University of Richmond education experts offer advice to parents; back-to-school readiness important, especially in times of transition

August 14, 2015

Going back to school is an exciting time for many children and their parents, but families with students making major transitions to kindergarten, middle school or high school may have more anxiety or questions about the upcoming school year.

Kindergarten

“Children should have curiosity, excitement and eagerness about learning,” says Tammy Milby, director of reading in University of Richmond’s Department of Education. “Little ones will be most successful in school if they learn how to explore our world.  Avoid isolated skills such as flashcards and focus more on asking thoughtful questions and building a sense of wonder.” 

Milby’s top three tips when prepping a child for kindergarten include:

  1. Build academic readiness: Read books to your children every day to help them build vocabulary and begin to recognize words in print; count every day objects to help build early math skills.
  2. Develop social skills: Expose your child to group activities like story time at the local library; help your child learn to take turns with friends
  3. Turn play into learning: Play can build problem-solving skills and helps develop fine motor and gross motor skills; use art supplies to draw or create, play with fun dough or imagine and invent during outside time. 

Middle School

“Middle school is an exciting and sometimes scary time for children and for their parents and guardians,” says Kate Cassada, an assistant professor of education at UR. “Parents must continue to be involved in their children's lives, to offer a constant and positive adult presence. Parents should also enjoy and encourage that fabulous middle school sense of humor. Teachers know how funny and insightful middle schoolers are – that's why they teach middle school.”

Cassada recommends the following advice for parents of rising middle schoolers:

  1. Communicate with teachers: Students will now have several teachers instead of one or two, which means they will need to learn to thrive with various personalities and expectations. Parents will need to adapt as well and should be purposeful about setting a routine, establishing priorities and communicating with teachers.  
  2. Stay involved: Don't back off now assuming your middle schooler is "grown." He or she is not. Middle schoolers still need a nurturing and constant parental presence.
  3. Be patient and listen: During middle school years, your children will be in a different place physically, emotionally and socially. Your child needs to know that he or she makes you proud and can talk to you about the constant change and challenge of adolescence.

High School

“High school is what you make it and having a positive attitude can set the tone for the experience,” says Dave Myers, superintendent for New Kent County Schools and an adjunct assistant professor of education at University of Richmond. “Parents can help their students maintain this positivity by encouraging them to explore what’s important to them through the offerings at their school.”

Myers offers these tips for parents of students entering high school:

  1. Taste test: High school offers activities, clubs, and courses that students did not have access to in middle school. Parents should encourage their children to break out of their comfort zone and try new things. 
  2. Choose classes wisely: Help your children work with counselors and teachers to choose the level of rigor in classes that pushes them to try their best and matches their goals for life after high school.
  3. Find your passion: High schools offer a wide range of classes on everything from computer science to journalism. Encourage children to investigate careers and related class offerings.

Cassada, Milby and Myers are all current or former K-12 administrators and faculty members in the University of Richmond Department of Education and School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

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