Starting a new school year is the best, isn’t it? The gleam of freshly waxed floors… The scent of pencil shavings in the air… The quiet thrill of brand-new markers…
And then – the terror.
You don’t know these kids. Not yet.
Not their names.
Not their strengths.
Not their quirks.
Not what they remember from last year or what they still need help with.
That sinking feeling in your stomach? Totally normal.
At the start of the year, you’re expected to:
- Learn every student’s name
- Set up seating charts that won’t start a mutiny
- Welcome the surprise new kid who showed up after you alphabetized everything
- Figure out who needs support, what kind, and how to give it – fast
Yeah. It’s a lot.
But you don’t have to do it alone.
A simple set of back-to-school writing prompts can help you break the ice and gather meaningful insights, all while giving students a chance to express themselves.
Below are 10 prompts you can use during the first days of school. They work as writing assignments or conversation starters.
Best of all?
Each one gives you real insight about your students:
- A glimpse of their background
- A snapshot of their writing skills
- A peek into their personality and classroom behavior
Ready? Let’s get started
1. What would make this the best year ever?
This is a perfect opener for the first few days of school. It sends a powerful message right away: you care about your students’ hopes and voices.
It also gives you quick insight into what students are looking forward to. If your third graders about about to learn cursive, or your eighth graders have heard about the annual trip to Washington D.C., those things are likely to show up here.
Even better, this prompt offers a sneak peek at classroom dynamics. You might learn who’s best friends with whom, or who might need a little space.
“It would be the best year ever if I could sit in a group with my friends Sara and Kayla!”
“Don’t ever put me in a group with Rodrigo. We got into a huge fight last year.”
Pro Tip: Use that intel wisely. You might seat them together for collaboration…or on opposite sides of the room if you sense a distraction brewing.
2. What is something that is easy for you? What is something that is hard?
This one’s a student favorite, and a teacher eye-opener.
The first question invites kids to celebrate what comes naturally to them. The second asks them to reflect (maybe for the first time) on what challenges them. You’ll gain insight into their interests (“I’m great at roller skating backwards”) and academic self-perception (“Math is really hard for me”).
If a student writes just one word, or nothing at all, that’s a signal too. That might be a child who struggles to name strengths or articulate difficulties. Keep an eye on them. They may need encouragement, support, or extra opportunities to feel successful.
3. Do you know anyone in this class? Who? How do you know them?
Unless you teach kindergarten, chances are most of your students will know at least one classmate already. That final question—How do you know them?—is where the real gold is.
This prompt helps you start mapping classroom relationships from day one. You’ll quickly learn:
- Who plays sports or does after-school activities together
- Who might be more reserved or shy
- Who seems to know everyone (often because they’re the class chatterbox)
Sure, you’d pick up on these dynamics eventually. But by asking this question early, you’ll get a head start. You can then use that knowledge to shape seating charts, group work, and classroom culture from the beginning.
4. How do you spend your time between getting home from school and going to bed?
I love this question because it’s open-ended and nonjudgmental.
You’re not accusing your students of spending all night on their phones (though some might be). And you’re not assuming they’re juggling 13 after-school activities (though that happens too). You’re simply asking what their afternoons and evenings really look like.
This question quietly reveals so much:
- Who’s caring for younger siblings until a parent gets home
- Who visits a sick grandparent at the hospital
- Who’s often alone because of a parent’s work or social schedule
You’ll learn which students may need extra help staying organized, turning in homework, or managing time, and you won’t have to pry.
Bonus insight: This prompt also reveals how well students understand sequencing. Do they describe their routine in order, or jump from topic to topic? Use that information to guide your writing instruction later in the year.
5. Tell about a pet you wish you could have. (It doesn’t have to be a real animal.)
Not every student has a cat, dog, or pet of any kind. That’s why this prompt works so well. It gives everyone a chance to dream, regardless of their current situation.
This also gives your creative thinkers a chance to shine. Sure, you’ll get a few “I want a cat but my mom’s allergic” responses, but you’ll also get dragons, unicorns, or a cat-otter-raccoon-mermaid hybrid.
Bonus idea: Use this as an early-finisher writing station. Invite students to draw their dream pet as well. It gives them something meaningful to do—and lets your budding artists shine, too.
6. Describe your favorite meal.
One of my teacher friends likes to say her love language is food. She has a point! Meals can be a powerful expression of culture, tradition, and joy.
This prompt gives students a chance to share something meaningful from their home life. You’ll learn about family customs, cultural influences, and what your students truly value.
Once students finish this piece, save it. This is a descriptive piece full of opportunity for adding in sensory details…once you’ve taught that lesson, of course!
7. Tell me about your family.
Some teachers hesitate to ask this, afraid it might open a can of worms. But in my experience, students tend to view their families as normal – no matter how unusual it may seem by adult standards
This prompt helps you learn:
- Who your students live with
- Whether any students are cousins (hello, family carpool)
- Who splits time between different households
- Which parents travel often
- Who has significantly older or younger siblings
This isn’t about asking follow-up questions – it’s about building quiet awareness. These are details you’ll want to tuck away and remember.
Pro tip: If you use this as a back-to-school writing prompt, keep the response for parent-teacher conferences. They’re a helpful glimpse into home life, and funny or sweet answers can break the ice during tough conversations.
These last three prompts aren’t just about student identity. They also give you a sneak peek at writing skills across genres. You’ll see who can sequence events, who understands narrative structure, and who has a natural feel for persuasive language.
8. Explain the steps you take to get ready for school in the morning.
Like the earlier prompt about after-school routines, this one opens a window into your students’ home lives—without being intrusive.
You’ll learn:
- Who’s responsible for helping younger siblings get ready
- Who packs their own lunch
- Whose morning depends on catching the bus—because there’s no backup plan
On the academic side, this is a great way to assess whether students can sequence events clearly and logically. That insight will guide your writing instruction in the weeks to come
9. Write about going on an adventure with your best friend.
I love prompts that have multiple layers and purposes, and this is another one. Sure, it’s fun and imaginative, but it also helps you assess how well students understand basic narrative structure.
You’ll see who can:
- Build a scene using active verbs and descriptive language
- Describe using senses than just sight
- Carry a story from beginning to end
As a bonus, you’ll also learn who their best friends are—which can be useful for classroom community-building.
10. Would you rather swim in a pool or in the ocean? Why?
Fresh off summer break, many students still have swimming on the brain. This prompt meets them where they are (i.e., not school) while giving you a chance to evaluate some foundational persuasive writing skills.
Though students probably won’t cite formal “evidence” just yet, their responses show how well they can make a case. Younger kids might say:
“I like the pool because I can touch the bottom.”
“The ocean has big waves. I had fun.”
Older students may begin comparing safety, excitement, or convenience—without even realizing they’re practicing argumentation. Those are the skills you’ll build on when you teach persuasive writing later in the year.
Need Paper to go with These Prompts?
Back-to-school writing prompts serve a lot of purposes.
You can use them to:
- Get to know students
- Save and revise later in the year
- Add choice to your writing centers or early-finisher stations
If you use these prompts in a center, it can be extra fun for kids to write on themed border paper.
You’ll find a set of back-to-school printable pages in my Etsy store. The pack includes 6 designs with a mix of primary and intermediate handwriting lines. Some pages have space for a title, and others include a drawing box.
Of course, even if you just use plain notebook paper, these prompts will give you impressive insight into your students’ hopes, habits, and home lives.
Because that’s what the best writing prompts do: They help us see the whole child, one story at a time.
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