Navajo Heights School

Student SEL tips from our Social Worker, Mrs. Bring:
Email: hbring@palos128.org

Title: Getting Back into the Swing of Things
The start of a school year can be a challenging time for students and families. While starting up school each fall is an expected transition for your family, there are times it can still feel rocky to get back into the swing of things. With this year being especially different for you and your student, it is essential to maintain as much consistency and normalcy where possible. Here are some tips to help make the transition as smooth as possible!

• Establish fun traditions. Do something fun the night before school starts, or in the early weeks of the school year. Moving forward, make it a day they look forward to every year.
• Get back on schedule. Start establishing the “school year” bedtimes, and wake children up at the time they will be getting up for school. Also, eat meals on a more regular schedule as the school year gets rolling.

 

• Get a Remote Learning plan going. In the context of our time, allow time for you and your student to plan for what remote learning would look like in your home. A typical homework space (such as a kitchen) may not work as easily for Remote Learning. Set up a physical location that’s dedicated to school-focused activities. Make sure it is quiet, free from distractions and has a good internet connection for your student. As well, try to create a schedule to incorporate breaks for the body and mind. Set remote learning expectations early with your student to ensure the transition goes smoothly.

 

• Try to not over-schedule your child or family. It is helpful to include your child in decisions regarding what or how many activities they are involved in. Ask him or her how much they can handle in addition to school work.
• Set expectations. Go through expectations ahead of time about getting dressed, eating breakfast, and appropriate grooming so that everyone gets out the door on time.
• Stay involved with your child’s school and have regular communication with the teacher.
• Get organized! Establish a family calendar where all school events and important assignment due dates are easy to spot. Prepare school bags and clothes the night before, arrange books and school supplies on shelves or in boxes or drawers, organize all paperwork by priority, and make a single to-do list of all the tasks you need to complete each day.
• Plan the homework load. Make a plan for where and when homework will be done. Is it always done at the kitchen table right after school, or is there a desk your child uses and homework time will be after dinner? Stick to a schedule so it’s always part of the evening routine.
• Check-in with your student daily. Checking in with your child will help them to process instructions they received from their teachers, and it helps them organize and set priorities. Some questions you can ask your student:

In the morning, you might ask:

• What specials do you have today?
• What materials do you need?
• What can I do to help?

At the end of the day you might ask:

• How far did you get in your learning tasks today?
• What did you discover? What was hard?
• What could we do to make tomorrow better?