Back-to-school tips for this unusual school year from the NC Teacher of the Year

Whether your children will be taking classes online, in school, at home or a mixture of those options, it’s important to get them prepared for a new school year. To help your family get back in the learning groove, we asked Mariah Morris, North Carolina’s 2019 Teacher of the Year, to share some of her best back-to-school tips:

Have a positive tone; share stress behind closed doors

With school schedules and learning plans up in the air due to the coronavirus, parents have been considering different schooling options for their children. It’s only natural to have questions, concerns and worries about what’s best for your children and how it will work out, but don’t share those worries with them, Morris advises.

“This is a time of stress and anxiety for families, and our children pick up on that,” said Morris, who was a second grade teacher when she won teacher of the year and is now innovation and special projects coordinator for Moore County Schools. “So I would encourage families to have those conversations between adults behind closed doors and have a really positive face of what school’s going to look like for their children.”

Children tend to share their parents’ attitudes about school and bring those feelings to class, Morris said, so it’s especially important to be positive.

Practice routines

What time will your children get up for school? Will they need to wear a mask in the classroom? Morris suggests trying to anticipate what your children’s school day will look like so they can practice those routines.

Students often don’t get enough sleep, especially after being accustomed to a more relaxed schedule in the summer, Morris said. So practice an earlier bedtime routine to ease them into the school schedule.

If your children will be going to school, help them practice wearing a mask. Try 30 minutes one day and an hour the next day to see how they handle it.

“Have your child help pick out fun masks online that fit their personality and their style and talk about how it’s a fun accessory they can wear,” Morris said.

Give your child choices

Morris and other learning experts say giving your children choices can make the back-to-school transition much easier. By giving your kids a reduced set of options, it makes them feel like they have some sort of control.

For example, kids who will be learning at home can help pick a dedicated space for schoolwork. Morris suggests letting your kids bring their personality into the space by hanging up artwork or creating a calendar where they can track their schedule.

Psychologist and professor Jeff Greene shared similar advice for parents on Go Ask Mom in March. He says when selecting a space with your children, try to avoid spaces that will be distracting, such as in front of a TV or near a window that looks out on a busy street.

“I’m a big believer in choice. There’s really good research out there that when you give kids legitimate choice that they get more motivated, they feel more cared for,” Greene said.

Reach out to your child’s teacher, but be mindful

When you find out who will be teaching your children, reach out to them, Morris says. Acknowledge how difficult this year may be for them and offer your support.

“Let the teacher know you’re there. Let the teacher know you want to have a good relationship and that you see them and everything they’re doing,” Morris said.

Before you inundate the teacher with questions and requests, take time to find out what they need and be mindful of when you’re contacting them. They often hear from parents throughout the day by email, text, phone or other ways.

“The social-emotional needs of our teachers are so important, and they’re going to be faced with so many challenges this year,” Morris said. “One of those challenges is learning to turn off communication at the end of the day, because I know they love and care for the children more than parents even know … If they get an email from a parent at midnight, it’s going to be really hard not to click the open button.”

Kelly Hinchcliffe, a longtime education reporter, is a mom and lives in Orange County.