Monday Top Ten: Things to know as the new school year begins

If you’re a parent, you might be reading this between increasingly annoyed shout-outs to your children who need to grab their backpacks and get out the door.

That’s right, the new school year starts today for several districts, including Modesto City Schools, and later this week for several others. (Take heart: It actually started last week in the Oakdale and Valley Home districts.)

As you and your kids settle into the back-to-school hustle, Tom Changnon, Stanislaus County superintendent of schools, shares his list of the Top Ten things parents should know – and do – as the new school begins:

1. Attendance matters – especially in the early years: Poor school attendance is the most frequent symptom of a school dropout. Students who miss more than eight days of school each year are often not on track to graduate. And missing school during the early grades has a negative impact on future academic achievement.

2. Stay involved and get to know your child’s teachers, even in high school: Parents who attended every back-to-school night and stayed in close contact with teachers when their children attended elementary and middle school often find themselves pulling back during high school. High school students may tell their parents they don’t need them to attend back-to-school night, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Everything in high school is credit- and test-driven. It’s a lot of pressure, and students need a team – their parents and teachers. Find out from teachers the best way to communicate with them. Usually email works well.

3. Embrace new ways of teaching: Instruction today is different from several years ago, let alone from when many parents attended school. New state standards emphasize a student’s ability to analyze and explain answers rather than simply responding with a, b or c. Fractions, division and other math instruction may look really different.

4. Learn the steps your child needs to take to be prepared for college: Middle school is not too early to begin thinking about whether your child will attend college. Create an academic plan with your child and the school counselor to prepare for college preparatory courses in middle and high school.

5. Testing is not the end-all be-all: Education is about much more than a test score. Sometimes, with the constant pressure of testing and scores and accountability, parents may think that teachers worry only about students passing tests. We all want students to do well on state tests, but the overall goal is that children enjoy learning. Educators care deeply about the children they teach, and they are trying to prepare them for their futures, and that’s more than testing.

6. Visit the school and the school website: Knowing the physical layout of the school building and grounds can help you connect with your child when you talk about the school day. It’s good to know the location of the main office, cafeteria, gym, athletic fields and auditorium. On the school website, you can find a variety of helpful information, including the school calendar, staff contact information and upcoming events. In addition, many teachers maintain their own websites that detail homework assignments, test dates and classroom events.

7. Send your child to school ready to learn: A nutritious breakfast fuels students and gets them ready for the day. Students who eat breakfast have more energy and do better in school. If you can’t provide breakfast, check to see if your school will provide a nutritious breakfast before the first bell rings. Students also need the right amount of sleep to be alert and ready to learn all day.

8. Teach study skills: Introducing your child to study skills now will pay off with good learning habits throughout life. Know when a test is scheduled and help your child study ahead of time rather than just the night before. Remind your child to bring home the right study materials: notes, study guides or books. Teach your child how to break down tasks into smaller, manageable chunks so test preparation isn’t overwhelming.

9. Know your school’s immunizations requirements: For many students, getting ready for the start of a new school year means something a little less fun and much more serious – getting immunizations. New and transferring students, kindergarten students, and those entering seventh grade will need to provide proof of immunizations before enrollment. Returning students already should have completed the required shots series.

10. A child’s learning continues outside of school: Children are learning all the time and parents are also teachers. Read aloud to each other. A love of reading starts at home, and a successful education depends on the ability to read. Encourage your child to read and turn off the television for quiet reading time.

This story was originally published August 7, 2015 at 2:39 PM with the headline "Monday Top Ten: Things to know as the new school year begins."