A new school year is here! And with the new school year comes new school gear… like new clothes, new binders and new backpacks.

But did you know that choosing a backpack should not be made on the basis of style alone? In fact, backpacks should be considered more like sports equipment – in order to get optimum performance they must fit properly, especially since the load they lug can cause damage to spines, shoulders and lower backs.

According to the COCSA – the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations – an over-packed knapsack can have a detrimental impact on posture and on spinal health because students typically carry more than the recommended national guidelines of 10-15% of their body weight, and due to the added weight up to 60% of children will experience back pain by the time they reach the age of 18.

Follow these simple rules to make sure that the backpack burden isn’t too much to bear:

• Make sure to get a bag that fits properly and is neither too small nor too big
• Look for wide shoulder straps that are padded
• Always wear both shoulder straps to distribute weight evenly
• Tighten the shoulder straps so that the bag sits two inches above the waist
• Heavier items should be placed closest to the body
• If there is a waist strap, use it-it helps with weight distribution.

Child to Backpack weight chart

Here are some tips to make the first days back run smoothly:

• Start waking up early. We know, it’s the last weekend of the summer — who wants to set the alarm clock? Establishing a wake-up time will alleviate the morning rush, and prevent the afternoon lag in energy.
• Start picking out clothes the night before — the less decisions you have to make in the morning, the better.
• Get some shut-eye. Establish a decent bedtime now — after all the alarm will be going off earlier than you’ve been used to.
• Eat a decent breakfast. (This isn’t just for back-to-school, but for everyday.)

But don’t take our word for it. Read this article from Yahoo health which says that sleep and reading are very important for back-to-school preparations.

Or this one from Kaboose.ca titled ’Back to School: Tips to Prepare Kids for the Big Day’.

What are your tips for back-to-school? We’d love to hear them! Post them in the comments.

Have a great labor day!

Another letter from a parent of an Oxford Learning student. The new school year is almost here and now is the time to give some thought to strategies to ensure your child has the best school start possible.

Dear Oxford Learning teachers,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you wonderful teachers for doing such and excellent job with my daughter Isabelle.

At the beginning of this school year Isabelle was struggling tremendously in school. He reading, writing, and comprehension were not at grade level, and she was finding it difficult to grasp new ideas and concepts. She was quickly falling behind in all school subjects, even by the end of the first month!

By October I had enrolled Isabelle with Oxford Learning. I have always wanted the best for my child, as education is a very important issue. I had heard many positive remarks about your program and felt it was worth a try. The results were very pleasing.

As school went on, I noticed remarkable progress with Isabelle’s schoolwork and self-esteem. Her grades have improved and her confidence has grown to a new level, both socially and academically. She works very hard in school and is no longer struggling as before. Overall, she is a much happier grade four student!

S Holmes
Calgary, Alberta

Here are some additional articles you might find helpful: Supplemental education-why? Whole Language versus Phonics The Myth of Learning Styles

This is a letter we received from one of our parents. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Dear Oxford Learning,

My son Michael attended Oxford Learning during the last school year. Michaels’ grades increased tremendously as a result of the assistance of your staff.

The dedication and persistence of those who helped Michael paid off considerably in that Michael graduated from grade eight with a 75% average and received the Most Improved Student Award from his school!

I am sure that his achievements during the last school year will do much to provide the impetus that he need to begin his high school years and to continue with his academic requirements.

Above all else, Michael’s change in attitude towards his school experience was exceptional. I wish to thank you on behalf of my wife and I, and we look forward to your continued assistance this September.

Sally, Steven and Michael
Toronto, Ontario

Related article: A New Attitude for School This Year