Quick Click: 10 Teachers' Tips for Kick-Starting the New School Year
Sharing a book is a smart way to help your child succeed.
Sleep for school. Setting up a regular bedtime and wake-up routine before school starts is a crucial step to prepare your child for class and a practical way to cut down on first-day stress. "Your child might have played baseball, swam, and played outdoors every summer day," says Cate Sanazaro, a 6th grade teacher from Cuba, Missouri, "but the first day back to school is draining, both mentally and physically. Don't wait until the night before to return to normal bedtimes — start a week or two in advance and ease back into the routine."
Look up to learning. If your child is feeling a bit anxious about going back to school, keep a positive attitude. Lorraine Leo, a 3rd-6th grade technology coordinator from Newton, Massachusetts, suggests that parents "recall the fun and exciting events, field trips, projects, and so on from years past, and show excitement about the opportunities for learning new things in the upcoming year."
Walk through it. Escorting younger children to the classroom can help with the transition. Julie Samuels, a kindergarten teacher in Austin, Texas, has this recommendation: "Walk your child through what kindergarten is going to be like. If possible, meet the teacher or a fellow classmate before the first day." Familiarize your child with key places such as the bathroom, gym, library and cafeteria — he'll feel more confident if he knows where everything is."
Suit 'em up. Shopping for school supplies with your child can be a fun way to give him some responsibility. Provide parameters, but allow him to pick out a backpack, lunch box, nap mat, water bottle, new clothes, and some basic school supplies (pencils, crayons, etc). If your child is older, you might want to buy a dictionary, calculator, and atlas. Teachers also recommend bringing a summer memory to class on the first day. "It can be something as simple as a 'first', such as 'the first time I swam across the pool,'" says Lorraine Leo.
Talk it out. Asking your child about school is important. It shows her that you value her education. Try to avoid general questions, like "How was your day?" These will most likely produce one-word answers. Instead, be specific. Leo suggests a game to play throughout the school year: "You might try to encourage your child to give her day a 1-5 rating and ask her why she chose that rating. Sometimes this can bring about dialogue between parents and children."
Bring it home. Helping your child with his homework is an effective way to show concern for what he learns at school. Sanazaro gives her students one assignment a week to be completed with someone at home. She says, "I'm amazed at how many students can't get a parent to spend 20 minutes on a reading assignment. If the parent doesn't acknowledge the importance of what the child does at school, why should the child?" Displaying your child's projects around the house also helps to keep learning excitement high.
Go farther. Getting involved in school events is a critical aspect of showing support and enthusiasm for your child's learning experience. "Some of the most exciting times that my students had this past year were when their parents participated in activities — parties, field trips, field days, and so on," says Karen Hall, a 3rd grade teacher from Rock Hill, South Carolina. Participating in school activities is also a valuable way of connecting to the school community. You can learn a lot about the school just by talking to fellow parents.
Keep your eyes (and ears) open. If your child's eating or sleeping habits have changed drastically, it may be a sign that she's having difficulty adjusting to her new grade. Tim Dixon, a K-6th grade technology coordinator from Glenarden, Maryland, recommends also looking for changes in "attitude towards parents, sibling relationships, and a willingness to share what they learned. If your child stops coming home with stories and information she heard or learned about, she may be having problems at school."
Read, read, read. Reading with your child is an invaluable way to spend quality time together on a daily basis. In addition to other long-term benefits, reading together can also be a practical way to discern his reading level. Hall suggests an easy test: "Have your child read a couple of pages of a book. Start with a hand balled up in a fist. Put up a finger for each missed word. Once there are five fingers up on one hand, then you know that book is too difficult."
Connect. Communicating with your child's teacher on a regular basis is an essential part of caring for her education. Teachers can alert you to any emotional, social, or academic difficulties they perceive in your child at school; the same works in reverse. Notify teachers about changes that might affect your child's behavior in school. Some examples are illness, divorce, the death of a family member, a recent move, or a parent getting a new job. "We're all in this together," says Sanazaro. "I really appreciate the parents who take the time to get to know me and understand that I'm there to talk to when needed. It's so easy to fill in the missing pieces when the teacher and parent work as a team."
