5 Things To Do Before School Starts
A successful school year starts at the end of July with preparation and organization. With the start of school just a few weeks away, you have just enough time to be ready with the stuff you need and the routines to embrace that you will feel positive about the start of the school year.
Organize School Stuff Together
Engage your students with organizing school supplies together. Gather all the supplies from your home and categorize them. Next, find the “home” for these items and gather organizing supplies. Label your supplies for easy access. Place supplies in a zipper case in a divided backpack to use at school. Add a supply caddy for your homework station.
Create Homework Spots
Having multiple homework spots keeps homework engaging. The best areas for this are near supervised devices and computers. Some options might be your dining room, your office, or at any large table where you can see the screen and there is ample space to spread out. Be sure to designate a landing strip at the door your family exits for fully loaded backpacks ready to leave the house. A packed backpack is the last homework step.
Plan After School Activities and Tutoring Help
Get ahead by planning afterschool and tutoring help. Physical activity after a day of sitting in school helps students focus, sleep better and build self-esteem. There are many homework helpers available from tutoring companies to high school students. Set up afterschool activities that allow for a positive afterschool and evening routine.
Review Calendars
Families need two calendars for school.
- The Family Calendar either digital or paper enhance communication and collaboration. With this calendar, everyone knows the dates school starts, school holidays, family vacations, and all family activities. Reviewing the Family Calendar weekly at the family meeting keeps everyone on the same page.
- The Student Planner either digital or paper holds the list of assignments, tests, and projects that the student is responsible for. This list is what is used every day for homework. Teachers offer a Week At A Glance (WAG) online on the school website. Information for the Student Planner is a consolidation of all class work and after-school activity dates.
Plan for positivity and self-care
No matter if you are a parent or student, you will thrive by including self-care in your plan. That includes community self-care like laundry, meals and taking care of your home. With a chart for your family to work with, you can partner up with responsibilities. Included for self-care is an organizing reset each week. That is each Sunday evening in preparation for the new week ahead. Individual self-care includes setting a bedtime with adequate rest. A positive plan for self-care is a priority for your best school year.
More tips on Back to School here!
Where has the summer gone? It feels like it just began and now it’s almost time for school to begin. Crazy! I love all of your suggestions. And the one with “community self-care” ideas is awesome, especially what you named it. The whole post speaks of the ways that kids and parents can work together for a more supportive, organized, and successful work/home/school life.
I love the idea of talking to kids about self care. Most kids aren’t even thinking about this, but they get drained like anybody else. I think a family meeting is a good idea. If for no other reason than to figure out who is going where, when. That’s where the family calendar comes into play. I used to keep the family calendar on my own calendar, but today there are better options that allow all family members to access it from different locations.
Can’t believe it is time to be thinking about this already!
Getting ready now will save everyone stress!