Help My Kids Start the School Year With Confidence

8/14/2019 Help My Kids Start the School Year With Confidence

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Help My Kids Start the

School Year with

Confidence

Compiled by:


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Help My Kids Start the School Year with ConfidenceDo I need this EduGuide?

Yes, if you want your child to start out the school year in K-12 grades rightbeing organized, confident, and prepared. This EduGuide

can help you plan a great start to every school year as well as provide specific ideas for special circumstances such as starting at a

new school, how to help a shy or energetic child, what to do for a troubled child or a child with special needs.

How does it work?

Quizzes help you know where you stand.

Articles give you the background information you need to make a decision.

ShortCuts help you take immediate action. Choose one or go through them all.

What will I learn?

l What your child can do to prepare for starting a brand new school

l How to start your troubled child back to school on a better note than last year

l Some tips on how to make the transition back to school as easy as possible for your child with special needs

l How working with your child to get organized in advance can offer that extra help to start the school year right

Quick Solutions

l What can I do in fifteen minutes? Take the quiz, Is My Child Ready to Go Back to School? with your child and discuss the

results.

l What I do in an hour? Take your child and meet with the new teacher in advance. Many schools offer Open Houses before

school officially opens. Find out if that is the case with your school.

l What can I do in a day? Read Start the School Year Strong and make a list of five things you can do to start your child off right.

Then do one.

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Start the School Year StrongA Good Start Helps Keep Your Family Going Strong All Year Long

The following are some family ideas to keep that new school year momentum going:

1. Meet your childs teacher in the first two weeks of school. Meet them in person (but keep it brief: teachers are swamped at

the beginning of the year) and then follow up with an email or a hand-written note to establish good parent-teacher

communication. If your kid has special needs or issues, discuss them briefly and honestly. Tell the teachers that you

appreciate them and that youll support them. Note: If your child has a physical or learning disability, be sure to meet the bus

driver, playground attendants, and lunch personnel and let them know how they can help. Because of the HIPPA laws,

personal information about your child is available to teachers but may not be routinely shared with support staff.

2. Read everything your kids bring home from school. Read every note from teachers read over your kids papers read the

school newsletter. For younger kids, designate a spot for all school paperson the refrigerator, in a file folder, on a bulletinboard, or by the front door. Then teach your kids to put all important papers in that spot when they get home.

3. Organize everyone (yourself first). Put up a family calendar where everyone can see it and write down important dates (in-

service days, parent-teacher conferences, field trips, vacation days, etc.) here and in your personal planner. Working parents

need to plan far ahead for childcare on those dates (local YMCAs often have programs for kids of working parents around the

holidays). Purchase a simple planner and show your child how to use it to record assignments, extracurricular activities, and

family commitments.

4. Plan ahead so mornings go smoothly. Start the night before by making sure your child gets enough rest (eight hours

minimum). A slightly earlier bedtime may make a big difference to your kids ability to function in the morning. Have your kids

choose their school clothes before bed (to avoid arguments in the morning and ensure that important items are washed and

ready). Have your kids load up their backpacks and put them on top of their shoes so they cant leave the house without them.

5. Help your child keep up with schoolwork. Provide a designated place for your child to do homework, and make sure he or she

has the necessary supplies for being organized. Set a time to do homework that works for everyone and then stick to it. If your

child has no homework that day, read to each other!6. Help your kids stay motivated and interested in school by being interested yourself. Volunteering shows your kids that you

care about their school enough to spend your time there. Be interested in learning. If your child asks you a question about

electricity or Bolivia that you cant answer, look up the answer together in an encyclopedia or online. Read the information

together and talk about what you learned to other family members. Ask your kids to explain a concept they learned in school or

show you how they made a piece of art and be sure to listen and ask questions. If they are studying reptiles, take them to a

local zoo and visit the reptile exhibit or go to your library and find books on snakes and lizards.

7. Make School Work Relevant. If they are studying fractions, the next time you are baking, show them how measuring cups and

spoons divide ingredients and talk about how important it is to know the difference between a cup and 2/3rd of a cup (the

difference between delicious and yuk!).

8. Network with other parents. They are a gold mine of information and support. This is especially helpful if you are new to a

school. Our ShortCut Connect with other Middle School and High School Parents will show you how.

9. Encourage everyone in the family to read. Use a favorite movie as a starting point. Or help your child to write a letter to the

author of a favorite book. (Send it to the publisher. Most authors reply to letters from children.) Do all you can to foster your

childs love of reading.10. Remember the power of praise. Displaying a childs best work is a form of praise. Add a special touch to an especially good

paper by having it laminated or laminating it yourself with clear contact paper.

11. Celebrate your kids successes no matter how small. Sometimes progress is measured in very small steps. When your

child does master a new skill celebrate with a special dinner or treat. Time spent with parents is the best treat a kid can get.

12. Save time for fun. When you are planning your familys schedule for the new school year or semester, remember that play

restores the body and stimulates brain connections and makes learning easier in school. After all, theres more to life than

long division.

http://www.eduguide.org/Parents-Library/Middle-School-Transition-Stay-Connected-2170.aspx


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Prepare My Child for a New SchoolGoals to Set Before Moving

Whether your family has moved or your child is making the middle school transition, starting over in a new building can be tough.

These social strategies can help:

l Accept your childs mixed emotions. New kids go through many ups and downs. On one day, they may be mourning the loss

of familiar surroundings and good friends, and unsure of their ability to perform socially and academically. The next day might

find them excited about new opportunities. Allow your child time to feel badanger in children about a major change is natural.

If she wont talk to you, suggest she write about her feelings in a private journal.

l Take a swing through school. It can be hugely comforting for a new student to explore the halls before theyre crowded with

kids. Most schools are open several weeks early call to schedule a tour. Ask if you can time your visit to occur when your

childs teacher will be setting up the classroom. A quick meet-and-greet will make the first day that much less stressful.

l Make more friends, but keep the old. When you call for a tour, ask if the school has a welcome-buddy program. Some

schools enlist students or entire families to take newbies under their wings, showing them around and inviting them to join

activities after school. As your child forges new friendships, help her keep connected to her previous group through weekend

playdates or as pen pals.

l Take your own advice. As you encourage your child to get involved, you should do so too. Be on the lookout for volunteering

opportunities within the school. Lending a hand in any way possible is a fantastic way to meet the people important to your

child, as well as feel welcome and wanted in your new school community.

Source: Robin F. Goodman, Ph.D., A.T.R.-BC, Connect for Kids (an online publication of the Benton Foundation).

http://www.connectforkids.org/


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Prepare My Shy Child To Go Back to SchoolSocial Strategies that Work

Introducing (or reintroducing) your shy child to the social dynamics at school can be challenging. These social strategies can help:

l Ask yourself, Whose problem is this? Maybe your childs shyness bothers you more than it bothers your child. If you werent

a shy kid, discuss shyness with an adult who was. Ask parents of shy children how they help their kids cope and make more

friends.

l Be gentle. Dont force shy kids to participate in clubs or activities after school. Not having the option to say no can make these

kids withdraw even more. Instead, offer ideas that let them participate at their own pace. You might say, for example: Your

cousin is joining the soccer team. Do you want to go to tryouts and see if you like soccer?

l Get together with other kids after school. Help shy kids identify a possible friend (a kid they sit next to in band someone

theyve seen reading a book they read) and plan an activity. Suggest they do the following:

1. Pick one potential pal. Avoid adding a third kid to the mix, as this can result in two-against-one situatio ns.

2. Choose a comfortable, familiar location.

3. Plan an activity they enjoy and are good at to help them feel in greater control of the situation.

l Role-play with your child. Take the part of a new teacher, coach, or potential friend and have your child carry on a conversation.

Role-playing conversations helps shy kids converse. Then switch roles and let your child play the adult or friend. Be sure to

keep this activity playful.

l Use parent-teacher communication. Talk with your kids teachersin person or by email if necessaryat the start of the

school year. Tell them about your childs personality before major education issues crop up. Ask teachers which strategies

they use in the classroom to put shy kids at ease, such as pairing shy kids with outgoing kids for group projects.

Source: Robin F. Goodman, Ph.D., A.T.R.-BC, Connect for Kids(an online publication of the Benton Foundation).



7/13

Prepare My "Wild Child" to Go Back to SchoolSocial Strategies for Energetic Students

For a high-energy kid, every school day presents challenges: sitting quietly, waiting to be called on before talking, getting along with

others. Helping impulsive children tame their most disruptive behavior will make the school year pleasanter and more productive. Try

these ideas:

Find Outlets for Excess Energy

l Schedule activities after school that let your kid blow off steam, such as organized soccer practice, a bike ride, or shooting

some hoops.

l Dont expect your child to buckle down and start homework immediately after school let him or her unwind first.

Reinforce and Reward Good Behavior at Home

l Do you let your kid interrupt at the dinner table or cheat at Monopoly? Homewhere your child feels safe and lovedis the best

place to practice the schools code of conduct. Praise good behavior, but also discipline kids for repeated bad behavior.

l For younger kids, first give a warning (for example, Youll have a time-out if you snatch that ball away from your sister again)

and then a consequence (You snatched the ball after I said not to. Youre in time-out.)

l For older kids, put prized possessions in time-out. Warn them theyll lose cell phone or iPod privileges for unacceptable

behaviorand then follow through.

Practice School Manners Elsewhere

l Library story time or other free community activities provide good opportunities for kids to work on sitting still, paying attention,

and taking turns. Without the school pressure of lessons and grades, the stakes are lower for everyone.

Work with the Teacher

l Make use of parent-teacher communication to discuss your childs high-energy personality. See if there are tasks your kid can

be assigned that let him or her get up and move, such as running errands, erasing the board, or passing out papers.

Source: Robin F. Goodman, Ph.D., A.T.R.-BC, Connect for Kids (an online publication of the Benton Foundation).



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Prepare My Special Needs Child for Back to SchoolTips for Special Inclusion

Learning with disabilities takes on additional challenges with the pressure of a new school year. Help ease your childs way with

these social strategies:

l Save the date. Circle the first day of school on the family calendar so it doesnt sneak up on anyone. As the date gets closer,

spend a few minutes each day talking with your child about what she can expect. Make sure to explain things in a way that

makes sense to her. For example, sometimes a child with autism needs to be read a social story, which is a straightforward

text that describes a specific situation in detailfrom riding the bus to greeting classmateswith coaching on what will

happen and how shell be expected to react.

l Take a swing through school. Whether your child is new to the building or its the same one as last year, it can be comforting

for him to walk the halls before theyre crowded with kids. Most schools are open several weeks early call the office toschedule a visit or ask if you can drop by anytime. Your childs teacher might even be onsite prepping a special needs

classroom. This is a great time to say hi, but dont expect an extended sit-down meeting during this busy period. If your child is

in elementary school, end the visit on the playground to remind him that fun is part of the plan.

l Decide ahead of time how much information to share . Because some differences are readily apparent while others may go

unnoticed, carefully consider how and when its best to initiate parent-teacher communication about your childs situation.

l Watch for bullying signs . If your child comes home from the first day of school upset or afraid, dont hesitate to find out why.

Start with a call to his teacher and move on to the principal if youre not satisfied with the answers.

l Get together with other kids after school. If you lost touch with other children over the summer, rekindle last years

friendshipsor make more friendsby planning an activity for the first week back:

1. Pick one potential pal. Avoid adding a third child to the mix, as this can result in ganging-up situations.

2. Choose a location that is comfortable and familiar.

3. Plan for an activity she enjoys and is good at to help her feel more in control of the situation.

l

Monitor your childs progress. Your school will do this, too, of course, but you are your childs most important advocate. Makesure her school experience is adjusted as she develops through the year.

Sources: Robin F. Goodman, Ph.D., A.T.R.-BC, Connect for Kids (an online publication of the Benton Foundation) Bonnie Davis, mother and author of the

"Let It Be Autism blog.



9/13

Prepare My Troubled Child for Back to SchoolFamily Ideas for Students Struggling at Home

When childrens home life has been disrupted by divorce, a serious illness, death of a loved one, or other turmoil, its natural for them

to act up or check out. Starting a new school year only adds to stress in children and can increase potentially disruptive adolescent

behaviors. But there are ways adults can help:

l Ask for a hand and take it. Lean on extended family members, friends, neighborsanyone you and your child trust. This team

can jump in during an emergency or pick up the slack on a routine basis, such as driving kids to their activities after school, for

example.

l Keep teachers and staff in the loop. Make sure your kids school has an up-to-date list of contact people with their correct

phone numbers. If youve worked out a regular routine for carpool drop-off and pickup, give the school these drivers names

and fill out any permission slips that may be required.

l Remember that teachers care. Tell the adults who work closely with your child about his current home situation. Theyll want

to keep an eye on him and offer support, from a sympathetic ear to offering coping strategies before major education issues

occur.

l Ease into the new routine. Too little sleep worsens an already tense situation. Reintroducing the school-year bedtime routine

a week or two before the start of school helps kids body clocks adjust gently.

l Dont skip back-to-school shopping. See if you can set aside an hour to help your child pick out a new backpack or first-day-of-

school outfit. This ritual reminds kids how important school is, and new supplies can add an air of excitement.

Sources: Robin F. Goodman, Ph.D., A.T.R.-BC, Connect for Kids (an online publication of the Benton Foundation) Dr. David Swanson, author of Help! My

Kid Is Driving Me Crazy: The 17 Ways Kids Manipulate Their Parents and What You Can Do About It (Perigee, Sept. 2009).



10/13

Family Ideas for Making the Most of a New School YearLinda Wacyk

When I heard the moan coming from under the covers this morning, I knew the new school year excitement was over. My fourth-

grade daughter is no longer jumping out of bed, ready and waiting before the bus leaves its garage like she did the first week of

school. Now the real work begins.

To be honest, Im not sure Im up to the task. Now that Ive launched my fully outfitted kids into a new year at school, Id like to sit back,

balance my empty checking account and enjoy a cup of coffee. But veteran mom, teacher and education writer Elaine McEwan says

that as our kids settle in to new routines and bigger challenges, its time for parents to take time from family home activities to listen.

Parents should be prepared to do some listening, said McEwan, author of a "Solving School Problems" (Shaw, 1992) and "Raising a

Reader" (Baker, 1999). And don't overdo extra-curricular activities during the first few weeks of school. Give kids time to chill out.

While theyre chilling, take a little time yourself to put down the paper, turn off the computer and do some listening to your child. The

first days of school can cause stress in children of all ages, and a little extra parent support can go a long way.

And as long as your kids are listening, talk to them about how they can make this year the best one yet. Dr. McEwan offers these family

ideas.

Tips for Kids: Getting Ahead This School Year

1. Don't be tardy or miss class. The simple act of always being on time and in your seat when the bell rings will go a long way

toward impressing any teacher with your eagerness to learn.

2. Say something nice to your teacher once in a while. Extending common courtesies to teachers will probably bowl them over.

Not many kids say hello to a teacher, thank the teacher for anything, or even bring a small present once in awhile. Telling a

teacher that you really liked a lesson or think she did a good job will probably cause cardiac arrest.

3. Sit in the front row. Some teachers assign seats and often place students with attention problems near the front of the

classroom. If you choose a front row seat, you'll get more positive attention from the teacher, will be less distracted by what is

going on, and will always be able to see what is written on the chalkboard.

4. Make friends with someone in the class who gets good grades. Doing so will prove very helpful if you get in a homework

bind. This person not only will know exactly what the assignment is, but also can explain it to you if you call them the night

before.

5. Do extra-credit work if it is assigned, and do some even if it isn't. Showing a willingness to go above and beyond may give

you the benefit of the doubt if you do poorly on a test or miss a homework assignment.

6. Remember that the teacher is there to help you. Ask for help if you don't understand. Go in before class to get help with a

math problem. Stay after class to double-check that you've understood the homework assignment correctly. Make an

appointment to see the teacher if he can't help you right away.

In your childs world, not everyone values kids who work hard at school. Thats why every child needs at least one adult who will say

school matters to you, and you matter to me.

No matter how tough and independent they seem, dont let them fool you. Our kids need supportive moms and dads to help them get

up and face a new day.



11/13

Linda Wacyk a formerEduGuide editor from Grand Ledge, Michigan.



12/13

New School Brings New Opportunities for Parent Involvement inEducation

EduGuide Staff

Question:

Weve just moved to a new city where weve enrolled our fourth- and seventh-graders in the local school. We all miss our old school,

where we felt known and respected. Can you give our family ideas for getting off to a good start here and find out if the new schools

will do a good job?

Answer:

In the old days, our only job was to get our kids to school, clean and on time. Thats changing now that parents are, rightly, taking more

of a partnership approach to their kids education. I encourage you to begin parent teacher communication with the following kinds

of questions.

1. What skills and knowledge will my child be expected to master this year? Can I see your standards for subjects like math,

science, history and English? What kinds of work will they do to help them meet those standards?

2. How will my child be evaluated? How will you know if my child is learning and ready for the next grade? What kinds of state or

national school standardized tests do they take? How will you use the results and explain them to me?

3. What can I do to stay more involved? What can I do at home to support what is happening in the classroom? How can I learn

about my students' homework assignments?

4. How do you meet each child at their level? What if my child is a slow learner and falls behind, or is a fast learner and is

bored? Are summer school, tutoring or other programs available for students who need more help to improve grades?5. How are students prepared for learning after high school? What outside activities do you offer to relate learning to the real

world? Do you offer access to career exploration opportunities? Does your school offer individual education plans?

Not all schools will welcome your questions about quality. But since society will hold you responsible for how your kids turn out, dont

give up until you get some clear answers.

Adapted from Strengthening Your Childs Academic Future by the Education Excellence Partnership, Partnership for Family Involvement in Education and

the U.S. Department of Education.



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Due to the dynamic nature of our quizzes, they are only available on the web. Follow the addresses below to take a quiz on our

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Are My Kids Prepared for Back to School?

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Help My Kids Start the School Year With Confidence