Back to School 2015

Back to scHool Making a smooth transition How parents can help students transition to college life

Mellow Your Mornings How to make school day mornings easier

acing the Exam

Test-taking tips for students

a blank slate media / litmor publications special section • august 21, 2015

Blank Slate 1-2 pg VALUES V2:Layout 1 8/11/15 9:59 AM Page 1 30 Back to school • News Times Newspapers, Friday, August 21, 2015

How parents can simplify students’ transition to college life

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ollege is the first taste of true independence many young students experience. Whereas mom and dad were always around to make sure kids were out the door on time and homework was done, that safety blanket is no longer there once kids move into their dorm rooms.

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The transition to college life can be exciting. But while students typically welcome that transition with open arms, parents often worry about how their children will handle their suddenly more independent life. Parents who want to help their kids make as smooth a transition to college life as possible can take steps during their children’s senior year of high school to help them adjust to their new surroundings and responsibilities more easily.

Let kids fly solo on school day mornings. New college students have to make many adjustments upon moving into their dorms, and getting themselves out of bed each morning and off to class on time is one such change. Parents worried that their students will sleep in when mom and dad isn’t around to remind them to wake up can start letting kids fly solo on school day mornings during their final year of high school. Let kids set their alarms, prepare their own breakfasts and get out the door on time all on their own.

By the time their freshman year of college arrives, kids will know how to handle their mornings by themselves.

Teach kids how to develop budgets.

Another problem many first-year college students encounter is an inability to effectively manage their money.

Whether you plan to give kids an allowance while they are in school or intend for them to work part-time for their spending money, use senior year of high school as an opportunity to show kids how to budget their money.

If they don’t have accounts already, open bank accounts in your youngster’s name, and insist that he or she start paying for his or her expenses via these accounts. Resist the urge to give high school kids gas money or money for shopping trips if they have already spent their allowances so they can learn how to effectively manage money between paydays. In addition, teach kids about the right and wrong ways to use credit cards, including the importance of paying balances in full and on time.

Let kids handle more standard responsibilities. Adults tend to take more mundane responsibilities like making doctor’s appointments or grocery shopping for granted. But kids likely have no idea how to handle such tasks. Parents can encourage their high school seniors to make their own medical appointments. In addition, take kids along on grocery shopping trips, explaining how to find sale items and which foods to buy and which to avoid. Nutrition is not always foremost on the minds of college freshmen, but those who understand the importance of healthy diets are more likely to buy nutritious meals than junk food.

Emphasize time management.

Today’s high schoolers are busier than ever before, so many may already be prepared for the juggling act that is college life. But college students have more free time than their high school counterparts, so parents can emphasize the importance of managing that free time wisely as opposed to spending it lounging on the couch or napping.

The transition from high school to college can be both exciting and difficult.

But parents can get a head start on that transition by encouraging their youngsters to be more independent during their final year of high school.

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32 Back to school • News Times Newspapers, Friday, August 21, 2015

Building a strong parent-teacher relationship Developing a strong relationship with a child’s teacher can help parents ensure their kids are doing their best in the classroom.

Once a school year begins, many students spend more time in the classroom with their teachers than they do at home with their parents. That’s especially true in dual-income households where both parents work outside of the home.

Though many parents would love to spend more time with their children, doing so can be difficult when both parents must go to work every day.

Because kids spend so much time with their teachers, it’s important for parents to work toward building a strong parent-teacher relationship. Such a relationship fosters communication, which can help a young student do his or her best in and out of the classroom, something that’s a goal for parents and teachers alike. Parents interested in developing a strong relationship with their kids’ teachers can take several steps to make that happen.

Meet your child’s teacher at the beginning of the year. Teachers have many students come in and out of their classroom on any given day, so it can be hard for teachers to initiate a relationship with parents. Parents have significantly fewer children to look after, so they should take the first step toward building a relationship with teachers.

Introduce yourself at the onset of the school year, providing phone numbers and e-mail addresses where you can be reached. Let the teacher know you’re available for discussion any time during the school year and that you look forward to the coming school year and working with the teacher as the year progresses.

Attend “Back to School Night.” School events like an open house or a “Back to School Night” are a great way to help kids grow acclimated to their school. But such events also make great opportunities for parents to learn more about their kids’ teachers than they might have learned during their introductory meeting. Such events may allow teachers to explain the curriculum for the upcoming year, and teachers may feel encouraged when parents show an active interest in such events.

Prioritize parent-teacher conferences. Parentteacher conferences are a great opportunity for parents to speak to their children’s teacher one-

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on-one. Unlike an introductory meeting or an open house at the beginning of the school year, a parent-teacher conference allows parents and teachers to specifically discuss students in private.

Teachers may provide insight into how a child is performing and behaving in the classroom, offering advice as to how to improve that performance or suggestions as to how to encourage kids to keep up the good work. Such conferences may be your only opportunity for a one-on-one, in-person discussion about your child, so make sure you’re on time and that you don’t miss these conferences.

Your child’s teacher will appreciate it, and you can use this as an opportunity to ask any questions you have about your child.

Keep the channels of communication open. If it’s been awhile since you’ve spoken to your child’s teacher, don’t be afraid to e-mail the teacher to check in or see if you can lend a helping hand.

In addition, if your child really enjoys a teacher’s class, don’t be hesitant to share that with the teacher. Teachers appreciate compliments just like other professionals, and parents should express their gratitude to those teachers who are working hard to make learning fun for their youngsters.

Establishing a strong relationship with a child’s teacher can help parents ensure students are making the most of their time in the classroom.

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Parents can take several steps to make sure school day mornings go more smoothly.

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chool day mornings can be hectic, as getting kids ready for school and out the door on time is not always easy. Working parents may find school day mornings especially difficult, as their own work schedules can make mornings feel even more rushed. Fortunately, parents can employ several strategies to free up time in the morning so everyone starts their days off in a more relaxing atmosphere.

Wake up earlier. Sleep might seem like a precious commodity, but waking up just 10 to 15 minutes earlier can remove some of the stress from weekday mornings without costing you a lot of sack time. Let kids sleep in until their normal wakeup time, using your extra 10 or 15 minutes to shower or enjoy your morning cup of coffee before the house is abuzz with activity.

Tackle certain chores the night before. Delaying certain chores until you wake up makes for a hectic morning, so tackle as many morning chores as possible before you go to bed for the night. Prepare school lunches, lay clothes out for yourself and your children, and make sure kids have their backpacks packed and ready to go before they go to bed. Each of these things may only take a few minutes, but when left for the morning, they can add up to a substantial amount of time.

Encourage youngsters to pick up the pace. Some people are morning people, while others dread setting their alarms for early morning hours. Kids who fall into the latter group may drag their feet in the morning, but parents should offer encouragement when kids are moving slowly in the morning.

Allowing your frustration to show may only make kids less fond of mornings, so remind them as nicely as possible that everyone has a schedule to stick to if they seem to be dragging their feet.

Keep the television off. If watching the television is ingrained in your morning routine, try going a few days without it to see if this makes it easier to get out the door on time. Kids might grow distracted by morning cartoons, and even adults may get caught up in morning news shows or other forecasts. Eliminating television from your morning routine can save time and also may help your family grow closer, as you will have more distraction-free time to speak to one another. In addition to turning off the television, resist the urge to turn on your devices or scan work emails when getting ready in the morning.

Parents know that school day mornings can be hectic. But there are several ways to make such mornings go more smoothly so everyone gets where they need to be on time.

News Times Newspapers, Friday, August 21, 2015 • Back to school

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How to save on school supplies Take inventory. If you have more than one child, chances are you already have lots of school supplies around the house. Dust off kids’ backpacks and study areas from last school year to determine which supplies you need to buy and which you already have. Going forward, encourage kids to store their supplies in a predetermined area once the school year ends, as this will make next year’s inventory that much easier to examine and assess.

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ack to school season can be as expensive for parents as it is exciting for students. Once the initial letdown of the end of summer vacation wears off, many kids are excited to return to school, where they can see their friends, study their favorite subjects and participate in extracurricular activities.

Parents of school-aged youngsters may share in that excitement while also knowing that back to school season can stretch their budgets. One of the ways to salvage those budgets is to save on school supplies. Fortunately, there are several ways parents can do just that.

Be patient. Shopping early can save shoppers money in many instances, but parents may benefit by exercising patience when it comes to buying school supplies for their children.

Teachers often give students lists of supplies they will need for each class, and parents who wait to receive such lists can avoid spending money on items their kids won’t need. Even if you wait it out, you may be able to get a head start, as some teachers may post supply lists on school websites, while others might email lists to parents before back to school season hits full swing.

Spend more now to save later.

While inexpensive supplies can be hard to resist, such items likely won’t withstand the test of time, forcing you to spend time and money each year buying replacement supplies. Paying more now for certain items, including stronger backpacks and more highly rated calculators, may end up saving you money in the long run, even if the initial pill is somewhat tough to swallow.

Use technology to your advantage.

Department stores and businesses that sell school supplies, such as pharmacies and office stores, may or may not discount too many items once back to school season hits full swing. But savvy parents can still find deals by using technology to their advantage when shopping for school supplies. Download apps like RetailMeNot to your smartphone and enable its updates so your phone essentially notifies you of any discounts the moment you walk into a given store. If you don’t receive any updates, search for discounts via the app or the Internet as you shop.

Chances are strong that there are deals to be had, even if you don’t learn of the deals until you arrive at the store.

School supplies can be expensive, but parents can employ several strategies to save on school supplies now and in the future.

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36 Back to school • News Times Newspapers, Friday, August 21, 2015

How to encourage kids to read will develop and continue throughout their lives. Many parents read to their children at night before bedtime, but any time of day will suffice.

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hile many parents recognize the impact reading can have on their children, it’s no secret that getting kids to embrace reading can be difficult. Distractions such as video games, social media and even the great outdoors are all there to draw kids away from reading. But parents who want to instill a love of reading in their children can still take steps to ensure their kids don’t miss out on the benefits of a

good book.

Read to your children. Numerous studies have discovered various benefits of reading to children when they are young. The National Center for Education Statistics notes that children whose parents read to them typically become better readers and perform better in school. Reading to children early on is the first step toward fostering a love of reading kids

Don’t be discouraged if kids are not interested in books. While reading fiction can help develop a youngster’s imagination, parents should not be discouraged if kids don’t want to read books. Reading the newspaper, magazines and even comic books can help kids develop strong reading skills and an extensive vocabulary and, in the case of comic books, inspire their imaginations. Young sports fans might be more inclined to read the sports page than a novel, so let them do so. Kids are more likely to embrace reading if what they’re reading interests them, so encourage kids to read up on those interests, even if that reading does not involve picking up a book.

Get your youngster his or her own library card. Thanks to the popularity of e-readers, many adults would be hard pressed to locate their local library if asked to do so. But visiting the library is a great way to encourage kids to read, especially if kids

have their own library cards. Kids with their own library cards tend to look at visits to the library as shopping trips where they get to make their own choices about what they’re taking home with them. And once kids reach a certain age, they can visit the library on their own.

Share your own reading experiences with children. Kids look up to their parents and often want to mimic their behavior. So parents can set a good example by reading as well. On trips to the library, check out your own book. While you might not want to discuss every book you read with your children, discuss the books they’re reading. Chances are you read many of those same books yourself when you were a child, and discussing books with your child is a great way to improve his or her reading comprehension.

Distractions abound for today’s youngsters, who might not embrace reading as readily as they do video games or social networking. But parents can take many steps to instill a love of reading in their kids that will last a lifetime.

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News Times Newspapers, Friday, August 21, 2015 • Back to school

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Test-taking tips for students A

ccording to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, test anxiety is a form of performance anxiety that can affect even the most prepared students. The ADAA notes that several factors, including fear of failure and a poor test history, can contribute to test anxiety, the presence of which can make it difficult for students to concentrate and may even cause physical symptoms like headache and nausea. Parents of students who are anxious about upcoming tests can share the following test-taking tips with their children, courtesy of the ADAA. Prioritize preparation. Test preparation should begin well in advance of the test, as cramming the night before may make students feel unprepared and less confident in their knowledge of the material. In addition, studying at least a week or two in advance of the test date affords students the opportunity to take practice tests in conditions similar to those in real testing situations.

That familiarity can calm any nerves they may typically experience when taking exams.

Develop an effective test-taking strategy. The ADAA recommends students answer the questions they know first before returning to more difficult questions. Doing so may contribute to students’ confidence and calm their nerves as they approach the

rest of the test. When tests include essay portions, students can outline their essays before they begin to write so they have a clearer idea of what they want to say and how they want to say it.

Employ relaxation techniques. Deep, slow breaths and systematic relaxation of muscles can energize students’ bodies and make it easier for them to focus. Students can apply such techniques before exams to curb any pre-test jitters they might have and, if necessary, revisit these relaxation exercises during the test if feelings of nervousness return.

Get enough sleep and eat healthy before the exam. Stress and anxiety are more difficult to cope with when the body is tired, so parents should encourage their children to get adequate sleep the night before an exam. In addition, provide healthy foods for kids to eat prior to the exam so they are not lethargic or hungry once the test begins.

Don’t be afraid to seek help. Plenty of students experience test anxiety, and many schools offer programs designed to help students overcome their test-taking fears. Making use of these programs is a great way for kids to improve their testing performance.

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Tips to help students choose the right major

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s recent college graduates can no doubt attest, the job market for young people can be difficult to navigate. Many recent graduates are still struggling to find full-time employment, and some might be wondering if they chose the right major.

Though choosing a major is about more than just finding a job, the financial burden of earning a college degree can’t be ignored. According to the Project on Student Debt, 71 percent of college seniors who graduated in 2012 had student loan debt, with an average of $29,400 per borrower. In fact, between 2008 and 2012, the average student loan debt at graduation increased an average of 6 percent each year. So while the right major should incorporate a student’s interests, skills and strengths, it’s also important to find a major that can help students earn a living after they walk across the stage and receive their diplomas.

The following are a handful of tips college students can employ to ensure they choose the right major.

• Don’t jump into it. Some students

might want to pick a major before they ever step foot on campus. While that strategy might work for some, it should only be employed by those students who are wholly certain a major is for them. Some students choose a major early on because they feel they may get a head start at navigating their way through a job market that recently endured exceptionally high levels of unemployment. But the pressure of finding a job should not be what drives students when choosing a major. Unless you’re entirely certain that a particular course of study is for you, give yourself some leeway and wait to choose a major. The first year or two of college is a great time to expand your academic horizons so use that time to your advantage.

• Don’t procrastinate. While rushing into a major is a mistake, it’s also foolish to procrastinate with regard to choosing a course of study. According to The College Board’s annual survey of colleges, the average tuition and fees at private nonprofit four-year colleges for the 2013-14 school year was $30,094, while public four-year in-state tuition and fees averaged slightly less than $9,000 for

the same year. So no matter which type of college or university a student enrolls in, he or she will be making a significant financial commitment. Waiting too long to choose a course of study may find you paying for courses you ultimately won’t need, increasing your already expensive tuition along the way.

• Use the resources at your disposal.

Students undecided about a college major should make use of their schools’ career development departments to help them get on the right path. Many such departments provide assessment tools to help students find a major that synthesizes their interests and skills with a field of study. In addition, the personnel within career development departments have dealt with hundreds, if not thousands, of previous students who found themselves in similar situations, and that experience can prove invaluable to students who might feel lost with regard to choosing majors.

• Know the requirements if you have a specific career in mind. While many majors are not difficult to navigate, some fields of study have strict guide-

lines that students should be aware of almost immediately. For example, students hoping to attend medical school after graduation need to determine which courses they absolutely must take in order to qualify for medical school.

In addition, students with such specific plans in mind often must choose their majors as early as possible so they can plan their curriculum in accordance with the standards they will need to meet to be considered for postgraduate work.

Choosing a major is a decision college students should not take lightly. But students who are unsure of what they want to study should approach the process of choosing a major with patience and an eye on finding a course of study that matches their interests with their skills.

How to make your dorm room your own

College students can employ various strategies to make their dorm rooms feel more like home.

Children spend roughly 17 to 18 years living under Mom and Dad’s roof. When the time comes to go away to college, young men or women find themselves on their own for the first time in their lives. Once youngsters move into their dorm rooms, many attempt to add a few personal touches to their new home.

All too often a college dorm room is drab and uninspiring. Universities tend to make dorm rooms sparse so they are easy to maintain. Very often walls are made from concrete or brick, and the space may not be very large. In addition, dorm rooms are often shared with a roommate, and the idea of spending semester after semester here may not be so appealing.

Students tend to arrive on campus with fixed budgets and not a lot of spending money for new furnishings, so dorm rooms often become populated with garage-sale finds and hand-me-downs. This may only add to the room’s poor aesthetics.

Making a dorm room your own does not require a lot of money or know-how. It starts with a vision, a few comforts from home and some collaboration with your roommate.

The following are a few tips for young men and women looking to turn their dorm rooms from drab to fab.

• Know the dorm rules before making any permanent changes.

Rather than face fines at the end of

the school year, know what you can and can’t do to your room before making any changes. For example, schools may frown on holes in walls or other structural changes, so invest in stick-on hooks for hanging photos on walls.

• Consider using a dorm room planning Web site. Certain Web sites enable students to share a collaborative shopping cart with roommates so they can coordinate colors and avoid buying two of the same items.

• Remember, the bed is the pivotal piece of the room. Most dorm rooms fit little more than two beds and two desks. Therefore, the bulk of your design will come from outfitting your bed with a comforter that adds color and life to the room. If you haven’t yet decided on a color scheme with your roommate, you may want to opt for neutral colors, or even basic black-and-white, which will blend with anything.

• Invest in other creature comforts. A nice area rug and a few decorative lamps can remove the institutional feel of overhead fluorescent lights and cinder block walls. Task lighting

enables you to get work done at your desk or to read on the bed.

• Consider curtains to add a homey feel. While blinds certainly have their utility, fabric curtains can help absorb noise and also make a dorm room feel more like home. If your dorm room has an attached bathroom, hang a shower curtain and use thick towels to make the space seem more like home.

• Carve out a spot for a mini refrigerator. Students should not survive on cafeteria food alone. Bring a mini refrigerator for those late-night cravings. This will save you from overpaying at vending machines or at the nearby convenience store.

• Ask Mom what laundry detergent she uses. Smells can trigger powerful memories and emotions.

Washing linens and clothing with the same detergent used at home can make school feel more familiar.

• Don’t forget photos. Frame photos of friends and family members and place them around your area of the dorm room. This way you will have familiar faces smiling back at you when you need a little pick-me-up.

News Times Newspapers, Friday, August 21, 2015 • Back to school

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Outfitting students’ technology needs N owadays, school supplies differ greatly from the markers, protractors and pencil cases required just a few decades ago. Many classrooms are now geared toward digital learning, and items such as tablets, smartboards and laptop computers are essential to enhancing students’ classroom experiences. It’s no surprise then that many students require a long list of tech products and applications to keep up with their studies.

According to a Project Tomorrow report titled “The New Digital Playbook: Understanding the Spectrum of Students’ Activities and Aspirations,” a large percentage of students have access to various mobile devices in the classroom. Smartphones, laptops, tablets, and digital readers are some of the more commonly used devices in modern classrooms, and such usage is not limited to older students, as the report noted significant penetration of mobile

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illions of students participate in online learning each year, and that number continues to grow, according to the Sloan Consortium. A growing number of colleges and universities now offer distance learning courses, and some students find it possible to complete their degrees without ever visiting campus. Online learning enables students to take classes according to their own schedules and complete coursework without hav-

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Smartphone: Smartphones now have many of the same capabilities of tablets, albeit in smaller packages.

Parents may need to customize safety settings on phones to keep students secure, but the devices can be valuable tools in keeping tabs on kids’ whereabouts.

App access: Students may require different apps to complete their assignments and stay organized. Calendar functions, newspaper apps and calculators can provide the boosts kids need to perform well and stay organized. Mobile devices are pre-loaded with stores where users can purchase applications, such as the App Store on Apple devices and Google Play on Google-based mobile products. However, users will still need to establish an account, which is typically linked to a credit card. If parents do not feel comfortable giving children free rein, they can set parameters on app purchases or buy pre-paid app gift cards to avoid excessive charges on credit cards.

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Tablet: Android and Apple-based tablets give students easy access to a variety of applications and web connectivity. Their portability makes them a convenient way of staying connected both inside and outside the home.

Many tablets can be enhanced with plug-in keyboards that make typing easier. Tablets can be used to take notes, browse the Internet, check email, and maintain correspondence with classmates via messaging applications.

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To enhance the learning experience found in school, parents may want to allow access to such devices at home.

The following are some tech items to consider.

traditional computers remain a valuable learning tool. Their larger screen sizes and mouse/keyboard features can make it easier for students to spend more time working on projects that require a lot of typing. Since many teachers now require assignments be typewritten or completed online, students may need to have a computer at home. Peripherals, such as a printer and an external hard drive, may prove useful as well.

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ing to commute to campus. This is particularly attractive to students who work full time or have families.

Convenience is not the only reason to consider online education. According to a 2009 meta study from the United States Department of Education, students who took online courses performed better than those taking the same courses through traditional instruction. Students who mixed online learning with traditional classroom work performed even better.

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devices among the primary grades, even in K-2.

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40 Back to school • News Times Newspapers, Friday, August 21, 2015

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Classes In:

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Want to keep you child on Target for the next school year? Call S.E.E.D.S. of the Willistons TODAY 516-742-5243

Did you know that most students lose 1-2 months of knowledge during the summer? Don’t let that happen to your child. For more information or to reserve a group, contact S.E.E.D.S. today! (516) 742-5243. Conveniently located in the heart of Williston Park, all services performed by licensed and insured professionals. One reason for our success is the professionals at S.E.E.D.S tailor each group based on your child’s specific needs. Smaller groups allow us to offer individualized attention.

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Call for information:

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999 Herricks Road BALLET TO BROADWAY New Hyde Park, NY 11040 VISIT OUR WEB SITE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS: www.americantheaterdance.com

(Speech, Education, Evaluation & Developmental Services)

Eileen M. Devaney, MS, CC-SLP, Director 129A Hillside Avenue, Williston Park, NY 11596 Tel: 516-742-5243 Fax: 516-742-3536 www.seedsofthewillistons.com