School Supplies: A Toolkit for Parents and Kids

Washington D.C. – Dr. Robert W. Simmons III

Preparing for a new school year is the perfect opportunity to draw up plans for academic success

During a recent visit to a high school in metropolitan Washington, DC I saw the excitement of the teachers beginning their preparations for the upcoming school year. The energy of the teachers showed an excitement about the students and energy linked to the innovative things these teachers were developing for their classrooms. The tools included new teaching strategies, creative ways of using technology, and a massive collection of books designed to engage today’s learners.

As I thought about the things these teachers were adding to their toolkits, I began to think about what items we parents needed to provide, as we prepared to send our daughter back to school in the fall.

Back-to-school checklist

Certainly the obligatory pencils, a backpack, and other items came to mind. However, I’ve concluded parents and children must have other things in their toolkits; items we can’t necessarily touch but help frame our thinking.  Here’s a checklist.

1. Parents need to show commitment. Place commitment in your child’s toolkit every day. After years of being a student, teacher, and now a university professor, I’ve come to believe that academic success is about being committed to the journey; about putting in the work as student and supporting your child during that work, even when times are tough. Commitment may not mean buying the latest laptop or the latest cools threads. Perhaps it’s demonstrating that you are committed to your child’s success by listening to them read every night, finding someone who can help them with homework that you don’t understand, or visiting their classroom several times during the school year.
2. Parents must place some good old-fashioned hard work in their kids’ toolkits. During a recent conversation with a group of teachers they were perplexed at the number of students who demonstrated a sense of entitlement: “Why didn’t I pass this class, I showed up everyday,” or “What you mean I got a ‘D?’ I turned in most of my homework.” I am not saying young people don’t work hard or lack a sufficient work ethic. It is my assertion that not enough of them embrace the spirit of hard work generations before them used to bring about positive social change in the African-American community.
3. My wife told me that all children need confidence in their toolkits; not the kind of confidence we might associate with arrogance; but the confidence to overcome challenges when the deck seems stacked against them or they feel no one is in their corner.

It is through a healthy sense of confidence, supported by kind and encouraging words of their caregivers at home, that young people will not only survive school, and thrive during adverse situations, but also be better prepared to contribute to the betterment of our community and this society.

5 resources for parents:

Ten Tips for Your Child’s Success in School HealthyChildren.org
What’s the best predictor for school success? About.com Psychology
School Success for your Child No Child Left Behind
12 Steps for Academic Success DrEarlBloch.com
School Success Profile SchoolSuccessProfile.org