By Shannon at the Southern Schoolhouse
Let’s be real, by the end of the school year, I’m more than ready to lock the door and head out for summer.
But every August, I find myself wishing I had taken care of just a few things before I left. Between meetings, trainings, and all the beginning of year to-dos, those unfinished tasks from June can make the back-to-school rush feel even more overwhelming.
Over the years, I’ve figured out a few simple things I can do at the end of the year that make a big difference when I return. And now? I’m sharing them with you because future you deserves a calmer, smoother start.
Depending on how many teacher workdays or free afternoons you have at the end of the year, I try to space things out so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
Pacing yourself makes a huge difference and even just tackling a few small tasks each day can help you start the next school year with less stress.
Here is a simple checklist to guide you:
✅ Task 1: Desk & Personal Zone
▢ Toss dried pens, old sticky notes, broken supplies
▢ Keep only items you love or use weekly
▢ Create a storage bin labeled “Teacher Essentials” for August
✅ Task 2: Papers & Printables
▢ Sort into 2 piles: Use, Recycle
▢ Let go of never-used copies and outdated handouts
▢ Keep 1–2 master versions of favorites
✅ Task 3: Walls & Decor
▢ Take down items that feel tired or overused
▢ Ask: “Does this still excite or inspire?”
▢ Save only what brings fresh energy
✅ Task 4: Cabinets, Bins & Supplies
▢ Clean out one shelf or bin at a time
▢ Toss dried glue sticks, tech cords, and duplicates
▢ Donate or share extras with teammates
✅ Day 5: Digital Declutter
▢ Organize desktop and teaching folders
▢ Delete outdated files, old lesson plans, unused slides or organized them into folders by year
▢ Create a folder labeled “Ready for Fall or the School Year (25-26)”
These are just a few areas that I try to complete before summer. Once completed, you are ready reset and take care of YOU! We have and post for self care and how we each take care of ourselves in the summer (Why Self-Care Matters for Teachers and What It Looks Like for Us This Summer).
