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Back to school: guide for parents
Ebony, August, 2003 by Nikitta A. Foston
The first day of school brings anxiety for some, excitement for others and a barrage of responsibilities for parents. but with proper planning and preparation, parents and students can work together to make the first day of school a successful and productive process.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
For parents with kindergartners, the biggest hurdle may be dealing with the anxiety of leaving the child for the first time. "To ease the anxiety, it is important for parents to get to know the teacher, to familiarize themselves with their child's new environment, to understand what is expected of their child and to reinforce those values at home," says Dr. Barbara Ford, associate professor of Black studies and elementary education at San Francisco State University.
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The transition process is further aided when parents reinstate daily routines during the latter part of the summer months. "Getting children adjusted to waking up in the mornings before the first day of school is critical," she says. "Creating activities during the summer that involve listening or reading is also vital."
Library reading programs, educators agree, are an excellent source of cognitive stimulation. "Children of all ages can benefit from print-related activities that encourage the thinking processes," says Dr. Ford, partner at the Center for Applied Cultural Studies and Educational Achievement. "Reading groups enhance listening skills, create exposure to various literary forms and allow children to focus and absorb in the same manner that they will at school."
Encouraging your child's involvement also helps the back-to-school process. "Younger children can read the advertisements for school supplies, write the words for the pictures they see, or draw pictures of the items they think they'll need," she says. "As they get older, they can pick out the things that are required, calculate the cost of supplies and clothing, calculate sales tax and learn to use percentages. This allows children to be involved in the learning process even before the formal process begins."
HIGH SCHOOL
In high school, parents must help students prepare for a more rigorous academic program, a faster-paced environment and the association with more than one instructor. "Students may be in larger buildings, with multiple floors, multiple wings, all while learning a new schedule and dealing with multiple personalities," says Dr. Lois Harrison-Jones, former president of the National Alliance of Black School Educators. "Students have to be prepared to make those adjustments."
Parents of high school students can help by taking advantage of back-to-school programs offered for new students. "Most high schools offer a 'back to school night' that takes place prior to the first day of school," says Dr. Jones, associate professor of education at Howard University. In this setting, parents and students acquaint themselves with teachers, administrators and other students, and become aware of what's expected.
To ensure students meet expectations, Dr. Jones advises parents to: 1) emphasize the value of education, 2) stress the importance of prompt and regular attendance, and 3) place a value on non-material things--cleanliness, respect for others, self-assessment and decision-making skills.
According to educators, the best students are prepared students. Make sure that your child has copies of important documents, including immunization records, vision, dental and hearing exams and all academic transcripts prior to the first day of school. High school students should know their social security number, driver's license number and make copies of them in the event that they are lost or stolen.
COLLEGE
Unlike parents of kindergartenners who are dealing with their children going to school for the first time, parents of college-bound students face a greater level of separation anxiety. "Parents have to come to terms with the fact that this is the point of separation," says Angela Boyd, director of admissions for Hampton University. "They shouldn't wait until they get to the college campus to accept the separation."
The dialogue between parents and students should also include an outline of timetables, deadlines and requirements outlined by the college. "At Hampton, we send a Congratulations Enrollment Guide Book that provides a detailed timeline of the necessary steps from the time of acceptance through the day of check-in on campus," Boyd says. "The book serves as a checklist for scholarships, financial aid, fees, housing, registration, orientation, schedules and a host of other items pertinent to that first year."
According to Boyd, director of admissions, once students are on campus, the two most important factors to academic success are time management and good study habits. "The fact that you've been admitted to a college or university means that you can be successful," says Boyd, a 15-year veteran in the admissions and education field. "What you do with that is up to you. Coming in the door, we expect you to be successful."
