A “Back-to-School” Unlike Any Other: Three Ways Educators Can Make It Work

Each year, as summer transitions into fall, the tradition of “going back” belongs to children. All across the country, children pack their backpacks with supplies, lay out their clothes on the bed, and try to sleep while their minds race with wonderings and worries for the first day of school:?

Who will be in my class?

Will I make a friend?

What will I learn?

Will my teacher like me??

And yet, there has never been a “back-to-school” moment quite like this one.

In the past year, we have seen the true resilience of our children. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, they have found ways to adapt and connect with each other, with us, and with the joys of learning. Yet we cannot underestimate that all of us, especially our children, will need a different kind of care and support to successfully transition back to school.

The weight of trauma and loss has personally visited so many families. Yet, children are still hopeful, optimistic, and brave. Here are three ways we can harness their strengths and empower them and their families heading into the school year.

Re-imagine family engagement. This is a moment to break open the idea of family engagement and make it deeper and more impactful for all of us. We can strengthen family partnerships by valuing families as co-problem solvers for helping children transition back to school. Ask for their input via interactive chats and back-to-school meetings. Tap into the connections within families by offering new kinds of homework that encourage family story-sharing and celebration. Include family stories in the curriculum, honor and value culturally diverse traditions and languages, and use technology to communicate in a two-way system that invites caregiver questions, concerns, and interests.

Be active listeners to children and families. This is an opportunity for honest conversation and a greater sense of communication with families. Let’s ensure that families and children feel heard and understood in the school setting. Create writing and storytelling experiences that feel open-ended and responsive. Use technology as a source of community by hosting virtual read-alouds and creating pop-up meetings for families that focus on topics of immediate interest and concern. Be vigilant and attentive to establishing routines that model active listening, rather than telling. Amplify communication through newsletters, emails, and text messages that go deeper than the day-to-day logistics. Let’s ask families: What are you wondering about? What continues to worry you? What are your hopes and dreams for your child this year? And let’s tell them: I am here for you. Your school is here for you.

Prioritize social-emotional learning. After a year of virtual classrooms, children will need to re-adjust to making friends in person. We can help by giving thoughtful instruction about the meaning of friendship, empathy building, and self-expression in our lessons. Let’s create communities of belonging by establishing norms of acceptance and celebrating our differences and similarities. By centering the strengths of children and tapping into their natural empathy, we can foster a powerful new community of inclusion, where bullying has no place. When talking about or with our children and families, let’s use empowering language like strengths, growth, and learning goals, instead of deficits, gaps, or learning loss. The language we use will help us to tell a story of optimism and growth.

Soon, our children will arrive at school, their backpacks heavy with books and nervous energy. Teachers and students will spill into classrooms. A bell will ring, and the school day will begin anew. And in this profound moment, we will be ready.?

What other ways can we help children transition back to school? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

About the Author

Pam Allyn is an internationally renowned author, speaker, and social impact entrepreneur. Allyn founded Dewey, a social-emotional family learning platform and community with resources and tools to help families learn, bond, and thrive.