Seven Tips for Making and Sticking to a School Routine
1) A Good School Routine Starts BEFORE School
During the summer, school day schedules go out the window. From vacations and camps to staying up late playing video games, your kids are probably staying up late, waking up late, and abandoning any sense of typical meal times.
As the first day of school looms ever closer, your kids might be trying to squeeze in the last bit of freedom while they still can. However, trying to go from no schedule to rigid routine overnight is impossible.
Starting the school year with the right regimen is vital. Establish your school routine before the fall semester begins. Phase into it in the weeks preceding the first day.
2) Schedule a Nighttime Regimen
You can’t have an effective school day routine without an effective bedtime regimen. Some tips for developing a good nighttime schedule include:
- Eat dinner together as a family as often as possible
- Limit screen time for television and video games
- Set a time for heads to be on pillows and stick to it
- Allow plenty of time for showers, brushing teeth, and getting ready
- Consider allowing for some unassigned reading (novels, biographies, etc.)
- Make sure lights are off and heads are on pillows in plenty of time to get enough sleep
3) Wake Up Early Enough to Feel Less Rushed
Do you dread busy school day mornings? Have you tried to set alarms only to find everyone is hitting snooze till a few minutes after the last possible moment? It is important for your attitudes and mental health to find a way to make your mornings more relaxed.
Waking up earlier gives everyone more time to get ready for the day, eat breakfast, potentially exercise, and enjoy the mornings. The key, of course, is establishing an effective and efficient nighttime routine.
4) Establish a Family Calendar
Gathering all assignments and putting them in a calendar allows your student to get their minds around the work they have to do. It lets them see their school year from start to finish.
Create a large version and hang it in their study or somewhere everyone can see it. Develop a digital version as well. Here are some calendar suggestions:
- Think about assigning different colors to different types or subjects of work.
- Tasks should be accompanied by learning objectives and objectives for subject mastery.
- When tasks are completed, and learning objectives are attained, it is important to mark them on the calendar and celebrate their completion.
- Studying for subjects is a vital part of the plan. Your students will be able to retain information more effectively if they are studying along the way, not just cramming before a test.
- Schedule breaks and time for fun.
5) Make Sure Your Routine Involves Exercise
Students need to exercise. Everyone needs to get moving. Make sure daily routines allow kids to get outside or at least be active inside. Signing up for sports is a great way to ensure physical activity while students will also be learning teamwork and growing in character.
6) Schedule Self Care
Burnout always seems like it is creeping just around the corner, ready to strike anyone in school. There is always pressure to keep up with schoolwork, study, maintain relationships, perform on the field or court, honor family, and so on. Your kids need to take care of themselves. As parents, you can help facilitate self-care for your students.
7) Ask Friends, Family, and Teachers for Help
What is working for your family and friends? What have teachers and administrators seen to be effective? There is no better source for advice than those who have gone through this season of life before and experienced all the successes and failures.
The Crenshaw Academy's mission is to help students become outstanding citizens. We believe a strong foundation in academics and a well-rounded student is essential to developing creative, thinking individuals. There are many advantages to attending a private school like The Crenshaw Academy, including:
- Smaller class sizes
- Supportive teachers and administrators
- Individual attention
- Quality academics
- Diverse faculty and student body
- Commitment to ethics
- And more
With smaller class sizes, our teachers and staff can provide more individual attention and can have an eye for burnout. If you would like to know more about how your student can thrive at The Crenshaw Academy, reach out to us today!