Back To School Tips For Students

Every new school year brings about excitement and anxiety for students and their parents. Parents become preoccupied with making sure their child is ready for the next step in their educational adventure. Simultaneously, their child can become overwhelmed with thoughts of meeting new classmates, having a new teacher, and studying new concepts. Here are some tips to make the transition from summer vacation back to school as smooth as possible.

1. Get back into your bedtime routine- Going to bed late and waking up late was fun during the summer. However, when the alarm sounds the morning of the first day of school most likely you will not burst out of bed eager to get to school. Start going to bed at your normal bedtime about 1 to 2 weeks before the first day of school. This will help you wake up well rested and ready for school.

2. Shop for school supplies early- Many stores start their Back-to-School sales around the middle of July. Staples, Walmart, Target, Office Max, Office Depot, etc. have great sales on all of the essential school supplies. You may be able to get enough supplies to last for most of the school year.

3. Promote good study habits immediately- Teaching good study habits, rewarding results instead of effort, and teaching about quality work will provide a solid foundation for success for your child. Develop an organizational plan that you can implement starting day one. Decide where you will place notes, homework assignments, handouts etc in your binder/folder. Also think about what the best type of daily planner to use. Some teachers order them for the entire class, but many do not. Always good to be prepared.

4. Equip your child with social skills for the classroom- Most children are nervous about the start of each school year. Even if they will have most of the same classmates, they will will be nervous about having a new teacher. Practicing proper greetings/introductions is a good way to help ease their mind.

5. Discuss bus safety - If applicable, discuss bus safety with your child. For example, boarding the bus one person at a time, quickly finding a seat, remaining seated during the bus ride, etc.

6. If you haven’t completed any required summer assignment, start now- It is nice to have a long summer break, but studies have shown that it is beneficial to continue doing educational related activities during the summer to avoid learning loss. It is good to start the year strong and feel comfortable with the lessons being taught. In addition, procrastinating to do any required work only adds unnecessary stress and can result in beginning the year on a bad note. So if you have work to complete, be responsible, and get it done.