With school almost here, learn tips and tricks for parents and teacher to get the year off to a good start!
As the final days before kids go back to school approach, we’ve put together some tips for parents and teachers to make the 2011/2012 school year a success.
Tips for Parents
Create a Routine
After having the summer off, going back to school can be a big transition for children of any age, especially younger children who are transitioning from pre-school to kindergarten, or kindergarten to first grade. Before school starts, talk to your child about their new routine—meal times, after school activities, pickup times and bed time are all important daily markers for young children to anticipate.
Communicate with the School
Ensure that the school, and any after-school activities associated with it, have contact information for both parents in case of emergency or last-minute schedule changes. If you’re a single or separated parent, make sure teachers are aware and that both parties would like to be involved and informed.
Offer Help and Support when Needed
If your child is having difficulty with their homework, offer help and support, but do not do their work for them. Children need to learn to grow, so simply doing their work will not help them. Rather, sit with them and help them work through the question.
Follow the Dress Code
Make sure your child knows and understands the school’s dress code—regardless of whether or not they wear a uniform. To save time, help your child pick out an outfit for the next day every night before he/she goes to bed as a part of their routine.
Pack Healthy Lunches
Don’t let childhood obesity happen to your kid. Take the time to pack a nutritious and delicious lunch each and every day!
Get more tips here.
Tips for Teachers
View the Year as a Fresh Start
If you had some problem students last year, don’t take it out on this year’s students! For a successful year, each group of children is unique and different and should be viewed with an open mind.
Make a Good First Impression
On the first day of school, most teachers want to be liked by their students, but it’s also important to set the standard for the year. Be sure to go over all classroom rules, procedures and expectations. When calling role, do your best to get nicknames and pronounce names correctly, writing down phonetic spellings of any names you were corrected on. Of course, tell students about yourself and get them excited for an exciting year ahead!
Have Supply Lists Ready
Make sure you have your supply list ready to hand out on the first day of school, or, if you really want to impress parents, mail the list a few weeks before! Keep lists down to necessities, especially if you teach in a low-income area.
Look the Part
Regardless of age, always make it a point to look professional, not sloppy and avoid any provocative clothing.
Stay Positive
Even if you’re having a horrible day—it’s raining, you just got dumped, your car has a flat tire, etc. —try to remain as positive as possible. Your mood will affect the moods of your students.
Be Organized
With ever increasing class sizes, it’s hard for teachers to stay organized. So, why not use technology to your advantage to help track attendance, reports, allergy information and parent contacts?
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