Back to School

It’s the second half of August, and things are changing. Distinctive yellow buses are on the road. Stores are displaying vast quantities of pencils, notebooks, and folders. And any of your friends that happen to be teachers are vanishing from sight. It doesn’t take a detective to piece the clues together – the back to school season is upon us!

The weeks leading up to a new school year are a bittersweet time for kids and adults alike. Students are excited to see old friends and tackle new challenges, but they mourn the passing of summer days spent playing in the sun. Parents miss having their children around all the time, but appreciate the quiet and freedom. Teachers have no doubt enjoyed their three months of vacation, but are eager to fill the minds of another class with new knowledge.

I remember these days well. The nagging date lurking in the back of my mind, looming larger with each passing hour. How that foreboding became grudging and then all-out excitement as I shopped for new supplies and clothes. The thrill of meeting a new teacher, reuniting with classmates, and flipping through new books (well, maybe not the new books, but you get the point). And before I knew it, it was autumn and the school year was in full swing.

The last weeks of summer vacation are a great way to prepare for the new school year. Try reviewing key concepts from the previous year with worksheets, flash cards, or quick quizzes and games. Get your soon-to-be students excited by taking them shopping for new school supplies and clothes – it’s easy to find great deals and sales right now. Plan a bash to celebrate the last days of summer. Eat summer foods and play summer games outside. Talk about everyone’s favorite summer activities.

A day or two before the first day of school, give your child a piece of paper. Ask them to write a letter to themselves. Explain that they should list some goals for the coming school year – these can be simple, like making a new friend, or more difficult, like getting better grades in math. When they’re finished, take the letter and place it in an envelope and store it. Hand it back to your child a day or two before or after the last day of school. Talk about their goals and how they changed over the course of the year.

How do you, as a parent or teacher, get ready for a new school year? What’s the best thing about back to school time? What’s the worst? When you were a student, how did you prepare yourself? Feel free to share your stories.