Well, it’s 10:00 p.m. I have two more full days of summer vacation. I’ve already worked at my new school and spent a few days getting ready for the new year. I, as an educator, have 8 days of school prior to students starting. There’s never enough time as hard I try.
I feel excited, nervous, and afraid of starting a new school year at a new school with new students. I feel guilty of leaving my former students and families behind. I also crave the structure and consistency of “my job” which, as a special educator, teaches in an environment which also craves structure and consistency.
Time, alarms, lists, and to do lists have continued to haunt me, yet help me over the summer. I strongly believe “everything has a home”. I am extremely organized and do not like chaos.
Young children dealing with a differing ability, need to learn how to push through their difficulties with change and the unknown. Consistency and structure are what they crave. Changes and being flexible can be taught to all aged children.
As the new school year nears, it’s time to start planning. At home, there are small things you can begin to do to get them ready for “school mode”. School mode requires :
1. Time limits (use timers). As your child begins an activity, set the timer for 10 minutes. If you can, let them know when they have 5 minutes and then 1 minute left. You as the adult needs to set these limits because your child craves the structure. Over time, you WILL see the difference.
2. Set an alarm to wake your child up for “practice school”. Your child probably has been sleeping in over the summer because they’ve stayed up late. Kudos to you if you’ve kept them on a schedule. Kudos to you if you let your child enjoy their summer vacation. Now it’s the time to get them back in “school mode”. When they wake up earlier give them two choices of what to do. If you want the house to remain quiet choose 2 quiet activities. If you have an appointment later in the day and need to get things done, choose two activities which would be helpful in getting to that later appointment. Get them up and out of bed so they don’t fall back to sleep and/ or stay in that lazy state.
3. “School mode” is fun to get ready for. Buy your school supplies and pack your backpack. Choose the back to school clothes. Write your new teacher a letter or draw them a picture. Create a calendar and count down to the first day of school. Get those haircuts, paint those nails, buy those new sneakers. Celebrate back to school.
I hope this helps!! Stay tuned for more 😀