It’s time to go back to school!
For many students, summer vacation is almost over and parents are happily or reluctantly getting their children ready for school. Whether you have an elementary student or a high school student, both groups of students need school supplies. Most school districts distribute these lists before the school year begins. The school supplies list is important, but make sure you give your students the right things for the upcoming year.
Give your student structure and routine
At every level, students thrive in a structured environment. Schools invest heavily in providing an environment where students can succeed, and it’s important that parents support those structures at home. Structure provides the boundaries necessary for school success and helps create an environment where students can succeed.
Important components of structure at home include a learning space, technology management, a plan for time and schedule management, and accountability. Please discuss and agree on these structures for the upcoming school year.
A good routine can create good habits that your student can use throughout the school year and potentially for the rest of their school career. Routine is defined as a sequence of actions that are followed on a regular basis. What does your student’s routine look like when they wake up in the morning?
What happens when your child comes home from school? These are just a few questions you’ll need to answer with your child as you develop a successful routine for the upcoming school year. One routine I suggest to families that has worked successfully in my home is for each child under high school age to either get a cell phone only on weekends or turn it in when they get home. This routine minimizes distractions and drama and creates more opportunities for your child to focus on homework.
Give your students self-confidence
The beginning of the school year gives a student a clean start academically, socially, and emotionally. You begin the school year and classes with optimism and hope that this year will be better than the last. With a fresh start, it’s important that your student leaves home with confidence. When you instill confidence in your students, you give them a benchmark of high expectations, a belief in themselves, and a starting point to overcome obstacles. Parents can instill confidence in their students by setting goals and supporting them in their efforts to achieve them. You can instill confidence in your students by reinforcing your expectations daily and giving them room for success and failure. When you help your student believe in themselves and their abilities, it will show in their grades, work ethic, and decision-making throughout the school year.
Give your students a voice
The more engaged students are, the better they perform and the better their experiences will be throughout the school year. Giving your students a strong voice will improve their experiences in the upcoming school year.
Students should be engaged in class, ask and answer questions, collaborate with other students, and build a good relationship with their teacher. It is important that they are confident enough to stand up for themselves and say when they need help.
You can strengthen your students’ opinions by regularly holding academic discussions, providing guidance, and following up on those conversations. The more you talk to your students about school, college, and the general school experience, the more confident they will become in dealing with the opinions given to them.
Your student’s school supplies list is very important. Pens, pencils, paper, books, and backpacks are all important and necessary. Don’t forget to provide your student with the things you can’t buy at the store and school can’t give: structure, routine, confidence, and voice.
