Friends of Quinn

“How many more days until school starts?” “Do we have to go school shopping today?” “I don’t want summer to end!”
 
No, these are not my children whining, its me! Being an educator allows for the same feelings you had as a child to continue well past your school years. I actually really enjoy the whole “getting things ready” once I get started, its just getting over that starting slump. Lots of kids are feeling this way too, nervous, excited, full of questions. For LD kids let’s magnify that times 100.
 
Having two dyslexic children of my own as well as teaching hundreds of children with LDs over the past 32 years, the start of a new school year is a huge deal. Are your kids ready? Are you ready? Ready for homework hassles and IEP meetings and notes and confusion..............the list goes on. If your child is identified, then you have something to support your child at school. I was always looking for things I could do at home to make our mornings or evenings less stressful.
 
Here are a few things that worked for us so I thought I would share.

•   A memo board or calendar on the door out to the garage where you SEE it and can check before you leave the house.

•   A place on that board designated for your child with reminders like ‘gym shoes’ today’ or ‘library book’ They will never learn anything if you always do it for them.

•   A check list of MUST DOs for the night before. Lunch packed, or money ready. All items in backpack, etc. (this was the best thing we did. Mornings are crazy and this kept the insanity at a tolerable level)

•   Clothing options out ( usually 2 to pick from. This is especially helpful if you have a child who has clothing texture issues)

•   If you have a 6 day cycle like our school, I made numbers on colored index cards and flipped them each day so we had a visual of what day it was. I also made a set for their lockers once they were in jr. high. They flipped it at the end of the day and that helped remind them what they would need for the next day.

•   We did homework at the kitchen table. The best thing ever is the homework tote. Get a tote and have everything you might need inside. Pencils, pens, markers, scissors, glue, rulers, hole punch, paper, etc. If you have an easily distracted LD child they will do anything to escape and “look” for something they need to do their homework. No need to if it is all there.

•   Tag team if you can. Dad helped with math homework and I did the other subjects. Gives both you and the kids a break.

•   LEARN THEIR STYLE! Know what works best for how they learn. Sing it, cheer it, draw it, move it. It make a HUGE difference.

•   Support, support, support but DON’T do it for them. Teachers use homework to see how well your child understands concepts. I would always write on the homework if my child tried and just didn’t get it and we needed more time or another way to attack the problem.

•   WALK AWAY! If you are frustrated, imagine how they feel. Take a break do something fun, de-stress, but have them understand they need to come back to it after a set amount of time.
 
Just a few ideas that might help everyone adjust. The school supplies were in the stores in July. I just saw Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas items this week! AACK!!!!

The inevitable is coming we must go back to school. Even though I will start my 32nd year of teaching, I will still have a sleepless night the night before with the excitement of starting a new school year. So many great things to look forward to and so many wonderful smiling faces to see. I have my #2 pencils at the ready, armed and ready to help change the world!