Ready, Set, Back to School!

Back to school can be a time of great anticipation and excitement; waiting to see the long lost friends of summer, finding out new teachers, classes, getting back into a routine, etc. The the joy of reuniting and discovery can be a lot of fun!

AND...

it can also bring anxiety, uncertainty, and change.

"What if I don't have any friends in class?"

"What if I don't have lunch with my friends?"

"What if my teacher doesn't like me?"

"What if I get lost?"

"What if I miss the bus?"

Do You Wonder How to Quell the First Day of School Jitters?

Just like any change, our minds and bodies sometimes need help easing into the new school year. We are switching gears from "summer brain" with more freedom to choose to needing to reengage with a more structured side of our brain. Over the years, I have seen many strategies to help have a fun and memorable first day of school for all ages below are some tips and tricks to help!

For Any Age:

• Have a plan! - This simple task is one of the most important. Know ahead when school starts, when lunch is, your met up spot for rides, buses, or folks you walk home with.

• Get ready the night before - Save yourself the worry of what to wear and pick out your outfit the night before. Worried you won't like your choice in the morning- no biggie pick a second choice to have on deck just in case! While your at it pack your lunch, snacks, and your back pack and have it ready to go, there is nothing more stressful than running late on the first day!

• Get a good night's sleep - Rest is one of the most important things we can do for our bodies. When we don't have enough sleep, we may have a harder time with the changes and emotions that come the first day of school. This might mean practicing going to bed earlier before the school year starts. Try doing this in 5 minute increments each night until you get closer to first day!

• Start waking up earlier - Often time going back to school means dusting off our alarms and waking up earlier than our summer schedule. Same as going to bed earlier start with 5 minutes until you work your way back to your wake up time!

• Back to school events... Be there! - If your school offers back to school events like "Meet the Teacher", "Back to School Night" or they have orientation or transition programs to support moving to a new school do your best to make plans to go. This is a great opportunity to get questions answered, meet new friends, see what your school looks like and so many other benefits.

Back to school strategies for Elementary Students:

• Meet the staff- When you go to your back to school events make sure to introduce your student to you teacher. You may also want to make sure your student knows: the principal, assistant principal, dean, counselor, secretaries, clinic aid/nurse, lunchroom staff, and building engineers. Your student may not have contact with these adults often, but it makes it easier for them to get their help if they need. If you can't meet them in person, see if the school website has a picture by their names and talk to your student about when they may want to talk to these adults. I'll let you in on a little secret, even if you child knows these adults they still appreciate the hello and opportunity to see how much they have grown over the summer!

• Talk Through the Day- Before the first day of school, take some time to talk to you child about what the day will look like. If you see the first day schedule on the board you can take a picture of it and go through each section of their day. If not, talk about main points in their day like arrival, AMP/specials, lunch, recess, and dismissal. This is a great time to talk about where your child is going after school and how to get there. You may even walk through the day at back to school night to practice.

• Create a Picture Schedule- Not everyone likes or needs this, however sometimes having a picture schedule is just what is needed to add some predictability to the day. It allows children to know what comes next and even the adults they may be working with through out the day.

• About Me Page- One of my favorite activities to support students is to complete an about me page. This give you student a way to talk about how they best learn and where they may need support and helps their teacher know a little bit about the person in entering into their classroom community. Check out this About Me, I have used in the past!
  

All About Me- Student Transition.pdf

Download PDF • 353KB

Back to school strategies for Middle and High School Students:

• Walk Your Schedule- When you pick up your schedule at registration, if the building is open try to walk through your schedule. Do you notice that you are walking through hallways that are usually busy? How long might it take you to get between classes?

• Make a Locker Stop Plan- It isn't usually feasible to stop at your locker after every period or to carry seven periods worth of supplies all day. When does it make sense in your schedule to stop and exchange out materials. Is it at lunch? Is it every 3 periods?

• Check-in with Friends- Middle and High School is hard because you may not know who is in each of your classes or if you have lunch with your friends until you arrive the first day. Set some time aside to reach out to your friends and talk through your schedule. This will help minimize the stress and worry of not knowing if you have shared classes. And if you don't, make a plan to catch up at the end of the day!

• Introduction Videos- Similar to the About Me page, create an introduction video talking to your teachers about who you are as a person and a student! This is critical in Middle and High School because you are rotating classes and may not see your teachers every day. Just like it may take you longer to get to know your teachers, it takes them longer too. It is also really important to include any accommodations or supports that help you be most successful. If videos are not your thing, create a cartoon, write your introduction, ask for time after class. Find the way that works best for you, but don't miss the opportunity to share about how you learn best with your teachers!

Want to take you back to school to the next level? Join me for a Back to School Intention Setting Workshop!

Teen Workshop Flyer.pdf

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Back to school strategies for College Students:

• Get to Campus Early!- Whether you are a daily commuter or live on campus, give yourself extra time the first day. If you are moving to or back to campus consider how much time it might take you to feel settled in your space; is it a day, two days, a week? Give yourself that time to feel at home in your space.

• Order Your Books- If you have access to your syllabus, review your courses' supply list, and books make sure that you order them ahead of time so they are ready for the first day. Also note if you professor is asking for anything to be read or prepared for the first day!

• Review Your Classes- Make sure you know what you are taking, where on campus (or online) they are, and make sure you are enrolled in the correct classes. Start to think about which classes you may have additional questions about and make a point to connect with those professors.

• Take a Personal Audit- Are there classes you feel like will be more difficult for you? Are there things your professors need to know about how you learn best so you can be successful? Think about these things and then reach out to those professors! Take it from someone who almost failed Biology 101 because she didn't want to say things were getting too difficult and I don't know how to study for these tests... Reach out early, say what you need to be successful, your professors are there to help you learn!

• Meet with Your Advisor- If you have any questions about if you are on the right track for your degree, or are unsure about any classes, make sure you meet with your advisor. They are great people to help navigate your collegiate journey.

Back to school strategies for Parents:

• Have Your Own Game Plan- Do you like to take first day of school pictures? Does the first day of school look slightly different than other days with drop-off or pick-up? Is there anything new being added to the routine like before or after school care? What do these changes look like for you? The better you are prepared for the first day, the better it will be for your child.

• Have an Leaving Strategy- Even if you don't anticipate having a child who struggles to see you go, have a plan and strategy to leave. It is okay to talk about this strategy with your child because this will add an element of predictability to when you will leave. Whatever you tell your student you are going to do, follow through! This is the most difficult part; if they are crying, holding on, saying "don't go", it is heartbreaking to leave; and it is extremely important that you do your best to follow your plan.

• Other things that you can prepare to make leaving easier:

  • Speak to your student's teacher ahead of time about any worry you may have about the transition. Sometimes teachers can have an opening activity that students can get started on to offer a distraction or they can have additional support near the room to help with the send off.

  • A secret word- explain to you child that this will be what you say before you leave, and make it something different than goodbye. "Goodbye" in a child's brain doesn't always mean "see you soon" or "see you later" it can have a finality to it that can be scary, especially if it is their first couple years of school.

  • A schedule of the day that includes when you will see them- this is where the picture schedule comes in handy! This helps your kiddo count down to when they see you next and let's them know they will see you.

  • A picture of you or the family in the planner, lunchbox, pencil box, etc., doing this can be a comfort if they miss you through out the day.

  • A stuffy or special object that can sit with them during the day. For this tool, I highly recommend talking with the teacher ahead of time so they know about the object and can suggest what will be least distracting for their class. When you speak to your student about their object, you can add an extra element of connection to it by telling your kiddo that they can whisper what they want to remember to tell you to the object and the next time you are together the object will help retell the day.

  • Make time for reconnection at the end of the day. When you reunite with your child after the first day especially, make a point to reconnect with them. Reconnection can look like, making a snack together and talk, go to the park for a little bit, take a walk, throwing the ball around, doing a craft, etc. Reconnecting build the memory that even though you were apart you are still there for your child and reinforces your relationship.

Be Well and have a wonderful first day of school!