Prepare for a Successful School Year

By Dr. Kira WilsonHelp with Education
back to school

Prepare for a Successful School Year

Every good teacher knows the importance of establishing procedures and expectations the first day of school. 

How do the children enter the classroom? Where do they put their backpack? Where do they turn in homework? When can they use the restroom? How do they get to the lunchroom or other classes?  What are the emergency procedures? In order for the teacher to be effective, the students must understand where, when, and how things are done in their classroom.  In addition, students want to know the expectations of the teacher.  What behavior is acceptable and what is not?

Communicating procedures and expectations is equally important for the parent teaching and training in the home. 

August provides a fresh start and opportunity to consider the changes that need to be made to the learning environment and process.  Each family has unique schedules and priorities.  Although there is no one size fits all when it comes to planning for a successful year, there are questions for all parents to ponder at the start of school.

Of the many things parents can do to prepare for a new school year like buying supplies and attending Orientation, nothing is more important than a Family Meeting.

Plan a time for gathering the troops to discuss changes in the school year and family routine.  Most people work best and perform better when they understand what is expected of them. Imagine the anxiety of a child moving from class to class not knowing where they are supposed to be or what supplies are required when they arrive.

Start School Strong-Tips for Parents will help you prepare for a successful school year and help your children transition from summer play to school work.  Whether your children are homeschooled, attend a University-Model® school, or a five-day program, these tips apply in one way or another.  Remember this is a transition period not an about face.  Just like you, children need time to adjust; they need reminders, and encouragement to meet the new expectations.

START SCHOOL STRONG

Tips for Parents
TEACHING YOUR CHILD

Teaching your children at home, whether full or part time, allows you to be involved and influential in their learning. You have an opportunity to develop a biblical worldview through academics and discussion, to develop a deeper relationship with your children, and to use parent/child and sibling interactions to develop Godly character.  The following are some tips to help with home and school assignments.

SCHEDULE A FAMILY MEETING
  1. Before the school year begins, have a family meeting to discuss expectations for the year. This meeting will help to establish your expectations, discover your children’s expectations, lay a foundation for family/school structure and procedures, and build an excitement for a great school year. Discuss:
  • What would your children like to accomplish this year?
  • How do they want to improve in an area of study?
  • Is there an area of study or activity they would like to explore in more detail?
  • What changes can they expect in the family routine and the daily schedule?
  • What are your expectations for their behavior?
  • Express your expectations for them to respect your new role as parent-teacher.
  • Express your expectations for their work and time commitment to academic study.
  • Expect work to be completed to the best of their ability ( 1 Cor. 10:31).
  1. Involve children in appropriate decisions related to the schedule:
  • When will children start the day?
  • What is expected before the school day begins? (e.g. make their bed, clean their room, get dressed, eat breakfast…)
  • When will you end the day?
  • When are the scheduled breaks?
  • What is allowed during breaks?
  1. Establish consequences for disobedience and laziness.
  2. Make school work a priority in your schedule.Homeschool study area
  3. Discuss procedures:
  • Where will they study? (Options-home classroom, desk in bedroom, kitchen counter, dining room table?)
  • How should they file their completed work?             (Idea-a color-coded filing filing system for homeworksystem for different subjects)
  • What is the class schedule at school and at home? (K-2nd, follow the classroom schedule, if possible)
  • What should they do if you are not available for instruction? (Idea-read, or study spelling or vocabulary)
  1. Pray for the teacher, the school, and new classmates.
  2. Freeze some meals for the first week of school to limit stress and have more time in the evening to interact with your children about their school day.
 DEVELOP GOOD STUDY HABITS
  1.  Maintain a regular schedule. Schedule short breaks if schooling all day (every 20-30 minutes for Kindergarten students, 30-45 minutes for 1-4th grade, 45 minutes-1 hour for 5th grade and up).
  2. Teach children to read directions carefully.
  3. Encourage your children through the working process. Look for opportunities to make positive comments about their work and effort.
  4. Create games to help with rote learning or use computer software and online games.
  5. Share scripture to encourage diligence ( Col. 3:23).
  6. Help children find errors and make corrections; do not always point them out yourself.Reading as a Family
  7. Enrich their education with trips, appropriate educational programming, movies related to topics being learned, documentaries, great books and family discussion.
  8. Enrich with life management education like cooking, yard work, car mechanics or babysitting.
  9. Avoid use of the TV, video games, telephone, texting, computer games, and Internet unrelated to school work, during school hours at home. Set up guidelines for using devices at other times (especially older students late at night).
DEVELOP POSITIVE ATTITUDES
  1. Ask the classroom teacher or another parent for help when you get discouraged.
  2. Be patient ( Col. 3:12-13). Minimize use of negative phrases when working with your child.
  3. Remember to encourage your child (Phil. 4:13).
  4. Instill confidence ( Ps. 121:2). Remind children that God is with them and assure them of your support.
  5. Inspire a love for learning. Make it fun!
  6. Be interested in what your child is learning.
  7. For young children consider decorating the door of their room with the school verse, or some other display that illustrates the theme for the year.
  8. Think of something that will mark this as a new beginning. For example, have a special breakfast and devotion the first morning or go out to dinner at the end of the first week.
  9. Tell your child you love him/her often.
 TYPES OF HOME ASSIGNMENTS

Assess the type of home assignment given, to determine time commitment.

  1. Preparation homework: To prepare the student for a new lesson or the coverage of new material.
  2. Independent practice homework: To reinforce and establish skills, facts or concepts already covered.
  3. Extension homework: To stretch student’s abilities and challenge students to identify new relationships and application of information already taught.
  4. Creative homework: To research and teach new material, stimulate creativity, develop higher level thinking and problem solving skills, and make learning relevant.
 TEACHING YOUR CHILD 

Tips for working with your child at the primary level K-4 and as needed 5th-up.

  1. Sit next to them (not across from them)Math manipulatives
  2. Give directions slowly and clearly.
  3. For visual learners, write directions or give just one directive at a time.
  4. In Math, work through one step at a time. Complete one math practice problem together and watch your child finish one independently before letting him complete the lesson on his own.
  5. Don’t skip problems unless directed by the teacher to do so.
  6. Look at each other when you talk.
 TEST TAKING TIPS
  1. Help your child determine what the test will cover
  2. Help your child organize the material to be studied over a number of days.
  3. Assist your child with establishing a study schedule.
  4. Help to develop study techniques: identify important information, study class notes, and review homework, review types of questions previously asked, review study guides and chapter summaries.
TEACH CLASSROOM TIPS FOR SUCCESS
Attentive students
  1. Sit close to the front
  2. Ask questions
  3. Take notes
  4. Be interested
  5. Be on time for class
  6. Be attentive
  7. Be respectful
  8. Be kind
  9. Ask God for help

Learning is fun! Parents help to communicate and model this concept to children. So, enjoy the learning process with your children and have a great year discovering the wonders of God together.

Share your tips for making the school year a success, in the comment section below.

Happy School Year!