It’s officially August! And that means everyone is getting ready to go back to school. While there are plenty of tips and tricks out there to try, school supplies to purchase, and other preparations to be made, there’s one group of people who have some really important things to say: teachers.
Teachers are the ones who are responsible for a vital part of our kids’ lives. Not only are they educating them, but they’re helping to shape them and learn how to be who they’re meant to be. Teachers are heroes for many families, but without having been a teacher, how are we supposed to know what they need to be successful? How we can help? Or — gulp — how we drive them crazy?
To help get ready for our kids to go back to school, we polled our favorite teachers for their best tips on how parents can help prepare.
READ: Back To School 2023: FREE Printable to Help Get Ready!
Getting ready to go back to school
- “Start with establishing a schedule beforehand so that they are used to waking at the time needed. Talk about what the schedule will look like. Give the kids options and the opportunity to make choices (could be as simple as a backpack or color of notebook). They need to feel valued and invested in the process of going to school. So much is decided for them, let them have equity as well. Support school and their teachers with positive talk and excitement.” — Janessa
- “Make a game of walking in a straight line. They will need this skill. Bathroom: practice how to lock the stall doors, moving clothes up and down, washing and drying hands. Also when it a bathroom break, even if they don’t think they have to go, tell them they should always check. And tell them not to hold it until it’s an emergency.” — Jennifer
- “As a high school teacher, the first thing comes to mind is less screen time and more book/friend time.” — Christy
- “Start the bedtime routine now if your summer routine is different. I try to do this myself, as a teacher who has enjoyed sleeping in until 7:30 a.m.” — Laura
- “Label everything unless we specifically ask you not to. Start the bedtime/morning routine now.” — Alyssa
- “As a middle and high school English/history teacher, I just wanted kids to a) be as rested as was reasonable and b) read something!” — Colleen
- “Make sure to have a backpack big enough for the take home folder, lunch bag, and snow gear. If possible, have kids practice putting school shoes/winter boots on without help.” — Rae
- “Unpopular opinion but… don’t worry or focus on the academics [before kindergarten]!! All kids come to us on so many levels of knowledge, and we will meet them at their level and help them grow. Kindergarten is a BIG step towards them having ‘independence,’ so for me, these are some things that I consider ‘kindergarten readiness.’
Clothing! Can they undo and do the snap, buckles, ties on their clothing when using the restroom?
Eating! Are they able to open the packages in their lunch on their own? Yes, there are adults there to help, but only a couple of us and over 100 little friends, it takes us time to get there. Are they able to eat their lunches in a limited time? Think 20th minutes.
Stamina! Are they able to sit in one spot for 10 minutes without getting up to walk around? Sit through a story book? Core strength to sit criss-cross applesauce on the rug is important.
Turn taking! Are they able to pause and listen to the answer to the question that they asked?
Fine motor! Pencil grip and scissor cutting requires hand strength. Let them play with play dough, string beads, cut up paper.
Name recognition! It’s a life skill that will help them Day One in the classroom.” — Anonymous kindergarten teacher
- “I wish kids knew how to open their packages, including reusable containers and juice boxes. They also need to know how to wash their hands!” — Jeanne
- “Pack lunches that they can open independently!! Lunch is so fast, and the aides in the lunch room only have so much time. Make sure they know how to tie their shoes, put their jackets on and take them off, pull their pants up and down, and wipe their own butts. Tying soaking wet shoelaces right after they leave the bathroom is the WORST.” — Alexandra
When School Starts
- “For parents – please check your child’s book-bag daily and the take home folder – please take out the stuff that needs to stay home. So much communication is sent home that way.” — Jennifer
- “Do not bring outside food into the school! I know your child may still be finishing up their breakfast or a treat, but it causes fights because everyone wants it. Same with toys from home. A comfort item is fine, Jimmy’s five different dump trucks are not. Please, please, please bring extra clothes. Preschoolers are messy, and try as we might, their clothes will get dirty or accidents will happen.” — Alyssa
- “If at all possible, have your kiddo eat breakfast! ANYTHING is better than nothing, but ideally something that will satiate them until snack time/lunch (depending on age), something balanced (carbs/fat/protein) to give them energy and get their brains going. And if you’re struggling with food insecurity or routine in the mornings or anything that’s preventing your child from eating breakfast, please, please tell us and we can do what we can to help!” — Maureen
- “Equip your teenagers to have constructive conversations with their teachers instead of just taking over. Or reach out to the teacher and let them know that you’re working on that with your kid. ‘They doesn’t understand what they can do to pull their grade up, so I told them to come see you or e-mail. If you need me to help or guide them, please reach out.’ Teens need this time to develop skills to advocate for themselves and seek supports if it’s unclear. Only step in if the kid is floundering or the teacher isn’t responding. In my experience, 99% of the time there are all kinds of things available to them that they’ve forgotten about or don’t want to do, so they do nothing and wait for the parent to approach the teacher.” — Stacie
- “Make the kids do their own stuff! Unpack their bag, find their homework, etc. It’s the worst when parents do too much for their kids that the kids are perfectly capable of doing.” — Anne Marie
- “Do not send toys to school, pants with belts, overalls, or shoes that are not practical. Also let your child walk in to the school. Don’t carry them in. If they are upset, give them a quick kiss and hug and let us take it from there. They usually shut it off in a few minutes.” — Lisa
What They Want Parents to Know
- “Please don’t believe everything they say about me/school and I promise not to believe everything they say about you/home.” — Lauren
- “Understand if we can’t respond to your email right away. We have multiple other kids and can’t be on our tablet/laptop answering emails right away all the time. We would do literally nothing else.” — Alyssa
- “PLEASE utilize the digital resources that you have as parents. Check in on your kids’ grades. Have simple conversations asking what they’re learning about in different classes, at different times. It helps them retain info, plus it may spark a conversation/shared interest which is always helpful with teens. What they like/don’t like about the the content? Maybe even tie it to a reward.” — Stacie
- “Let us know when your child shares a success. Don’t expect immediate replies to emails… you want us teaching your kids, not staring at our phone.” — Madeleine
- “Kids, even teens, need way more sleep that they think they do. Seriously, 9-10 hours minimum for middle schoolers.” — Sarah
- “Work WITH the teacher, not against the teacher. We are not out to get your kid. We have lots of other kids besides yours, we cannot put all of our attention on your child. Please understand that and instead of attacking the teacher, teach your child to be more independent and not need the teacher as much.” — Konnie
- “Honestly, stop babying your kids. Let them take responsibility for themselves! Support them, guide them, supply them with all the tools… but don’t do their homework for them. Don’t shield them from the consequences of their actions. If they are struggling with organization, stop blaming their teachers. Stop blaming yourselves. The coddled kids, struggle the longest.” — Tara
- “I teach high school math. I want parents to know we’re a team. I don’t blame them for their kid not doing what they are supposed to, but I will tell them about it because they’re my biggest support and when they don’t give me that support it’s clear. I want them to push their kids to advocate for themselves; they’re almost adults as high school students. I want them to remind their kids they need to go to me, not to the principal or the counselor. It’s an important job skill. If I go over my boss, instead of to my boss, that’s going to create a big rift in relationships.
I want them to know they have to stop texting and calling their kids in class because it’s always mom, and 75% of the time it’s not even just “mom,” it really is her calling. I want them to know we have school rules in place, and they need to call the office to check them out, not their kids.
I want them to know assemblies matter to the kids who put them together; quit checking your kids out to skip them.
I want them to know I love their kids. Even when they’re idiots, they’re still hilarious.” — Christen
- “I want parents to have trained the kids in virtues and common courtesy such as not interrupting, saying thank you, proper hygiene, being kind, asking for what you need, and patience. I want them to be willing to help the kid with their homework, because being in charge of 25 kids at once means I can’t tutor them all. Teachers can teach, but we don’t have the energy or bandwidth to parent. Parents need to spend time with their kids. Also, don’t let them use AI to write their papers; monitor their computer use at home please. Also, please don’t feed them a lot of sugar. I have to deal with repercussions of that.” — Jessica
- “Check your kids backpack everyday, make sure they pack appropriate clothes for recess (i.e., a coat in the winter), or let us know if you need those things. We have kids showing up in shorts and flip-flops in January. And I agree with everyone saying make kids eat breakfast or ask the school for assistance. Kids can’t do anything without food!” — Hannah
- “I want parents to know that they can ask me about anything that happened at school without accusing me or going to the principal. I can’t even begin to list all of the creative retelling of events given to parents by, say, a seven-year-old.” — Elizabeth
- Middle schoolers need MORE support and oversight than elementary students. Not less. There are too many challenges that they’re facing at once. That said, support doesn’t mean shielding them from consequences or fighting teachers on their behalf. It means sitting with them while THEY write an email to their teachers asking for help. It means checking their grades and following up as needed with a polite ‘hey, my kid told me they turned in x, is that accurate?’
Let. Them. Fail. I’m not saying a class, necessarily, but let them make mistakes. Don’t bring them items they forgot at home unless your kid has life threatening allergies and can’t eat what’s at school. Let them accept the consequences. At home, support them in taking responsibility for remembering with a checklist or something and reminders.
You’re a team with the teachers. Don’t attack them. If you want to know – ASK. Don’t accuse. Don’t give me a whole story of what your child did. Just ask. If it differs from what your kid told you, assume the truth often lies somewhere in the middle at worst. Perspective is everything.
Monitor computer use and have limits. School devices are FOR school. Not gaming.” — Melissa
- “I teach pre-k. What I wished parents did: actually read notes that go home in the folder. Packed their kid a daily snack. Didn’t let them bring toys to school. Let them use scissors at home so they knew how to hold them. Had them go to the bathroom on their own. Buy exactly what is on the supply list, it’s on there for a reason.” — Mary Anne
