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Health & Fitness

7 Back-to-School Tips to Make This the Best Year Ever

If you want to make this the best school year ever, there are things you can do now to position your family for a successful and productive school year.

The phrase "Back to School" brings back memories for all of us. It's great to see old friends, make new friends, and meet new teachers. It can be exciting and it can be stressful. Here are 7 tips to make sure you get through your first week at school organized, stress-free and prepared.

  1. Get into a sleep schedule. Going back to school means getting to bed earlier.  The adjustment can be really rough on kids. It's like having a severe case of jet lag. Set a bedtime and do your best to stick to it. If your kids are older, encourage them to go to bed at a reasonable hour. As we've all experienced, it's hard to retain difficult material when we are sleep-deprived. 
  2. Designate a "school zone" in your house. Before school starts, do your best to designate a study area and a special place for backpacks and school-specific items. Also, try and make your student's work area more engaging and interesting. Stock it with colorful items, pens, paper, pencils and other school supplies. Having such an area cuts down on lost homework, missed items, and forgotten assignments. It's also great for visual learners.
  3. Prepare the night before. Prepare for each school day the night before. I can't stress this one enough. Get everything you need for the following day organized, even what your student plans to wear. Trust me, it's painful on the whole family if someone forgets something at home.
  4. Get an agenda. Every student needs an agenda. Once a child learns how to write, I'm a firm believer that it is time to introduce a planner. It organizes homework, tests, and expectations from the teacher. It should be the first purchase you make. But, include your student in the purchase of the planner. They'll get excited about school and you have "buy-in" so they will actually use it.
  5. Exchange contact information with the teacher. I hate to say it, but schools are getting crowded. The ratios are increasing and there are more demands on our teachers. Make it easy for your child's teacher to contact you and vice versa. Get their email and telephone number and ask them how you can best communicate with them. Trust me, it will save you a lot of future headaches if you get this information on day one or day two. 
  6. School Supplies. If your school does not send out a list of school supplies that you need to buy before going back to school, make sure you ask your student's teacher on Day One. If the teacher is unavailable, don't be afraid to ask the school's administration for a list. If you run into a dead end, get the basics: a three ring binder with a section for each class and a folder designated to that particular class or a spiral notebook with built-in folders for each class that is clearly labeled accordingly. You'll also want to get several pencils, erasers, and pens. Don't skimp on supplies. We have about 100 pencils and pens in the house and I can tell you from experience, we can never find one when we need one.
  7. Don't wait to get help. Parents and mature students often wait until after school begins to get help with school. As a parent, I did the same thing. I often thought that something "magical" would happen over the summer and my kids would mature into understanding material that didn't click with them before. This does not happen and studies have proven it time and again. Our kids average a 20-percent learning loss over the summer. If their understanding of difficult material was not addressed over the summer, the gap widens and it gets worse. It leads to a loss in self-confidence and, sadly, disengagement from school. On day one, research and evaluate a resource that you intend to use if this happens to your student. Being prepared will reduce your stress as well as your student's stress.

Back to school is such an exciting time for the whole family. If you are prepared and organized during your first week, it will reduce the stress in your house and position your family for a successful and productive year. As we say in my house, "Let's make this the best school year ever!"

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