And just like that, it’s almost time for kiddos to go back to school. Summer is winding down and within a few short weeks, school will be back in session. Back-to-school ads play on repeat with their catchy music, fresh school supplies, and styles. Summer camps are coming to a bittersweet end. Fall decorations and clothing line the isles at stores. As a teacher and parent of an in-going Kindergartener, I want to cling onto summer as long as possible. The freedom and luxury of having no set schedule is what makes going back to school tough for us adult teachers and kids alike. As the start of school approaches, there are many ways that moms can help prepare children for the new routines and challenges of a new school year. Here are some tips from the perspective of a teacher:
Meet the Teacher
If your child’s school has a meet the teacher event, I highly recommend attending. As a teacher, I always enjoy meeting my students and their parents, as it gives me a chance to break the ice and learn more about my students and also answe questions. Allowing children to attend and meet the teacher can reduce stress and anxiety, as students can learn more about their teacher and their classroom/school. As a middle school teacher, I watch students struggle the first few weeks of school with opening their lockers; the worry in their face as they race off to the busses at the end of the day. If your child has a locker, practicing opening the locker or decorating the locker can be a fun way to ease back to the start of the school year.
Communicate
If you have any questions, concerns, or information that would be helpful for your child’s teacher to know before school begins, please communicate with your child’s teacher. I can attest that having background knowledge on students can make teachers’ jobs easier. Even just sending an email to introduce yourself and share some basic information on your child’s interests or hobbies can help teachers have some insight and ways to connect and make learning meaningful. I appriciate when parents email to say hello or just check-in, as I often see a corrolation of sucess from students with parents who show an interest in their students learning. At the middle school level, I work with well over a hundered students and I try my best to communicate home with as many parents as possible. It makes me so happy when I get emails from parents who show an interest in what we are learning in school, as I love to brag about students and their growth during the school year. Many schools now have apps that allow you to effortlessly communicate with your child’s teacher. I recommed that as soon as you find out your childs teachers names, you send a quick note to say, hello.
Routines
Often times, summer brings upon its own set of routines that are much different than during the school year. Gradually working towards a new routine might help you and your kids transition to the new school year. For example, slowly bumping up bedtime can be less abrasive than changing bedtime overnight. As a teacher, I often see zombie students the first few weeks of school. Students walk into my first period class very sleepy and often reserved when it comes to class discussion. When I ask students what the hardest part about going back to school is, they almost always respond, “getting up early.” Think about what routines work best for your family and slowly work towards small manageable changes leading up to the school year.
Shopping
Have fun with back-to-school shopping by including your child’s input to make the process fun and enjoyable. Once you get your child’s school supply list, try to shop early to avoid picked over shelves. If you can’t find an item in store, don’t sweat it. Fortunatley, most school supply items can be found online and purchased with one click. Most teachers I know, give a grace period for school supplies to arrive to school, so don’t get hung up on having to rush to get every item on your childs school supply list. Personally, I give a week or so for students to bring in all of their supplies because I know back-to-school is a busy time of year for families.
Organize
Planning ahead for first day outfits, lunches, snacks, school supplies, etc. can help the mornings run smoothly. The more you organize the night before the quicker you and your family can get to the bus stop and off to school. As a mom and teacher, I try to set out bookbags and pack lunches the evening before, so I can grap and go.
Give Yourself and Kids Some Grace
Going back-to-school can be a stressful, exciting, and maybe even challenging time for some. Give yourself and the kids some grace. Going back-to-school is a huge adjustment after a long break. Don’t be too tough on yourself and try to have fun and enjoy the process. Teachers, like myself, are human and understand that back-to-school can come with alot of mixed emotions. I suggest having discussions with your kids on how they are feeling about going back-to-school, so you can see what areas excite them and might give them some stress or worry.
Within a few weeks, I look forward to seeing all of the back-to-school photos on my social media feed. Wishing your family a wonderful start to the school year!