New Teachers

School Leader Resources for New Teachers

The first years of teaching comes with a steep learning curve and a lot of new territory. These resources help school leaders support new teachers and build a school culture that supports teacher retention.

Several sheets of paper, one with writing on it, sit on a wooden desk. A blue pen, sticky notes, jar of pens, small plant, and coffee cup are placed around the paper.
Several sheets of paper, one with writing on it, sit on a wooden desk. A blue pen, sticky notes, jar of pens, small plant, and coffee cup are placed around the paper.

TGIF Reflection: An End-of-Week Teacher Activity

A simple end-of-week reflection that helps staff reflect on positive moments.
5–10 min
A white, stuffed alpaca sits on a shelf in front of green and purple bulletin boards. A handwritten note is propped up in front of the alapca.

Mascot Pass: A Weekly Teacher Appreciation Activity

A weekly recognition tradition that keeps appreciation moving all year long.
5 min
A notecard with a written note, scissor, and paper clips lay on a green background.

9 Ways to Welcome New Teachers and Staff to Your School

Pick the ideas that fit your team and your style.
Ongoing
Six pieces of paper are taped to a white wall with colorful sticky notes placed all around. Two people reach in from each side to place more sticky notes.

Sticky Note Staff Check-In

An easy way to ask your staff how they’re doing.
10–15 min
Two women sit at a table looking at each other and smiling. Pens, paper and coffee cups are on the table. There is a shelf with books and school supplies in the background.

One-on-One Meeting Template for Principals

A simple way to connect, listen, and grow with your team.
15 min
A side view of a piece of paper with a plant vine next to it on a bright green background.

Center & Ground: Mindfulness for Teachers with 4 Practices

Simple grounding exercises for your staff to breathe, reset, and start the day steady.
1 min
One person holds a clipboard with a piece of paper on it, and a pen in hand. Two others stand around, and all three point at the clipboard.

Common Thread

A fast, no-prep icebreaker where small groups race to find the most unique things they all have in common.
10-15 min
An orange notebook with two notecards on it, three small notecards, blue pens, and blue tape dispenser lay on a pink background.

5-Minute Professional Development Ideas for Teachers

Five simple, low-prep ideas for supporting staff growth and building confidence throughout the year.
5 min
Cut-out puzzle pieces, sheets of paper, scissors, and pens lay on a dark blue background.

Piece By Piece

Celebrate every role on your school team, one puzzle piece at a time.
Ongoing
A man and woman stand facing each other. Each holds a clipboard. They are talking and laughing.

Together We Thrive: Team-Building for New & Veteran Staff

Find activities that build trust, connection, and belonging all year long.
15 min (per session)
A hand writes on a postcard that says "welcome to the team."

Postcards to Welcome New Staff to Your Building

A low-prep onboarding activity that helps school leaders build connection from day one.
5 min
A man sits at a wood desk with pens, a coffee cup, and sheets of paper on it. He holds two pieces of paper in his hands.

SMART Goals for Teachers and Staff

A practical guide for leading goal-setting conversations that help staff grow, stay focused, and feel supported all year long.
20-30 min
A binder with multiple sheets of paper and pen on it lays on a green background.

One Message, One School

A school culture guide helps principals plan a unified kickoff with scripts.
30-60 min (per session)
Sheets of paper, notecards, pens, and a clipboard with a piece of paper on it lay on a green background.

10 Ways to Support and Retain New Teachers

10 practical leadership habits principals can use all year long.
Ongoing
Two women sit at a table, one smiles at the other. There are notecards and pens in their hands.

Fun Fact Frenzy

A quick, no-prep staff meeting icebreaker where staff write surprising facts about themselves and the group guesses whose it whose.
2 min
Multiple sheets of paper, markers, confetti and tape lay on a table.

Teacher Celebration Styles Quiz

A staff appreciation activity that helps you learn how each teacher likes to be celebrated.
15-20 min
Two women hold bingo cards and face each other. Each are writing on the cards. Background is a multicolored rug.

Back-to-School Team Building Bingo

A fun staff meeting icebreaker your team will love. This bingo activity gets staff moving, talking, and connecting in just 10 minutes.
10-15 min
Two women sit on a bench in front of a window and wall with children's drawings on it. They are smiling at each other and have notebooks in the laps.

A Guide to Stay Interviews

Keep great teachers by having the right conversations.
10–15 min
Several sheets of paper with large words on them lay on a pink background.

Purpose Paves the Way

A quick team building activity for teachers using a shared staff bulletin board.
5 min
Papers are taped to a white wall with purple sticky notes stuck around them. A hand reaches in to place a note.

Sticky Note Stations

A simple way for teachers to share honest feedback and ideas anonymously.
Ongoing
A man stands in front of a table in a library reading off a piece of paper. At the table, two women stand and two women sit.

Stand Up If

A fast, fun staff meeting icebreaker where teachers stand up if a statement applies to them.
5-10 min
A stack of books and a sheet of paper lay on a yellow table.

Staff Book Club

A staff book club gives your team a low-key way to explore new ideas, spark conversation, and grow together professionally.
20-30 min
Two women sit at a wooden table. One writes on a sheet of paper. Notebooks, pens, a laptop, and post-it notes are scattered on the table.

Similarities and Differences

A quick, low-prep icebreaker where staff mingle and discover one similarity and one difference with each colleague they meet.
15-20 min
A woman stands in a classroom in front of a large television screen pointing at it. A woman sits in front of her writing on a piece of paper on a clipboard.

Observation & Evaluation Jitters

A quick reflection activity with free printable cards for staff.
10-15 min
A woman in a red dress stands in a library. In front of her is a table with three women at it, two of them are raising their hands.

Mystery Staff Member

A fun back-to-school icebreaker where staff fill out an "About Me" form.
15-20 min
A woman sits at a wooden desk with a jar of markers and potted plant on it. She has a piece of paper and notecard in front of her and she is writing on them.

Growth Goal Quick Check

Turn a quick hallway chat into a moment for reflection and support.
3-5 min
One hand reaches in to hand a hand-written note to another hand.

Growth Goal Celebration Shoutouts

A teacher recognition idea for principals: turn quick growth check-ins into staff shoutouts.
5 min
A women sits in a classroom at a desk grading papers.

Grading Grind

A quick reflection activity with free printable cards to help staff reset and refocus.
10-15 min
Two women look down at a notecard with handwriting on it.

Goal Buddy Pair-Ups

A simple professional development idea that builds lasting peer support.
5-10 min
A man sits at a desk in a classroom. He is looking at blank notecards and making notes in a notebook.

Glow and Grow Cards

A quick peer feedback activity for staff meetings and PD days.
5-10 min
Two women hold bingo sheets and write on them with pens. A colorful rug is in the background.

Find Someone Who Icebreaker

A staff meeting icebreaker that gets people moving and connecting fast.
10-15 min
A woman stands in a hallway smiling while another woman hands her a small piece of paper.

Staff Meeting Exit Ticket

A quick slip for the end of a meeting or PD session to capture takeaways and questions.
2-3 min
Someone holds a peach water bottle in their hands.

The PD Cafe: Wellness and Growth

A PD activity where staff choose a quick reset to an ongoing habit each week.
15-20 min
Two women sit at a wooden table with an open laptop between them. They write on pieces of paper in front of them.

The PD Cafe: Technology and Innovation

A menu-style PD activity that lets staff test new tools and tricks.
15-20 min
A woman stands writing at a whiteboard. Another woman sits at a table and makes notes in a small notebook.

The PD Cafe: Instructional Practices

An activity to develop professional development ideas for teachers.
15-20 min
A woman sits next to bookshelves as a table writing on a piece of paper.

The PD Cafe: Equity and Inclusion

A PD exercise to build culturally responsive teaching skills.
15-20 min
A hand places a notecard with handwritten notes on it in a slot mailbox.

Appreciation Avalanche

A simple teacher recognition idea.
Ongoing
A bulletin board is covered in pieces of paper with gold stars on them. A hand reaches in from the right to place another sticker.

Four Square Responses

A simple way to ask your staff how they’re doing.
10–20 min
A woman sits reading notecards with hand-written notes on them.

If I Were Principal...

A quick staff feedback activity that gives every teacher a voice.
10-15 min
A man holding a clipboard stands in front of a woman seated at a desk in a classroom.

Quick Check-In, Real Connection

Ready-to-use one-on-one check-in questions for every moment of the school year.
5 min
Two people stand in front of yellow lockers and their hands exchange notecards.

Staff Idea Swap Cards

A quick peer PD activity where staff fill out cards sharing a strategy, tool, or idea that has been working in their classroom.
10-15 min
Someone holds a piece of paper with "this" and "that" on it. People in the background stand to one side of a room.

This or That Icebreaker

A get-on-your-feet icebreaker where staff vote on fun "this or that" prompts.
5-10 min
A poster that says "helping hands, happy hearts" is taped to yellow lockers. Around it are small notes and a hand reaches in to place another note.

Helping Hands, Happy Hearts

A simple staff appreciation activity where teachers share small requests.
5 min
Two women sit in chairs facing one another. One woman sits facing the other with a clipboard and pen in her hand. Other woman is smiling.

Coaching Conversations That Count

Build teacher coaching conversations that celebrate and support.
10 min
A hand writes with a green pen on a small postcard on a desk filled with office supplies, a cup of coffee, and small plant.

Postcard Goal Check

A goal setting activity that celebrates little wins and big plans.
5 min
A woman sits at a desk with a laptop and vase of flows on it in front of a brick wall. She writes on notecards.

First-Week Frenzy

A guide with practical tips for principals for the first week back.
10-15 min
An arm with a white wristwatch reaches in from the left side and a hands points to the watch in front of a white brick background.

Ideas to Give Your Staff More Time

Practical ideas to give teachers extra planning time.
10-60 min
A hand reaches across a messy desk to pace a notecard near a pencil holder.

5-Minute Personal Growth Ideas for School Leaders

Five quick, low-prep ideas principals can use to support professional growth.
5 minutes

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