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 <strong>AUGUST</strong> <strong>2023</strong>
CHALDEAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Educational programs Registration open. Please call for an appointment. All Nationalities Welcome! ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE GED (HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DEGREE) Provides individuals English instruction at basic/beginner and intermediate/advanced levels Small group instruction for individuals working towards their GED LITTLE SCHOLARS PRESCHOOL CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION Prepares children for kindergarten through a variety of emergent literacy, early learning and development opportunities Offers instruction and training for successful completion of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Naturalization interview We can’t wait to see you! Want to learn more? Please contact Rachel Rose at Rachel.rose@chaldeanfoundation.org or call (586) 722-7253 <strong>AUGUST</strong> <strong>2023</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 29
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