7 Good Habits for Students to Start for the New School Year

A new school year is about to begin, and that means a fresh start for students. Now is the time to implement good habits and effective routines that can be maintained throughout the year to help students be more successful. When they have systems and strategies in place, they know what to expect and what needs to be done, which can help reduce stress. Here are some healthy habits for your child to start implementing for the first day of school.

1. Get enough sleep. Get into the routine of going to bed and waking up at a certain time, aiming for a solid 8–10 hours of sleep. If students know they want to be in bed by 9 p.m., they can plan their day out accordingly to have their homework, studying, chores, and other tasks done by that time.
2. Eat a healthy breakfast. Starting off with a nutritious meal that includes whole grains, protein, fresh fruit, or low-fat dairy can help students energize their body and stay focused until lunch. Whip up some quick breakfasts that are ready to go the next morning and don’t take much time. Pack a well-balanced lunch as well.
3. Prepare ahead of time. Make it a point to have your child pack up their backpack the night before and make sure all of their homework, books, and other supplies are included. If they have gym class or music lessons, make sure those items are packed and placed next to their bookbag as well. They can make getting ready faster by laying out their clothes in advance too.
4. Stay organized. Encourage students to write down everything in their planner, even if they don’t have much due yet. Use color-coded notebooks and folders to differentiate between each class and keep everything together. As they’re packing up their bookbag at the end of the night, take a few minutes to clean out trash, properly file loose papers, sharpen pencils, and restock other supplies. Get them into the habit of putting things where they belong and keeping track of what needs to be done.
5. Practice good note taking. Find a note-taking format that they like and is easy to follow, then remind them to stick with it. The beginning of the year is often review, so now is the time to get into the routine of writing down important information and structuring notes in a way that makes it easier to review later.
6. Find a homework buddy. Talk to your child about finding a friend in each of their classes (or a friend they have more than one class with) and trading phone numbers or email addresses so they have someone they can connect with if they are unsure about an assignment or have a question about their notes. If one of them is absent, they can share their materials from the day and fill each other in.
7. Ask questions. School is made for learning, so your child shouldn’t be afraid to speak up if there is something they don’t understand or need more help with. If they have a question about a concept, there’s a good chance other students do too. Asking for help now can keep them from falling further behind.

If your child could benefit from extra support with course content, isn’t sure of the best strategies for studying, or needs help figuring out how to effectively organize their materials, turn to Crafting Scholars. We develop custom learning plans aligned with your child’s individual needs and goals to empower them to be more successful. Get them into adopting good habits now so as classes become more difficult, they’re able to keep up. Contact Crafting Scholars today get started!

Originally published at https://craftingscholars.com on August 9, 2023.