Back to School Checklist

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Back to School Checklist

As a teacher, I would start to prepare my classroom several weeks before my students would start. I couldn’t wait to put their names on the wall, add their birthdays to my calendar and prepare their materials.   Then, I would start my supply list for my students.  Today, I am partnering with Clorox® to share this sponsored post.

I read, years ago, a survey that stated that teachers spend 20-30% of their paychecks on supplies for their classrooms.  I would say that I could certainly see it being true.  When a child didn’t have something, or couldn’t afford to attend a field trip, I know many teachers that would help out.   As a mom now, I know that I can help out… and so I send in extra things (and I encourage other parents to do the same, if they can.)

I love when we can help our public schools and I love hearing about companies that do the same.  Clorox is one of them.  This year, Clorox continues its partnership with DonorsChoose.org, the leading platform for giving to public schools, with a $150,000 Match Offer, which means the brand matches contributions to qualifying projects dollar-for-dollar. Last year, they funded nearly 800 projects and reached more than 57,300 students. That’s huge.  

I remember my second year teaching, I had a parent that came to me on the first day and said “If you ever have a student that can’t afford supplies, trips or anything else, please come to me.  I want to help and my family has decided that this year we will help in our children’s classrooms.”   Each month she would come to me and ask me how she could help… and each month she did.   Families across the country can get involved in helping public schools, too, just by shopping for school supplies. For every $5 worth of qualifying Clorox® and Glad® products purchased*, you save $1 and the Clorox Company will donate $1 to classrooms in need through DonorsChoose.org. Go to www.CloroxForSchools.com to get started!

Clorox wants to help make it possible for every student and teacher in need to have a clean, healthy classroom environment this year. (I used to wipe their desks every day, as soon as they were dismissed – it’s amazing how quickly you can go through a container of Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes!)

I never wanted any illness to come from my classroom and I never wanted to know that I could have helped to prevent one of my students from becoming sick, so I kept my room as clean as possible, with the help of Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes.  They  help kill 99.9% of germs that can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours, as well as 99.9% of viruses* and bacteria – plus Staph, E. Coli, salmonella and strep.  

Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes and Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes with Micro-Scrubbers offer a multi-surface and multi-mess cleaning, all in one wipe.   

That’s the reason that I send in multi-packs to each of my children’s teachers:


I try to buy the supplies a few weeks before school starts, to avoid the huge rush of parents in the aisles. I also try to make these last few weeks of summer as fun as possible, with a few small trips or day-trips to fun places.   On that note, here is a back-to-school checklist & timeline that you are welcome to print…

Tip– a lot of these items can be ordered online.  It makes things so much easier!

*Up to $5, delivered via PayPal credit.

So how do we prepare for back to school?  You are welcome to print this checklist. 

Two Weeks Before First Day

Buy Supplies (Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes, plastic baggies, glue sticks…)

Clean & mend backpack (or buy a new one)

Go on a fun trip or day-trip

Make a play date with school friends

Move bedtime up to school-bedtime (7:00 for our younger kids, 8:00 for our older ones)

One Week Before First Day

Start school morning routine (bed made, dressed & teeth brushed before coming down for breakfast)

Get fall clothes & shoes

Get haircuts

Grocery shop for lunches & snacks

Find teacher’s supply list & buy remaining items (usually found on school website)

One Day Before First Day

Pack lunch

Stock lunch account

Read a back-to-school book

Lay out clothes for first day

Get to bed early

Leave a “Good Luck!” note in their room after they fall asleep to find in the morning

Visit CloroxForSchools.com for more information.