Helpful Back to School Tips from College Nannies + Tutors

With the summer half over it is time to start thinking about back to school.  Here are some helpful hints from College Nannies + Tutors to help your child have a strong start to the school year. A strong start to the school year often means a successful school year! 

1. Be Involved: It is important to be involved in your child's academic career. We hear constantly from teachers and administrators that children who's parents are involved do better in school.  As children get older and more independent parents tend to be less involved in their child's academics. NEVER stop being involved!
2. Show Interest: Let your child know right away that their academic success is important to you. Get a school calendar so you know when grading periods end and when report cards will be mailed home. Know when conferences are, prepare questions beforehand for teachers and attend conferences!
3. Set Expectations Together: Plan a meeting with your child at the beginning of each grading period to set realistic goals for grades for that term. During this discussion, take into consideration your child’s strengths and weaknesses. It is very important to listen to your child during this discussion and not set your expectations too high. Unrealistic expectations could set them up for failure.
4. Get To Know Your Child’s School: Remember that teachers, principals and counselors are there to help your child succeed. Introduce yourself before issues arise. Let them know who you are and that there is support at home. A great way to get to know the school better is to volunteer at your child’s school. Your child may not be thrilled to see you in the hallway at school, but you will be sending a strong message that you care about what is going on at his/her school.
5. Hop Online: Make time to browse through your child’s school website. Many teachers have individual websites where they list upcoming assignments, tests and deadlines. Most schools offer a way to log into your child’s personal online “grade book.”
6. Support Strong Attendance: When a student misses school they miss out on important information. Schedule appointments outside of school hours. It is especially important to schedule family vacations around the school calendar. Again, this is a perfect way to show your child that you value school and have certain expectations set for them.
7. Encourage Them To Get Involved: Research shows that students who are involved in structured activities generally do better in school. Contact your school office to find out what activities are offered. Go over the list of available activities with your child. Both of you may be surprised to learn of the different options. You may want to look into private and community organization as well for further enrichment.

• What kind of student is your child?  Every child is different and you need to know what kind of student your child is and how they learn.  Before they return to school we recommend taking a free online assessment that will tell you which learning methods will work best for him or her.
• How are your child's organizational skills?  The more organized their papers, homework and notes are the more they will succeed.  Teaching your child good organizational skills will help them be a better student.   Check your children's folders everyday.
• Don't wait until the last minute! - Very often parents and students wait until the last minute.  As soon as you see your child is falling behind, get them the additional help they need, right away. We receive many calls from parents days before finals seeking help to improve their child's final grade.  By then we are limited to how much we can help.  Ongoing assistance over a longer period of time will do more for your child.
• Don't be embarrassed!  If your child is behind academically do not take it personally.   All children learn differently.  Also, do not let your child be embarrassed.  Assure them that there are many children out there like them.  If you bury your head in the sand or let your embarrassment get the better of you, you will do your child a disservice and may perpetuate their feeling of failure.