If you have a Kindergartener, walk to school two or three days before school begins (or drive if they take a bus or you will be driving them). Volunteering on any level, whether it be reading stories to your elementary aged child's second grade class, helping in the computer lab in middle school, or being on a committee for peer counseling in high school, it is important to know what is happening at the place your children spend a large part of their week. Many middle schools conduct orientation anyway a couple of days before school actually begins, but an extra trip without all of their peers might be worthwhile. It's difficult for some kids to adjust to going to bed and getting up earlier after having an entire summer of sleeping in or staying up late. Just as in elementary school, it is important, if not more so in middle school, to have all the school supplies ready, especially an organizer. If your student is not a good test taker, consider enrolling them in a test prep class. Stay tuned in to your student's school and social schedule. If your son or daughter is college-bound, start doing your research and be sure to attend the college nights that many high schools sponsor. They will probably need some basic supplies for homework
notebook wiki time. Many sixth graders will be attending a new school for their middle school years. Test scores, a formal essay, volunteer hours, and class selection in high school are all important factors in getting into college. This helps acquaint them with what they will actually be doing that first day and can work wonders for alleviating the first-day jitters. If you have a school supply list (many school districts post them on their website or hand them out the last day of school), buy the supplies early. If you have
kids notebooks children, late July, August and early September represents more than summer ending, cooler weather and fall foliage. If your student struggles with the basics; math or language arts, consider hiring a tutor for some review sessions before and during the first semester. Visit the school website and see if homework and grades will be posted on the site. With so many parents working, many Parent Teacher Associations have their meetings in the evening, so more parents can attend.
Of course pre-teens may not admit they are nervous, but most parents are. Get in the habit from day one of checking it and being sure homework assignments are recorded. Label everything and get the backpacks ready the night before school starts. If your child is especially anxious, ask if you can let them visit their new classroom for five or ten minutes the day before school starts. About a week before school starts, have your children go to bed at the time they will when school begins. Getting your child prepared, regardless of whether they are in Kindergarten or a senior in high school, is a must. For the child who is not organized, this is a good way to begin the school year off on the right foot. Oftentimes, the campus is much bigger and can be intimidating. Regardless of the age and grade of your children, stay involved. There is a tremendous amount of freedom in high school and even the most academically gifted students can be distracted by all of the things that are associated with the teenage years. Buy some extra supplies to keep at home if your child is one to lose or forget their pencils or markers at school. It is no longer a simple process like it was for the baby boomer generation. Find out when the PSAT and SAT exams will take place. Know what is expected on college applications. These tips can help your children get back to school the right way and prepare them for a year of learning and fun. Establish a curfew for school nights and limit the amount of time that is spent at a part-time job or involved in sports, especially if time management and study skills are not your child's forte. School begins once again for millions of kids across the country.
