AUGUST 2023

FEATURE
least 20 minutes a day or to draw a
picture of a fun summer memory. Depending
on their maturity level, give
them the freedom to use that space
responsibly without you – after setting
expectations, of course. Kids will
have better focus and thus produce
higher-quality work. Sometimes the
best thing for our kids is when we get
out of their way.
Getting Back into
the School Mindset
BY CRYSTAL KASSAB JABIRO
It’s August, and soon the summer
will slowly come to a sad surrender
and the hustle and bustle of
school will be upon us. Pick-ups and
drop-offs, packing snacks and school
lunches, buying clothes and shoes and
school supplies, and of course, homework
and extracurriculars. It is a full
plate for moms and dads and kids everywhere!
For some parents, getting back into
school-mode is a daunting task – the
time, the cost, the energy (the khilek)
that is needed! For others, it is delightful,
and the first day cannot come fast
enough – they need those kids (and
their fingerprints) out of the house!
No matter what kind of parent you are,
YOU are your kids’ main teacher, and
it is important for you to positively set
the tone for the new school year.
This will be my 22nd year teaching
tweens and teens, and I have learned
many valuable lessons along the way,
especially through my most important
job — being a mom to two wonderful
teenagers. Below are my top 5 research-based
tips on getting back into
the school mindset.
Reestablish Routines
The dog days of summer might make
us carefree and even a little lazy and
out of our habits, but to make your
lives easier, you must go back to routines
or establish new ones at least
two weeks before school starts. That
means bedtimes, wake-up times, and
mealtimes need to be consistent.
Decide on a bedtime or give a time
range that your kids need to be in bed
by and have them practice “waking
up” for school, even if you are not going
anywhere. Their bodies need to get
used to the time change, and the more
prepared they are, the less morning
struggles your home will have.
The usual rush in the morning
means a quick and simple breakfast
before the bus arrives, so restart that.
You can also serve lunch between 11
and noon, a common time in schools,
and if you haven’t already, start eating
dinner at a consistent and agreedupon
hour that works for your family.
Research shows that children with
consistent routines have strong social/
emotional health; it is up to you as the
parents to reinforce those routines.
Set Expectations
Parents, we must go back to being
strict. Not in a draconian way, but in
a manner that is clear-cut to our children.
Just as teachers set expectations
in a classroom, so must we in our
households. Have a family discussion
about everything, like getting homework
and chores done, social media,
how much caffeine they can have,
going out, and curfews. When you believe
it is age-appropriate, talk to your
kids about sex and drugs and alcohol.
Talk about everything!
When your kids ask why you have
these rules, tell them they are not
rules, but expectations, as in, “I expect
your homework to be done before
dinner,” or, “I expect you will be home
by 10 pm,” or even more all-encompassing,
“I expect you to approach us
about your problems and not turn to
dangerous habits.”
Talk about goals along with what
went well last school year and what
they would like to improve upon this
year. Include those new goals in your
expectations. When you involve your
kids in the decision-making, they will
strive to meet those expectations, and
when you are consistent, it will help
with behavior and discipline, which
ultimately leads to positive effects in
academic achievement.
Set Up a Study Area
Create a space for your kids to do homework,
study, read, or complete projects,
making sure that it is well-lit and
away from distractions. Keep the space
stocked with paper, pencils, markers,
crayons, glue, tape, scissors, and any
other school/office necessities.
Before school starts, encourage
them to use that space to read for at
Every Moment is a
Teachable Moment
Any and everything can be a lesson!
Don’t worry, if you have not been doing
this all summer, you can start now.
You could take your kids to the Detroit
Zoo to learn about animals and their
habitats or to the Chaldean Cultural
Center to learn about our history.
The grocery store is a very easy
place to teach reading, math, science,
and even geography. Ask your kids to
read the signs and help them sound out
words, and then tell them to look for
something on your grocery list. They
can help you figure out how much three
pounds of cucumbers will be. They can
do a scavenger hunt to learn on their
own, like about the volcanic soil of San
Marzano tomatoes or why Michigan is
the cherry capital of the world.
They can also glean lessons in
manners, like saying “thank you” to an
employee or returning the grocery cart
to the corral in the parking lot. These
sorts of exercises help to combat learning
loss when kids are out of school,
also referred to as the “summer slide.”
Practice Run
Some kids, especially little ones or
those going to a new school, get anxious
before school starts, so it would
be a good idea to take them there to
familiarize them with it. Show them
their classroom(s), as well as the office,
cafeteria, gym, and bathrooms.
Older kids will have lockers, so you
can help them practice, especially if
it is their first time having one. Some
schools will do meet-and-greets, and
even if there is no formal one, you
might find the teacher there preparing
his or her classroom. They are almost
always happy to chat.
With some practice before school
starts, we can calm those first day
jitters – for our kids and for us too –
and help set them up for a successful
school year.
28 CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST 2023