Back to school preparation should begin weeks before the first day of classes. Preparation will include clothing, school supplies, transportation issues, and meeting all school requirements. Above all, back to school preparation must focus on student motivation. Creating a positive attitude can begin with making a list of every necessary item. This is particularly true for students entering middle or high school for the first time.
Purchasing Schools Supplies
Parents and students should review any published classroom requirements for each individual class. If necessary, a phone call to the school may provide answers not available on web sites. Specifically, how many binders, notebooks, or other supplies must be purchased. Some teachers require very specific notebooks and binders such as three-ring. Classes requiring portfolios usually aim toward uniformity.
Teachers can also specify whether pencils or pens will be required, often indicating the ink color as well. Some classroom items may be specific to a particular class. If a math or science class, is there a requirement for a particular calculator? If an art or photography class, what supplies must the students provide? Foreign language classes may require 3x5 cards.
Back to School Clothing
Many schools operate under dress code standards and these frequently change. It is important to know what those standards are. Some schools may be in partnership with local retailers that sell clothing required by the school, especially if, for example, polo shirts carry the school emblem. Schools that require uniforms will direct parents to distributors.
North Carolina allows a back to school “tax-free” weekend for shopping, restricting tax-free sales to items used by students. Such savings events are amply advertised ahead of time and usually occur in early August. One tip when finding bargains before the tax-free event is to put the merchandise on lay-away until the tax-free weekend.
Transportation Concerns are Part of Back to School Preparation
School systems across the nation are looking for ways to cut costs and one of those involves school bus routes. Parents should determine if there are different bus routes and pick-up times from the prior school year. Private school bus transportation is more specific in that they may charge an additional fee for the service and limit the number of students benefiting. If students are driving on their own to school, especially for the first time, a parking sticker fee may apply.
Back to School Student Motivation
Creating a positive attitude as the first day of school nears helps students to overcome a variety of emotions they may have about the experience. These emotions can range from fear and anxiety to apathy. Shopping together for back to school supplies is one step in back to school motivation. In many cases, however, students are anxious to return; rising juniors face their most important high school year and seniors know that in a few months they will be off to college or in the work force.
Good planning and preparation will take the sting out of back to school shopping. This begins with proper information from the school or teachers in terms of any specific requirements. Although the transition from summer to the classroom may create student stress, using back to school as a motivator will change student perspectives.
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