Wow! It’s hard to believe that the upcoming 2021-2022 school year is already upon us. It seems like just yesterday, we were all celebrating the end of what most of us would categorize as the hardest school year-EVER! For students, parents and school staff last school year is one we are all quite happy to have in the rearview mirror! Now the next chapter in our children’s and students’ educational journey is about to begin. The good news in that is now we know that whatever challenges lie ahead, they can be faced, worked through, and overcome. We learned lessons last year about pivoting, adapting, collaborating, patience, perseverance, and resilience. If you think about it, we are all pretty darn amazing!
So now the question remains. How do we take what we experienced and learned from last year and make this year the very best it can be? With the rollout of the vaccine and the plan for many school districts to go back to in-person learning models, we have an opportunity to think about, discuss, plan for and shape how that looks, what can make that work, what challenges we face as we transition back to “normal” school settings and situations.
First of all, I think it bears mentioning that last year taught us all how hard the job of being a classroom teacher is. It is critical that students, parents and teaching staff forge, build and maintain a collective, collaborative, and cohesive relationship to balance each of those roles in a child’s educational journey. It takes everyone in a child’s life to support them as they navigate their path back to in-person learning. It is also important to discuss and find solutions for any fears that kids may have around the virus, the vaccine, being behind in their learning, being back with social groups, and being back in school this fall. Having age-appropriate open conversations with children about those topics are critical to helping them as they transition back to in-person learning this year.
Another important support we can put in place for children as they return to school this fall is a consistent routine for starting and ending each day. Decide when things will happen in you family like: waking time, making lunches, doing homework, scheduling time for extra-curricular activities, building in time for down time, family time, bath time and, bed time. Establishing consistency around those activities in a child’s life goes a long way to helping them build and maintain routines and build good habits, which teaches them responsibility and ownership in their daily lives. It also helps a great deal to have a dedicated space for doing homework that is stocked with the necessary school supplies, and one that provides a quiet space free of distractions for kids to regularly do their homework.
Setting realistic expectations, taking time to get and stay organized, partnering with our child’s teacher, and regularly communicating with those who are involved in our children’s educational experience are critically important steps that we can take to help ensure that our children are prepared to embark upon the next chapter of their educational journey when they begin the school year this fall.
We wish you all the best as the new year begins. We have attached links to some resources we think can be helpful to parents, students and teachers as the new school year gets underway. If there are other resources you would like information on, please contact us through our website contact form or reach out on our social media pages.
Back to School form-from Understood.org