When It Comes to Back to School Preparedness, There’s No Need to Cram
The first day of school is Thursday, September 5! Back to school season can be stressful, but just like preparing for a tough exam, there are a few things every family can do to get ready for the first day ahead of time. As the start of a new year approaches, we’re sharing our top tips to start off on the right foot.
8. Get Connected with NYCPS: Follow us on social media (X/Twitter; Instagram; Facebook) for the latest news you should know. The NYCPS+You newsletter will have updates and highlights about what’s going on in schools across the city. And, of course, don’t forget to come back and visit us right here on The Morning Bell, where we will continue to share resources, information, and more—all year long.
As the first day of school gets closer, check back here for more helpful tips!
We’re excited to be welcoming all of our students back to school on Thursday, September 5! A new school year marks a fresh start, but can also present new challenges to overcome—both in real life, and for the characters in these books! We hope you enjoy them as much as we do, and have a great first day of school this week!
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- The Day You Begin, by Jacqueline Woodson; illustrated by Rafael López
- First Day Jitters, by Julie Danneberg; illustrated by Judy Love
- Harry Versus the First 100 Days of School, by Emily Jenkins; illustrated by Pete Oswald
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- The Boy at the Back of the Class, by Onjali Q. Raúf
- The Unteachables, by Gordon Korman
- Welcome Back, Maple Mehta-Cohen, by Kate McGovern
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- The 47 People You'll Meet in Middle School, by Kristin Mahoney
- Free Lunch, by Rex Ogle
- Muddle School, by Dave Whamond
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- Pretty in Punxatawney, by Laurie Boyle Crompton
- The Silence Between Us, by Alison Gervais
- Where You See Yourself, by Clair Forrest
You can find these books and many more great reads on Sora, our Citywide Digital Library, which provides free access to thousands of digital e-books and audiobooks for our students, including those in the “Welcome Back to School” collection!
Missed our previous books of the week?
Check out all of our past recommendations in the Books of the Week Archive!
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOOLS
School might be out for the summer, but Summer Rising has been keeping kids across NYC busy! With a mix of academic and enrichment activities throughout the day, our summer programs are a fun way for students to stay engaged and keep their skills and knowledge fresh for when fall comes back around. Check out just a few of our favorite moments from Summer Rising so far!
