Getting your Children Ready to go Back-to School

By: Brooke Cadieux, Huntington Director of Education

Another opportunity for an excellent school year is upon us! Students and parents may ask themselves what they can do to set up for a successful school year.

The first step, like anything, is be prepared! Begin now to adjust sleeping and waking schedules so that students will get acclimated to early rising, and when school starts, students will be well rested and ready to start the day. Refer to the school’s policies regarding materials that the students will need, such as binders, specific calculators, and a homework agenda book. Students should have all of these materials before the first day of school. Unless otherwise directed by the school, students should set up their classes with specific folders and notebooks to keep organized. When school begins, papers should be labeled with the student’s name, class name, the date and the assignment. Following through with this organization will save time and energy later, thereby decreasing frustration.

Next, students should start good habits right away by filling out their homework agenda books, even if they do not think that they need to. Some students claim that they can remember all of their homework. Perhaps this is true, but as their lives get busier, they will have more to keep track of, thus they should get into this habit now. This will also help them plan for long-term projects and for tests. Students should write in planned time for studying and long-term projects so that they do not have to cram and fit everything in at the last minute.

Finally, fall is the time that school teachers will begin to review last year’s work. Students should take this into consideration. If the work seems easy, it is probably because they have already seen the material; they can expect the work to get harder. If the work starts off at a difficult level, students will benefit from seeking extra help through their classroom teachers, peer tutors, or an outside source. Fall is the foundation for the rest of the school year. If they regress, it will be hard to catch up. If they stay on task, plan their time, and get support when needed, they will be set up for a successful school year!

 Brooke Cadieux is an educator and the Acton Director of Education for Huntington – Your Tutoring Solution  (@HuntingtonBOS).  She can be reached at actonma@hlcmail.com.