of planning seven brand-new dinners, create a simple rotation (Taco Tuesday, Pasta Wednesday). This cuts down decision fatigue.
Consider meal prepping your breakfasts and lunches so all you have to do is grab and go in the morning. Examples: bagged smoothie ingredients (so all you have to do is dump it in your blender, jarred salads, wraps or sandwiches.
2. Manage the Paper Flow at School
Paper piles can multiply faster than fifth-graders lining up to go to recess. Set up a system so you handle each paper only once.
In Trays: Designate a place for student work, parent notes, and office handouts.
Quick Triage: Ask yourself: Does this need to be done, delegated, scheduled, or tossed? (The classic Do-Delegate-Schedule-Delete system.)
End-of-Day Sweep: Before heading home, clear your desk and reset your trays. Future You will be grateful tomorrow morning.
3. Batch Your Work
Instead of bouncing between tasks all day, group similar tasks together.
Grading Power Hour: Set a timer for 45–60 minutes, and only grade during that block. No scrolling, no multitasking.
Email Windows: Check and respond to email at two set times a day (before school and after dismissal). Turn off notifications in between.
Copy Runs: Choose one planning period to make all the copies you’ll need for the week. Keep a “copy ready” folder so you’re always prepared.
4. Create Transition Routines
Both kids and teachers benefit from predictable transitions.
Classroom Transitions: Use consistent signals (chimes, countdowns, music, hand signals) to move smoothly from one subject to the next.
Home Transitions: When you walk in the door, have a mini-ritual that helps you shift out of “teacher mode.” Change clothes, take a quick walk, or light a candle—whatever signals to your brain: workday over.
5. Plan for Reflection & Adjustment
Even the best routines need tweaking. Take five minutes each Friday to ask:
Which routines worked this week?
What drove me crazy?
What can I streamline for next week?
These small check-ins keep you from sliding back into chaos.
Final Thought
You don’t need dozens of complicated systems—just a few consistent routines that work for you. Think of it as teaching yourself the same way you teach your students: model, practice, and revisit until it sticks.
A little structure at home and at school can make a huge difference in how calm, organized, and present you feel – both in front of your students and in your own life.
If you want more tips for establishing routines, take a look at my teacher routines course here!
All of my content is intended to save teachers time and energy. My goal is to make good teaching sustainable while having a life outside of teaching. Let me know how I can help YOU with this quick form!