8 Tips for a Truly Great School Year

By El Brown, 2012 Army Spouse of the Year Spouse Magazine, October 2012

We’re just a few weeks into a new school year and already the days are rocketing by. Kids are getting comfortable in their classrooms and parents are settling into juggling school schedules along with all the other demands of family life.

This time of year is a special one. New books, new teachers, new ideas. Each school year offers us a fresh start and an opportunity for excellence. From my experience as a teacher and now as the mom of a new kindergartner, I wanted to share with you some tips to make this school year a great one.

1. Establish a Solid Morning Routine.

The morning is the absolute most important time of your child’s day. Now that we’re a few weeks into the semester, refine your routine to make it as productive as possible. To avoid stress, go through your child’s bag or backpack the night before to make sure they have everything they need for the following day.

Also consider choosing clothes the night before. In the morning, wake your child at least one hour before you’ll be heading out the door (not one hour before the start of school, but one hour before the time you have to leave your house to arrive at school on time).

This will allow your child to get dressed, have breakfast, and talk to you about what their day will hold (a test, library time, vocabulary words, etc.), all without being rushed. Then leave the house peacefully and give a hug, kiss, or words of affirmation to your child before separating for the day.

2. Get Organized.

Keep a file box where you’ll stash every handout, newsletter, assignment, and such that’s sent home. Place a pocket calendar in the front of your box, then enter all deadlines and scheduled school events in it as they come up.

This will ensure that you remember to send in marshmallows for the class project, dress your child in pajamas on Pajama Day, get your child camera-ready for school picture day, and sign and return the ever-important field trip permission forms.

3. Contribute Your Time and Talents.

Years ago, schools focused on “parent involvement” (working for the school), including bake sales, box-top collections, and potluck donations. Now the education community is embracing “parent engagement” (working with the school).

That means advocacy, helping with policy-making, and contributing to the process of learning. If you’re an accountant, volunteer to teach a lesson about financial awareness in your child’s class. Represent your school and its interests at your local school board.

4. Visit Just Because.

Your school-aged child spends a great deal of their waking hours at school. The school’s environment is an extremely large part of your child’s world. At least once a month, try to visit your child’s school during the school day for no other reason than to see your child in their element.

Lunchtime and recess are perfect times for parents to visit their child’s schools. (Hint: teachers can always use an extra set of hands and eyes during this time of day!)

5. Establish an Afternoon Routine.

Study skills are essential to success in school and an afternoon routine is a great way to instill them. After school, plan time for snack and conversation, followed by 30–60 minutes of outdoor or free play. Then, time for homework!

Even if your child’s teacher doesn’t assign daily homework, make time each day for afternoon study time. The general suggestion is 10 minutes per grade level (1st grade = 10 minutes, 3rd grade = 30 minutes, etc.). If your child is with a caregiver after school, talk with that person (or with the after-school program) about the schedule.

The habit of afternoon study time will build healthy study skills that will yield lifelong benefits.

6. Ask Specific Questions.

If you ask your child “How was your day today?” you will likely hear something as brief as “fine.” Instead of general questions, ask specific questions to learn about your child’s time at school:

• “What books did you read during circle time?”

• “Did you like the kid you played with during recess? What did you play?”

• “Did you feel prepared for your test today?”

• “How do you think you did?”

Asking questions that lead to dialogue will connect the two of you and reinforce to the child that their school day is important.

7. Address Concerns Quickly.

If you have a concern about the school, about your child’s teacher, or about an occurrence at the school, address it immediately. Many issues at school that might concern parents can be handled at the classroom level before they grow larger.

However, problems that are given the chance to fester and build can grow bigger and get blown out of proportion. So tackle issues of concern quickly, calmly, and at the root, to ensure a pleasant learning environment for your child.

8. Have Fun!!!

This one could be the most important. No matter how busy you and your child might be, don’t forget: enjoy. These years fly by so quickly.

Published in Military Spouse Magazine, October 2012