WELCOME THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR WITH "PREVIEW WEEK"

​Several years ago, I realized that moms are either off-the-charts excited for the school year to commence or they view it with dread and trepidation.  I have yet to meet a mom who was in the middle!  So, if you take a typical summer break between school seasons, consider employing a “preview week” before your official launch date.  It will either add to your excitement level that is already on a high or it will at least enable you to feel prepared while managing your nerves!
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Implementing this approach enables not only your student(s) to orient themselves to their new books and tools, but it also gives you additional grace to address issues prior to starting your full schedule. For example, you may realize that you lack some basic school supplies, forgot to prep certain materials, or experience an issue with a DVD program or other technology-related tool.  By easing into school a week prior to your full start date, you and your student(s) can enjoy the transition more by having a lower level of anxiety and a higher level of confidence.  So here is a suggested schedule to use for "preview week" when reviewing new materials and tools with your student(s).

• A week prior to “preview week”, prep your teacher materials and make sure you have all your desired curriculum pieces (i.e. supplemental DVD’s, audio files, reproducible forms, activity sheets, reference cards, etc.).  This is also the time to establish your organizational tools for completed work and straighten out any technology issues that may exist for resources and programs that require setup.
• Monday: Review math and foreign language
• Tuesday: Review language arts subjects (i.e. grammar, spelling, writing, handwriting)
• Wednesday: Review history and any music/art subjects
• Thursday: Review science and any other subjects/skills not yet covered (i.e. typing, chore charts, etc.)
• Friday: Take a last summer blast field trip before starting school the following Monday!

At the end of the day, such preparation efforts not only ease tensions but also sets proper expectations.  By demystifying what the first school week will look like for student(s) and mom alike, it will smooth the way to a successful launch, setting the right tone for the entire year.  As always, remember to ENJOY the journey and preparation is part of the journey!