Ready? Set... Back to School!

Ready?

The end of summer approaches, and the beginning of the new school year is almost here. Back to school clothes and supplies have been purchased, and everyone is starting to get nervous and excited. What could we be forgetting?

Set...

Here is a list of five items to address that you may not have done yet:

The Bag

Your student may have a new bag this year, but perhaps the bag from last school year is just fine? Don't worry about replacing it for the start of the school year, worry about cleaning it! Schedule time with your young child (or assign it to your your older student) to clean the bag for the school year. Empty it completely, wash it in the washing machine or with the hose outside (I recommend this method - wear your bathing suit and bring water balloons!), and restock it with the usual supplies. Don't forget a fully charged calculator! (Keep your eye out for backpacks on sale in late September and early October. Grab one or two for backup.)

Summer Work

Make sure your scholar has completed the assignment(s), saved a copy on the home computer and in remote storage if it is a writing assignment, and placed a protected hard copy in a folder in the clean bag. Name, assignment details, and date should appear at the top of the pages or where the directions indicate.

Agenda

Depending on your district's rules, your scholar may choose to buy a paper agenda, utilize a digital agenda on a personal device, or have an agenda supplied by the school. If your student is responsible for supplying an agenda, load it now with any important dates. Access your school district website for important dates including half days, no school days, Open House, progress reports, report cards, and last day of school. Record these dates in the agenda now!

Contract

It is easy for students to lose steam after the novelty of the new school year wears off. They may forget what their goals for the year were, and what the benefit of their success would be. Parents can work with their children to write a contract that outlines the student's goals. The contract may be an agreement between the parent(s) and the student, or a contract that the student makes with him or herself. It should include the goals, the benefits of achieving those goals, and consequences for not reaching those goals. (Here, "consequences" will mean different things to different students and their families. It may mean "I won't get the scholarship I hope to earn," or it may mean "I can only watch TV on  the weekend because I have been watching TV instead of doing my homework." The consequences may be lost opportunities or lifestyle changes to support a deeper dedication to academics.) Use the agenda to schedule meetings to review the contract.

Balance

It is easy to get caught up in the routine of the school year and forget that life is all about balance. That is equally true for students and their families. Plan a fun family trip a few weeks into the school year that everyone can enjoy and put it in all those agendas. Make it a point to tell everyone that each of you are leaving any worries or stress behind. That means no asking about homework or tests, so be sure to get that all out of the way before you leave! Visit family. Take a day trip to a favorite park. Explore a city. Enjoy each other!

Back to School!

Now your student can move toward the school year confident that everything is in place for them to achieve success!