Starting school can be a source of anxiety for both children and parents as they adjust to new routines,
new teachers and friends, homework assignments and tests.
To help parents and students kick start the new school year successfully, Sylvan Learning is offering
ideas for a successful school year. Working as a family and keeping the goals simple are among the
suggestions.
• Pay closer attention in class.
• Listen carefully.
• Keep notebooks more organized.
• Set up and maintain homework and study routines.
• Keep the study area at home organized.
• Stay on schedule for assignments, especially long-range ones. Start early, finish early.
• Set aside time to read for pleasure.
• Read at least one challenging book per semester.
• Take a challenging course – upper level math, poetry, history, science, technology.
• Participate in class.
• Take responsibility for learning.
• Keep attendance up.
• Cut down on "screen time" and increase learning time.
• Stop trying to "multi-task" when studying.
• Improve social skills.
• Exercise more.
• Eat healthily.
• Behave in class.
• Maintain healthy habits.
• Keep that temper cool and work on being civil to everyone.
• Walk away from bullies.
• Don’t be a bully.
• Select friends carefully. They should support, encourage, motivate, challenge, and inspire you.
• Set aside some time each day to reflect about what you’ve accomplished, whom you’ve helped, what you
want to improve.
• Keep a journal.
• Have a hobby.
• Check out extracurricular activities.
• Work on the school newspaper or yearbook.
• Try out for a role in the school play.
• Learn a new sport.
• Improve technology skills.
• Make sure homework is neat and organized.
• Be punctual.
• Disagree without being disagreeable.
