First Day in School for Students, Parents and Teachers
Its your child's first day of school and you've been waiting with bated breath for this moment where your child can start learning along with kids their age, but what's that weird feeling you keep having? Is it anxiety, fear or worry about how your child will manage all by them out in the big bad world? Well here's our list of things parents need to know about the first day of school and how to deal with the situations.
What to teach your kids –
Independence- Your kids need to know how to handle the basics well when they get to school. Children should learn to dress and undress by the time they are in Kindergarten. Being able to use the restroom without any assistance is also an important thing to learn for kids.
Names - Children should be able to write their first and last names along with their home address and phone number. This simple activity can be made more fun once your kid gets the hang of things by asking him or her to write out other siblings' names.
Communicate - The best way to prepare your kids for their first day of school is to talk to them about it. Ask them about what they are looking forward to doing in their classes and tell them what to expect from their teachers and classmates. This way you address the children's worries and concerns and deal with them.
Organise - Teach your kids how to organise so that they will have an easier time at school. This can be done in simple ways by teaching them to put away their toys after playing or asking them to fold their clothes and place them in their cupboards after you are done washing them.
Stay busy - After having your kids at home during their summer break, it may be hard for you to deal with them not being at home all the time. This is where you get a chance to relax and indulge in your hobbies or take up new ones.
Volunteer - If being away from your child is a problem for you, maybe you should make the best of the situation and try and volunteer at your child's school. This way you can do something productive with your time and also help in your child's and other children's development.
Meet the teachers - One of the best ways to feel more comfortable about your child going to school is to get to know the teachers. This way you get to know that your kids are in good hands and will feel more relaxed about sending them to school. Building a rapport with the teachers will also allow you to know how your child is doing and what you can do to help them.
Students
The first day of school can be harrowing to any kid, no matter what their age is. Here we share a few tips on how you can get better accustomed to moving to a new school and meeting new people.
Tips for the first day of school -
Get good sleep the day before
Have a healthy and filling breakfast
Make sure you have everything you need for the first day
Smile
Introduce yourself to the teacher and your classmates
Participate in any activities that the teacher has planned for the day
Get to know some of your classmates that have similar hobbies and remember their names
Find out what the daily activities are for your class
Be on time for class and other activities
What to expect -
Primary School -
A friendly atmosphere where a student can learn
A set of rules on how to behave in the classroom
Lots of fresh and friendly faces who are as nervous as you are
Interesting teachers who will help you settle into the classroom
Lots of kids screaming and crying
Middle School -
Expect lots of new subjects and classes
With age comes more work, so expect to have more homework
You'll have to carry more books for all your classes
Don't worry about being the most popular kid in your class
You'll have to take lots of small quizzes and exams
Secondary School -
Lots of students and teachers as compared to middle school
Some of your old classmates and friends will be there with you
Watch out for seniors who might try to taunt you
Many exams, pop quizzes and tests
Expect to have lots of notes and homework every day
Teachers
Getting back to school is a nervous time for the students, their parents and also for the teachers. On this page we tell you, the teacher, what to look out for on your first day at school after the long break.
Lots of excited and eager students - They might take some time to open up but most students will be very happy to be amongst children their same age that they can play and interact with.
Emotional parents - If parents are dropping off their kids to school then make sure you are ready to deal with them being emotional. Lots of parents have a hard time separating from their child especially after spending the long summers with them.
Excited parents - These parents are in the same group as the emotional ones but they show their emotions in a different way. Be prepared for a barrage of questions from these parents about what activities you have planned and what your teaching plan is for the day, quarter and the whole year!
Stage fright - Don't be frightened of leading the students who are under your tutelage. Make sure that you don't get too friendly with your students. The students will try and test where you draw the line on their actions and behaviour in class. Be firm with them till they have developed healthy respect for you.
Have a plan - Make sure you have a plan for the first day of school, if you don't have a plan, then the students will set it for you and it will set the precedent for the year ahead. Having a schedule for the day will allow you to set timelines for the activities of the day and will help the students get used to the class routine.
