It is back to school time!
The summer break is all but over for many students and parents are happily or reluctantly getting their kids ready for school. Whether you have an elementary school student or a high schooler, both groups of students are in need of school supplies. Most school districts distribute these lists prior to the beginning of the school year. The school supply list is important but be sure you are supplying your student with the right things for the upcoming year.
Supply your student with structure and routine
At every level, students thrive in structure. Schools invest heavily in providing an environment where students can succeed, and it is important for parents to support those structures at home. Structure provides the boundaries necessary for school success and helps create the environment for students to thrive in.
The important parts of an at home structure includes a study space, technology management, a plan for time and schedule management, and accountability. Please discuss and agree to these structures for the upcoming school year.
A good routine can create good habits that your student can utilize throughout the school year and potentially for the remainder of their academic career. Routine is defined as a sequence of actions regularly followed. What is your student’s routine when they wake up in the morning?
What happens when your student gets home from school? These are just a few questions you need to answer with your student as you develop a successful routine for the upcoming school year. A routine I suggest for families that worked successfully in my home, is any student under high school age either gets a cell phone on weekends only or turns it in when they get home. This routine minimizes distractions, drama and creates more opportunities for your student to focus on homework.
Supply your student with confidence
The beginning of the school year gives a student a clean slate academically, socially, and emotionally. They enter the school year and classroom with optimism and hope that this year will be better than the last. With a fresh start it is important that your student leaves home with confidence. When you supply your students with confidence you are giving them a standard of high expectations, a belief in themselves, and a starting point for overcoming obstacles. Parents can supply their students with confidence by setting goals and supporting their efforts to achieve them. You can supply your student confidence by reinforcing your expectations daily and giving them space to succeed and fail. Helping your student believe in themselves and their abilities will show up in their grades, work ethic, and decision making throughout the school year.
Supply your student with a voice
The more engaged students are the better they do and the better experience they have throughout the school year. Supplying your student with a strong voice will improve their experience this upcoming school year.
Students should be engaging in the classroom, asking and answering questions, collaborating with other students, and building a good student teacher relationship. It is important that they are confident enough to advocate for themselves and speak up when they need help.
You can build your students’ voice by consistently having academic discussions, giving guidance, and following up on those conversations. The more you talk with your students about school, academics, and the overall school experience the more confident they will be with using the voice they have been given.
Your student’s school supply list is very important. The pens, pencils, paper, books, and backpacks are all important and needed. Don’t forget to supply your student with the things that you can’t buy at a store and the school can’t give them, structure, routine, confidence and a voice.
