15 Expert Tips for Getting Back-to-School Ready
It’s that time of year. Summer is waning, and the new school year is about to begin. Most of our students and their families face back-to-school time with a combination of anticipation and dread. A new school year is full of promise and a chance for fresh starts, but study skills, organizational systems, and other good habits maintained during the prior school year may have taken a back seat (and back-slide!) during the summer. Feeling like you’re out of practice? Don’t worry, we’ve got you. Our experts at Essig Education Group have offered their top tips to hit the ground running, whether you’re in elementary school, middle school, or college. See which of these speaks to you! And if you need help with implementation, maintaining good habits, or even figuring out more personalized strategies, check out our website for options for individualized coaching and classes: https://www.essigeducationgroup.com/
Advice from our experts:
Kathy Essig
Preplan your days - download a 24 (hour) X 7(day) calendar and block off times that you will use in school, travel, sports and activities, regularly scheduled meetings, family obligations, and social obligations. Do you have enough time to complete homework? If not, reduce your after-school activities to accommodate your top priority, schoolwork.
Organize your workspace - make sure that you have a clutter-free, bright, quiet work area with your needed supplies before the year begins. If you don't know what supplies you should buy, you can find our supply list on our website. An easy tip for your brightest workspace, make sure that your lighting is opposite the hand you write with (you won't have shadows on your paper!)
Set goals for yourself - you have goals in sports, your parents have goals at work, you need goals for school. If you need to ask for help more often, make it a goal to meet with at least one teacher a week. If you need to speak up in class, make a goal to answer at least one question or make at least one point a class period. If you need to be more consistent with homework, make a plan and follow through with it. Put your goals up so you can see and keep them. This allows for a growth mindset and pride in accomplishment.
Mallory Band
Create a homework routine, while considering the following questions: what materials do you need, what time can you check your HW portal and update your planner, how do you need to submit your assignments, where are two places you can work well?
Pack your bags the night before (lunch, backpack) and set your outfit out the night before, so you don't feel rushed in the morning.
Figure out an organizational system that works for you. Do you have one large binder with dividers, or several smaller binders? Notebooks or 3-ring paper in your binder?
Wendy Boly
Establish and practice daily routines - Plan menus to encourage regular tasty meals. Plan on at least one family meal together to share and check in daily.
Maintain or establish favorite recreational activities such as sports, clubs and/or Arts (fine, commercial, performance) to allow ongoing creative and fun outlets and help offset stresses created during the school year.
Set a few goals by writing down things you look forward to this school year, including some reasons why these goals are important. Some suggestions could be making new friends, starting at a new school, joining/returning to a club, or getting better grades. Projecting a positive outlook and having conversations about outcomes help promote a growth mindset during any challenges faced in times ahead.
Kathy Martin
Take advantage of back-to-school supply sales by purchasing folders with inspirational quotes, phrases, and/or pictures. Make certain the folders have 3-hole punches for conveniently placing them in a binder. For example, one of my folders has the phrase "Good Vibes" printed in huge gold letters!
Go grocery shopping with an adult in order to see a variety of options for snack and/or lunch. Be certain to communicate which food items are your favorite and least favorite. For example, this summer instead of having hummus with my fresh carrot sticks I chose tzatziki sauce. I plan to pack the sauce with my veggie sticks during the school year.
Thoroughly organize your room. Fold your laundry and put it away. Go through your closet to see if you've outgrown any clothes. All things in your room should have a place. By the way, the floor is not an organized place for items.
Janet Price
Tend to your sleep hygiene - establish a regular sleep schedule the week before school starts to give yourself time to re-adjust, including setting a regular time to shut down electronics
Practice self-advocacy, especially in middle and high school. For the first week of school, make sure that you have your teacher's email, and have had a direct conversation with your teacher about how s/he prefers to be contacted and when their after-school hours are.
Who is your study buddy? Once you get to college, you will need to proactively form or join study groups. Start in middle and high school by identifying one or two friends who are in the same classes and are willing to regularly compare notes and check in with one another on assignments.