Ah, the school year is ending and everyone’s thoughts of anticipation are on the seemingly long stretch of summer laid out before us. I know for a fact that the focus is on just getting this school year finished—but, in only three short months another school year will be starting up and it can be helpful to put a little thought into that now—before the realities of summer take over.
Many parents choose to move or change schools over the summer. If this is your plan, or you are considering it—it is a good idea to get all the paperwork done prior to the end of the existing school year, if possible. Do your investigating, visiting the school, and filling out all the necessary forms before school lets out. This will make things much smoother when it is time to go back to school in the Fall.
Also, if you are hoping to have some influence into what classes or which teacher(s) your child has in the coming school year, it is better to start conversations early. Many schools make decisions about classroom and class assignments for the coming year prior to school letting out in the Spring—so check with your child’s school (or the school he or she will be attending) to see what you can do now to influence where your child will be for the coming year.
Summer is a great time for tutoring, catching up, and doing activities with your child to help prepare for the coming year. While you won’t want to make the focus be too heavy on academics, you can work with your child to lay the foundation for an improved school year in the Fall. Additionally, if your child is planning to start new activities (sports, music, language classes, etc.), you can plan some activities or camps for the summer months that will help ease the way into the new challenges coming up in the new school year.
See Also: Summer Learning
Staying Focused For the End of the School Year