Back-to-School Journal Prompts for the First Day of School

spencer655
Jun 25, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Jul 30

As a teacher, the first day of school sets the tone for the entire academic year. One effective way to engage your students from day one is through journal prompts. These prompts not only help students reflect on their hopes and goals but also provide a meaningful writing activity that you can revisit at the end of the year to see their growth and progress.

Here are some journal writing prompt ideas for the first day of school:

Back-to-School Journal Prompts for Elementary Students
Back-to-School Journal Prompts for Middle School
Back-to-School Journal Prompts for High School
Revisiting First Day of School Journal Prompts at the End of the Year

Back to School Journal Prompts for the First Day: Elementary Students

Introduce Yourself: Write about your favorite things, such as your favorite food, color, and hobby. What makes you unique?
Current Feelings: Write about how you feel on the first day of school. What are you excited about? What are you nervous about?
Summer Memories: Describe your best summer memory. What did you do, and why was it so special?
Goals for the Year: What are three things you hope to learn or achieve this school year?
Superpower Dreams: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? How would you use it to help others?
Favorite Book: Write about your favorite book or story. Why do you like it, and what is your favorite part?
Dream Field Trip: If you could go on a field trip anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? What would you do there?

Back-to-School Journal Prompts for for the First Day: Middle School

Personal Growth: Reflect on how you’ve changed over the past year. What new skills or interests have you developed?
A Letter to Future Me: Write a letter to yourself that you’ll read at the end of the year. What advice do you have for your future self?
Friendship: What qualities do you value in a friend? Write about your best friend and why they are important to you.
Favorite Subject: What is your favorite subject in school and why? What do you hope to learn in that subject this year?
Dream Career: What is your dream job, and what steps do you think you need to take to achieve it?
Future Invention: Imagine you invented something amazing. What is it, and how does it help people?
Magic Notebook: You discover that anything you write in your notebook comes true. What do you write on the first day of school?

Back-to-School Journal Prompts for the First Day: High School

Personal Reflection: Describe a challenge you faced last year and how you overcame it. What did you learn from the experience?
Future Aspirations: Where do you see yourself in five years? What goals do you have for the future?
Role Models: Write about someone you admire and why. How have they influenced your life?
Hobbies and Interests: What activities or hobbies are you passionate about? How do they contribute to your personal growth?
Bucket List: List five things you want to accomplish before you graduate high school. Why are these goals important to you?
School Utopia: Design your ideal school utopia. What are the rules, what subjects are taught, and what activities are available?

Back-to-School Journal Prompts for the 2025–2026 School Year

As we head into the 2025–2026 school year, classrooms continue to evolve. Students are navigating a world shaped by new technologies, global awareness, and increasing focus on emotional wellbeing. These updated prompts reflect today’s realities while giving students a space to dream, reflect, and grow.

You can integrate these into your existing grade-level prompts or use them as a special 2025-themed activity to mark the start of a unique school year.

New Journal Prompts for the 2025–2026 School Year

1. What does a “good day” at school look like for you this year?
Encourages students to define success and happiness on their own terms.

2. How do you want your classroom to feel this year—for yourself and your classmates?
Focuses on emotional safety and community-building.

3. What’s one thing about yourself that AI could never understand?
Promotes self-reflection in a tech-rich world and encourages individuality.

4. If you could design one feature for a future classroom, what would it be?
Connects to students’ creativity and vision for the future of education.

5. What’s one habit (big or small) you’d like to build this year, and why?
Introduces goal-setting with a focus on self-improvement and mindfulness.

6. What’s something you want to get better at—inside or outside of school?
Broadens the idea of personal growth beyond academics.

7. What’s something you’re curious about that no one has taught you yet?
Invites wonder and encourages intrinsic motivation.

8. What’s one way you’ll take care of your mental health this school year?
A gentle prompt to build self-awareness and emotional resilience.

Revisiting First Day of School Journal Prompts at the End of the Year

At the end of the school year, revisit these journal entries with your students. This activity not only provides a great opportunity for reflection but also allows students to see how much they’ve grown and changed over the year. Discuss the goals they set on the first day and celebrate the progress they've made. This reflective practice can be incredibly rewarding for both students and teachers, fostering a sense of accomplishment and growth.

Using journal prompts on the first day of school is a fantastic way to engage students and set the stage for a year of growth and learning. These prompts can help students express themselves, set goals, and reflect on their experiences. Revisiting these entries at the end of the year provides valuable insights into their development and creates a memorable learning experience. Start your school year with these thoughtful journal prompts and watch your students flourish!

Check out our other back-to-school blogs: