Tips to launch the school year

As Minnesota families prepare for a new school year, it’s important for parents to think about how to launch a fun and productive back-to-school experience.

The backbone of a successful school is a strong, committed community of staff, students and families. Educators have been organizing their classrooms, enhancing their own professional development and preparing instruction.

“Educators are excited to welcome their students back to school and begin building important family relationships that make a difference in a child’s education,” Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher said. “Educators want the back-to-school experience to be fun and exciting for kids. A good experience sets the tone for the entire school year.”

Here are some things parents can do to help launch a successful year for their children.

Visit your child’s school. See where he or she spends the day: where kids eat their lunch, hang their art and play with their friends.
Get to know the school’s teachers and support professionals. Educators want a partnership with parents and regular, meaningful communication.
Let your teachers know if there are any special issues or circumstances that may affect your child’s experience this year.
Ask how your child is assessed. Educators have many tools to measure student growth, and they’ll want you to know how you can help your child achieve and what academic milestones they should reach.
Learn about extracurricular activities for kids. Schools have many opportunities for kids to grow outside the classroom. Help your child feel part of the school community and enhance “soft skills” like teamwork and leadership.
Where have the cuts been? Minnesota schools are suffering from a broken funding system, so it’s important to know if the district is making efforts to protect the classroom by maintaining reasonable classes and up-to-date materials and keeping quality, licensed instructors.
Finally, during the year, let your lawmakers know you appreciate their interest in public education and their efforts to fix our funding system.

January 19, 2009