5 Tips for Starting ELA Without Losing Your Mind This Year
June 27, 2025
The beginning of the school year brings excitement—and a lot of decisions. What to teach first? How to set the tone? When to dive into content?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the moving pieces, take a deep breath. These five teacher-tested tips will help you start the year strong—without losing your mind. And the best part? I’ve got a free download that will save you hours of planning time.
1. Plan Ahead—Before You’re in Too Deep
One of the most helpful things you can do in the first few weeks is map out a plan—even a flexible one. Knowing where you’re headed will help you stay focused when things (inevitably) get busy.
To make this part easy, I’ve created a free 20-day launch plan for your ELA class—complete with an overview calendar, learning objectives, and 21 detailed daily lesson plans.
It includes everything you need to cover the beginning-of-the-year essentials:
--- Nonfiction reading lessons
It’s fully mapped out so you can print and go—or adjust to make it your own.
👉 [Grab the free 20-day plan here.]
2. Don’t Assume They Know Everything
Even upper elementary and middle school students need a refresher on reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Starting the year with an ELA Skills Project helps set clear expectations and levels the playing field.
My 5-day skills unit makes it fun and accessible with real-world tasks like audience-based writing, mystery reading, and listening-to-draw challenges. It’s a great way to spot gaps and build confidence before jumping into bigger assignments.
3. Start Building Community on Day One
Relationships make everything easier—classroom management, collaboration, and engagement. Use the first few days to help students feel seen, heard, and safe.
Some easy wins:
--- Creative name tag activities with doodle prompts
--- A doodle syllabus
--- Games and team building activities
The more your students connect, the more they’ll be willing to take risks and participate all year long.
4. Get Them Learning—But Start Personal
You don’t need to wait weeks to dive into writing or reading. But it helps to start with content that feels personal and meaningful.
That’s why I love launching with a memoir writing unit. It encourages self-reflection, storytelling, and emotional connection—while also modeling the writing process, revising strategies, and craft moves.
Students are more likely to buy in when they’re writing about themselves.
5. Prepare for Anything (Seriously, Anything)
From assemblies to tech fails to unexpected absences, the first month can get chaotic.
Stay sane by stocking your teaching binder with:
--- Brain Bursts (quick, engaging tasks for early finishers)
--- Exit Slips (to check understanding or spark reflection)
--- Emergency Sub Plans (print-and-go plans for those surprise sick days)
A little prep now will save you a lot of stress later.
You’ve Got This—And I’ve Got Your First 20 Days
Starting the year doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. With a solid plan, a few creative activities, and resources ready to go, you can focus on building connections and setting the tone for an amazing year.
👉 [Download the 20-Day ELA Launch Plan Here] and get back to doing what you do best—without losing your mind in the process.
Wishing you a great school year!
Mary Beth
P.S. Be sure to grab all these Back to School FREEBIES!
