Looking ahead to the new school year

As we look forward to August and a new school year just around the corner, this can bring a flurry of emotions to students and their families alike. 

“Make time to sit down and talk to your child,” Abigail Broderick, Executive Director of Access ASU, said. “As a former administrator and teacher, [I know that] sometimes families get stuck in the day-to-day hustle and bustle with your job, schedules, getting your kids to school, making dinner and all of the family dynamics, that sometimes we forget to make time to talk.” Broderick said.

“Ask [your student] what excites them about school,” Broderick said. “Try to focus on that and help support whatever it is that they bring up as a priority for themselves.”

Celebrating different milestones and transitions throughout your student’s educational journey is vital to keeping up their momentum and desire to learn and grow.

“It’s really important to celebrate and acknowledge transitions because they’re a part of life,” Broderick said. “We go through multiple transitions and changes in our own lives. Transitions can also help shape the future self of a person.”

Going through transitions also means learning to accept and work with changes as they come, even though it may not be exactly what you or your student had planned.

“As parents, we want to support what our child wants,” Broderick said. “It is important to understand that there may be a time where there is something that you do not have control over. Take it as an opportunity to learn… That can help shape the future of a student.”

Harvard Graduate School of Education’s “Making Caring Common” project shared a valuable article with resources and tips for families to support their students during intimidating transitional periods.

It is important for students and families both to remember that even though big changes can feel quite frightening, they are crucial to helping you grow and succeed in the future, both inside and outside of the classroom.