Don't Leave This School Year to Chance

Like it or not, back to school is almost here. Other than loading up on new clothes and new school supplies, there are certain things in a new school year that are predictable: new teachers, increased homework, and more challenging subjects. But there is also the element of the unknown—Will she forget homework and assignments? Will his study skills not hold up under pressure? Will he procrastinate? Will this year bring rough waters or smooth sailing? Or will she be successful and get good grades?

Don’t Wait—Anticipate!

Like so much else, history can teach a lesson. Based on past experience and performance, you can make an informed judgment about what this school year will bring. But why wait and see what the will happen this grade? Avoid unpleasant surprises by taking action! Develop a plan of attack, get prepared now, and don’t leave anything to chance.

So don’t wait, anticipate… get prepared for the classroom early on—it is the best way to ensure that the school year starts off on the right foot. When you begin the year with organization and a plan for success, the school year won’t be left to chance and there will be no unpleasant surprises!

These Ten Tips For School Success from Oxford Learning help students (and their families) get prepared to head back to the classroom and develop a plan of attack to have a successful school year!

1. Begin early. Whether school is a month or a week away, or even if the school year has already begun, it is never too late to implement positive changes that can lead to better grades. However, the earlier that you get your child on track, the easier it is for them to stay there.
2. Get informed. Develop regular communication with the teacher so that both you and your child know what to expect at this grade level. Be informed of important school dates (big projects, standardized testing) well in advance to avoid last-minute scrambles.
3. Use a family calendar. Manage school, family, and extra curricular activities with a daily reminder courtesy of a large wall calendar.
4. Break bad habits. Don’t fall back into old routines and bad habits. Start this year with a fresh, new positive routine.
5. Homework. Homework amounts increase every grade and homework is often a sticky issue for families. Develop a homework strategy that works for your family early on, so that you the homework gets done and you avoid the homework headaches.
6. Study Skills. When a test looms, tensions can run high. Developing better study skills means that students can study better, not longer and avoid test-stress.
7. Take Note. One of the best ways to stay organized is to take good notes in class. Don’t just use the middle of the paper—use the margins, the top and the bottom. Underline and use multiple colors to highlight key points.
8. Raise your hand. Hands up if you want to ask questions, solicit comments, get feedback, and become an active participant in the classroom! Raise your hand if you want to learn!
9. Get help. Avoid struggling this year from the get-go by making the decision to get professional support for children.
10. Don’t wait and see. It’s easy to want to wait until the first report card for an update on how a child is progressing, but why wait? If a child had difficulties last year, get help from day one and get on the path to a better school year.