Laura Young
news@greenepublishing.com
It's August, the time for transitioning from summer back to school. Approaching the start of a new school year can bring some intense feelings for everyone involved – a dynamic blend of excitement, anticipation and worry. It's a time to gear up for academic success and shift into the different kind of fun and exploration that school can offer. Consider these tips that come from both parents and teachers that may provide some guidance or simple reminders for families with children heading back to school.
1. Show excitement.
Children can sense (and often mirror) their parents’ emotions, and it reflects in their attitude at school. Expressing enthusiasm about starting school can help your child. Look for the positives, and keep looking for them as the year continues. If difficulties arise, keep them to yourself until you can discuss them with the person who can help solve the problem.
2. Get into routines.
Daily routines for when and how things are done in your home can help on many levels. Structure for moving your child through the tasks they need to do before and after school can help them be better organized and prepared for academic success. Some families take care of certain tasks the night before, such as packing lunches, setting out backpacks and choosing the next day's outfit. Teachers handle the routines at school, but what about after school? Having set times for an afternoon snack, playing/relaxing and doing homework can keep life in balance and predictable in a way that decreases stress. Establish where certain things are kept – such as shoes, lunchboxes and backpacks – and make it a routine to put belongings where they belong. Routines for meals support a healthy diet and can include making sure the family eats dinner together a few times a week. Routines for getting to bed on time are essential for students to have the energy and focus for a productive school year. Teachers and parents alike recommend establishing and practicing the routines a few days before the first day of school, if possible.
3. Make early and frequent contact with teachers.
Instead of waiting until there is a problem to discuss, parents can begin to forge lines of healthy communication as soon as the year begins. Consider starting the year by sending a note to say “hi” and introduce yourself. Perhaps your child could write a “Hello Teacher” note as well. Communicating about successes early can make things easier later if questions or difficulties arise. Students can benefit from parental models of effective communication. Parents can also consider which situations might be right for encouraging their child to talk to their teachers themselves, especially if they are middle school age or older. Parents can coach their children about how to approach a teacher to ask questions, get help, arrange for turning in late or make-up work or any number of things. Such student-teacher conversations can build confidence and skills that benefit students their entire life.
4. Read.
Some sources say that the number one thing that helps children succeed in school is reading with another family member at home. That's not just for young children either. The content would obviously vary depending on the student's age, but reading to any age child from a wide variety of sources for around 15 minutes per day helps to build their vocabulary, their understanding of structure and ability to predict and infer. You can tackle whole books together over time, of course, but think about just sharing snippets of an online article you've enjoyed yourself, try a poem a day, read emails from family members aloud – and don't forget the newspaper, of course!
5. Know your child’s friends.
Plan time to meet up on a weekend, and when friends visit the house, don’t let the kids hide away. Doing some things together, such as making a snack, playing a game, or doing a creative project gives time for casual interactions that can tell a lot about the dynamic among the friends. If necessary, jump in if you don’t like what you’re hearing and talk about how to speak kindly and be supportive. Ignoring worrisome behavior is just like saying it’s okay.
6. Be thankful. Be supportive. Be grateful.
Teaching is seriously more difficult than most people can imagine, as is parenting. If you think about it, being a successful student is too. Being regularly, intentionally thankful, supportive and grateful to all those who are investing in a successful school year can have a huge impact on how the year unfolds and the results that come along the way. Simple things can help, such as signing emails with a sincere, “thank you for all you do.” Ask what you can do to support the teachers, fellow parents and students you encounter, and follow through. Say ‘thanks’ also to the administration, the para-educators, the bus drivers, the specialists, school board members, the custodians, school resource officers, coaches, counselors, tutors, and the lunchroom staff. They’re all working towards creating a safe environment for the students to have the best year possible. Your actions can play a key role in building the sense of community necessary for school to be a place where everyone thrives.