Get Prepared for Back to School
Parents and teachers alike are busy preparing for the new school year. While teachers are preparing their rooms and curriculum, parents are completing the exhausting task of fulfilling the requirements of student supply lists along with purchases of new backpacks and shoes outgrown over the summer. It seems like the preparation is endless. Now what about the preparation of the students themselves? After all, they are what this is all about!
As a classroom teacher, I find that too often children are simply not prepared for that transition back to the rigors of an academic environment and the loss of those carefree summer freedoms. This is particularly true for children in the primary grades (grades K-3) and for students with disabilities or learning challenges. This is never more evident than first thing in the morning as they begin their day. It is not hard to spot those kids that have had a difficult time completing morning tasks including eating breakfast and gathering supplies, clothing, lunch money, etc. to finally arrive at the bus stop or in the family vehicle to make it to school on time! This mad morning frenzy takes place across America every school day, but for some it is a real power struggle that leaves the child frustrated and unprepared for the rigors of the learning day.
There is a very effective strategy you can implement into your morning that will transform morning chaos into a peaceful seamless routine that relieves you of the nagging and power struggle while building independence in your child. The strategy is a “Morning Task List”, to be placed in a strategic place for your child like the refrigerator or child’s bedroom. More than a list, it is an interactive check list that your child is in control of, and includes a system of rewards or positive reinforcement as good habits are formed. It takes a little preparation but you will find the pay backs are well worth it for the success of your child’s day. You will need a few materials, some poster board, a grease pencil or dry erase pen or magnets, some visuals or personal photos (or someone artsy to draw some pictures), and some laminating to be done at your local copy store or school. Here is how you construct this incredibly successful strategy:
- Mentally walk through and list each task that must be completed each morning, from the time your child arises to the time they actually depart for school.
- Order those tasks sequentially, from the first to very last walking out the door. Write a short sentence for each task as a first person “I” statement, e.g. I brushed my teeth.
- Measure your poster board for cutting. Decide where is the best place for your child to interact with the list and cut your poster board to accommodate the particular space you have chosen.
- List each task and place a visual next to it. This might be a snapshot that represents the task like a toothbrush or backpack. You might choose to use clipart or a simple drawing. Draw a small box or line to the far right of each “task” sentence and visual so that the child can check off each task as completed.
- Tailor the tasks and the visuals to your child’s needs, when you are satisfied that you have a complete list of necessary tasks and it looks colorful and appealing, have your list laminated to accommodate the daily use of a grease pencil or dry erase. If you place your Morning Task List on the refrigerator, your child can also use small magnets as a means of checking off each task.
Now to implement this strategy in a successful way, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, and most importantly there must be a system of reward or “positive reinforcement” included or it will have little effect on your child’s behavior. Each morning upon completion of the list, your child should proudly let you know that he/she has checked off each task on the list and is ready for school. You may find it necessary to redirect your child to complete and move on to the next task, to completion, by shadowing them for a few days as they move through the process. If your child becomes off task and moves through the process too slowly, rather than nag, set a timer for completion and a reward for reasonable completion time. After a brief inspection when you are satisfied that your child is indeed ready with backpack and coat (if needed) placed by the door, reward your child with verbal praise and a token (or tokens as desired).
My recommendation for a reward varies depending on the age of the child and their ability to wait for delayed gratification, or on their need for more immediate reinforcement. The reinforcement or reward, in any case, should include an interactive “hands-on” process for your child. Upon successful completion of the Morning Task List, give your child a token (a penny or a small item like a marble or a poker chip) to place in a container to be “cashed in” at a latter time for a reward or treat. The reward should be something that your child enjoys but does not have free access to like perhaps an additional 10 minutes of T.V./Video time, game boy, computer time, etc. The reward might even be a special activity with you on the weekend when the child has earned a specified number of tokens at the end of the week. If your child needs more immediate reinforcement, they might redeem their tokens after school or even upon completion in the morning. If your child has a disability that involves cognitive or emotional challenges, they may require a schedule of more frequent reinforcement. In the beginning that might include a token or even a reward after each item completed which can be faded back as they master the routine and perform it more automatically.
Above all, keep in mind as you implement this very effective strategy that your goal is to foster independence in your child and “ownership” of their preparation as a learner each day. Their Morning Task List and the process itself should be tailored to your child’s needs and personality.
Finally, and most importantly, this process should be fun and should result in a happier more confident child ready to meet the challenges of their day.
If you would like a copy of a sample Morning Task List I have created, click on the link below. You may access the PDF format document and you have my permission to duplicate and use it just as it is. CLICK HERE http://www.agame2teach.com/morningtasklist.pdf
Copyright 2009 Donna Goodman all rights reserved.
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