As mad-dash September ends, take stock
The school dreams have finally stopped.
If you’re a teacher or student, you know what I’m talking about. I get them in the weeks before a new academic year starts: I’m running late for class; I’ve forgotten all my students’ names; I’ve slept past my alarm. One time I dreamt my students ran amok and locked me in the bathroom.
I’m back in the classroom after a yearlong (unpaid) sabbatical. I had a productive year away from teaching: I travelled to the U.S. and Europe. I also fulfilled a lifelong dream and finished writing a novel I’m really proud of. But now, it’s back to reality.
As we near the end of the mad dash that is September, it’s time to evaluate the success of my family’s School Preparedness Plan.
One month in, it’s time to take stock of school supplies. I know many parents spend the last few weeks of August stockpiling pencils, markers, binders and notebooks, but I like to revisit our stationery collection at the end of September. So far, Mustafa needs graph paper, lots of it. And Ibrahim is in dire need of one-inch binders — four of them, please.
We do the same thing with school clothes — this year’s extended summer heat means I haven’t evaluated fall wardrobes yet. What clothes have they outgrown or permanently stained over the summer? (Answer: Everything). How many more gym clothes do they need? (Answer: There are other types of clothing?)
The next step requires some brutal honesty: does the homework and activities schedule I carefully plotted in August actually work?
Usually, my after-school schedules need to be updated to account for changes in routine. Also because they are wildly ambitious and stop working after the first month — right about now. Life is getting busi- er, and next week, takeout will be my friend. Plus, I need to get the kids to pack their own lunches.
The final step in my School Preparedness Plan is to harness the wisdom of others and ask family and friends for their best tips — the kind that last longer than a Popsicle on a blistering September afternoon.
A fellow teacher swears by a wipeoff monthly calendar to keep track of upcoming deadlines, and avoid last-minute supply runs for the assignment her kid “forgot” was due the next day. Another friend puts notes in lunch bags to remind her kid to focus, pay attention, and try their best. Nine-year-old Ibrahim still has the green Post-it note I stuck in his lunch bag weeks ago: “I’m so proud of you! Have an awesome first day of Grade 5!”
Ibrahim has a few more specific tips for fellow students, gleaned after his first few weeks:
1. Try to keep your papers in one spot in your desk, not spread all over.
2. Spend money on a good backpack that is not too big for you.
3. Don’t get in other kids’ way — respect everyone’s space.
4. If you have a nice teacher who doesn’t mind if you accidentally interrupt the class, be grateful.
5. Bring a pencil every day so you don’t have to ask others and irritate your teacher.
6. Remember to check your agenda and to-do list everyday.
7. If you have a locker, don’t tell anyone your lock combination. Except maybe your best friend.
A new school year means a fresh start. Over the years, I’ve learned to balance my hopes and idealism with a large dose of reality.
This will be my 15th year as a high school teacher and my ninth year with school-age children. My school advice can be summed up succinctly: Start things early. Count on diversions from The Plan and learn to be flexible when homework and activities pile up. Above all, keep going.
We muddled through September, which I count as a win. Here’s to a memorable, peaceful, well-organized, rest-of-school year. Uzma Jalaluddin is a high school teacher in the York Region. She writes about parenting and other life adventures. Reach her at ujalaluddin@outlook.com
The final step in my School Preparedness Plan is to harness the wisdom of others and ask them for their best tips