How to Stop Back to School Jitters

At back to school time, the jitters are prevalent and many people ask me how to stop back to school jitters.

Our HowtoLearn.com learning differences expert, Dana Stahl, weighs in and provides several solutions that answer the question about how to stop back to school jitters.

There is no one specific way for parents and students to feel completely stress free about the start of a new academic year.

We all grapple with change and uncertainty, and the beginning of each school year is wrought with both change and uncertainty.

Parents wonder….

Parents wonder, will the teacher understand my child as both an individual and as a learner?

They question, if the curriculum is going to be challenging enough to meet their child’s curiosity, or if the support service department will follow the accommodations and interventions specified in their Child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP).

Students wonder….

Students, in turn, wonder if they will like their teachers, and if they will be able to foster and facilitate a good relationship with them.

They also speculate who will be in their classes, and if they will feel accepted by these peers. Indeed, a host of questions are swirling about in these lazy days of summer, as Back-to-School concerns are felt from the suburbs to the cities, and as parents and students prepare to resume another academic year.

There are specific steps parents and students can take that to alleviate Back-to-School jitters

There are, specific steps parents and students can take to stop Back-to-School jitters and reduce the stress associated with beginning a new academic year.

The following list applies to elementary, middle and high school parents and students. Depending on your child’s age and grade level, some apply more directly than others. But, all suggestions offer parents and students a way to be proactive in reducing their stress with regard to Back-to-School jitters.

How to Stop Back to School Jitters

Confirm that your children have completed their back to school assignments
Review their work to ensure that the end product meets the requirement (s) of the assignments.
Obtain the books and supplies that have been requested by the teachers
Review your child’s 504 or IEP to understand the specific accommodations and interventions that are specified.
Talk to your children about the services they will receive and how often they will receive them. Review the reasons they are receiving this support.
Model for your children how to self-advocate and express their needs in ‘I’ statements.
If necessary, have a pre-school meeting explain your child’s individual needs and reason for differentiated instruction.
Share with your child’s teacher, their social-emotional and academic history.
Foster and open line of communication with the school to create a positive home-school partnership.
Encourage your children to be respectful, kind and considerate to their peers and their teachers. Teach them that character matters.
Find out how school lunches work, and if your children need to bring money or if it goes onto a charge card. If it goes onto a charge card. Have an account ready for the first day of school.

How to Stop Back to School Jitters and What Students Can Do To Help Prepare For A New School Year

Complete all assigned work with extreme care and attention to detail. This is your first impression your teacher will have. Take the time, and make the effort to do your best.
The first six weeks of school is the critical time where teachers are assessing the students’ ability to engage in class discussions, submit assignments in on time, are active learners, rather than passive observers. This is the time to place your best foot forward. These first impressions are lasting impressions.
Be on time for class. Most schools allow for three minutes to walk from one class period to another. Be sure to work within the parameters your school sets.
Submit homework on time.
Be prepared for quizzes and tests.
If new to school, go a day early, locate your class rooms. Find your locker, the cafeteria, and the gym. Learn the lay of the land.
Find out who is in your home base team, and make plans to meet up with a friend during this time.
Schedule an appointment with your advisor, and review any questions or concerns you have prior to school or within the first two weeks of school.
Review your class schedule, and make the necessary changes prior to the first day of school.
Find out about lunch and recess. How long do you get for each part, and are they grade specific or do multiple grades have lunch and recess simultaneously.
Discuss your questions and concerns with your parents, so that they can comfort and advise you, as well as act as your advocate as the new academic year gets underway.

By following the above tips, parents and students can easily learn how to stop back-to-school jitters and the stress associated with the beginning of a new academic year.

Dana Stahl grew up with a learning disability. With the right help, she resolved it and her superpower is helping your LD child succeed in school, at home or during remote learning.

As an Educational Consultant and Learning Specialist for over 30 years, Dana created an easy-to-follow, step-by-step online course called The ABCs of Academic Success so you can help your child thrive academically! Check it out and get a free 15 minute consultation with Dana too.