Technolandy

Day -5 (of 2025/26) what to do as parents to get learners ready for the school year! Thanks @huffpost

Teachers Confess What They Really Want Parents To Do Before School Starts. Their Answers Are Surprising. — HuffPost

One week to go till schools reopen in BC – hoping the same in Alberta… both provinces teachers are working without a contract…

The list from Mary Holmes – the italics from me!

1. Reestablish Routines – bedtimes and wakeups are even tough for educators… but also more prescriptive times to eat (reminder that Canada is the lone g7 nation without a food program for students – with the exception of PEI) a well as practicing waiting patiently and  seeing if they can eat a prepared lunch on their own (can they open their containers/packages? And clothing readiness – shoes and coats!
2. Read – I point out regularly that there are a lack of reading role models (shoutout to AJ Brown reading Inner Excellence on the sidelines) so red to/with younger children and read parallel (same activity, not same book) with independent readers – and even better: when they aren’t reading (or show your screen is a graphic novel or text writing, not candy crush) read comics!!!
3. Fine Motor Skills – scissors… pencils/pens… crayons… puzzles… fly/ply-dough – l tools that help slow things down so the brain can percolate! Combine with practice letters (name!) and numbers (phone #)
4. Encourage independence – practice my suggested ‘boredom break’ – try to get to 5 minutes of doing nothing… not doodling nor reading, nor viewing… not even listening to music… then make sure kids are ready to be bathroom independent – that means washing hands too… but ‘waiting games’ are so valuable!
5. Give responsibilities – classes often give kids ‘jobs’ – but they vary… change up a ‘daily chore’ eg set table… or check that everyone’s coats are hung up… or tidy a bookshelf (can’t emphasize the value of having some books available… ask teachers/libraries for titles or foe books if they are cost prohibitive. Have them pick out clothes the night before (I still do this…) Skill of the Week: Focus on one life skill (tying shoes, making sandwiches, folding clothes) to build independence that also helps at school.
6. Prepare them to advocate for themselves –  which can be very intimidating…asking for help can be feared as showing vulnerability… it’s why we try to make sure every child has at least two adults they feel they can go to…
7. Center kindness – love the book recommendation “how full is your bucket? For kids” – asking how they saw/showed kindness during the day but don’t force the issue about them making friends…
8. Talk positively about school – don’t share how much you hated math (or were bad at it) – show curiosity and see if they can teach you something they learned… picking a new school outfit always psyched up my kids (even if it was from thrift shops – esp shoes). Share one thing they’re looking forward to, or one thing they’re grateful for, to set a positive tone.

Others that are ‘under the radar’

Micro-mindfulness: Two minutes of breathing, stretching, or a “shake it out” dance before heading out the door.

Transition Activity: A “decompression ritual” like a snack together, short walk, or drawing before talking about the school day. This helps them shift gears.

Rose/Thorn/Bud: Share a rose (best part of the day), thorn (tough part), and bud (something they’re looking forward to tomorrow).

Problem-Solving Practice: Role-play quick “what if” scenarios (lost homework, playground conflict) so kids feel prepared for tricky moments – even how to say hi to someone new…!

Curiosity Spark: Ask a “wonder question” before school — “What’s one thing you’d like to learn about today?” — to keep curiosity alive. Check our wonderopolis.com 

Noise Navigation: Practice being in different noise levels — quiet focus (like puzzles or silent reading) and louder group situations (family dinner, playground). Some kids struggle when they’re suddenly back in the din of 20/22/30 kids.

Micro-Stamina: Build “school muscles” with 10–15 minute stretches of sitting, listening, or focusing on one task — gradually lengthen. School requires longer attention than summer often does.

Transitions Readiness: Practice shifting from one activity to another (game → chore, reading → dinner). Teachers rely heavily on transition readiness, and it’s a muscle that gets rusty.

Calendar Preview: Put the school schedule (days off, early dismissals) somewhere visible at home. Builds time awareness and reduces “surprises.” I don’t send home weekly ‘weeks at a glance’ with the next months worth of big events (especially not-in-school dates because the only thing worse than a three day weekend is 4+…)

One week to go!! Is everyone looking forward to the day after Labour Day??