This is a week of excitement — and trepidation — for local students, a week of anticipation — and relief — for parents. It also is a week of worry and work and adventure for teachers and administrators and the staff members who make schools run smoothly.
Students throughout Clark County are beginning the 2022-23 school year. Thankfully, there currently are no debates about in-person schooling vs. remote options, although the COVID-19 pandemic must remain in the minds of all those involved.
Returning students are familiar with the disruption that can be caused a pandemic, with most of them having experienced several months of remote learning spread over two school years.
The lingering effects of that ordeal will take years to assess, but early studies suggest that many students had their academic progress slowed by the pandemic.
Equally important, according to teachers, is the sense that months of isolation beginning in 2020 impacted students’ emotional development and their ability to follow rules and socially interact. Many students have found it difficult to return to a structured environment.
These difficulties were predictable. With an unprecedented virus infecting all aspects of our daily lives, it is unavoidable that students would be impacted and their educational experience would be unique.
But aside from that, many of the traditional back-to-school issues have returned to the forefront. And there are several steps that students and parents can take to increase the likelihood of a successful and productive school year. Among the recommendations:
- Set aside time and a good workspace for homework — both during weeknights and weekends. Parents should stress the importance of homework from the start, helping to enforce productive habits that will carry throughout the school year.
- Provide assistance with homework, but avoid being overly involved. Students learn by trying — and sometimes struggling. As one online tip puts it, “Remember that homework is a contract between the teacher and the student, not between the teacher and the parent.”
- Communicate with teachers, focusing on an understanding of expectations rather than seizing an opportunity to lodge complaints.
- If your student has a cellphone, avoid contacting them during the school day, and stress that a classroom is not the place to be using their phone. As a commentary from a teacher in Sunday’s Columbian explained: “The phones ring, buzz, vibrate and flash, constantly luring students away from their physical academic setting into a virtual loop of TikTok videos, Snapchat messages and barrages of targeted advertisements for food delivery and teen fashion.”
- Set a bedtime and stick to it to ensure proper rest. This applies to both students and parents.
- Develop a morning routine that leaves time for an adequate breakfast and avoids a hectic rush that gets the day off to a stressful start.
- Pay attention to emotional well being. Talk to teachers not only about how a student is performing academically but about how they are interacting with their peers.
- Be cautious when driving near schools. Not only can you avoid a potential tragedy, but you are setting an example for your children.
As another school year arrives, we hope for a productive, safe and educational year for students, parents and teachers alike. A good start will pay dividends throughout the year.
