Now that the first week of school is over, the jitters have worn off. New school clothes have been worn, and new backpacks broke in. Homework has been assigned and grumbled about at home.<\/p>\n
Now that all the various back-to-school milestones have been met, the real school year begins.<\/p>\n
With a few weeks under students’ belts, work begins again in earnest. Tests. Homework. Studying. \u00a0But also, procrastinating. Daydreaming in class. Forgetting schoolwork.<\/p>\n
Prevent last year’s school issues from reappearing with this First Month Checklist.<\/strong> It’s a quick & easy way to ensure that last year’s school struggles don’t make an appearance this year.<\/p>\n Now that school is back in session ensure that students are on track to avoid common pitfalls with this checklist.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t wait until the first report card to find out that things are off track. Take 10 minutes to chat with the teacher about progress and nip any problems in the bud.<\/p>\n Homework is inevitable; the sooner students learn good homework habits, the less of a struggle they\u2019ll face. Do homework at the same time every night, even if none was assigned. Review the day\u2019s lessons, quiz yourself on last week\u2019s work, or read ahead to next week\u2019s lesson.<\/p>\n Agendas are the number-one school organizational tool. Students should write homework, assignments, and to-do lists on their agendas daily. If schools don\u2019t provide agendas, purchase one\u2014they\u2019re that important<\/p>\n School is a major part of kids\u2019 lives. If they are unwilling to discuss their day, something may be amiss. Talk to kids about their day and have an open dialogue about school and learning challenges.<\/p>\n Between learning new subjects and balancing homework, chores, and social lives, it can be easy for students to become overwhelmed. This can be very de-motivating and can lead to a drop in grades. Get help as soon as it\u2019s needed.<\/p>\n Leaving work to the last minute or not wanting to do work at all is a sign of poor organization skills. Last-minute rushes mean poor preparation, which leads to poor grades. Avoid procrastination by establishing routines, using an agenda, and discussing school expectations on a daily basis.<\/p>\n Forgetting work, misplacing assignments, or losing textbooks is a sure sign of an off-track student. If students are showing signs of disorganization, get help as soon as possible. Make sure kids have colour-coded binders, and that notes are being filed properly.<\/p>\n TVs and computers are some of the biggest homework distractors. Create a media routine with guidelines to help students get into the homework groove.<\/p>\n8 First Month Checklist Back-to-School<\/h2>\n
1. Communicate with Teachers<\/h3>\n
2. Complete Homework<\/h3>\n
3. Use Agendas<\/h3>\n
4. Talk About School<\/h3>\n
5. Watch Frustration & Stress Levels<\/h3>\n
6. Avoid Procrastination<\/h3>\n
7. Forgetting Work<\/h3>\n
8. Limit Screen Time<\/h3>\n