Here are Some Tips for Families Getting Back Into A Back-to-School Routine

Disponible en: Español

As Aldine ISD families prepare for back-to-school, here are some helpful tips for helping your children get back on track for the start of school.

Stay Positive: Learning can be challenging for students and parents. Your attitude can influence how your child views the start of school. Set a positive tone and expectations for the school year.
Establish a Schedule: Create a daily routine. After reviewing classroom learning expectations, review these with your child and create a routine for extracurricular activities and homework. Give you and your child time to ease into a new routine and ensure it is flexible. Don’t forget to set up family time, playtime, and downtime. Establish a bedtime schedule. Young children and teens are healthier and are ready to learn when they are well-rested.
Create a Learning Space: Designate a space at home for your child to complete school work. A designated learning environment will increase productivity. Learning can happen anywhere. A dining room or kitchen table, a home office, and even a bedroom desk. Make sure school supplies and materials are within arms reach to limit interruptions.
Eat Dinner Together: Make dinner the time to communicate the day’s events. Studies show that children who eat dinner with their families do better in school. They are also healthier.
Encourage Reading: Literacy is the foundation for all learning. Reading and conversation are essential in developing literacy and language skills. Parents play a critical role at home. Make reading a hobby the kids see you do regularly. Read aloud to young children at least once daily; have them read to you. Motivate older children to read too. Find out what your kids are reading or who their favorite authors are. Conversation is a great way to build vocabulary too.
Stay Connected: Parents or guardians can monitor how well their children are doing at school. Observe how engaged they are and identify any challenges. Think about ways you can help them through that and utilize your campus resources. Be sure to use tools in Home Access Center. Check-in with your child to ensure they have what they need will be essential for their continued success. If you have questions or concerns, contact your child’s teacher. They can provide insight, suggestions, and possible resources.
Make Learning a Fun Experience: Expectations are important. It’s important to have positive conversations with your children about their performance. Find out where they need help or if they have concerns. Remember to celebrate your children’s strengths and accomplishments. And work with the school or teacher to address concerns. And find out-of-the-box ways to help them learn.
Remember Learning Is a Partnership: Develop a partnership with your child’s teacher(s). Learn the teacher’s expectations. Share your child’s performance concerns. Find out how you can collaborate to support areas where your child needs to grow. If you notice a change in attitude toward school in your child, contact the teacher and ask for input. Come prepared for the parent-teacher conference. Think ahead about important talking points or specific questions you have. This will ensure you have a productive meeting. Parent-teacher conferences should occur as soon as parents notice a student struggling. They can provide helpful insight for immediate and clear next steps. Contact your child’s school to schedule a conference.
Get Involved at Your Child’s School: Join any programs to engage in school activities. These include PTO/PTAs, booster clubs, Volunteers In the Schools of Aldine (VISA), and Students Need A Pat and a Push (SNAPP). Contact your child’s school to see how you can volunteer.