Ready For a Fresh Start This School Year?

How’s Back to School Looking?

Ah yes, it’s that magical time of year once again!

Back to school time is here!

This is such an awesome time of the year for so many reasons. A new year, new teacher, new possibilities... and the often brought up and EVER so popular...fresh start.

There is SO much power in a fresh start and the mere idea gets people all jazzed up over the possibilities. Kids, parents, and teachers all love the concept of a fresh start! There’s just one little tiny detail that puts a snag in the joy that goes along with that OH so appealing fresh start.

What’s the snag you ask?

Change.

Yup, I said it, change.

HOW in the world can change be a snag in the pursuit of the fresh start to a school year?

Change CAN be really hard because it’s so easy to SAY you are going to do things differently, but the truth is, most of the time we all fall back into old habits. We have all good intentions of making good on the fresh start, but then life happens. You get busy, the school year gets started and before you know it, it’s Thanksgiving and you are noticing all the same old habits having the same old effect on you, your home and your kids.

Change is a tricky creature when you don’t have a plan or at least some ideas of how to go down a different road than the same old path you’ve gone down so many times before.

The best way to increase your chances to start your school year off on the right foot is to have a plan.

After being in the classroom for over sixteen years and having kids of my own, these are some of my tips and tricks I plan to use THIS school year to keep things on track for an AWESOME experience!

Timers are GOLD

Time is one of those things we all have the same amount of. No matter who you are, how old you are, how much money you have, we all have the same 24 hours in a day. So, how can you make the most of that time?

Timers!

Yeah, I know, it seems SO simple, but I can tell you, it works! In my house, we have 4-hour glass-like timers (1 minute, 5 minutes, 30 minutes and 60 minutes). These little beauties save so much time and have prevented SO many battles.

For instance, if my 6-year-old is brushing his teeth, I have him flip over the 1-minute timer so he has a straightforward idea of how long to brush. He’s brushing long enough and there is no battle! This is an easy way to conquer those little tasks at home that can turn into a battle...if we let them.

My wife and I use the 5-minute timer when we truly just need 5 minutes to finish something up. Time can be a tricky concept for younger kids, so flipping over the 5-minute timer is a great way to teach the idea of 5 minutes and to provide a solid visual for kids.

The 30 and 60-minute timers are just awesome, plain and simple. Here are some ways we use these timers in our house.

- Screen time (usually 30 minutes)
- Free play (could be used before or after school)
- Cleaning the house (flip the 30 or 60-minute timer over and when the time is done, the      cleaning stops)
- Homework time (depending on the age of the kids, 30 or 60 minutes is plenty)

Another benefit of using timers are the side benefits. For instance, if we pack up the van and are headed to the beach, my 6-year-old will pull out the, “How much longer?” card. Since we use timers in our house, I can say, “It will be a blue timer (30 minutes)”. That has so much power!

If you are not currently using timers in your house, I would recommend them to bring an end to those little battles that pop up. Consistency is the key!

The Introductions…

How do you usually introduce yourself and your son or daughter to their new teacher?

No matter what your answer is, the more important thing is to make sure you do this!

Think about it, your kid’s teacher will see them, more than likely, more time during the day than you will.

Crazy, right?

It’s the truth.

All too often, I have parents stroll into fall conferences and I’m ready to bring up a concern or have a question for them and their response is, “Yeah, that happened last year as well. We were hoping the fresh start would fix that.”

I get it. I TOTALLY get it!

BUT…

The magical fresh start is only as good as we make it.

My tip for tackling this area is sending your kid’s teacher an introduction letter. This is SO incredibly powerful for the teacher and for your kids. It also lets you be able to explain things in a way you can think about, instead of a rushed phone, hallway or conference conversation.

I love getting a letter from a student’s parents to give me a heads up on the following:

- Family they live with.
- Are parents together?
- Does the student have siblings?
- What interests does the student have?
- Do they have any allergies?
- Academic strengths and weaknesses?
- Planned family vacations during the school year?
- Parent concerns for the year.

These are just a few of the things I know are great for me to know early on in the school year. If a teacher knows and is aware of your concerns, or a student’s story (no matter how plain or complex) they can make sure to meet their needs as best as they possibly can.

Along with the letter or any introduction, I recommend giving the teacher a gift card. 

Seriously? YES!

I LOVE receiving gift cards to places I can get things for my classroom or even to a local coffee shop. It's just one of those small things we can do as parents that have a HUGE impact on a first impression. Teachers spend a ton of their own money to make sure the kids in the class have what they need. Let's help them out with supplies OR caffeine! :)

Even if a teacher doesn’t ask for a letter like this, I would still do it. Share what you want them to know. The more they know the inside scoop, the better they can make your kid's school year! 

Get Ready for the Morning at Night

Just like it says, get ready for the morning the night before. This is so incredibly helpful to know when you wake up in the morning!

We all have those mornings where we sleep in and get behind. The result? A crazy whirlwind that leaves the whole house feeling out of control.

So not cool.

So, what do we do?

Think about what you need each and every morning during the school week.

- Backpack check, ready for the next day (homework, notes to sign, library books)
- Lunch made and in the fridge
- Clothes picked out
- Check the school calendar (anything special today or this week?)

This seems so simple, but it can really help your morning and get the day started on the right foot!

If you know there is soccer practice Tuesday at 5:00, be ready for it! When you know about something, have a plan to navigate the impact on your routine.

Visit the School

With the new year beginning, there is probably a lot of “new” rattling around your kid’s head. The nerves and anxiety are more than likely starting to pop up.

How can you help curb these anxieties?

Go to the school.

Even if your kids have been going to the same school for a few years, this year will be different. They might be excited to see their new classroom and meet their new teacher. On the flip side, these ideas might be a bit scary to them. Either way, you cannot lose when you take your kids to school BEFORE school begins for the year to pop into the classroom and try to meet the teacher.

Before school begins for the year, I can honestly say, I enjoy when new students come in to visit. I usually have music going, fans on, wearing a Detroit Red Wings hat, totally relaxed. What a great way for your kids to see that their teacher is a REAL person.

I know I take the time to talk to them, get to know them, show them around and listen to whatever they have to say or want to talk about.

This is HUGE for kids.

Can I guarantee every teacher will be open to this? Nope.

Should they be? Yup.

Even if the teacher is not there when you go visit, it’s still cool for the kids to see their new classroom, where their locker might be and how the new layout of their school year will look.

Get in there and bring the anxiety down!

Organization After Vacation! 

Organizational skills are one of those things people think you either have or you don't have.

I compare it to stretching and being flexible. If you sat down right now with your legs straight out in front of you, could you touch your toes? Maybe, maybe not. 

But...

Each day you go back to the same stretch, your body is building its ability to be more flexible. You will get further and further towards your toes day after day.

Organization works the same way!

Step 1: Have a system (Trapper Keeper with a folder for each subject).

Step 2: Open up each folder, label the left pocket, "done" and the right, "not done".

Step 3: Put the correct papers in each folder.

Step 4: Be consistent!

Yes! It is that easy! Year after year, I am shocked by the number of kids who struggle with this idea, but it really is that simple.

With the technology today, many teachers are using Google Classroom and Google Drives to help kids manage their assignments. That's works as well! 

As the year begins, be sure to ask your student's teacher about a daily agenda, so you know what to look for at the end of the day!

Use what works best for you!

With all the tips and tricks out there, be sure to use a little trial and error. You know your kids best, how they learn best and what makes the most sense for them.

Let's make the best fresh start we can!