One less decision to make this September

Sep 01, 2026 11:31 am

September has officially arrived-and depending on where you teach, you may already be back in the classroom… or counting down the final few days.

Either way, this is the time of year when every decision seems to create three more decisions.

Where will students sit?
What needs to be reviewed first?
How much did they forget over the summer?
And why does the copier already seem personally offended by you?

You don't need to have the entire year figured out right now.

But one small routine can make the beginning of every class feel much more manageable: having a short warm-up ready before students walk through the door.

A good warm-up can help you:

settle students quickly;
see what they remember;
spot gaps before they become bigger problems;
start class without spending ten minutes answering, "What are we doing today?"

Even five focused minutes can make the rest of the lesson run more smoothly.

If you'd like something ready to use, you can try my free 6th Grade Math Warm-Up sample here:

👉 Try the free warm-up

And if you want the routine planned for you beyond the first few days, the 6th Grade Math Warm-Ups Growing Bundle includes both digital and printable activities, with new weeks added as the bundle grows.

👉 See the complete warm-up bundle

Whether your school year has already started or is just about to begin, I hope you give yourself permission to keep things simple this week.

Students don't need a perfect first week.

They need a teacher who can still remember where they put their coffee. ☕

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