Getting back into the rhythm of school can be challenging for some kids. It helps a lot if you start getting them ready a week or two in advance. Here are some things you can do to make their first day easier:
Start bedtimes and morning routines like they will be during the school year.
If your child has not been reading at all over the summer, have them read at least 10 minutes a day to get their brains used to reading for longer periods of time again.
If your child has not been writing at all over the summer, have them write (anything they want) for at least 10 minutes each day to get their hands used to writing again.
If your child has not been practicing their math facts at all, have them work on these for at least 10 minutes each day so they relearn their addition and subtraction.
Start talking positively about school. Good topics: What they are looking forward to in their new grade level, what might have changed, fun school memories from your child, etc. Be sure to let them express any worries as well. It’s normal to have mixed feelings about a new school year.
Check to see if their backpack or lunchbox needs to be cleaned out and if you have any school supplies you can reuse. Get anything additional needed and pack a bag with school supplies together.
Do something special as a family to wrap up your summer.
Have a plan for managing all the paper that comes home. Examples:
Once a week, you ask your child to empty their folder. Tell them to pick one practice paper to show you (along with all graded work) and recycle all the rest. That paper goes on the fridge for the week.
Every day when you get home, you and your child glance at the "leave home" papers in their folder, talk about a few things they did well and one they should practice, and then recycle them. You take photos of any special papers to save the memory.
Designate a spot for your child to work when needed.
Some kids work best in a quiet space (like on a clipboard in their room where younger siblings can't bother them) and some do best in a supervised space (like
Keep useful supplies in one spot, such as pencils, paper for writing or drawing, erasers, scissors, glue sticks, and colored pencils.
Plan when your child can read and/or work on reading work for their skills group. Have lots of books on hand.
Reading before bed works for a lot of families. Our family has practiced spelling words while finishing making dinner and setting the table. Having a usual time makes it easier to remember to do.
To save money, check out books from the public library before purchasing. They also have eBooks, audiobooks, and STEM learning kits your child may enjoy.
I look up books lists online based on my child's interests, reading level, or age and put a bunch on hold at the local library. (Some we return right away and some we request every other book in the series.) The librarians can do this for you! You can request a book bundle for your child to pick up at the Kingston library or ask for help selecting a book in person.
Make a math fact practice routine. Examples:
Buy addition and subtraction flashcards. (You often can find them at the dollar store.) Keep them in the car to use while waiting in the morning car pick up line.
Get addition and subtraction fact worksheets. (You can buy a book, find "free printable" worksheets online, write facts on a piece of paper, or request some from your child's teacher.) Have your child answer 10 facts each day before going to play.
Quiz your child verbally while driving in the car.
Set up Clever access for your child on a device, so they can do i-Ready, Boost, and check Google Classroom if they are absent many days.
Take a photo of their log-in information in case they leave their home folder at school.
Consider internet safety. We made a profile for our child on our computer (which is in the main room where we can see the screen) with all the security settings locked down and put a link to Clever on it.