Back to School Tips
Now that the summer is coming to an end, we can focus on having a fabulous school year! While reflecting on spending a great summer with all of you campers and enjoying the fall weather this morning, I stumbled upon 12 Back to School Tips for a Fantastic First Day. I loved all twelve tips and I hope you do too!
1. Plan to succeed
The words “think positive” may sound like a no-brainer, but really, what you think does make a difference! I love this quote in Proverbs: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”Make a conscious decision that you will make this school year a good one. (Notice that I didn’t say, “Decide that it will be a good year.” I said, “Decide to make it a good year.) There’s a big difference. Happiness is a choice that you can make. Plan to succeed, and choose to be happy. If things aren’t going right, understand that you have the power to make things better.
Success begins by thinking and believing that you can succeed!
If there is something in the upcoming year that you are afraid of, take some time to think seriously about it, and then make a plan to tackle that fear!
2. Participate!
This is true for school and for life. You will get out of school what you put in. When you’re in class, give it your all. Listen and raise your hand to answer and ask questions. The more you participate, the more you will learn.
This goes for recess, lunch and after-school activities, too. Participate! Join a club. Try something new. You just might make a few new friends while you’re at it!
3. Invite Friendship
One of the biggest thing that can make or break a school year is friends. To have a friend, you need to be a friend. Check out Back-to-School: 8 Tips for Making Friends for some great tips on making friends at school.
4. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone!
Trying new things can be scary, but that’s what life is all about. When chances come to try something new, take a deep breath and give it a shot! (Of course, I’m not talking about trying new bad or dangerous things. I’m talking about trying a new sport, meeting a new friend, reading out loud in class, sitting by someone new at lunch, joining a club . . . you get the picture.)
5. Brush Up on Your Facts Before You Go Back
No one likes to start the school year behind. A few weeks before school begins, give yourself a refresher on the facts you learned last year.
6. Focus on the Positive
Bad days happen. Not every day will be perfect. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee that no day will be perfect! Focusing on the good things that happen each day will help you forget and move past the not-so-fun stuff.
If you are having trouble finding the good, start a gratitude journal. Make a notebook that is just for writing down things you are grateful for and good things that happen. The first day, you might only think of one thing. (Don’t stop until you’ve written down something!) The next day, it will get a little bit easier, and soon . . . you’ll recognize the good things without even thinking about it.
7. Get a Good Night’s Sleep!
Children aged five to 12 need 10-11 hours of sleep! How much sleep do you get a night? Start with the time you need to get up for school and count backwards to find out what time you should be going to bed.
To ensure that you get a good night’s rest:
- Avoid using electronics within an hour of bedtime.
- At bedtime, keep your room dark, cool and quiet.
- Keep TVs, computers, and cell phones out of your bedroom.
- Avoid caffeine.
8. Establish a Morning Routine
Things always go more smoothly when you have a routine. So, set your alarm to wake up at the same time each morning and develop a schedule that you can stick to. Ours looks something like this:
- Get up
- Get dressed
- Empty Dishwasher
- Eat breakfast
- Brush teeth and hair
- Family prayer
- Go to school!
9. Eat a Good Breakfast
Eat foods that will stick with you until snack or lunch time. Sorry, kids, but sugar cereals are not going to get you through the day. Eat a breakfast with lots of protein and fiber. (Oatmeal, bacon and eggs, yogurt, and whole-grain cereals are a great start.) If you just can’t do without your sugar cereal, add a piece of fruit to give it more staying power.
10. Be Early!
You’ve heard the saying, “The Early Bird Gets the Worm?” Well, the early kids are better prepared! Make a plan to be at school fifteen minutes early every day — and stick to it! Arriving early helps you feel relaxed and gives you time to get prepared and set up for the day. Teachers frequently plan bell work (usually review) for students to complete in between the time they arrive at school and the time the bell rings. Kids who arrive late miss out on that important extra practice. Early kids also have a chance to greet their friends and ask the teacher questions they might have had about homework or expectations for the day.
If you have trouble getting out of the house on time, try getting things ready for school the night before. Set out your clothes, find your shoes, and fill up your backpack. If it’s a requirement at your school, ask a parent to sign off on your homework before you put it away.
We use our lockers to keep everyone organized for school. Backpacks and coats/sweaters go on the hooks, and lunch boxes and school shoes go on the shelf. If that’s ready the night before, there are no scavenger hunts in the morning!
11. Do your Homework!
Plan on spending time every day studying or doing homework. Establish a quiet, clean and comfortable place to work. We created a family desk for homework, but the kids still love working at the kitchen table. It must have something to do with proximity to snacks!
12. Ask for Help!
When all else fails, ask for help! There are some problems that require help from your parents or a trusted adult. If you are experiencing any of the following things, be sure to ask for help!
- You are being bullied
- You feel unsafe
- You are offered drugs, alcohol or cigarettes
- You are having a hard time keeping up at school
- You feel discouraged or depressed
I hope these tips will help all of you have a fantastic start to the school year! Have any tips of your own to add? Leave me a comment below and tell me all about them!
