Say it ain’t so! School is right around the corner. It’s hard to believe, but the countdown to school has begun. Teachers are busy prepping their classrooms and tweaking curriculum maps to make sure that they do all they can for your children this school year.
Here are my teacher tips on what I wish all parents knew as we head back to another school year:
Make sure your child is getting enough sleep
This is plain and simple: get your children adequate sleep. You know how your child can be when they are tired and crabby and that is simply not their best mindset to learn. A child’s physical needs must be throughly met before they can be expected to perform well in school and this starts with a good night’s sleep.
Each child is different. My daughter simply does not need much sleep to function. She is a night owl and has been from the beginning. She is a preschooler and has no problem going to sleep at 10:00 at night and is up and ready to rock at 8:00 am with no nap needed during the day. On the other hand, I had a kindergarten student one year who needed a solid 12 hours of sleep at night for her to be at her best and that’s okay too! Like I said, every child is different. Observe your child, and learn what is best for them and adjust your schedule accordingly.
Routine is key
Children thrive off of a routine! It is SO important. Help prepare your children for school starting now. Start getting back to those school year bedtimes and practices.
Not sure where to start for your child’s school year routine? Start in the morning with figuring out how long it’s going to take your child to get out the door. From the moment you say, “Okay, time to get ready for school!” to you walking out the door to get to the bus or car. Make sure that you have enough time for your child to get ready for school comfortably, it sets the mood for the rest of their day! Try and ensure that mornings aren’t a frazzled, chaotic mess. Use the same routine each morning. In our house it is get up, make bed, eat breakfast, get dressed, brush hair and teeth, pack lunch, fill water bottle and go. That’s a lot to do in one morning! So it’s important that it’s predictable each and every day.
Make a routine for after school too so the kids know exactly what to expect. My daughter comes home from her half day of preschool, unloads her backpack accordingly, hangs it up and comes to the table for our family lunch time.
Keep an open line of communication with your teacher
Teachers are here for you and your family! Please, don’t be afraid to reach out to them with any questions or concerns you are having about the school year. Teachers will give you their contact information so you are able to work together. The school year goes much better when everyone is working together and on the same page.
However, don’t forget that teachers are people too! Make sure that you are respectful and kind in your communication with your teacher and the administration of the school.
Read what comes home from the teacher
Teachers spend time every week preparing notes, emails, texts, or blog posts to inform parents of what is going on in the classroom, the upcoming events at school and other school related news. PLEASE READ IT! Lots of questions can usually be answered by just reading the paperwork that comes home from your teacher and school.
I had a class a few years ago whose parent’s seemed to never read my weekly classroom newsletter. I sent copies home and posted it right outside of my classroom where parents dropped their kids off each morning. One week I slipped in the line “If you read this, please tear off the bottom of this page, sign it and have your child bring it to me tomorrow.” And guess how many signatures I received…TWO! That’s it. But guess how many texts messages I received that week from parents asking if their child could wear jeans instead of their school uniform that Friday? Way more than two.
It’s discouraging as a teacher when it feels as if work is going unnoticed and unappreciated. So please, read what comes home.
Stay involved in school events
Most school’s send home a yearly calendar at the beginning of the year highlighting important dates for the year: grandparents day, holiday concerts, spring break, Mother’s Day teas, field day, and even more. Add them to your personal calendar now! That way you can know what’s coming up for the school year. Those events usually involve some extra volunteering or donations, so it’s nice to have them on your radar when you may be able to get involved in your child’s classroom.
Lend a helping hand
There is always a way to help your child’s teacher. Ask them up-front at the beginning of the year what they will need assistance with this school year: making copies, reading to small groups, donating supplies, the list is endless on how you can help. And if you have a special skill set you are willing to offer to your child’s teacher, they would love it! Most teachers love a helping hand {especially with all of the behind the scene work teachers spend their after-hours doing}. So, if you are available to help them in any way, let them know what you are willing and able to do! They will be so appreciative.
I hope these tips helped you get ready to have an amazing school year no matter how old your children may be!
If you have any other questions about this post please comment below.
Happy school year!
