The end of summer can be
a bittersweet time for students.
While many students look forward
to seeing their friends, few
want to say goodbye to the relaxing
days of summer.
Parents know that getting
their children back in the school
day swing of things can be a
challenge. The following are
some ways to make that transition
go smoothly.
Introduce more structure as
summer vacation winds down.
The chance to unwind in a structure
free setting can benefi t students
at the onset of summer
vacation. Many parents grapple
with the notion that their children’s
lives are overscheduled,
and the Cleveland Clinic notes
that limiting organized activities
clears up down time for kids
to play and relax and spend time
with their families. So it’s important
that parents afford their
children this down time during
summer vacation, only gradually
introducing more structure
as the school year draws
closer. In the weeks before the
school year is slated to begin,
start waking kids up a little earlier
and reintroducing bedtimes
for younger children who may
have been staying up later over
the last couple of months. This
can be an effective way to begin
slowly preparing youngsters for
the structure of the school year.
Encourage children to read
throughout the summer. A report
from the education publishing
company Scholastic found
that 47 percent of parents are
unaware of the “summer slide,”
which refers to the loss of academic
skills that occurs when
school is not in session. Scholastic
notes that the slide is largely
attributed to a lack of reading
when school is not in session. By
encouraging kids to read during
their summer vacations, parents
can make sure youngsters’
brains stay sharp and are ready
to learn once the school year begins.
When it’s time to call in a tutor
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, A 34 UG. 27-SEPT. 2, 2021 BTR
Focus on the positive. Even
kids who love school may be apprehensive
about returning to
the classroom. After all, summer
vacation is fun. Parents can
confront that apprehension by
focusing on the positives of returning
to school. Emphasize
the chance to see friends every
day or participate in a beloved
extracurricular activity, like
sports, band or a favorite academic
club.
Let kids do some of their
own back-to-school shopping.
The items that constitute back
to school supplies may have
changed since parents were in
school. But many parents still
take their children on back-toschool
clothes shopping excursions.
Let kids choose their own
clothes, as an opportunity to
wear clothes they picked themselves
might make them excited
for the new school year. Parents
can take various steps to make
the transition back to school a
successful one for their young
students.
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How to prepare kids
to go back to school
Busy schedules, hybrid
learning and demanding
coursework have affected students’
academic performance
over the last year-plus. The
months since a pandemic was
declared in March of 2020
have been unlike any other,
and confronting the academic
challenges of the pandemic
may have adversely affected
some students’ grades.
A recent report from the
Fairfax County Public Schools
Offi ce of Research and Strategic
Improvement in Virginia
found the number of middle
and high school students with
two or more failing marks increased
by 83% in the fi rst
quarter of the 2020-2021 school
year compared to the year
prior. But students’ grades
may slide or they may fi nd certain
school work overly challenging
even in normal years.
Since many parents have not
seen a periodic table or had to
solve high school math problems
in decades, tutors may
be just what students need to
regain their academic footing.
Failing grades are not
necessarily the most notable
indicator that students can
benefi t from the services of a
tutor. The Princeton Review
says 25% of high school students
say homework is their
biggest source of stress, and
homework progress can help
parents determine if it’s time
to call in a tutor. Students who
fi nd their homework is taking
too long, particularly double
or triple the amount of time it
once required, may need some
extra help. Here are some additional
indicators that a tutor
may be needed.
Declining test scores: Some
students are simply poor test
takers, but a gradual or sudden
decline in test scores may
indicate students are having
trouble mastering material.
Teachers can pinpoint if certain
concepts are overly challenging
to students and notify
parents if there are any problem
areas.
Poor time management or
focus: Students who are struggling
may have their attention
drift or they put off doing
tasks because they don’t grasp
the assignments.
Lack of homework help
at home: Parents may have
prior commitments during
the times of day when their
children are doing homework.
Even when parents are home,
they may discover that the
concepts covered in school are
not being taught in the ways
parents learned them and
they may have diffi culty assisting
their children. Tutors
can step in and help students
when parents cannot.
Learning disorder: Certain
students learn differently
from others due to a diagnosed
or undiagnosed learning
disorder. A child who is
struggling with reading, phonics,
spelling, and writing
may have dyslexia, according
to the tutoring experts at Dyslexia
Practitioner NJ. Tutors
who specialize in learning disorders
can assess and address
learning confl icts and tailor
instructions in ways that can
help students overcome those
challenges.
Students “shut down” or
say they “hate” school: Disinterest
in school or expressions
of hating going to school
may be indicative of academic
struggles in the classroom,
says the Princeton Review.
Some students get so
frustrated they simply give
up. Tutors can solve learning
puzzles and help get students
back on track and reignite
their interest in school. Tutors
can be valuable resources
for students who need some
one-on-one attention to master
general learning concepts
or reinforce skills for key tests
or projects.
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BACK TO SCHOOL