Part II: How to Get Students Off to a Great Start This Year

The best-prepared and most successful student is alert, organized and independent. He or she eats a balanced diet, sticks to schedules and talks about school at home. The student is not anxious or stressed and their parents are supportive of them and education. And, according to research, the most successful student is one who reads daily at home.

How to handle homework

Kathy Schlect, Attleboro school counselor encourages simple ideas that will go a long way to promote important independence and organization skills, “Have a consistent homework and organization plan," she said. "Have a place for backpacks, shoes, and lunch money. Using a plastic boot tray or tub works well.”

Dawn Greening, fifth-grade teacher at Brennan Middle School, said organization for homework is equally as important.

"Have a place for quiet study/homework time at home," she said. "Let your child know that homework is important by creating a space for it.”

In order to promote further independence and responsibility, Schlect adds, “Homework should be placed in the student backpack, by the student, the night before.”

Get involved

“Get involved with your child’s daily routine and attend school functions. Know when gym day is and when the library books are due back. Make a point of visiting your child’s school as part of your regular routine. When your child sees that you are interested in what he or she is doing at school, he or she will respond positively,” said Greening.

Hebert advises parents to read over your child’s course outlines, requirements, calendars, etc. “It’s important for you to understand the what, why, when and how of your child’s education.”

Many parents have experienced the following student one or two-word responses to the questions, “How was your day?” “What did you do?” “What did you learn?”

“Fine.” “Nothing.” “Same stuff.”

To enhance or enlarge school discussions, Schlecht suggests, “At the dinner table, try having your family rate their days according to one or two variables: what was the most fun, what was the hardest work and who was the person most hard to get along with. Ask the child what adults at school they could talk to if they had a concern."

As students move into middle school and high school, parents should encourage them to take responsibility for their own learning suggesting that their children ask a teacher more questions if they don't understand something or suggesting the get after-school help. 

Parent-Child communication is key

“It is so important that parents have a plan set in place about exactly where they will be waiting for them outside of school, if they are not bus students, at the end of the day," Schlect said. "Parents need to be on time. There are too many incidences of a child in tears because the parent is late or waiting at the wrong door.”

“Parents must communicate clearly with their children if there will be a change in the child’s after school routine," she added.

If your child is anxious or nervous about the first day of school, especially if the school is a new one for the child, Greening suggests, “Calm the child’s anxiety by bringing him or her to school the week before school begins so they know what to expect.”

Schlecht recommends that parents watch out behaviors that indicate a child is having a difficult time adjusting. “Watch for anxiety, refusal, difficulty separating, and having problems getting used to new routines. Frequent illnesses, with frequent flier miles to the nurse’s office are a sure sign that your child is stressed.

If your child is having anxiety issues about school or is not adjusting to school, contact the teacher or counselor and set up a time to meet and discuss how best to help your child."

Lyn Grantham-Darling, retired principal of Hyman Fine Elementary School sums up these tips, “Organize student rooms, clothes and appropriate materials. Secondly, have a schedule and try to stick to it especially bedtimes.”

In addition, provide nutritious meals for the student and talk to your child to know what’s going on! Watch for behaviors indicating anxiety and stress.

“Parents, on the first day of school, your child will find themselves in a positive environment of experienced educators waiting for them. So if you or your child is nervous, know that they are in good hands!” Grantham-Darling said.