Back to School: Ask the Teacher

By Kate McCullough

I have a 5-year-old on his way to kindergarten this year. How can I make the transition from preschool to kindergarten as smooth and anxiety-free as possible?

There are many things you can do to help those pre-kindergarten jitters. First and most important is attitude: yours, that is. Your child takes his/her cue from you; if you’re excited your child will be, too. Second, if your school has a kindergarten “dress rehearsal” day, by all means get your child to this day. If you work outside the home, I strongly urge you to get the day off so you can get your kiddo there. You’ll be glad you did. If at all possible, visit the school for more than just the kindergarten dress rehearsal day and play on the playground. In your child’s mind, school will equal swing sets and climbing structures and that’s a good thing. Another idea is to make sure to check out the bus stop before the big day arrives. If your child will be a “walker,” take a nice walk to school before the big day. Don’t forget the snazzy new backpack. 

Also, there are some great kindergarten jitter-reducing books out there. Pick up a copy of The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing and Kindergarten Rocks! by Katie Davis and Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten by Joseph Slate.

Lastly, as a former kindergarten teacher I can tell you that when I’ve opened the school house door on the first day of school in the past, there were, to prepare you, a few tears. But never on the part of the kids - they’re generally psyched and ready to go - moms and dads on the other hand, well, that’s another story.
 

Yikes! Homework is coming! Any tips on how to start off on the right foot?

Yes! First, switch the word “Yikes!” to “Prepare.” Set up a designated time and place for homework. The time, of course, may change as different after-school activities change throughout the school year, but a general time should be defined. Next, together with your child, pick a spot for homework. A quiet location, where you can keep one eye on him is probably best. Try to avoid heavy traffic areas. Have plenty of sharpened pencils, erasers, highlighters, extra paper, etc. ready to go. Store them in a spot that is easily accessible to your student. Be as specific as possible with your preparations. For example, if your child needs to read so many minutes every day, then get a timer and have it ready. They make fancy timers that do double duty as bookmarks, but inexpensive kitchen timers work just as well. Make sure your child knows how to work the timer by himself or herself. Why? For the same reason that they need to be part of the decisions about time and place, and this is, that it’s their homework, not yours. Your child’s teacher wants your child to take ownership of his or her schoolwork and he or she would like this to happen sooner rather than later in your child’s progress as a student. Working together to get ready for homework will help your child to see that learning and homework is a family priority.
 

My child’s school is hosting an “Open House Night” soon. What should I expect?

First of all, it is REALLY important that you do, in fact, go. Beg, borrow, and steal to get a sitter and bring along your significant other, too. You need to go even if this is your fifth child going to first grade. Also, bring along your day planner. Now, about the night itself. First, you will in all likelihood hear some opening remarks from the school principal welcoming you and then you’ll head to your child’s classroom to hear your child’s teacher’s presentation about the year and its highlights. In this presentation you can expect to hear about curriculum and also various important dates that need to go right into your planner. These could include: state tests, field trips, concerts, biography breakfasts, author nights, the dates for conferences, etc. Speaking of conferences, open house is not the time for specific questions on your child’s progress, so resist the temptation and save those questions for a more private place. Also, listen carefully as the teacher will tell you the best ways and times to communicate with him or her. This can save a lot of frustration down the road. Finally, smile at the teacher, please, we’re nervous, too, and please leave a note in your child’s desk. There is nothing like the look on a child’s face the next day when reading the words you took the time to leave.

Kate McCullough has been a teacher since 1992. She began her teaching career in the Chicago area and has since moved to the Boston area, teaching most recently in the Natick Public Schools. She has had the privilege of teaching children ages 4 to 13. She has a master’s in education and is a proud former student of The University of Notre Dame.