If your kids are reluctant scholars, you may have to find ways of motivating them to think about the new year. Encourage them to get together with school friends again and try out for teams or sign up for clubs. If they don’t want to discuss school, fine, but find ways to lead them toward a great book or a Web site that details a fun science project. Be sure you are encouraging about the year to come and don’t overly stress your expectations for achievement.
John Blaber, a member of the English faculty at Redwood High School, Larkspur, CA, says, "Teens at all grade levels--even those students who really like school--have unspoken worries that tend to build up as the start of a new academic year approaches. Try to draw your teen out on the subject and ask what aspects of the new year seem exciting and also what uncertainties may be causing jitters about the start of school. Giving teens a supportive context in which they can verbalize their anxieties can help reduce back-to-school stress and build enthusiasm for the new year."
Starting a new school
Making the switch from elementary to middle school or middle to high school is a huge jump. The whole social scene changes, as well as the difficulty of classes and learning. If the school arranges for tours, take them as a family. It’s a good idea for parents to at least drive by the new location and go over the bus route or walk route that their kids will take each day. Once school is in session, make sure you attend Back-to-School night to learn about the school, teachers, programs, etc.
Marcel Cummings 08/20/07
I think that school is my son’s job. I don’t think he should work to earn money. I think that parents have to figure out their priorities and keep their kids buckling down on schoolwork – that’s enough for most of them.
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