The 10
Commandments of
1 THOU SHALT SET A
PROPER BEDTIME.

It can be difficult to transition from the
long, fun-filled days of summer to the more rigid
schedule of fall. Start a week or two early. Get
back into the habit of going to bed early and rising
at the appropriate time. Maybe even add 15 or 20
minutes to the morning scramble time to ease
the pressure. Select clothing the night before. Eat
breakfast together. Your children will arrive at
school ready to begin their day.

2 THOU SHALT DO THE
DREADED PAPERWORK.

3 THOU SHALT WAIT A WEEK
OR TWO BEFORE MAKING
CHANGES. By Jan Pierce
A retired teacher’s advice on how to
make the most of a new school year
THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF SCHOOL are important ones for children.

Meet and greets, new rules and expectations, a few queasy tummies — they’re
all part of getting the school year underway. For parents, it’s a time for fresh
starts too, sometimes burdened with a few doubts and fears. Did he get the right
teacher? Will she learn to read?
Relax, parents. You can get this new school year off to a great start.

I taught school, mostly first and second grades, from 1967 to 2007, and then
retired. I had a few years off (for good behavior) while I raised my two children.

I loved teaching. And I especially loved the first day of school, when everything in
the classroom was fresh and new. Crayons had sharp points, glue containers were
full. Desks were scrubbed and boasted beautifully printed nametags atop each one.

Children arrived that first morning all put together, wearing smiles of anticipation.

I often met a few parents that day as well. They were the ones who couldn’t quite
allow their children to ride the bus; they needed to see them safe and sound to the
classroom. I understood. I cried the day my eldest boarded the bus for first grade,
later telling me it was like “a ride at Disneyland.”
Read and follow the 10 commandments of back to school, and you’ll be well on
your way to a wonderful school year.

20 Washington FAMILY SEPTEMBER 2021
The one and only time I intervened in selecting
the teacher for my son, I was dead wrong. I got
him the older, more experienced teacher and
we were both bored for the rest of the year. (My
son and I, not the teacher.) Trust the system.

Children are placed with a certain teacher based
on the needs of both the child and for balance
in the classroom. The ratio of boys to girls, the
number of special needs children or English-
language learners, for example, have been taken
into consideration.

If you suspect that a change may be necessary,
wait a bit and see how your child adjusts. You may
be surprised. (Of course, in any situation that has
potential for serious problems, you as the parent
must act in your child’s best interests.)
4 THOU SHALT VOLUNTEER.

I can’t emphasize enough the value of
giving something to your child’s classroom
experience. If you work during the day, you can
still send in cupcakes or take time off to chaperone
a field trip. If you have young children at home,
arrange child care trades and volunteer to listen
DEZEIN/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS
Teachers and administrators take
advantage of the first week of school to get all
their ducks in a row. They want current address
and telephone information. They need to know
who to call in case of illness or emergency.

And teachers want to get a handle on the children
in their room. They want to know which parents
will be available to help them and who has special
health conditions.

Even though the sea of papers coming home
threatens to spill over into the trash can, don’t
let that happen. Take the time to complete the
paperwork and find a safe way to transport them
into the teacher’s waiting hands. The teacher will
love you for this.