As students return to the classroom after summer break, teachers face both an exciting opportunity and a unique challenge. Fall is the season for new beginnings, but it’s also a time when students bring varied reading experiences from home; some have read consistently over the summer, while others may have read very little. For K–2 students, whose literacy skills are still developing, this transition period is critical.

At ReadBright, a structured literacy program for beginning readers, we believe the first months of the school year set the tone for everything that follows. With intentional planning, clear routines, and joyful literacy experiences, teachers can help students build confidence, strengthen skills, and rediscover the excitement of reading. Below are strategies to support your students as they begin their fall reading journey.

1. Begin with Review, Not Assumptions

It’s easy to assume students will pick up where they left off in the spring. In reality, most children experience some “summer slide,” especially in foundational skills like phonemic awareness, phonics, and high-frequency word recognition.

Start the year with short, daily review routines:

• Alphabet and sound drills using sound cards or an ABC song with motions.
• Blending practice with short, decodable words to re-establish fluency in connecting sounds to print.
• Quick checks of high-frequency words, particularly those introduced in the previous grade.

This isn’t just remediation; it’s confidence-building. Students feel empowered when they realize they can still read, even after the summer break.

2. Rebuild Classroom Routines Around Reading

Young learners thrive on consistency. Early in the year, establish predictable routines for reading instruction so students know what to expect each day. For example:

• Begin with a whole-group phonics warm-up.
• Transition into guided reading with decodable texts.
• Close with a shared read-aloud and comprehension discussion.

Clear routines allow students to focus on the work of reading instead of navigating uncertainty.

3. Surround Students with a Print-Rich Environment

Environment matters, especially for emerging readers. Create a classroom that “breathes reading” with:

• Decodable classroom libraries so students can independently choose texts that match their skill level.
• Sound walls with visuals of letters, keywords, and mouth formations to connect speech to print.
• Anchor charts that highlight phonics patterns or comprehension strategies.

These visual reminders give students tools to help themselves when they feel stuck.

4. Use the Power of Read-Alouds

Never underestimate the impact of a daily read-aloud. Listening to fluent reading builds comprehension, vocabulary, and a love for stories. It also shows students that reading is not just practice; it’s meaningful.

Tips for read-aloud time:

• Vary your genres: mix fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and informational texts.
• Think aloud as you read, modeling how good readers make predictions, visualize, and question the text.
• Invite interaction: stop and ask students to turn and talk, share predictions, or act out key moments.

5. Connect Decodable Practice with High-Frequency Words

Decodable readers are essential for helping students apply phonics in connected text. But because not every word in English follows standard phonics rules, children also need explicit practice with irregular high-frequency words (sometimes called “sight words”).

A strong routine might look like this:

• Introduce a new phonics pattern.
• Read a decodable passage that includes words with that pattern.
• Highlight and practice 1–2 high-frequency words that appear in the text but do not follow the pattern.

This balance ensures students gain both accuracy and automaticity in their reading.

6. Prioritize Fluency and Comprehension Every Day

Fluency and comprehension aren’t add-ons; they’re the purpose of reading. Build them into your daily schedule with:

• Choral or echo reading to support struggling readers.
• Partner reading to encourage peer practice.
• Quick comprehension questions (who, what, when, where, why, how) after each text.
• Retelling activities using sentence frames, drawings, or story maps.

Even brief five-minute comprehension discussions reinforce that reading is about making meaning, not just decoding.

7. Partner with Families for Home Reading

Children make the most progress when school and home work together. Communicate with families early in the year about how they can help:

• Send home simple decodable books or passages that match classroom instruction.
• Provide a list of high-frequency words to review together.
• Encourage parents to read aloud daily and talk about the story, even if the child cannot read it independently yet.

A home-school reading partnership multiplies the practice opportunities children receive.

8. Keep Joy at the Center

While routines, decodables, and structured practice are essential, don’t forget joy. Build excitement by:

• Hosting a “book picnic” where students browse new texts.
• Allowing students to create their own classroom book recommendations board.
• Celebrating reading milestones with simple acknowledgments: “Today we finished our first decodable reader as a class!”

When children see reading as enjoyable, they are more willing to persevere through challenges.

Autumn Can Set the Tone for a Year of A+ Reading

Fall is a season of fresh starts. With consistent routines, intentional review, joyful read-alouds, and meaningful home connections, K–2 teachers can help students grow as readers and thinkers. The habits established in these first months ripple forward into lasting reading success.

At ReadBright, our mission is to support teachers with tools and resources that align with the science of reading and bring joy into literacy instruction. Here’s to a wonderful fall filled with confident, engaged young readers!

The post Leaves and Literacy: 8 Strategies to Get K–2 Students Back into Reading This Fall appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

As a seasoned educator with over 20 years of experience, a Master’s in Education, and certification as a life coach, I’ve learned what it takes to combat burnout and achieve a healthy work-life balance. My work as an elementary school teacher and, later, as an educational assistant for several high schools has taught me five essential mindset shifts that every educator should embrace.

The following principles will help you avoid common pitfalls that lead to burnout and, instead, allow you to thrive as a highly effective educator.

The post 5 Things Educators Need to Know to Combat Burnout This Year appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is hosting its sixth annual Student Sleep Health Week from September 15–19, bringing together families, educators, and community groups to highlight the importance of healthy sleep for students of all ages.

“As the new school year approaches, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that families revisit bedtime routines and shift away from lingering summer habits, like late nights with friends or scrolling social media before bed,” said Dr. Shalini Paruthi, pediatric sleep medicine physician and spokesperson for the AASM. “Resetting healthy sleep habits early can help students start the year focused, well-rested, and ready to succeed.”

Consequences of Insufficient Sleep

According to a new survey from the AASM, 85% of parents say their school-aged children have a regular bedtime routine. But what happens when kids don’t get enough sleep? Parents say that their children are negatively impacted in mood (63%), behavior (50%), attitude (49%), physical energy (45%), and academic performance (34%).

“Sleep plays a critical role in helping kids manage their mood and mental health,” added Paruthi. “If your child is struggling emotionally or behaviorally, assessing their sleep habits is a key first step. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician, who can help identify solutions and provide support.”

The AASM recommends that kids between 6 and 12 years should get 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night, and those between 13 and 18 years should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Online tools, like the AASM bedtime calculator, can help parents regulate their children’s overall sleep routines based on their specific needs. 

Nearly One-Quarter of Parents Turn to Melatonin

According to the survey, 24% of parents have given a child under the age of 18 melatonin to help them sleep. However, increased use of the supplement in children has raised safety concerns, including a rise in reported overdoses, calls to poison control centers, and emergency room visits.

In 2022 the AASM released a health advisory advocating for parents to discuss melatonin with a pediatric health care professional before administering it to children. 

Student Sleep Health Week Resources

Student Sleep Health Week is presented in conjunction with supporting partners Beyond Bedtime, the National Association of School Nurses, Project Sleep, SHAPE America, and Start School Later. It was supported by a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020.

For more information about Student Sleep Health Week, visit the AASM’s Sleep Education website. Educators interested in encouraging healthy sleep in students can access the AASM toolkit of resources, including lesson plans, posters, and classroom activities.

Look for social media content using the hashtag #SleepWelltoExcel or #StudentSleepWeek, and join parents, students, teachers, and others talking about why it’s important for kids to get the sleep they need to be healthy and successful.

About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 

Established in 1975, the AASM is a medical association that advances sleep care and enhances sleep health to improve lives. The AASM membership includes more than 9,500 physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals who help people who have sleep disorders. The AASM also accredits 2,300 sleep centers that are providing the highest quality of sleep care across the country. Learn more at aasm.org.

The post Student Sleep Health Week Highlights the Powerful Connection Between Sleep and Well-Being appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

The beginning of the school year can be intimidating for everyone—not just students, but teachers too.

Walking into a classroom full of faces you don’t know yet and, as the teacher, it’s your job to help everyone feel at home in this new environment, all while encouraging the kids to get to know each other. It’s no small task. But what if we told you there’s an easy way to kick off those first weeks, a way to inject both energy and connection into the classroom?

The post Break the Ice: The Ultimate Back-to-School Toolkit appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

Have you ever been in an uproarious, ear-splitting cafeteria with clangs and shrieks echoing from every shiny surface?

I recently visited an elementary school cafeteria where students were rushing around in clumps and groups, with no teachers or staff in sight. They were allowed to sit anywhere they wanted and, as a result, some kids were milling around in uncertainty, while others raced from table to table in hyperactive glee. Students shouted louder and louder in order to be heard over the deafening noise of dozens of conversations, the scraping of chairs, and the clattering of trays.

The post How to Tame a Chaotic School Cafeteria: 7 Tips for Managing Lunchroom Behavior appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

With the right tools and products at your side, you can turn the chaotic transition from summer break back to school into a smooth ride. Whether you’re a new teacher setting up your very first classroom or a seasoned pro looking to refresh your routine, having the right essentials makes all the difference! 

Buckle up as we explore classroom tools that help you stay organized, motivate students, and create a space where learning thrives from day one. These back-to-school must-haves are more than just supplies—they’re your secret weapons for success.

The post Back-to-School Must-Haves: Transform Your Classroom with These Indispensable Items appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

“David is escalating,” the office announced through my classroom intercom, just as I was about to get started on my lunch.

“Okay,” I replied, reluctantly leaving my turkey sandwich behind. “I’m on my way.”

David, to put it simply, was a difficult student. He could be aggressive, defiant, and lacking in empathy for his classmates. David had been suspended six times in the three years he had been at our school, and the first few months of fourth grade had been rough for both of us.

I knew if we were going to make it through the year, I’d need to focus on building our relationship. So, I had jumped in wholeheartedly, putting in a lot of effort. After six weeks, I’d thought things were finally improving. Until today.

The post The Secret to a Quiet Lunch Break: Building Student Relationships appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

As kids prepare to step through the school doors and start another year, I’m particularly mindful of the 20 million children in the U.S. experiencing clothing insecurity.

As a parent, I deeply understand the pressure of getting my kids comfortable with new routines and ready to learn every year. But for too many children, the challenges are steeper without access to adequate, appropriate clothing.

How do you gain the confidence to speak up in class if you’re worried the other kids will notice that your clothes are worn out? How do you make friends on the playground and join the game if your shoes don’t fit?

Families experiencing clothing insecurity want what we all want for our kids: to see them thrive and have the tools they need to realize their dreams.

The deeply rooted belief that every child deserves the essentials to feel safe, valued, and ready to learn guides my work as CEO of Cradles to Crayons (C2C), the largest national non-profit exclusively dedicated to ending clothing insecurity.

Based on C2C’s 23 years of experience, along with research from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, we know that prolonged stress from adversity interferes with a child’s ability to learn, form relationships, and develop emotional resilience. It can even prevent them from walking through the school doors in the first place.

We also know that it is possible to end clothing insecurity. Cradles to Crayons provides new and gently used clothing and other critical items to children living in low-income and homeless situations. We have seen that when you educate communities about this challenge and provide an opportunity for them to take action, they will step up for kids.

C2C is a powerful example of what can happen when people and communities unite for good. We do this by creating spaces of joy, connection, and empathy. Our Giving Factories are places where we inspire volunteers—many of them families—to serve together, checking, sorting, and packaging clothing to make a tangible difference in the lives of children who need it most. And this year, through our Ready for Learning initiative, we’ll provide 250,000 backpacks full of school supplies to children, free of charge.

We know this problem is bigger than us, and we want to share what we have learned so that others can help meet this hidden need. We’ve created a toolkit that we hope can serve as a starting point for anyone who wants to host a clothing drive in their own community. Or, to collaborate with us, feel free to check out our Take Action page.

When we ensure kids have what they need, we’re not just filling backpacks, we’re removing a burden so that they can focus on what really matters: learning and growing. The ripple effects of this are life-changing, not only for the kids and families we support, but for the communities that are enriched when all children can tap into their strengths and truly thrive.

The post Clothing Insecurity: A Hidden Barrier to Student Success appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

Recently, I was visiting an elementary school just as recess was ending. The bell rang, but the transition back to class was anything but smooth. Some kids wandered slowly toward their line-up area, others dashed straight into classrooms, and a few just kept playing, ignoring the bell altogether.

The kids in line waited and waited for their teachers to show up, but soon grew restless and began pushing and shoving each other. Several students simply gave up and sat down, while others drifted back toward the playground. The supervision staff made repeated attempts to restore order, but their efforts were in vain until the teachers finally arrived.

Later that day I watched the same students head to the cafeteria for lunch. Half of one fourth-grade class was milling around outside the room while the other half was still inside. Other groups walked past in loud, unsupervised clumps. Then, one teacher opened her door and, without warning, her entire class bolted through the shrubbery toward the cafeteria, mowing down little kids along the way.

It might sound like a small thing, but these chaotic moments point to something much bigger: the need for clear, shared routines that help kids feel safe, seen, and ready to learn. With over 25 years in education—as a school social worker, district-level director, and now international consultant—I’ve seen how something as simple as lining up can bring clarity, consistency, and connection, benefiting not just students, but staff as well.

Lines Still Matter—More Than We Think

Lining up has stood the test of time in schools for good reason. It’s a simple, effective routine that supports smooth transitions, shared expectations, and a sense of calm. In today’s busy, often unpredictable school environments, lines offer something timeless: predictability, safety, and a shared sense of direction. Ultimately, this class management technique isn’t just about order; it’s about creating a place where kids can settle, feel secure, and get back to the business of learning.

Lines are sometimes dismissed as old-fashioned or unnecessary, but in fact they still have many benefits.

1. Calming the chaos and keeping transitions smooth

One thing I often say to teachers I work with is: “Transitions are not your friend.” Transitions are where chaos and disorder live and thrive. Any time kids move from Point A to Point B there are opportunities for problems, particularly in younger grades where it can be difficult to adequately keep track of students unless they are in an orderly line.

The lack of direct oversight can cause inappropriate behaviors to rear their ugly heads. Think about it—whenever you hear of bullying at school, it’s almost always during these unstructured times when adults are not closely supervising. Lining up helps students shift from one activity or space to another with clarity and purpose, reducing confusion and off-task behavior.

2. Promoting safety and school security

When students are passing through hallways in orderly lines, it’s immediately clear that these children out of class belong to a group and are not simply roaming the halls unsupervised. The chances of a child wandering off diminishes. A clear, organized line also makes it easier for staff to account for students during transitions, emergencies, or drills.

Similarly, if classes are moving around the school in lines, it is easier to distinguish who belongs from who does not. A stranger on campus becomes much more noticeable, as someone wandering around on their own immediately looks out of place.

3. Fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose

One often overlooked benefit of lining up is how it helps individual students feel safe and connected at school. Recently, my younger sister—now an adult—shared that she had been incredibly anxious as a child, especially in her elementary years. One thing she said really stuck with me: “At least when there was a line, I knew where to go. I understood we were going to the library or to recess. It made me feel more secure, knowing I was in the right place.”

For students like her, something as simple as lining up offers reassurance and direction. Moving together as a group—whether to lunch, recess, or class—creates a shared rhythm and reinforces the feeling of being part of a community.

4. Creating predictable structures

Students thrive on clear expectations and routines. Predictable transitions like lining up reduce the mental load of constantly figuring out “what’s next,” especially in a school day filled with different environments, rules, and demands. When students know what to expect, they feel more at ease.

Lining up also offers a chance for students to practice respectful movement: waiting their turn, being aware of others, and using a calm voice. These small moments of structure reduce chaos and help students feel safe and grounded—which ultimately allows them to connect, bond, and learn.

Do’s and Don’ts

As you prepare your school for clear routines and procedures around lining up, here are some things to consider:

• DO lead lines with an adult: When transitioning students to a new location, such as outside for recess, the teacher should walk their students all the way there, until they are sure another adult is present to supervise. Later in the year, older classes may earn the privilege of walking independently, while the teacher watches them from the doorway. If they are quiet and respectful, they can keep this privilege. If not, it can be revoked.
• DON’T let students walk without a teacher: By simply excusing kids directly from your classroom to recess, this sends a message that the playground starts right outside the classroom door. Instead, walking students all the way to the play area makes it clear that behavior expectations in the hall are different than expectations on the playground.
• DO consider creating a central location to line up: Having one main gathering place on your school campus is useful for everything from before school, to after recess, to school assemblies—as well as for emergencies. The location could be a section of the blacktop, a grass area, or even the auditorium. This gathering place creates a sense of school community and allows everyone to see each other, making it easy to tell who is there and who is not.
• DON’T try to teach a new routine for every event: Utilizing one central location for most events keeps you from having to teach too many routines, and is better for kids who already find school overwhelming. Just keep it simple. It organizes the chaos.
• DO arrive on time to pick up students in line: Yes, this means rinsing out your coffee cup before the bell rings and making your way to the playground on time.
• DON’T make kids wait more than one to two minutes in line: It may sound extreme but hear me out. Realistically, students have trouble standing still for even short periods of time. It only takes a minute or two of waiting in line for kids to start joking around, bumping and jostling each other, and so on, even if the yard supervisors are present. By the time the teacher arrives, the class is a mess. “He touched me!” “She cut in line!” While lines do create order, making kids wait too long leads to the opposite. Make a schoolwide agreement that all teachers will arrive to pick up their students within the first two minutes of the bell ringing.
• DO conduct a quick check-in with the class: Once you’ve arrived to pick up your class, walk along the line and greet the students. Ask how recess went. This is a quick and easy way to hear about any issues that came up during the break and, hopefully, resolve them immediately. The underlying goal here is to orient students from playtime back to learning time.
• DON’T line up by gender: When I was a kid, boys were told to stand in one line and girls in the other. In order to make all students feel comfortable, regardless of their gender, this is a non-starter. If you must have two lines (due to space or another reason), either let kids choose, or assign lines alphabetically, by table group, or some other more objective way. 
• DO consider all your transitions: Kids should transition around the school in a single line, with their teacher, every time they move from Point A to Point B; from class to lunch, lunch back to class, to the playground, to the bus, etc. Be aware of any time students are leaving the classroom as a whole group, and make sure they are walking in a line.

Lines may seem like an obvious class management technique to some, whereas others may view them as a more antiquated practice, but the truth is that having students line up helps to establish a sense of safety, structure, and belonging at school. When we build predictable routines, we make space for students and teachers to focus on what matters most: learning and connection.

If you’d like to dig deeper, check out my short video “Why Walking in Line is Good for Students and for Schools,” and feel free to share it with your colleagues. Even better, bring it to your next staff meeting and start a conversation about how to improve transitions schoolwide. The more we align around simple, supportive practices like this, the more we create schools that are calm, connected, and truly restorative for kids and adults alike.

The post Why Lining Up Is Good for Students (and Schools) appeared first on TEACH Magazine.

The first six weeks of a new school year are essential. In middle school classrooms, those weeks are not just a warm-up. Rather, they are the foundation on which the entire school year is built. What happens during this crucial time period can make or break the year for both students and teachers alike.

Every grade level benefits from strong starts, but middle school presents unique challenges due to shifting identities, emotional rollercoasters, and growing independence. Therefore, a clear, consistent, and relationally rich approach to the first six weeks is paramount.

The post The First Six Weeks: Laying the Foundation for a Successful Middle School Year appeared first on TEACH Magazine.