Back to School

Education news, analysis, and opinion about the start of the school year

Reading List

EdWeek's Back-to-School Reading List
Explore some of our most popular and powerful stories, selected by our editors as back-to-school must reads. Update date: July 25, 2025
Teaching From Our Research Center Teachers Say They're More Likely to Leave the Classroom Because of Coronavirus
Teachers now say they are more likely to leave the classroom at the end of this school year than they were before the coronavirus pandemic began, according to an EdWeek Research Center survey.
Madeline Will, June 3, 2020
4 min read
Teaching What Teachers Want: 'Looping,' Grouping by Ability, and Digital Devices, Survey Says
Educators for Excellence asked 600 teachers about instruction during the school shutdowns, their perspectives on remote learning, and concerns for next school year.
Sarah Schwartz, May 28, 2020
5 min read
Teaching Most Teachers Don't Want to Extend the Next School Year, Survey Shows
How should schools address learning loss from coronavirus-related closures? A new survey from the Collaborative for Student Success asked teachers, administrators, and policymakers.
Sarah Schwartz, April 30, 2020
4 min read
An Education Week analysis found dozens of posts on Facebook, such as these, and Twitter urging parents to take out “back to school” loans.
An Education Week analysis found dozens of posts on Facebook, such as these, and Twitter urging parents to take out “back to school” loans.
Teaching Lenders Push High-Interest 'Back-to-School' Loans on Parents Via Social Media
Posts on Facebook and Twitter urge parents who need money for school supplies to take out payday and other loans, which experts caution have sky-high rates and school leaders say are unnecessary.
Madeline Will, August 27, 2019
6 min read
Teaching Tips for 'Floating' Teachers: How to Survive Without a Classroom of Your Own
"Traveling" or "floating" teachers often have to load up their teaching supplies in a cart and go from classroom to classroom. Here are some tips to make the best of it.
Madeline Will, August 8, 2019
5 min read
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Amanda Becker
School Climate & Safety Opinion Setting Up My First Classroom
First year teacher Amanda Becker shares the process of setting up her first classroom.
Amanda Austin Becker, November 2, 2018
3 min read
States Opinion 13 Things I Learned While Blogging for Education Week
This is the 500th blog I've written as the Teacher in a Strange Land, for Education Week Teacher. As it turns out, it's also my final blog for EdWeek. Here are 13 things I have learned in the past nine years of observing and writing about Ed World.
Nancy Flanagan, September 22, 2018
6 min read
Teaching Setting Up a Classroom Is Hard. See the Creative Ways These Teachers Did It
We asked, and you answered: See the classroom setups readers shared with the #SeeMyClassroom hashtag.
Sarah Schwartz, September 7, 2018
4 min read
Teaching Teachers, How Did You Set Up Your Classroom This Year?
Show us how you arranged your space for the new school year with the hashtag #SeeMyClassroom.
Sarah Schwartz, August 27, 2018
1 min read
teacher diverse classroom
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Teaching Opinion Build Student Trust by Sharing Stories on the First Day
Seán Arthurs writes how sharing his background and values with students on the first day fosters connection.
Sean Arthurs, August 15, 2018
4 min read
Image of an educator greeting students for the day with a special handshake.
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School & District Management 10 Bold Ideas Principals Can Embrace This School Year
Principals, want to change things up this school year? Here are 10 suggestions—big and small—for rethinking what you do and how you lead.
Stacey Decker, August 10, 2018
3 min read
Danna Thomas, a kindergarten teacher at Windsor Hills Elementary School in Baltimore, and the founder of Happy Teacher Revolution, smiles and snaps her fingers while a fellow teacher shares a good moment from earlier in the day.
Danna Thomas, a kindergarten teacher at Windsor Hills Elementary School in Baltimore, and the founder of Happy Teacher Revolution, smiles and snaps her fingers while a fellow teacher shares a good moment from earlier in the day.
Erin Irwin/Education Week
Teaching 7 Things Teachers Can Quit Doing This Year
Want to shake up your teaching mindset this year? Here are seven habits teachers have cast off in the spirit of becoming a better educator.
Stacey Decker, August 9, 2018
2 min read
Teaching Profession Texas Teachers Scramble to Rebuild Classrooms Destroyed by Harvey
Classrooms were destroyed for many teachers in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey. Now, those teachers are trying to rebuild to create a safe and welcoming space for students.
Madeline Will, September 15, 2017
3 min read
Image of an empty classroom.
Burak Sür/iStock/Getty
Teaching Video: Setting Up the Classroom for the First Day of School
Education Week filmed teachers setting up their classrooms for the first day of school, capturing the whirlwind of excitement and nerves.
Madeline Will, September 1, 2017
1 min read