I created this Back to School Interview printable as a simple way to sit down with each of my boys, ask them some fun questions, and capture a little snapshot of who they are right now. Because let’s be honest, their answers change so much from year to year!
There is something about the beginning of a new school year that makes me want to slow down and take a picture of everything.
The new school supplies. The fresh notebooks. The stack of curriculum waiting to be opened. The kids who somehow seem to have grown three inches since spring. Even if your homeschool looks pretty much the same from year to year, there is something special about marking the start of a new school year.
One of my favorite ways to do that is with a first day of school interview.
What they love, what they are interested in, what they want to learn, and even what they think is funny can look completely different a year later.
And those little answers become some of the best school keepsakes.
Why Do a First Day of School Interview?
A first day of school interview is more than just another school worksheet. It is a little time capsule.
I love that this gives us something tangible to look back on at the end of the school year or even years down the road. You can see your child’s handwriting, remember their favorite things, and read what they were thinking at a particular age.
It is also an easy way to make the beginning of the school year feel special without creating a complicated tradition.
You don’t need a fancy first day of school setup. You don’t need a huge photo shoot or a Pinterest-perfect homeschool room. Just print the interview, grab a pencil, and sit down with your child.
Of course, you can absolutely pair it with first day of school photos if that’s something your family enjoys!
For our homeschool, I think there is something especially sweet about doing this at home. Instead of asking the standard questions about a classroom teacher and school, we can make the interview fit our family and the way we learn.
What Is Included in the Back to School Interview?
When I created this printable, I wanted it to capture more than just basic school information. I wanted a little snapshot of who my child is right now—their interests, memories, personality, and what they are looking forward to.
- My Picture: I included a space for a first day of school photo because pairing their picture with their answers makes this feel more like a tangible memory than a worksheet. It will be so fun to look back at these pictures as they grow. This section is only avaliable in the paid upgrade on my printable shops.
- All About Me: This section includes their name, age, grade, and teacher(s). They are simple details, but they help capture where your child is in life at the start of the school year.
- My Favorites: Kids’ favorite things change so quickly! I wanted to capture their favorite book, subject, food, activity, and song so we can look back and remember the little things they loved at each age.
- Last Year: This section gives kids a chance to reflect on the year behind them by sharing a favorite memory, something they learned, a challenge they had, and something they are proud of. I love that it focuses on growth and memories, not just academics.
- Fun Questions: Of course, we need some silly questions, too! Kids can share their dream superpower, where they would travel, what makes them laugh, and what they are excited about. These are often the questions that produce the funniest kids’ answers.
- This Year I Want To: Finally, kids get to look ahead with two simple prompts: Learn more about and Get better at. I love that these can be anything from learning about space to improving their reading or getting better at drawing.
Overall, I wanted this first day of school interview to be something kids would actually enjoy filling out—not another assignment. It is a fun way to begin the school year while creating a keepsake you can look back on for years to come.
Turn It Into a Yearly School Tradition
One of my favorite things about a printable interview like this is that it can become a school tradition.
You could do a first day of school interview every year, save the pages in a binder, and then pull them out at the end of each school year.
You could even pair it with a last day of school interview, so you have a beginning-and-end snapshot of the year.
The first interview could ask, “What are you excited to learn?”
The last day interview could ask, “What did you learn?”
That creates a really sweet record of your child’s growth—not just academically, but personally.
And you don’t have to wait until the first day of formal lessons. This would also work beautifully for first day of preschool, kindergarten, a new homeschool year, or even a child starting high school.
Like my Back to School interview? You might also enjoy my Back to School Bingo printable!
Get the Back to School Interview Printable
I created this Back to School Interview with homeschool families in mind although it can be used for any school choice and it is available as a $2 printable in my shops on Etsy, Gumroad, and Teachers Pay Teachers.
The paid version includes the picture spot, so you can add a first day of school photo right onto the page.
I also wanted to make sure there was a completely free option for families who just want a simple printable questionnaire, so I created a free version without the picture section. This one is only available on Gumroad.
Whether you print the colorful version and tuck it into your homeschool binder or save each year’s interview in a special keepsake box, I hope this gives you a simple way to pause and remember who your kids are right now.
Because someday, these little answers won’t be little anymore.
The favorite book will change. The favorite food will change. Their handwriting will change. Their interests will change.
But having a tangible memory of who they were at the beginning of each school year?
That’s something I think we’ll be really thankful we saved. ❤️
Don’t Forget to Pin the Back to School Interview Printable for later!
