3 Systems to Set Up Before the First Day of School

The classroom is cute, but these are the systems that will actually save your sanity.

When you think about prepping for a new school year, you probably picture classroom decor, sharpened pencils, and perfectly labeled bins. And while it is fun to make your space beautiful, the truth is: decorations won’t save you when things get overwhelming.

It’s the systems behind the scenes that help you stay calm, consistent, and in control once the year ramps up.

So before the first day of school arrives, make sure these three foundational systems are in place. Your future self will thank you, I promise.

1. A Student Support System

💡 Tool: Student Support Binder

From IEPs to 504s, health plans to behavior contracts, the paperwork piles up fast. Without a clear system, it’s easy to lose track of who needs what, and when.

Setting up a student support system before school starts allows you to:

• Stay compliant and organized

• Easily reference accommodations

• Advocate more effectively for your students

• Track behavior or support data with confidence

I recommend prepping a simple, editable binder with tabs for each type of plan, plus a “student snapshot” section where you can record high-priority needs on one quick-glance page.

🛠️ Try This: My Student Support Binder includes everything you need to set up accommodations, alerts, and student plans all in one place — with both printable and digital formats.

2. A Sub Plan System

💡 Tool: Sub Binder

Let’s be honest: most of us have gone to school sick because prepping for a sub felt harder than just showing up.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Creating a reusable sub plan system means:

• You can take sick or personal days without stress

• Your students get a consistent experience, even when you’re out

• You avoid the last-minute scramble of sub folders and post-its

A strong sub binder includes your daily schedule, class list, behavior expectations, emergency info, routines, and flexible activities that any sub can implement with confidence.

🛠️ Try This: My Sub Binder is editable and ready to customize, so you can set it up once and reuse it all year.

3. A Planning & Collaboration System

💡 Tool: Team Planning Dashboard

Whether you plan alone or with a team, having a central place to store pacing guides, standards, unit plans, and shared documents will make your life so much easier.

With a planning dashboard, you can:

• Stay aligned with your teaching team

• Organize standards by unit or month

• Keep notes, reflections, and assessments all in one place

• Avoid re-inventing the wheel every year

Instead of scattered sticky notes and random Google Docs, create a one-stop hub for all things planning.

🛠️ Try This: My Team Planning Dashboard includes editable pacing guides, unit planning templates, and team roles. Perfect for PLCs or solo planning!

Prep for the Stress, Not Just the Aesthetic

It’s easy to focus on bulletin boards and bins, but it’s the systems behind the scenes that will support you through the real challenges of teaching.

When you set up these three systems before the first day of school, you’re setting yourself up for a year that’s calmer, clearer, and way more manageable.

Need help getting started?
✅ Grab the Classroom Management & Organization Bundle. It includes all three tools mentioned above (and more!) to help you build a classroom that runs smoothly from day one.

✅ If you don’t want each piece of the Complete Bundle, you can get the Custom Bundle for 30% off!