Back-to-School Basics: A comprehensive checklist for the 2016-17 school year

This article is the second of a four-part series published by the Santa Clara County Office of Education, along with our partners, to provide timely information to parents about navigating our public school system.

A new school year is dawning for more than 270,000 students and thousands of employees in Santa Clara County’s public school districts. From parents waving goodbye to their children for the first time in preschool to seniors entering their final year of high school, the first day of school is a pivotal moment for every student and family. Kick-start your child’s academic success by following this back-to-school readiness checklist:

1. Read, read, read. Research shows that simply reading to your child 20 minutes per day has a big impact on their success as a reader.
2. Establish a school sleep schedule. Too little sleep can impact a child’s memory, attention, and mood. Find out how much sleep is recommended for your child’s age and establish a regular bedtime hour and wake-up routine.
3. Encourage healthy eating. Plan meals ahead of time so you can think about how to create more brain-healthy foods. For the child on the go, stock up on healthy snacks.
4. Shop for school supplies. Consult your school’s basic supplies list to make sure your child is ready for the first day with all the essentials.
5. Create a homework space and schedule. Find a place for your kids to do homework, and set them up with supplies. Have them read during the homework time now, so when school starts they are ready.
6. Get a school calendar. Make sure you receive the annual school calendar and class schedule so you can be actively involved in what they are doing on a daily basis.
7. Talk about school. Engaging in your child’s day-to-day routine once they start school helps establish the parent-school connection. Ask engaging questions like, “What questions did you ask today?” and instead be specific.

Remember to check out www.sccoe.org for a wealth of information related to these topics and more. Be sure to check out our next article on early learning opportunities/programs.

This series is brought to you by the Santa Clara County Office of Education and features data from “Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids”; Scholastic; and ParentFurther.

#  #  #

Works consulted; additional resources:

• “Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids” by David Walsh, Ph.D.
• “Seven Skills for School Success” by Pam Schiller
• “Strengthening the Connection Between School & Home” by Ricardo Leblanc-Esparza and Kym Leblanc-Esparza
• “How Can My Kid Succeed in School? What Parents and Teachers Can Do to Conquer Learning Problems” by Craig Pohlman, Ph.D.
• “Everyday Literacy: Environmental Print Activities for Children 3 to 8” by Stephanie Mueller
• “Counting Down to Kindergarten” by R. Lynn Baker (Choose this one or one after)
• “Kindergarten Readiness” by Nancy L. Cappelloni