With Malden schools opening at the end of the month, getting out of summer vacation mode into school mode can take some time. Why not get started now?
1. Talk, talk, and talk. Talk about the beginning of school coming up. Mark the days to the beginning of school on a calendar. Discuss with your child what might be their goals for the next school year, what they would like to learn, and what they hope changes in the next grade.
2. Pack up summer reading lists. All summer reading forms are available online for both Malden High School and K-8 public schools. Finish filling in the forms and pack them away in the backpacks for the first day of school. All K-12 students are required to have read over the summer.
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3. Go back to school time bed times. If your child has gotten used to a later bedtime over the summer and/or a later wake up time, start at least a week ahead of time getting back to the usual school times. Also, get back into a regular routine for meals.
4. Set routines. All children regardless of age thrive on routines. Where will your child keep their backpack? What do you expect them to do on their own in the morning? Where and when will homework be done? Think of routines before and after school that will support your child getting ready for school that day or the next.
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5. Limit TV time. Likely, your child has watched more TV than usual over the summer. Start limiting time for TV and replace with quiet activities such as games, drawing, and reading by the last week of summer.
6. Keep reading. Reading to your child or with your child is the number one way to help your child continue learning.
7. Get school materials organized. A must for every aged student is a backpack. Lots of pencils are often needed throughout the school year. Also, plan on having a stash of school supplies including markers, pencils, crayons, and paper at home for homework.
Middle and high school students may need specific notebooks, binders, or folders. Wait to the beginning of school year as teacher(s) will let you know what your child needs to bring in.
8. Mark the date for the fall open house. Each school will hold a fall open house. This is an important event as it will allow you to meet your child’s teacher(s), learn about the curriculum, and understand what is expected from your student. It is also a great night to get all of your questions answered.
