Back to School: Getting Back into an Education Mindset
Back to school time can be stressful for parents and students alike. The approach of autumn means students need to get back into that education mindset, and there's no time like the present to get started on the new school year. (Psst… there’s a parallel here for us as business owners so don’t be too quick to dismiss this, whether or not you have kids!)
Take a field trip. Ever have that dream where you’re late for that big test because you can't find your classroom? To make sure that dream never becomes a reality, visit your school at the first opportunity to get the layout of the land. If possible, meet the teacher and get an idea of what his or her expectations are for the new class.
Get into the groove. The best time to get into a regular school year schedule is before you actually have to get into a regular school year schedule. Earlier bedtimes, even on the weekend, will help students get the much-needed rest they will need to perform well.
Start the day out right. Skipping breakfasts and eating junk food aren’t great habits to begin with, and it’s even worse once the school year begins. It goes without saying these are not keys to a student's success. Start planning how to incorporate healthy foods and regular mealtimes into your daily schedule.
Discuss any fears and address them now. If your child is afraid she won't be able to make friends, try some role-playing and teach her how to introduce herself and how to make conversation. If taking tests causes anxiety, try some of these strategies to help your young scholar build self-confidence.
Make goals and start working on them now. If handing in assignments on time has been a problem in the past, start some anti-procrastination practices. Learning how to make to-do lists, scheduling priorities, and breaking projects down into smaller tasks are helpful skills for all students and will serve them well later in life.
Good study habits are learned early in life. To help your child develop these habits, create a comfortable study space. Show your child how to productively use the time before school starts and make sure they know how to access the school's website for class assignments or other material. Learn how to take notes and/or make flashcards and start a regular reading schedule.
Plan to reward achievements. Celebrating success is important, even if it’s only with some words of praise or a cute sticker. Whether you’re a child or an adult, being recognized can give us the encouragement to keep going and work harder.
Taking the time to think about these issues now can help make the back-to-school transition easier for everyone.