Aug

Back to School Newsletter

Ideas to Ease the Transition

Return to RoutineSummer time often includes later nights and more flexibility. As the first day of school draws near, it helps to ease the family back into the school routine. A few days before school starts, move bedtimes closer to normal school-night times. Begin to wake your kids up in the morning to help them get back in the swing of things.

School Supplies

Once you receive the official school supplies list, set a budget you would like to spend per child. Share that budget with your children. Invite them to go shopping with you and pick out their supplies while keeping within the set budget. It gives children choice and teaches them important life skills.

Dealing with the Unknown

For some children, not knowing their teacher, never having seen their new classroom and the unknown schedule are overwhelming. The unknown makes many people nervous. Try some of these ideas to help ease your children’s transition:

-Try to set up a time before school to make a five minute visit to the new classroom. Remember, teachers are busy getting everything ready for the new school year. However, most teachers welcome the opportunity to meet a new student and eliminate some unnecessary fears.

-Your children can write the teacher a letter telling her important facts about themselves and asking any questions that make them nervous.

-If you have the teacher’s e-mail, write and ask for a copy of the schedule (if it is ready) so that your child can copy it into her notebook. Just the ability to anticipate activities helps alleviate some children’s concerns.

-Talk to your children about an experience you had that made you nervous. Share how you dealt with that.

The Night Before

-Pick out clothes

-Eat well

-Make sure sleep on time

-Talk about the plan

-Make snack/lunches ahead

Successful Student Corner:

MIRIAM

Sherrie’s Recommended Resources

Last school year “Miriam used to cry when she had to do her homework. She would fight doing it and experience rage and frustration,” relates Miriam’s Mom.When asked to describe her school work, Miriam admitted her science grades were “not so good. I would get below basic which is the worst.” On math tests she was earning “a 3 out of 15,” and she was reading 57 words per minute.

This summer, Miriam participated in the Hardy Brain Training Program though the Boys and Girls Club of Oxnard. Here she clapped and tapped to the metronome beat four times a week for 45 minutes each day.

After four weeks, progress is evident. Her Mom notes that “Now she is more dedicated. She initiates doing her homework herself. She finds homework difficult, but she tries now.”

Miriam can feel the change too. “My [science] grades are better. Now I get 12 out of 15″ on math tests. “I read 105″ words per minute and “my teacher says I pay more attention in class.”

Keep up the

Great

Work Miriam!!

Having a plan to stay organized helps students start the year off right. Sherrie suggests beginning with these two tools to help students learn how to organize themselves:

The Upright File

With the upright file we work to avoid the “I left it in my desk/locker/cubbie” problem. This expandable file folder stands up in a backpack and its opening is at the top. This makes it easy for children to get all those notes and worksheets inside.

In the beginning, most children will jam the papers into the front slot. At least all the papers are getting home! Once the papers get home, parents can help children use the next suggestion is to help organize those papers.

The Expandable Lateral File

This expandable file has a tabs for labelling your child’s subjects and opens wide to help your child fit the papers inside. This particular one has a flap for keeping the papers inside and dry (others have zippers).

With this tool you can set up a time each day to sit down with your children and take everything out of the upright file. Without the stress of having to catch the bus or be late to the next class, your children can file all the papers into the correct slots. This leaves them ready to access whenever they are needed.

The links provided are simply examples to help you see the product and identify one location where it is sold.

Next month, I will give you a few tips for helping your children use these tools to their maximum benefit. I will also show you another tool for managing homework assignments.

Happy First Day of School!

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