As you ring in the new year and celebrate the holidays with your family, you reflect on the past year and decide to make positive changes. Your children are nearly halfway through the school year, and they may need some guidance or encouragement to push through the next few months. The holidays have passed, final exams are near, and the next real break to look forward to is summer vacation still many months away.

At this point in the school year, it is not too late to make positive changes in academics. In fact, if your student has been dealing with challenges, this would be the best time to change practice and make improvements. If your child does not face any major challenges, it is the time to review which procedures are leading to success and continue those routines.

In the classroom, I have always made an effort to develop positive relationships with my students so that they trust me not only as their teacher, but as an advisor and mentor. Further, I have always appreciated developing similar relationships with the parents – I have learned so much about home life, student personalities, and most importantly academic concerns. Reaching out and developing a strong relationship with your child’s teachers can truly go a long way. The teacher may not know if your child is having trouble, and will most certainly not notice any anxiety or conflict that is being faced at home. Rather than assuming the teacher does not care to hear your concerns, work in a positive direction to help your child succeed.

Other resources in your child’s school are just as important; if your child takes part in a club or athletic team, they may feel more comfortable speaking to their leaders in an environment where they excel. In any case, reaching out about concerns and developing positive relationships with the numerous mentors available will not only help your child with their temporary issues, but also help them develop skills in peer-interaction for future endeavors.

Whether it is becoming a college student who needs to reach out to a professor, or an employee being able to address concerns with their boss, it is never too early to learn the skill of taking a constructivist approach to overcoming challenges. Along the years, you will see your child grow into a mature individual who is able to rely on mentors to voice their concerns and be successful at facing any tasks at hand.

About Ravi Shah
Ravi Shah currently resides in Chicago and serves as a high school mathematics teacher. He received his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and his master’s degree from the University of Southern California. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends/family and is always ready to stop, drop, and dance.

Checklist

Believe it or not, summer vacation is coming to an end and the new school year is just around the corner. Television ads are being aired and sale papers with back to school deals have been distributed. It is always tough to get back to routine – for both students and parents. Here is a quick back-to-school list that will hopefully serve as a reminder of the unexpected things you will need to help get the year started on the right foot!

It is natural for you and/or your kids to feel anxious at the start of a new school year. With each successive year, expectations increase and your child may feel pressured to do things “better” or differently. Have a conversation about the beginning of the school year just being a continuation of the year before! Academic performance is greatly affected by the level of confidence and mental preparedness students have as they sit through class and learn new content. Assure your children that there is nothing to be anxious about and the new school year will bring new knowledge, friends, and experiences.

Reach out to your child’s teachers if you are concerned about a specific class or subject area – it is part of their job to help you feel comfortable and answer any questions or concerns. Finally, the most important way to prepare for the new year is to have a reflection of the years passed. Give your child a chance to think back to at least one thing – social, emotional, or academic – that they would like to improve. This can be anything from less procrastination to more interaction with peers. Give yourself a chance as well to reflect on what you may do differently so that you feel less anxious about making sure your student has everything they need to be successful in school. Reflection will lead to a positive change and a stronger start to the school year. Good luck and welcome back to school!

Want more tips? Contact the writer at education@deshvidesh.com with any questions, concerns, or requests on literature related to this article.

About Ravi Shah

Ravi Shah currently resides in Chicago. He serves as a high school mathematics teacher for Chicago Public Schools. He received his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and his master’s degree from the University of Southern California. In his free time he enjoys spending time with friends/family and is always ready to stop, drop, and dance.