August 21, 2024

Back to School Tips from the Rally Reader Team

A teacher sits with a class of students on the floor

As daunting as the beginning of a new school year can be, your friends at Rally Reader always get excited about the possibilities and learning opportunities each new year holds. In order to curb the potential stressors of this time of year, the Rally team has put together a list of tips for back to school. These tips come from a collection of parents, classroom teachers, and professionals in the world of education. 

Set a daily wake-up routine

A few weeks before school starts, start going to bed and waking up a little bit earlier.. This will allow your children to naturally adjust to a busier morning routine. By the first day of school, they’ll be fully adjusted and ready to rock! 

Involve your kiddos in the prep work

Yes, all the prep work! That means choosing their own snacks, notebooks, supplies, etc. Not only will it be a fun activity for them to participate in, they’ll feel more ownership over their supplies and will be more likely to take care of them in the long run. 

*Tip from a classroom teacher: the more ownership children have, the more they rise to the occasion. The beginning of the school year is a great time to establish responsibility.

Set a daily routine for what mornings look like

This may include breakfast, getting dressed, brushing teeth, or 20 minutes of daily reading. Rally Reader is great for this. Its built-in dashboard with daily reading goals helps stack habits and set children up for success with a predictable routine. 

Back to school jitters

It is completely normal for children to be nervous about going back to school. It is crucial that the messaging at home lets them know their feelings are valid and supported. Rally offers many books about dealing with back to school jitters to help you open that conversation with your child. Here are a few we recommend:

Know that hiccups will happen

We know that even with the best-laid plans, hiccups happen anyway. The best thing you can do is be flexible and let them roll off your shoulders. Even if the morning of the first day of school isn’t perfect, your child will likely remember how exciting it was to meet their teacher, see their classroom, and get to know new friends. Taking unexpected hiccups in stride also helps teach children a lesson in flexibility and adapting to new situations. 

From all of us here at Rally, happy back to school! We are all in your corner.