Back to school!

Photographs: Pexels

Text: Monika Pedersen

The month of August heralds the start of a new academic year and another exciting chapter in a student’s life. It also brings with it a new set of rules, routines, academic rigour, and adventure. It is both an exciting and anxious time for many students, as they need to re-climatise themselves to a new teacher, some new classmates, and a new, tougher level of academic learning. It is not only a time of anticipation for students, but also for their parents, too, who need to become accustomed to the different ways and operations of a new class teacher, as in international schools, students do not tend to keep the same teacher each year as is the way in the Danish system, where they have the same teacher for several years and can build a rapport and long term relationship that comes with many benefits for both the students and their parents.

Preparation

To prepare for the coming year, it is an investment for a parent to start talking about the year ahead with their child, a few weeks before school begins. This gives a child time to shift from holiday mode to school mode slowly. It also allows a child to recall the experiences of the previous year and to consider the path ahead. Discussions regarding ways of behaving, friendship interactions, dealing with conflict and concern need to be vocalised and talked through, so a child has a road map and strategies for how to cope and navigate to go forward. It is unrealistic to think that a child can deal with a new school year without considerable preparation.

"The month of August heralds the start of a new academic year and another exciting chapter in a student’s life."

New routines

As it is a time of new beginnings and understanding that can cause some students anxiety and discomfort, it is crucial to invest time in discussing what’s happening at school. It is a trying time for a young person, and this needs to be respected. Gone is all the familiarity of the former teacher and teacher assistant, and the known procedures, and the classroom. Instead, it is all different, and as much as the previous teacher tries to prepare a student, the reality is always a little different for individuals. Thus, the onus is on the new teacher and parents to quickly form a working relationship to manage the transition for each child, as stability is key. A child needs a sense of familiarity, safety, and security to thrive, learn, and enjoy school. Therefore, the new teacher needs to work hard to establish the new routines and sense of stability quickly for children to feel happy and relaxed in their classroom. A welcoming environment and a warm smile each day also go a long way in nurturing this feeling of belonging.

Connections

To establish a connection with parents, who are generally busy people holding down high-end jobs in an international school, regular, clear, and consistent communication is essential. Busy parents can not always follow a chain of emails; thus, frequent, personal interaction is a must. This closeness and accessibility help form positive and constructive relationships whereby parents feel a sense of security and have a trusting feel towards the teacher and their child’s welfare each day. It is very important for parents with young children, who do not have experience of older children who have gone through the system, to know their child’s teacher, how s/he works, his or her routines and expectations, so they form a rapport, receive timely updates, and establish a successful working relationship which benefits the child, parent, and the teacher. This triangular relationship is integral to a harmonious and successful year ahead. As the academic year is short, there should be no time wasted in building all these bridges. It is a time-consuming activity and requires dedication from a teacher; however, a wise teacher will invest the time and energy, as this is the best means of ensuring a child strives, a parent works in collaboration, and the teacher has no parental conflict! When it is time to have parent-teacher conferences, the pre-work will pay off, as then the meeting is a natural and longer dialogue than the morning greeting, and it avoids any awkwardness or dissatisfaction from a parent. It ensures that a meeting is productive and pleasant, and this, again, helps to cement a healthy relationship that rewards all involved.

Simple steps

So much of what takes place in school is the same as in any other business. It is down to communication, forming bonds, and being able to work another understand others and their needs in order to achieve the goal with as little stress and anxiety as possible.