Let’s be honest, the start of any new school year is stressful. It is stressful for students, parents as well as teachers. There are many jobs to do, items to get and routines to begin. New classmates, teachers and parents to get to know and form a relationship with. Teachers need parents to be positive and patient at the beginning of the new school year. Things may need to be readjusted or changed based on the skill level, knowledge, behaviour and understanding of the new group of students. So here are a few things that you can do to work in partnership with teachers at the start of a new school year:
Get to know your teacher: It is really important to have a relationship with your child’s teacher. They are a person who gets sicks, has worries, stresses, laughs, has friends and a family. Teachers need a professional level of privacy but it certainly doesn’t mean that you cannot ask them how their day has been or if they are enjoying the year. Some teachers are more transparent than others and some have more experience than others. It doesn’t mean that one is better than the other.
Speak positively about the start of the new school year: sometimes children hear things that they shouldn’t. Discussions about other children, parents or a teacher. Like it or not, their little brains often cannot process what is in between the lines. Making sure that you speak positivity helps your child to feel confident and like you are in partnership with the school, not against it. There are many research articles that state how a child progresses and learns better when the family and school are in partnership. Start the year with a partner and teamwork mentality.
Be patient with routines and school procedures: as a teacher or a team of teachers, new challenges arise with the new school year. Procedures, structures and routines that worked with one group of children may need to be restructured or changed to suit a new group of students. A classic example is reader routines. Some groups of children are more independent than others. So be patient of things take time or are different from the last school year. Remember that teachers also may have to get know a new team as well. I teach juniors and grade one is a whole different kettle of fish to grade prep or foundation. It also can depend on whether a classroom or community is multi age. Some children find it difficult to adjust to be the younger or elder children in a community. It doesn’t mean that it is bad, just different. I can tell you as a teacher, that any changes in organisation or structures that occur have been well discussed and based on feedback or data.
Don’t bombard your children with questions: What did you do? Who do you play with? Do you have a reader? Do you like the teacher? Where is your library book? Wow, imagine being a kid again. A mistake that I often see is people bombard kids with too many questions. If they do not play with someone do not be alarmed yet. They may like to play alone or may be making new friends. If they give you one worded answers, it may mean that they are exhausted and want to switch off rather than something is wrong. Give your child the time and space to adjust to new routines and new people.
Get into a routine and be prepared for many notes: Routine is one of the most important aspect of the new school year. We all know what it is like coming back from holidays. You feel down, your body needs time to adjust and your to do list seems to never end. It is the same for kids. They will feel tired, have a down day and need to chill as well. The start of the school year really sets the tone for the year. Be prepared for notes to come flying in. There will be organisational matters and paperwork requirements that schools and teachers need. So be patient and try and set aside a space for school notes. Try to fill out notes when you get them and add notes to your diary immediately.
The start of the new school year is exciting. It brings new beginnings, fresh challenges, new relationships and most importantly learning. Make sure that you start the new school year on the right foot. #backtoschool #parents #teachers #twocreativeteachers #schoolteamwork
Get to know your teacher: It is really important to have a relationship with your child’s teacher. They are a person who gets sicks, has worries, stresses, laughs, has friends and a family. Teachers need a professional level of privacy but it certainly doesn’t mean that you cannot ask them how their day has been or if they are enjoying the year. Some teachers are more transparent than others and some have more experience than others. It doesn’t mean that one is better than the other.
Speak positively about the start of the new school year: sometimes children hear things that they shouldn’t. Discussions about other children, parents or a teacher. Like it or not, their little brains often cannot process what is in between the lines. Making sure that you speak positivity helps your child to feel confident and like you are in partnership with the school, not against it. There are many research articles that state how a child progresses and learns better when the family and school are in partnership. Start the year with a partner and teamwork mentality.
Be patient with routines and school procedures: as a teacher or a team of teachers, new challenges arise with the new school year. Procedures, structures and routines that worked with one group of children may need to be restructured or changed to suit a new group of students. A classic example is reader routines. Some groups of children are more independent than others. So be patient of things take time or are different from the last school year. Remember that teachers also may have to get know a new team as well. I teach juniors and grade one is a whole different kettle of fish to grade prep or foundation. It also can depend on whether a classroom or community is multi age. Some children find it difficult to adjust to be the younger or elder children in a community. It doesn’t mean that it is bad, just different. I can tell you as a teacher, that any changes in organisation or structures that occur have been well discussed and based on feedback or data.
Don’t bombard your children with questions: What did you do? Who do you play with? Do you have a reader? Do you like the teacher? Where is your library book? Wow, imagine being a kid again. A mistake that I often see is people bombard kids with too many questions. If they do not play with someone do not be alarmed yet. They may like to play alone or may be making new friends. If they give you one worded answers, it may mean that they are exhausted and want to switch off rather than something is wrong. Give your child the time and space to adjust to new routines and new people.
Get into a routine and be prepared for many notes: Routine is one of the most important aspect of the new school year. We all know what it is like coming back from holidays. You feel down, your body needs time to adjust and your to do list seems to never end. It is the same for kids. They will feel tired, have a down day and need to chill as well. The start of the school year really sets the tone for the year. Be prepared for notes to come flying in. There will be organisational matters and paperwork requirements that schools and teachers need. So be patient and try and set aside a space for school notes. Try to fill out notes when you get them and add notes to your diary immediately.
The start of the new school year is exciting. It brings new beginnings, fresh challenges, new relationships and most importantly learning. Make sure that you start the new school year on the right foot. #backtoschool #parents #teachers #twocreativeteachers #schoolteamwork
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