Author: Christy Maurice | High School English II Teacher
We’re a little over a month into school and I hope the year is off to a great start for you! I will walk you through some of my best tips and tricks to get started on the right foot this school year. Each student is unique and paves their own path to learning, but these commonalities below will help ensure your student has the best chance to succeed this year.
Set Goals
Each school year is different. It’s always an exciting time for students and their families with the back-to-school bustle.
It’s key to set benchmarks as a new year comes around so expectations are understood by students. Maybe that’s completing work ahead of schedule, maybe that’s staying on top of assignments on their own, or maybe it’s just encouraging them to give their best effort every day. Be open when discussing goals and expectations with your student(s) for the upcoming school year.
Help your student(s) control what they can control. Some tasks and assignments may present more of a challenge than others, but the thing that matters the most is effort. Be there for them and encourage them through the process.
Sleep Schedule
Whether it be your first grader or junior in high school, sleep schedules are of the utmost importance. WebMD recommends kids aged 5 to 13 need 9-11 hours of sleep a night and older kids aged 14-17 need anywhere from 8-10 hours each night.
In a virtual learning space, it’s important that your student enters their learning sessions with the most amount of energy and focus they can have. A good sleeping schedule will lead to higher concentration levels.
Identify Learning Space
We all feel comfortable with routine. The quicker a location for their studies can be identified will only benefit the student. What should a learning space entail?
Let’s start with a good desk or table with plenty of space. We don’t want our students to feel cramped or tight with their space. Schoolwork can be completed at a spacious kitchen table or office desk.
Selena Guilbeaux, University View Academy’s learning community coach, has you covered with a deeper dive into what should be prioritized in a learning environment.
Staying On Pace
Life happens. Events and trips are on the schedule. The more you can prepare for these happenings the better chance it will give your student to stay on track.
The way we build lesson plans allows students to choose when they complete their classwork. It’s key to set aside the proper amount of time for your student to accomplish their coursework on time.
And remember to be flexible as well. Some weeks might necessitate morning-heavy course work whereas other weeks might be more afternoon based. The nice thing is each family gets to decide on their plan of action throughout the school year.
Eating Habits
It’s hard to function at your fullest when you are hungry. So, whenever you deem it time for your student to partake in their learning hours, it’s important that they come into the session with a full stomach.
It could be breakfast, some fruit or crackers, whatever they consume. The more consistent they become with what they eat will help. Consistent routines empower students to become more comfortable in their learning environment.
Conclusion
These are just a few of my tips that will help students with their back-to-school journey for this 2024-25 academic year. This list, while not exhaustive, is meant to provide suggestions that work for your student.
At UVA, we understand, engage with, and empower each student for a career, for college, and beyond. We are dedicated to providing a flexible and innovative learning environment that accommodates the needs of all learners.
