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School's In. Are You Ready?
Let's face it, most of us don't get excited about going back to school.  But ready or not, it's
back to school we go.  Soften the blow with these back to school tips for the students in
your life.
Little Ones

  • Include them in the planning. Make them a part of the process. Let them help you
    choose supplies and personalize them.  Have them participate in getting their school bag
    ready and setting up the spaces that they will use for school work. Whatever you do,
    include them.   

  • Establish a routine. Get them used to the routine before hand. Walk or drive the route
    to school a few times, even if they've been there before to make it more familiar that
    first day.  Start bed times and early wake-ups a few days in advance to break them in.
    Make getting ready for the next day a part of the nightly routine by laying out clothes
    together and making lunch.

  • Meet their teacher. If you can, take your little one to meet their teacher before school
    starts. Take the time to help your child's teacher understand how he/she learns.  
    Understanding your child's learning style  and sharing that with the teacher can keep
    learning fun.

    The way you prepare your little one to school can make all the difference in how they
    view school.

Middle of the Pack

  • Prepare for the change. Your middle school aged child will be faced with many changes.
    From their own bodies to the way they move around school, or new academic
    challenges, one things for sure, there will be a lot going on.  As they navigate change,
    establish norms and maintaining routines are still important.  Revisit or create a new
    system to manage their schoolwork and keep things organized to avoid the stress of
    misplaced assignments.

  • Social Schedules become even more of a priority. Teach them to balance the new
    demands by teaching them time management, stress relief and organization tips. Set
    aside weekly time where you can help them corral their things and schoolwork to stay
    on top of everything....it's also a great time to catch up on what's new in their lives.

High School

  • Take the high road. They're worried about staying cool, you've already got your eyes
    on college. Meet in the middle and work together to prepare them for the next step. As
    they earn privileges, continue to teach them how to manage time, juggle scheduling
    conflicts and be accountable for their responsibilities.

  • It's not too early for a resume. One of the most valuable but under utilized tool for high
    school students is an Academic Resume. An Academic Resume details their
    accomplishments for each academic year (9-12).  It's a catch all document for honor roll
    listings, team participation, community service, awards, jobs and other highlights.  Have
    your teen update their Academic Resume each year. It'll make filling out applications
    much easier when it's time for college.

  • Decisions, decisions. Teaching your high school aged student how to make choices and
    healthy decisions is time well spent. Once they're of age, they will be better prepared to
    manage the decision that they'll have to make without you.

College Here They Come

  • Money matters. One of the most important lessons that you can teach your college
    bound child. Talk about how to maintain good credit and about the responsibilities of
    smart money management. Teach them how to save and spend wisely to avoid the post
    graduation debt.

  • Goal setting. Having a plan and goals can help maximize the time spent in school. Set
    priorities based on your goals and work towards them.  Having a list of goals doesn't
    mean there's no fun to be had, but it makes choosing a lot easier when you know what
    you're willing to sacrifice or not.

Finally, the Continuing Ed Professional

  • Time, time, so little time.  The biggest challenge for the returning student (aside from
    having to learn to take notes again) is likely time management and productivity.  Being
    ruthless with your schedule and using a calendar or planner is key to maintaining your
    sanity---and keeping track of your's and your families schedules. Schedule everything
    and leave nothing to chance to maximize your study, work and play time. (Yes play time
    is allowed.)

No matter what the grade level, going back to school will be hard work. But it can also be fun!