Try Back to School Community Building Activities
The first few weeks of school shape everything that comes after.
The SHINE Backpack is filled with ready-to-use upper elementary resources that help you build routines, community, SEL skills, and engagement from the very first week.
Back-to-school overwhelm is knocking at your classroom door. 🫣
- You’re knee-deep in curriculum and lesson plans, trying to organize it all.
- You just got another email about turning in emergency sub plans.
- You still need to outline your routines and procedures for the year. Plus, make slides and activities to introduce them.
- You’re working overtime to plan engaging activities from day one and trying to squeeze in SEL so you can start the year strong.
You’re trying to do everything all at once, and it’s overwhelming. There’s already so much anxiety around back to school. You want to lean more into the excitement.
What if this year could feel different?
Instead of the scramble, you have the tools and resources you need to help students manage emotions, stay organized, and become responsible members of your community – all from the start of the school year.
There’s never enough teacher work time before the kids arrive…
Every teacher can relate.
If you just had more time, you’d finally feel ready for back to school, right? But let’s be honest, the to-do list never ends. And somehow, more PD days are getting added to your calendar. What you need are resources that help you do more with the time you have.
The SHINE Backpack is built to do that! It’s full of pre-made, ready-to-go resources that cut down your planning time while still helping you set a strong foundation for the school year.
This school year, your students can shine!
Show up ready and prepared.
Get the tools you need to establish routines and habits for success, so kids are ready to learn and responsible for their work.
Engage in learning.
Grab activities that encourage participation, discussion, and meaningful learning. Students will have fun and develop new skills.
Build relationships and manage emotions.
Learn how to make SEL a daily practice, so students develop key relational and emotional skills that foster a positive classroom community.
Create the kind of classroom where learning thrives, and learners shine.
everything you need
A growing library of back-to-school tools and activities for upper elementary students that help you create a positive, organized, and connected classroom environment from the very first week of school!
SEL activities that help students build self-awareness, empathy, and strong relationships
Habits for Success resources that teach responsibility, independence, and classroom routines
Inclusion activities that help every child feel seen, valued, and connected
Engagement tools that encourage participation, discussion, and meaningful learning
Neat and Organized Systems, including planners, to-do lists, ELA sub plans, and systems to help simplify your day
Getting-to-know-you activities and community-building resources
The backpack currently contains 20+ resources and is growing!
Grab the backpack now for $49 (valued at $80+) and access all future resources for free.
THIS WILL TRANSFORM YOUR life
JUST LIKE IT HAS our PAST STUDENTS
★★★★★
“Courtney always creates a wonderful resource, and this was a lifesaver this year. Thank you.”
Rosy B.
100 Days to Shine
less prep, more impact
WHY THE SHINE BACKPACK WORKS
LOW-PREP RESOURCES TO SAVE TIME
You don’t need more on your plate. The resources are loaded into one Google Folder so they’re easy to find, with only what you need — no fluff or complicated directions. Print, complete the minimal prep, and you’re ready to go!
CLASSROOM TESTED FOR SUCCESS
Courtney has used these resources in her own upper elementary classroom, so they’ve gone through real classroom testing. They’re easy to implement, have a positive impact, and are student-approved.
ENGAGEMENT BOOSTING
The entire backpack is designed to boost engagement. When your community is strong, routines are flowing, and students are regulated, there’s more focus, more buy-in, and less distraction.
WHAT’S INSIDE THE BACKPACK
The SHINE Backpack is a growing library of ready-to-use resources designed to help you build routines, community, engagement, and organization from the very first week of school.
SEL ACTIVITIES
Help students build empathy and strong relationships with resources like Positivity Pants and 10 Days to Shine.
HABITS FOR SUCCESS
Teach responsibility, independence, and classroom routines with resources like the “Ketchup” Absent Work Routine and Reading Rotation Slides.
INCLUSION
Help every child feel seen, valued, and connected with resources like RAK Center and Student Awards.
NEAT AND ORGANIZED SYSTEMS
Stay ready for whatever the school year brings with tools like an Editable Teacher Planner and ELA Emergency Sub Plans.
ENGAGEMENT
Encourage participation, discussion, and meaningful learning with resources like Jar of Joy and Classmate Interview.
The SHINE Backpack is a growing library! It currently has 20+ resources inside, with new resources being added throughout the year.
TEACHERS ARE LOVING THE SHINE BACKPACK
★★★★★
Krista c.
“This is a great way to keep me organized on who needs some ketch-up due to absences.”
★★★★★
Lisa e.
“This is such a helpful tool for keeping track of work for absent students. I love the helper aspect so I don’t have to write everything in myself.”
★★★★★
Brittany P.
“I love using these direction cards! We use them every day, and it has cut down on the amount of directions I have to give overall.”
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GRAB THE BACKPACK?
Once you purchase, everything is neatly organized so you can save it, access it, and use it whenever you need it.
- Growing library of 20+ resources, with future additions included for free
- Instant access delivered by email after purchase
- Organized Google Folder so everything is easy to find and save to your Drive
- Editable Google Slides and Docs, plus a tech guide if you need help
Have we met?
I'm Courtney, the veteran teacher behind Ramona Recommends.
I will always tell you to read a picture book in class and the lover of a crispy Diet Coke.
I wasn’t always the kid who loved reading. In third grade, I was diagnosed with dyslexia and an auditory processing disorder. Reading was a struggle. With time, though, I found ways to work with my brain, and my love of reading grew.
I created the SHINE backpack to support every student and teacher with the back to school season. I want your students to fall in love with school and have fun, but also learning how to human. Within the backpack, students will find confidence, organizational skills, and their personal best self!
QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU OPEN THE BACKPACK?
What grade levels does the backpack work for?
The resources inside the SHINE Backpack are written and created specifically for upper elementary students (grades 3-5). However, you can use these resources to support EL and SPED students who might need lower-level reading materials.
How do I access the backpack?
All of the materials in the backpack can be found in Google Drive! This way, you can easily access the resources and receive updates.
When will the backpack be complete?
I am adding new resources to the SHINE Backpack during the 2026-2027 school year. After that, it will be zipped up and complete!
What is the refund policy?
Due to the digital nature of this resource, there are no refunds. If you are unhappy with your purchase or are struggling to access the materials, please contact ramonarecommends@gmail.com
A CLASSROOM THAT FEELS DIFFERENT
in the best way 🤩
With the right tools in place, back to school can feel calmer, more organized, and more connected from the very beginning.
- Your students know the routines. No need to repeat yourself 10x a day.
- Mornings feel calm and productive, instead of chaotic.
- Every student feels seen, welcome, and included.
- Students have a strong relationship with you and their peers.
- Your lessons are full of fun, learning, and engagement.
- You feel able to juggle the items on your to-do list.
The classroom where your students shine from day one.
Calm mornings. Routines that keep chaos at bay. Students who feel safe and seen. Exciting moments of learning. This is the back to school feeling you want. Not the one where you’re surviving the first few weeks.
The SHINE Backpack is your toolkit to changing how back to school feels this year.