Back-to-School Tips for a Smooth Start

The transition from summer break to the school year can be challenging for many children. A little preparation can help them feel confident, ready, and excited for the return to school. Here are some helpful back-to-school tips: 

Talk about nerves. Sometimes students dread going back to school because of the stress it caused in the prior year. For elementary students especially, it helps to acknowledge that fear and bring it into the open. Ask your child what is on their mind and what makes them worry about the idea of starting a new grade. Venting a little can help your child feel a sense of relief, even if you don’t immediately discuss a plan of action to address any problems they cause.  

Set goals and lay out steps. Do not push a goal setting conversation right away, but once your child seems up to it, ask what they’re hoping to achieve or change in the coming year. For some children, the goals might be broad—they want to decrease their stress level and frustration about math. Other children might know exactly what they are striving toward (e.g., all As and Bs on their report cards). Break goals down into smaller, manageable steps that your child can assign dates to and strive to achieve.  

Get organized at home. Have your child clear off their desk and clean out their backpack. If they need new supplies, put your child in charge of making a getting-ready-for-school checklist/shopping list with everything they will need. The school website might have supplies lists too. Elementary students bring home a lot of notes, artwork, graded assignments, and other paperwork. Designate a spot at home where your student can place those items for you to review before filing (or tossing/recycling). This will minimize clutter and keep you informed of important dates and information.  

Revisit the routines. Routines are so vital for K-5 students. They give them a sense of control and reduce chaos on the home front, and they reinforce teachers’ efforts in the classroom to keep students focused and on task. In the weeks before the first day of school, give your child an overview of the school-day schedule and run through the after-school routine. Discuss rules and expectations for homework, grades, bedtime, and anything else.  

Review past work. Summer break has one unfortunate consequence: summer learning loss. When students stop learning for an extended period, they regress in their skills and lose knowledge. Make sure you plan to sit down with your child for 10-20 minutes a day several days a week to go over graded assignments or worksheets. Doing so minimizes regression and refreshes their memory on topics and skills they learned last year, which will go a long way toward starting the new year off right.  

Close skill gaps. Reviewing last year’s homework assignments won’t do your child much good if they spent the year struggling through the subject. Summer break will put them even more behind. Even if school starts soon, you can enroll your child in a customized tutoring program at Huntington now and make the most of the final weeks of summer. We will start with an academic evaluation to identify your child’s strengths and areas that need improvement. Then we’ll tailor a program to help your child acquire the missing skills that have held them back.  

The best way to get ready for school is to make sure their child is academically prepared.  A student who is below grade level standards in one or more subjects is likely stressed about school already, and it won’t take but a few weeks into the new year for them to feel lost and frustrated again.  These problems build and grow each year and can hurt students’ confidence and squash their motivation. Gearing up with school supplies and embracing a positive mindset for the new year are important, but most critical is getting that child back on track as soon as possible—and ideally before the school year is well underway.  

About Huntington  

Huntington Learning Center is the nation’s leading tutoring and test prep provider. We offer customized programs in person, online, and hybrid options. Our certified teachers provide individualized instruction in phonics, reading, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington’s programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Huntington is accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Founded in 1977, Huntington’s mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.HuntingtonHelps.com and for franchising opportunities, visit www.HuntingtonFranchise.com.