Here we are again… the beginning of a new school year! It feels like summer just started, but my kids have been back in school for a week now and I am back in my classroom as well. A new school year is always a challenge, but having cleared that hurdle successfully for the last 16 (!) years, I thought I would share some simple tips to not only ease the transition back to the school routine, but also set you and your child up for success this year.
1. Purge. There’s nothing more overwhelming at the beginning of a new year than last year’s baggage!
While I try to do this at the END of the previous school year, let’s face it — those backpacks can sometimes stay packed and stashed in the hall closet from June to August. Spend a morning or afternoon sorting through them, tossing old papers and reviewing what (if any) supplies can be reused or papers should be saved. This is also a great time to go through clothing from last year. Donate what your child can no longer wear and toss what’s not fit to donate. These steps are valuable in determining what exactly you need for the year ahead, which saves you money in the long run, and gives you a clean slate with which to begin.
2. Stock Up.
Now that you know what can be reused for the year ahead, hit the sales for the items you need to purchase. I use this opportunity to stock up on extra school supplies, like notebook paper, composition books, pens and pencils, flash drives, highlighters, etc. What my children don’t need immediately goes into a large plastic bin to be “shopped from” as the year goes on. Since clothing is also on sale around this time, I make sure each child has a few cool weather pieces. That way an unexpected chilly day doesn’t catch us off guard. 🙂
3. Organize.
Trust me. Do it now. Have the backpacks ready to go — or better yet, let the kids have their backpacks ready to go! Stash your extra school supplies where they will be handy. Create a shelf in your cabinet or a drawer in your island with lunch-fixing supplies, such as ziploc bags, prepackaged snacks and treats, and plastic cutlery. Have a designated drop zone for backpacks, shoes, and jackets, whether you have a spacious mudroom or simply a corner of the garage with hooks (that’s us!). And set aside a space for homework to happen. This used to be my kitchen table, then it was the home office. But as my kids have grown and their work and projects are more challenging, they’ve migrated to their own rooms. They each have a well lit desk or table in their rooms that we keep clutter-free and stocked with supplies for their tasks.
4. Plug In. We usually talk about “un-plugging” in this day and age of 24/7 technology, right? Well, now is the time to plug back in. Make sure you attend your child’s Open House — this is important even for high schoolers! This is your chance to meet the teachers face-to-face, get their contact information and make sure they have yours, and find out how they run their classrooms and what their expectations are. Do they post to blogs regularly? Use an online grade book? Prefer emails or phone calls? Require regular parent signatures?
And plugging in doesn’t just apply to your child’s teachers…
Plug in to your child, too! Years ago, I implemented my after-school “Check In” with my kids. These conversations might last 2 minutes or 20, but they were and still are key to plugging in to what’s going on at school. You would be amazed what valuable nuggets of information are passed along over an after-school snack.
5. Participate!! Teachers and schools are stretched to the limit these days and they need you to participate in your child’s education.
Reach out to your child’s teacher to see if they need classroom help. Join your school’s PTA and volunteer for one or two things. Show interest in what your child is learning — in fact, let them teach YOU something new. Last year, I read along with my high school freshman’s literature curriculum. While I have a love of reading, it’s tedious to him. My hope was to engage him in the literature in a different way. Sure, I re-read some wonderful classics, but I also tackled works I hadn’t read before alongside him. We had some spirited conversations about those books that we would never have had otherwise — and both enjoyed it.
Just remember, these years fly by and no two years are the same. Stay organized, flexible, and involved and this school year is bound to be a resounding success.
