With back to school fast approaching, it's easy to feel like you're behind.

You look at your classroom.

You look at your to-do list.

You look at the calendar.

And suddenly it feels like there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done.

If only you had more time.

More time to set up your classroom.

More time to plan.

More time to organize.

More time to prepare.

But here's the truth:

You don't need more time.

You need a plan.

Let's talk about it.

My First Summer Teaching

I spent my entire first summer preparing for back to school.

I worked constantly.

I focused on decor.

I spent hours making my classroom look cute.

My husband even helped me create a giant poster globe for my classroom theme.

I spent hours scrolling social media looking for ideas.

Saving posts.

Pinning classroom inspiration.

Watching classroom tours.

The problem?

A week before school started, I realized I had no idea what I was actually going to teach my students.

I had a cute classroom.

I did not have a plan.

The final week before school was a blur.

I was rushing to the printer.

Planning lessons the day of.

Asking other teachers for resources.

Trying to figure everything out as I went.

The first week of school felt chaotic.

And honestly?

It wasn't because I didn't work hard enough.

It was because I spent my time focused on the wrong things.

Fast Forward Several Years Later

Several years later, I found myself in a completely different situation.

I had accepted a position in a new district.

New school.

New grade level.

New classroom.

The summer before school started, I got married and spent a week in Costa Rica on my honeymoon.

Yet somehow, I only spent about a week in my classroom that entire summer.

When the first day of school arrived:

My classroom was set up.

My first few weeks were planned and prepped.

My classroom management systems were ready.

Family communication was prepared.

My students knew what was expected.

Everything ran smoothly.

And remember:

This was in a completely new district.

So what was the difference?

I had a plan.

The Mistake I See Teachers Making Every Summer

I see teachers making the same mistake I made during my first few years.

They spend hours scrolling social media looking for ideas.

They walk into their classroom and immediately feel overwhelmed.

They start randomly hanging decor.

They move furniture around multiple times.

They create centers before knowing how they'll be used.

They spend 90% of their time making the classroom look cute and 10% making it functional.

Then suddenly it's the week before school.

And they wonder where all the time went.

Sound familiar?

What Teachers Actually Need To Do

Before you put a single thing on the wall, ask yourself:

Do I have a plan?

Do I know what goes where?

Do I know why it goes there?

How am I organizing my paper resources?

How am I organizing my digital resources?

How am I managing my classroom?

What am I teaching during the first few weeks of school?

How am I helping students learn expectations?

How am I creating systems that will support me all year long?

Because here's the truth:

The teachers who seem calm and prepared aren't necessarily working more.

They're planning first.

An Unpopular Opinion

I actually LOVE setting up my classroom every year.

I love it.

I feel like a designer.

I feel like a master planner.

I love creating a new space.

I love choosing a theme.

I love putting everything together.

I'm just as much of a primary teacher girl as anyone else.

So this isn't about removing the fun.

It's about making sure the fun doesn't distract you from what matters most.

Have fun.

Be creative.

Decorate.

Just go in with a plan.

Why Planning Changes Everything

When you have a plan:

You know exactly how your classroom is going to be set up before you arrive.

You know what belongs in each area.

You know how you'll organize paper resources.

You know how you'll organize digital resources.

You know how you'll manage your students.

You know how you'll teach procedures.

You know what you'll teach during the first few weeks.

You know how you'll prepare materials.

What used to take weeks can often be completed in a weekend.

I've done it.

Not because I worked harder.

Because I worked intentionally.

Start Here

Before you begin setting up your classroom, answer these four questions:

What do I already have?

Take inventory.

You probably have more than you think.

What do I need for the first few weeks of school?

Focus on essentials.

Not everything.

Just what students need right away.

What would be nice to have later?

Create a separate list.

Don't confuse wants with needs.

What do I have that I don't need anymore?

Declutter.

Create space.

Remove distractions.

Then start designing.

Take pictures of your classroom.

Sketch it out.

Think about flow.

Think about function.

Think about how students will move through the room.

Think about classroom management.

Think about learning.

Decor comes later.

Flow comes first.

We'll talk more about intentional classroom design later this month.

The Poolside Teacher

Because here's the truth.

The Poolside Teacher isn't spending her entire summer sitting in her classroom.

She's out with friends.

She's enjoying coffee dates.

She's sleeping in.

She's reading books.

She's spending time with family.

She's relaxing at the beach.

She's enjoying her guacamole on vacation.

And maybe for ten minutes a day she opens her laptop, listens to an audio lesson, and takes one simple action.

That's it.

She's prepared because she has a plan.

Not because she sacrificed her entire summer.

It really is that simple.

Final Thoughts

If there's one thing I want you to remember, it's this:

You do not need more time.

You need a plan.

I learned that lesson the hard way during my first year of teaching.

And it's one of the biggest reasons I was able to enjoy my summers, prepare for a new district, and walk into the first day of school feeling calm and confident.

Plan first.

Decorate second.

Think about flow before aesthetics.

And remember:

Being prepared and enjoying your summer are not opposites.

You get to have both.

Ready to Get Started?

If you're ready to create a classroom you love without sacrificing your summer:

• Download the Classroom Setup Guide
• Check out the Classroom Setup Bundle
• Join the Poolside Teacher: 14-Day Classroom Setup Experience

Because the goal isn't to spend your summer working.

The goal is to walk into the first day of school prepared, confident, and rested.