The Back-to-School Writing Task That Helps Me Understand Every Student
Starting a new school year is always a mix of excitement, nerves, and the urgent need for lots of coffee. You’re meeting new classes, setting expectations, and silently praying the photocopier survives the week. But in the middle of it all, writing can be one of your best tools for building relationships, setting the tone, and figuring out who’s actually in front of you.
Here are my favourite back-to-school writing ideas that make the first week more meaningful, for you and your students.
Why the First Week Matters
That first week isn’t just about seating plans and learning names. It’s about creating the kind of classroom culture you want for the year ahead. I try to keep the vibe calm but energetic, enough excitement to get them invested, without setting myself up to be a performing monkey for the next ten months.
More than anything, I use that time to build relationships and set my standards. What I will and won’t accept. What the classroom will feel like. And yes, I use writing to help with all of that.
The Letter to the Teacher
My absolute go-to task for a brand-new class is getting them to write me a letter. Nothing too formal, just a chance to tell me about themselves. I usually prompt them with:
◆ Who they are
◆ What they like and dislike
◆ Their favourite subject
◆ What they love/hate about English
◆ What they’re looking forward to this year
◆ Anything else they want me to know (concerns, quirks, interesting facts, or even a warning about potential chaotic seating choices)
It gives me an immediate sense of their voice, their writing style, and anything pastoral I should be aware of. I’ve learned more from these letters than any official data sheet ever gave me.
The Interest Quiz
Alongside the letter, I give most classes a quiz covering books, TV shows, movies, hobbies, and general interests. Not only does this help with engagement, but it also lets me recommend personal reading books throughout the year. If I know a student is obsessed with crime shows or hates fantasy with a passion, I can tailor my suggestions and avoid the eye-rolls.
Personal Writing Over Academic Writing
At the start of a new academic year, I always lean towards fun and personal writing tasks. There’s plenty of time for structured essays later. At the start, I want to get a sense of who they are and help them feel seen.
I’ve never been a fan of the “What I Did Over Summer” essay unless you add a twist. (Maybe “What I didn’t do over summer,” or “A summer memory I’d relive or delete.”) Otherwise, it tends to privilege students with picture-perfect holidays and overlook the ones who stayed home playing Minecraft in their pyjamas. Not necessarily a bad thing, but we can be more inclusive.
Writing as Assessment (Quietly)
Even when I’m doing these personal tasks, I’m assessing. I need to know early on who struggles with writing stamina, who’s got potential, and who’s got gaps. Every school I’ve worked in has expected some form of reading comprehension or baseline writing assessment in the first week, and I usually sneak that in with something that feels less formal.
A reflective letter or creative task can still give you a clear view of grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, and tone without making it feel like a test.
One Tip for New Teachers
Don’t overthink it. You’re likely not being observed in week one. You’re building trust.
Come up with writing tasks that tell you something about your students, and that tell them something about you. Share your favourite book. Talk about the fact that you still get nervous on the first day. Model writing that’s honest and human. The rest can come later.
