Though you may just be recovering from the heat of August and summer vacation, it is time to start preparing students for the first day of school. Just dropping them off on time with the proper supplies is not enough. Parents need to help their children begin to mentally prepare for the new schedule and new tasks at hand. Here are some tips to make a successful transition.

• Contact the school to make sure you have the proper supply list, a calendar of events, and any other materials with school information. Discuss the important dates with the student, recording them in the student’s planner.
• If there is an orientation, make plans to attend with your child. Have the student take notes and discuss what information will be most important to remember.
• Go shopping for supplies as early as possible. If there is no supply list provided by the school, buy only the essentials for the first week. Wait until you know exactly what the teacher requires before buying notebooks and organizers for each class.
• Establish bedtime and mealtime routines, and begin to discuss schedules for homework and extra-curricular activities. This includes setting limits on TV-viewing, video games, and social activities.
• Lastly, ask to arrange a meeting with the teacher(s). An open house meeting is not sufficient. You want to meet privately with the teacher(s) to introduce yourself, to let them know you are open to receiving reports on progress and struggles, and to find out what you can be doing at home to support the student’s learning.

Communication is the key. Make sure your student has a plan, and make sure you know how to support that plan by communicating with teachers, counselors, and administrators. If you are diligent in helping your child get a good start to the school year, he or she will be more likely to carry that momentum into the rest of the year.

If you would like more information on how to ensure your child’s success in school, call Better Grades at 360-771-6776 to speak with an Education Consultant.