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WORDS: Jennifer Colombo, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist It’s that time of year again! Transitioning from the fun, relaxed,
days of summer can be a difficult time for students. Summer is
often not as hectic as the school year, and there is a lot more
flexibility for children and adolescents due to no homework, no
major projects, fun family excursions, summer camps, and fewer
extracurricular activities.
You can understand how difficult it can be when a student
is suddenly expected to get plenty of sleep, follow a very
structured schedule, learn/remember facts, sequence, attend/
focus, excel in extracurricular athletics/activities, and most
importantly be organized and responsible. Being a successful
student involves the development of life skills that caregivers
can teach their children.
Tips for the new school year….
Create a school calendar: Sit down with your children and mark
important school events for the year on a calendar. Mark parent
conference nights, field trips, project due dates, report card
dates, and holidays. This would also be a good time to talk to
your children about what you expect from them (as far as grades,
behavior, etc.) during the school year. Hang the calendar in a
location where everyone can see it.
Prepare the night before: Organization and sequencing skills are
developed by establishing a routine in the evening, so that the
mornings are not hectic. Preparing lunches, checking homework
assignments, notebooks, parent signatures, and laying out clothes
for the next morning, are all activities that your children can learn
to help with. Of course, younger children will need guidance.
However, developing these organization skills at a young age
prepares them for increased independence as they mature.
Keep in contact: Let your child’s teachers know that you are all
on the same TEAM. Make them aware of your child’s strengths
and areas that need improvement so that continued growth and
development occurs over the school year. If your child has an
Individualized Education Plan, or 504 Plan, follow up with the
TEAM of professionals who will be providing interventions and
accommodations.
Be a role model - your children learn from YOU! Demonstrating
positive routines (e.g. reading, time management, etc…), creating
schedules/timelines to complete projects, and establishing open
communication about the work and school day are all important
in developing a positive school year for your children!
Jennifer Colombo, M.S., CCC-SLP
Owner of Therapeutic Potentials, Inc.
www.TPIKids.com
/www.TPIKids.com