The end of the school year can be an exciting time for both teachers and students, but it can also be stressful. Teachers often find themselves rushing to make sure all those important concepts are taught and curriculum goals are met right at the time when students are ready to check out of learning for the summer. Parents can help both teachers and students make this time more enjoyable and productive. Consider these ways you can help your child’s teacher get her job done without taking all the fun out of end of school year activities.
Encourage Children to Rest
It may be tempting to relax the rules and let your children stay up later as the year draws to a close, but now is the time to insist your children get the sleep they need. Sleep-deprived children can’t concentrate on academic tasks, lack focus, may become impulsive and have difficulty controlling moods and behavior, says Parents Magazine. That means that your child may struggle in school, especially at times like the end of the school year when routines become irregular and new activities are added to the day. Well-rested children are better able to adjust to and enjoy new activities and are better able to follow classroom rules.
Talk to Your Children
It is only natural for children who are excited about the arrival of summer to spend more time thinking about fun with their friends and lose interest in school, but you can help beat that problem by talking to your children. Let them know that summer is on the way, but that letting homework slide isn’t an option. Avoid the temptation to buy into their exuberance and think that missing a day or two of school or failing to do homework is okay because it’s the end of the year. Your attitude toward those final few weeks of school matters because your child takes his cues from you. When you emphasize the importance of school he is more likely to see it as important too.
Volunteer
End-of-year projects, like educational field trips or art projects, often require an extra set of hands to pull them off. Talk to your child’s teacher and let her know that you are available if she needs help. Knowing that they can depend on you for help allows teachers to plan activities that they may not be able to handle on their own.
Make the end of the school year a happy one for both your child and his teacher by staying alert for any potential problems and talking to the teacher about ways you can help.
