Steps for School Success

BY DONESA WALKER

area. Organize school supplies, books, Organize school supplies, books, computers, and printers. By setting a purposed mindset with an organizational location, clutter can be reduced, and systems can be practiced. You can even purchase books such as “What Every nth Grader Should Know” and make sure all these goals were met for previous building year. Set up a snack/hydration area as well with nutritional snacks of their choosing. 2. Set expectations and rewards. Goal set and make charts to track progress. What are realistic goals? Should they be tied to mastery rather than grades? (Hint: that answer is yes!). Helping a student to under-answer is yes!). Helping a student to under stand that mastery is simply the process to learning completely will allow the student to place less importance on the numerical grade and more on learning the skills being taught. Set up agreed upon rewards for obtaining mastery both intrinsically and extrinsically (this means both praise and prizes). Typically tying rewards to food is not the best idea unless it is a special treat that isn’t a common nutritional food. 3. Get checkups done. As students age, things change from eyes, ears, teeth, body, and brain. All of these should be checked yearly by a proper professional (eye doctor, ENT, dentist/ortho, pediatrician or other general practitioner/specialist as other general practitioner/specialist as needed and LearningRx for a cognitive assessment as well as any other academic testing if desired). It is much easier to achieve goals if all our “equipment” is working! 4. Practice. Spend time practicing the morning and evening routines so that there is reduced anxiety as the actual days roll closer. Take your student to the school campus and walk around with them. Make them feel natural. Call ahead and request permission or even arrange a tour if it is a new campus. This can alleviate a lot of anxiety and make a bond that allows student to open up easily about concerns. Practice the routine of what it looks like if riding a bus. Drive that route so the student knows landmarks which can help reduce confusion and getting lost on those first few days especially if it is a youngster or a new campus. 5. Arrange sleep patterns. Maybe a new pillow or pillowcase or a new cuddle buddy can be purchased or traded for bed-

time. Lavender scented rice bags for warmth or coolness are a great addition and can assist with the transition period. Scent-great addition and can assist with the transition period. Scent ed oils or lotions are also an option. ed oils or lotions are also an option.

they are). Create time and space for this into your routine. Go to Create time and space for this into your routine. Go to the library or bookstore and pick up a couple of chapter books the library or bookstore and pick up a couple of chapter books that you’ve never read that are above the student’s reading lev-that you’ve never read that are above the student’s reading lev el. Demonstrate how good readers think and interact with the el. Demonstrate how good readers think and interact with the book as you read. A child who is read to for 15 minutes a day will book as you read. A child who is read to for 15 minutes a day will achieve as much as a two-year growth in academics compared to peers. This increase of vocabulary above grade level from chap peers. This increase of vocabulary above grade level from chapter books also allows students to be challenged into accepting ter books also allows students to be challenged into accepting difficult material as a challenge rather than an obstacle. difficult material as a challenge rather than an obstacle. 7. Regulate your kids’ media diet. Gone are the summer days where kids had more free time than they were used to. You most where kids had more free time than they were used to. You most likely allowed them more screen time, especially with the heat, but likely allowed them more screen time, especially with the heat, but gradually prepared them for returning to school. Limiting, but not completely taking away, screen time allows for kids to continue completely taking away, screen time allows for kids to continue having other means of entertainment without depending on it too having other means of entertainment without depending on it too much. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more much. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 10 minutes times the age of a child daily and no screen time than 10 minutes times the age of a child daily and no screen time an hour before bed, so choose times and games and stick to them! 8. Family Game Night arrives or continues. 8. Family Game Night arrives or continues. Instituting a Instituting a family game night early on can lead to better spelling pat-family game night early on can lead to better spelling pat terns, writing, reading and math as well as history/science. terns, writing, reading and math as well as history/science. Choose a closet or shelf and get some games purchased or Choose a closet or shelf and get some games purchased or made to have fun with the family. Playing a skill allows that made to have fun with the family. Playing a skill allows that skill to be built 5 times faster! That’s right. By playing math skill to be built 5 times faster! That’s right. By playing math with Uno cards or even a plain deck of cards, a child will pick up math more simply. For a great list of games to stimulate the brain, see Brain Training Games at the LearningRx website. 9. Cool down magic is a game changer. Create a cool down/ calm down sensory area or outdoor space for downtime. Every student of all ages needs a place to decompress after a hard day. Create a safe place. Perhaps a bean bag corner or an outdoor energy center depending on the nature of your child. Have fun adding sensory items that they can touch, smell, and see that bring peace. After a hard day, a few minutes of “staycation” can revamp the mind and allow an emotional dump that will release hairpin triggers from a rough day. Knowing they have a place to decompress that is theirs gives them safety and security. These are important to any student of any age. 10. Create a date. Set aside celebration dates in advance. Put up a calendar and set up times to spend one to one with the student especially if you have several. Each person needs to feel that individual touch. Plan it. Maybe it’s a trip to get ice cream or a nature trail walk but plan a deliberate celebration of growth mindset. A growth mindset comes from planning to grow and when negativity hits, three little letters can change it. For every “I Can’t” add YET! And when YET arrives...celebrate! Celebrate success!

up math more simply. For a great list of games to stimulate the brain, see Brain Training Games at the LearningRx website. 9. Cool down magic is a game changer. Create a cool down/ calm down sensory area or outdoor space for downtime. Every student of all ages needs a place to decompress after a hard day. Create a safe place. Perhaps a bean bag corner or an outdoor energy center depending on the nature of your child. Have fun adding sensory items that they can touch, smell, and see that bring peace. After a hard day, a few minutes of “staycation” can revamp the mind and allow an emotional dump that will release hairpin triggers from a rough day. Knowing they have a place to decompress that is theirs gives them safety and security. These are important to any student of any age. 10. Create a date. Set aside celebration dates in advance. Put up a calendar and set up times to spend one to one with the student especially if you have several. Each person needs to feel that individual touch. Plan it. Maybe it’s a trip to get ice cream or a nature trail walk but plan a deliberate celebration of growth mindset. A growth mindset comes from planning to grow and when negativity hits, three little letters can change it. For every “I Can’t” add YET! And when YET arrives...celebrate! Celebrate success!

Donesa Walker, M. Ed., BCCS, is the owner of LearningRx Shreveport Donesa Walker, M. Ed., BCCS, is the owner of LearningRx Shreveport and Brain Train Learning Solutions Educational Consultants. and Brain Train Learning Solutions Educational Consultants.