Unique Advice From Teachers About That First Week Back At School

It's our favorite time of year!

We teachers love back to school season! We spend all summer preparing for this. Planning our classes, reflecting on what worked and didn’t work last year, decorating our room, buying supplies, and building anticipation of meeting all our new students! So we asked teachers who work with us what unexpected or unique advice they have for families or students for back-to-school.

Here’s what they said!

Laugh, connect, and wonder.

Enjoy some time to reconnect and re-energize together so students enter the next day refreshed.

- Cheryl Corpus, Michigan

Got pens?

For high school students…make sure to have a lot of pens! I prefer pens to pencils (and so do many of my colleagues) because I can see student’s mistakes. Also, pens don’t leave those cloudy smudges like pencils do!

- Kelley Cusmano, Michigan

A "no cooking" rule for dinner the first week.

The first week back to school is tough on students and families. To help ease the stress of adjusting to a new routine, I have a "no cooking" rule for dinner the first week in our house! We can eat out, have leftovers, or even popcorn and a movie if we just need to relax. It takes the pressure off parents, and gives tired kids a special treat to look forward to after a long day back to school!

- Dayna Burke, Arizona

Plan ahead.

The newness and stress of new classes and teachers is often daunting. By laying out clothes, packing lunches and prepping dinners in advance, you can alleviate some additional stress. Make lists and create a family calendar so that due dates and deadlines aren't a surprise. There are a lot of forms that come home in the first week of school. Create a space in your house for a "to be signed, filled out, etc..." folder or basket so those things don't get buried in the bottom of a backpack. But most of all plan to spend some time decompressing in the afternoons and evenings reflecting on the day and what the next day will bring. And then go to bed early!

- Jessica Salfia, West Virginia

Use fun resources designed for kids!

youtube.com

For little ones, I think it’s helpful to check out back-to-school resources designed around their favorite T.V or movie character. For example, these Daniel Tiger back-to-school videos were really helpful for our son last week, and he had a successful first day of school yesterday. For older kids, like the high school students I taught, it’s about cultivating a balance of independence without completely checking out as a parent. Your high schooler is probably old enough to handle figuring out her schedule, and even completing some of the dreaded first day of school paperwork, but you should also plan to chat about these things over a meal (and of course, prepare your hand muscles for lots of signatures!). Finally, ask your child specific questions about how the first few days are going, and focus particularly on social interactions. You have all year to ask questions about their classes and what they’re learning, but this is a great time to ask things like, “Did you meet anyone new today?” “Who did you talk to at lunch?” or “How do you feel about your day?”

- Katrina Boone, Kentucky

Remember for both yourself and your students - Take it one day at a time.

Just like starting a new job, starting a new school year with new classmates, teachers and courses needs time for adjustment. Allow your time to get used to your students and for them to get used to you before making any judgment calls or big decisions. And make sure you don’t spend too much time on administrative and getting to know you activities early on. It’s helpful for your students to get to know your expectations and teaching style quickly.

- Erica Felker, Virginia