The school year may be winding down, but it’s also an extremely busy time for families as they tie up loose ends and try to get everything school-related completed so they can kick back and enjoy the lazy days of summer.
Before you head to the beach and get into vacation mode use the remaining weeks of school to get your family organized for the school year ahead. Mighty Mommy shares 6 tips to help you close out the current school year and ease into summer.
#1. Year in Review
Once my kids get their final report cards for the school year, their father and I set up individual appointments with our kids, which we refer to as “office hours.” We usually do this off-site and choose their favorite pizza or hamburger place so we can mix business with pleasure. We use this time to review the highlights of their year as well as any struggles they faced so that we can strategize how to make things better for the following year. Our review includes the following:
Academics. How did your child perform academically? What subjects were favorites this year? Where were the academic challenges? What can we do differently to make next year easier or more organized?
Homework. How did your child manage last year’s homework load? Do we need to work on organizational skills? Was there a designated homework area at home? Was enough time scheduled each day/week for homework and project assignments?
In-School Extra-Curriculars. Was your child involved with in-school extra-curricular activities? Do you need to contact any teachers to ask questions about next year? Would your child like to do this again next year or do you need to request some different arrangement with school personnel before teachers go on summer vacation break?
After-School Activities. Was your child involved with after-school enrichment or club activities or team sports? Was anyone over-scheduled or under-scheduled? Do you need to contact any coaches or administrators to ask about tryouts or auditions for next year?
In addition to the topics above, when you have one-on-one time with your child you could ask some school-related questions to help facilitate some conversation between the two of you to see how he/she really felt about school. Here are some discussion points:
Favorite subject learned this past year? Why?
Least favorite subject this past year? Why?
Teacher who had the best teaching style for you?
Something you are most proud of?
Best thing that you read or watched this year?
What was the most challenging aspect of this grade?
Did you make any new friends that you’d like to see over the summer?
#2. Organize Paperwork
One of the most overwhelming aspects of the school year is trying to stay organized with all the paperwork that comes home in backpacks, binders or even announcements sent digitally over your school’s list serv. If you’ve been piling up the paperwork for most of the school year, dedicate a few hours (even 30 min increments will do) and sift through all the clutter.
Sort and save the projects, forms, and anything else important and file under the current school year. We have plastic storage bins for each of our 8 children where we keep only important keepsakes, art projects and academic paperwork and report cards for each school year. At the end of the school year we label the year and store it in the bin.
I also keep on-line folders on my home computer to keep digital announcements and forms stored. At the end-of-the school year I clean these out as well so they will be empty and easier to work with at the start of the next school year.
Make a file for each child for the upcoming school year now. Those first weeks of school are when parents are inundated with forms and requests. If you have a file in place now, you’ll be ahead of the game for next year.
#3. Mark Your Calendar
Our school system always releases a digital and hard-copy calendar with all of the new school year dates of importance including school vacation weeks, teacher professional days, holidays, banquets, PTO meetings, etc. Before the school year is done, get out your calendar or electronics and mark down any important dates as well as critical sign-up dates or fee deadlines for next year’s academics or activities. Make a master to-do list with actionable steps you need to take before school begins, such as ordering special clothing, equipment or performing workouts to get ready for athletic training. I also have my kids do the same on their calendars so they can see what lies ahead in terms of how available they will be for sporting and other club activities.
Help your child keep in touch with classmates. Ask her which friends she'd like to keep seeing over the summer, and gather contact information for them. Before school is out, arrange some summer playdates for her so she knows that she can look forward to seeing her class friends weeks after school ends. If your older child has an email account, encourage her to keep in touch by computer.
Help your child keep in touch with classmates.
Tip #4: Organize Summer Reading and Appointments
Schools usually distribute a summer reading list as well as other learning activities that are recommended for kids to complete throughout the summer. I will be receiving 4 such reading lists next week, and before the 4th of July my kids and I will head to the library and start checking out books on these summer reading lists so that we can get a head start on the process. There’s nothing more daunting than having your child hand you their required reading list at the end of August and tell you he forgot all about it.
Reading doesn’t have to be a chore if you can get your kids excited and motivated early on. Mighty Mommy has an incentive program during the summer where finished books and written reports earn movie theater tickets, ice cream gift certificates, and other goodies.
In addition to summer reading, the beginning of the summer vacation is also a good time to check your kids’ records to see who needs dental cleanings, well-visits, check-ups or other maintenance visits. Schedule them now before summer escapes you and you’re left scrambling at the beginning of another busy school year.
Tip #5: Back-to-School Supplies
Please don’t think I’m crazy and have lost my mind by mentioning back-to-school shopping before you’ve even pulled out your swimsuit for the summer. It’s becoming quite common for school districts to provide their students with organized school supply lists at the end of the school year in preparation for the next academic year. One of the reasons for this is that grade teams decide on the necessary supplies that will be needed before the school year ends. Now, many schools are working closely with office supply companies to provide bundle packages so that families can avoid the crazy hassle of running to a bunch of different stores. Our school works with Staples schoolkidz. Each kit contains the exact items your teacher requires for the next school year. Programs like these will save you time, money and make back to school shopping super easy!
Tip #6: Celebrate the School Year
Most schools have a variety of end-of-school activities and celebrations. Our school has field day, a bike-athon, an ice cream social, talent shows, dances and a few other things I’m sure I’ve forgotten. Encourage your child to participate in these events so that they can celebrate with their school friends and the teaching staff. In addition, we like to have our own year-end celebration and do something like head to the beach for a dinner picnic or go see a movie and then head to our favorite family restaurant. It’s a chance to unwind and put some closure on the existing school year and look forward to some much needed down time in the warmer summer months ahead.
How to you wrap up your child’s school year? Please share your thoughts in the comments section at http://ift.tt/1zMEe2L, post your ideas on the Mighty Mommy Facebook page. or email me at mommy@quickanddirtytips.com. Visit my family-friendly boards at http://ift.tt/1wyJKr5.
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